Sydney's Archbishop Anthony Fisher has declared that religious liberty is at stake as Australians prepare for a postal plebiscite on same-sex marriage.
Archbishop Fisher said redefining marriage would affect every Australian.
He said proposed protections for religious freedom only dealt with religious ministers and civil celebrants, a tiny proportion of the Australian people, rather than providing any source of comfort to ordinary Australians.
"In other parts of the world that have legalised same-sex marriage, those who believe in traditional marriage have been harassed or coerced into complying with the new view of marriage," he told The Australian newspaper on 14 August. "It would be extremely naive to think that won't happen here.”
"What protections will be offered to people who work for church-run institutions such as schools, hospitals and universities?" he said. "Will teachers be free to teach church teaching on marriage or will they be forced to teach a more politically correct curriculum?
"Will employers of such church agencies be free to choose staff in sympathy with their Church's teachings? Will Catholic welfare agencies be required to provide marriage preparation or marriage counselling for same-sex couples on pain of being dragged before anti-discrimination tribunals?"
The proposed postal ballot, which is to begin on 12 September and conclude on 7 November, is subject to a High Court hearing on its constitutionality. If there is a "yes" vote, a parliamentary vote will still be required to enact same-sex marriage but MPs will not be bound to accept the postal result.
Delivering the Harman Lecture on "Between Ideal and Reality: What Future for Marriage in Australia?" on 8 August for the John Paul II Institute for Marriage and the Family in Melbourne, which is to close, Archbishop Fisher said “As Pope Francis insists, Christians cannot stop advocating marriage simply to avoid being unpopular or because we feel helpless; that would be to deprive the world of values we can and must offer.”
PICTURE: Supporters at the same sex marriage rally in Perth's Russell Square. 5 July, 2015
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