PENOLA’S Anglican priest father John Thompson has condemned negativity and violence towards same-sex couples in the region.
However, he has stated he would not conduct a same-sex marriage in his church due to standing by his religious beliefs and traditions.
In light of Australia’s same-sex marriage public postal plebiscite, Fr Thompson said he was not against same-sex couples living together, however he believed the relationship should be recognised as a civil union.
“Of course I would continue to welcome same-sex couples and their families into the church and I would never do anything to hurt those in a same-sex relationship,” Fr Thompson said.
“However, in regard to the meaning of marriage, I need to uphold the beliefs and strong traditions of my religion.”
When discussing the postal plebiscite, Fr Thompson said he did not want the discussion to negatively impact same-sex couples.
“I think it is beneficial for the vote to be decided by the people, however I do not want to see violence over the issue,” Fr Thompson said.
He said his views were his own and not necessarily those of his church.
South East marriage equality activist Di Ind claimed the publicity surrounding the vote was fuelling negativity in the region against people form the lesbian, gay, bi, transsexual and intersex community (LGBTI).
“A non-binding, non-compulsory vote will not give us a true reflection of how the population sits, it is merely an opinion poll – let’s save the $122m and put that towards something more beneficial,” the Mount Gambier woman said.
“I am very concerned about the impact it is having on the LGBTI community.”
However, in controversial statements, Liberal MP Tony Pasin has defended religious freedoms saying if the definition of marriage was changed, religious freedoms also needed to be protected.
“Many people have migrated to Australia to escape religious persecution and in so doing enjoy Australia’s religious freedoms and I am a passionate advocate for protecting these freedoms,” he said.
The Liberal MP stood by his headline making comments in which he stated taxi drivers had the right to refuse to take part formally in a same-sex couple wedding on the basis of “religious freedoms”.
Mr Pasin said he responded to a hypothetical scenario put to him by a national broadcaster.
Ms Ind expressed concern over the damage Mr Pasin’s public comments could inflict on the LGBTI community.
“I am worried the negativity surrounding the issue is solely feeding a frenzy in which people loose all sense of normality,” she said.
Ms Ind has vowed to organise another protest in Mount Gambier in response to what she claims is a non-binding community opinion poll on legalising same-sex marriages.
