… WELCOMES ARCHBISHOP’S CONCILIATORY STATEMENTS
Human rights advocate, Martine Delaney, has written to Tasmanian Anti-Discrimination Commissioner asking for the matter to be conciliated.
Ms Delaney welcomed conciliatory statements made by Archbishop Julian Porteous, regarding her anti-discrimination complaint over certain statements contained in the Catholic Church’s booklet, “Don’t Mess with Marriage”, which was distributed earlier this year throughout the Catholic Education system and posted online.
“I lodged this complaint because the Catholic Church’s booklet made particular statements which I – and many other same-sex attracted Australians – found offensive, insulting and humiliating.” Ms Delaney said.
“I wholeheartedly support the Catholic Church’s right to oppose marriage equality, and its right to voice its opposition.
“But I do not accept statements in the booklet claiming same-sex partners are not “whole” people, are not capable of raising healthy children and are ‘messing with kids’. Those statements were the reason I took this action.”
Ms Delaney said she was heartened by Archbishop Porteous’ statements to the media on Friday, in which he said it had not been his intention to offend and suggested he wished to see this matter resolved through a conciliation process.
“In light of the Archbishop’s comments, I wrote yesterday to the Commissioner requesting her to refer this matter to the conciliation process. I look forward to a positive resolution, and thank Archbishop Porteous for allowing this possibility.”
For a copy of a video explaining Ms Delaney’s case go to:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fVy9agIMQkg&feature=youtu.be
Human rights advocate, Martine Delaney
