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ACL welcomes Shorten's keeping faith in marriage voteThe Australian Christian Lobby today welcomed
Opposition Leader Bill Shorten's clarification of Labor's position on marriage
after suggestions parliamentarians who voted to uphold its definition in law
should be expelled.
Mr Shorten’s
comments today keep faith with what he told the Christian constituency at ACL's
national conference last October.
“Mr Shorten gave wise counsel for ALP delegates ahead of this
years’ Labor National Conference.
The way to win an argument is to persuade people, not resort to forcing
them,” said ACL Managing Director,
Lyle Shelton.
"There are many in the Australian community not convinced that
redefining marriage is best for our society.
“Labor has a proud history of tolerance and this proposal to expel
parliamentarians from the party who vote with their conscience in support of
marriage would diminish that reputation.
"An important function of marriage is to provide children with every
opportunity to be raised and loved by their parents, something intentionally
denied by same sex marriage," Mr Shelton said.
"No parliamentarian should be forced to vote for a family structure
which requires a child to miss out on their parent.
“Many Labor parliamentarians, including prominent frontbenchers voted
to preserve marriage in 2012. Sending the message that they are not welcome in
the party would be unthinkable to mainstream Australia.
"If a political party did this to its dissenters on marriage, what
message would that send to Australians who will always believe marriage is
between one man and one woman?"
While it was regrettable that Labor changed its policy in 2011, Mr
Shelton urged the Liberal party to continue to vote as one on
marriage.
"It is entirely appropriate for the Liberal party to hold a policy
position which upholds the best interests of the child.
"Changing the definition of marriage is not inevitable and I look
forward to the day when Labor changes its policy back the timeless and
child-centred definition of marriage." <저작권자 ⓒ christianreview 무단전재 및 재배포 금지>
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