National faith forum back marriage equality for every Australian

The Equality Campaign hosted the first National Faith and Civil Marriage Equality Forum today in Parliament House Canberra, bringing together religious leaders from Muslim, Jewish and Christian faiths.

“The leaders come from across the country and spoke about how they have found a way to support marriage equality not despite their faith but because of it,” said Tiernan Brady, Executive Director of Australians for Equality.

“The values behind marriage equality are the same as those in religion which are about human dignity, love and respect.

“Today’s forum is about coming together across a diverse range of faiths to talk about how people of faith can support civil marriage equality.

“Most of our faiths are built on the foundation stones of respect, human dignity, the sanctity of the person and social justice. These values do not contradict same-sex marriage, rather they lead us to supporting it.

“When Ireland achieved marriage equality, it was because many religious people supported it because of their faith, not in spite of it. Ireland is still a nation of faith, strong family structures and marriage equality is not a contradiction to that,” Mr Brady added.

Ed Santow, Australia’s Human Rights Commissioner who spoke at the Forum said, ‘the one thing all these religions share is a focus on the protection of individual dignity, kindness treating each other as your brother and sister.

The forum ended in a joint statement from the religious leaders supporting equality for every Australian, while calling on Australian politicians to unite and make civil marriage a reality.

The joint statement said:

• As clergy and lay leaders in our faith communities, we believe we are all equal in the eyes of G-d, regardless of sexual orientation, gender identity or intersex status. We urge faith leaders to promote equality and inclusion for all people.
• As people of faith, we understand that marriage is based on the value of love and commitment and we support civil marriage equality, not despite, but because of our faith and values.
• We support a change to the legal definition of civil marriage to include LGBTI people’s relationships and families, a change that the majority of Australian society supports.
• We urge people of faith to exercise their freedom of conscience to stand up for civil marriage equality as a matter of social justice.
• We call on politicians to unite to make civil marriage equality a reality for every Australian.

“We will also continue to call on our supporters across all political parties who support marriage equality to work together to find a pathway for a vote in the parliament.

“We need to continue having conversations with Australians from all walks of life. It must be a journey that allows people of faith to ask their genuine questions so that they might become supporters and advocates of equality,” Mr Brady concluded.

“My support for marriage equality can be simply explained through the Islamic concept of Tauhid, oneness, which brings me to the conclusion that we are all one and equal. Ms Shiffa Samad, Muslims for Progressive Values

“It’s time we in Australian orthodox Jewish communities listen and act to protect our most sacred Torah values of justice, compassion and inclusion by protecting our religious freedom to say ‘yes’ to civil marriage equality. Dr Gavriel Ansara from Rosh Pinah, an Affirming Orthodox Jewish Network.

“The Catholic community has a diverse voice many of them support marriage equality, its important for us to remind ourselves that at the heart of the conversation faith and marriage equality are loving relationships and dignity of all people no matter your faith or sexuality. Mr Benjamin Oh, Catholics from Equality.

“My christian faith requires me to work towards justice for all people and because the primacy of love in my faith and my life means that I hour all peoples relationships and right to marry. Rev Carolyn Francis, Collins St Baptist Church, Melbourne

“Marriage equality is a basic human right, Islam is a religion that promotes all human rights not some human rights. It will help a lot of young people gain confidence because they are in an environment that says to them that they are wrong and impure, marriage equality will help a lot in the LGBT Muslim community gain confidence. Imam Nur Warsame, Marhaba, Melbourne

“The paradox is that people of faith are being both creators and obstructors of change. If you are motivated by love you create change and that is what marriage equality is all about, love. Mr Anthony Venn-Brown, Ambassadors & Bridge Builders International.

“I see marriage equality as something I support because of my faith, its a matter of justice and if we are really interested in humans flourishing then we should be enabling the form human expression which is being married to the person you love. Rev Dr Peter Catt, Dean Anglican Cathedral, Brisbane

“I believe its important for religious voices who support marriage equality to be apart of the conversation and to show our support is not only about justice and human rights but is also grounded in our strong faith in belief and rations. Rabbi Jacqueline Ninio, Emanuel Synagogue, Sydney

Download joint statement …

161117_NFACMEF_Joint_Statement_.pdf
Clint McGilvray Communications Director | Australian Marriage Equality