What role are Christianity and other faiths playing in this? Can religious principles inform us on a way ahead that values diversity, or are religions falling into the trap of colluding in ways that exclude and discriminate?
While the risks to vulnerable LGBTI people may be lessened without a plebiscite they are certainly not gone. Damaging remarks about parenting competences will continue. We know from the tenor of the debate that it is a debate about gay and lesbian people, rather than a dialogue with them. The majority of the population are making decisions about a minority. LGBTI people and their children find this threatening and intimidating. Australia’s top health professionals have noted the risks for gay and lesbian mental health, and are suggesting that the money saved by abandoning the plebiscite be redirected to LGBTI mental health.
What has all this got to do with next year’s referendum for constitutional recognition of Indigenous Australians? Marcia Langton and other Indigenous leaders have noted that a negative, divisive debate on marriage equality brings out the fear of change in people. Just as with the Brexit vote in the UK, a spirit of rejection of change could follow on to the referendum.
Religious bodies have by and large remained silent on marriage equality or have actively opposed it such as we have seen from the Australian Christian Lobby. This has led to some fairly dubious claims in an effort to scare people. For example, marriage equality is not going to change the parenting patterns of gay couples, nor will the marriage bill affect how sex education is taught, or anti-bullying programs are run, in schools.
How might religious bodies contribute to the discourse about marriage equality from their principles? I am a Christian so I will offer my comments from a gospel perspective, although many religions share basic values such as love each other as you would wish to be loved.
While Christians may have certain views about marriage in their own religious contexts, the bill before the people of Australia is a civil marriage bill to preserve the rights and dignity of all Australians. Religious bodies may need to educate their adherents about the meaning of marriage in their own denominations and faiths and to explain how this differs from the Marriage Act. However, religious bodies also regularly comment on national and civic issues for the common good. How might they proceed here?
I suggest Christians begin by demanding respect for the dignity of each person irrespective of race, creed or sexual orientation. While this seems self-explanatory, we must ensure that comments are not only factual (for example it is disingenuous to cite out-of-date, academically discredited research such as the Regnerus research on gay parenting) but also respectful. This might be achieved by dialogue with LGBTI people to find language that includes and respects rather than offends and hurts. Many LGBTI Christian groups would willingly assist church leaders in this task but they mostly have been excluded, ignored or vilified by church leaders.
Gospel values of love, equality, care for the voiceless and respect for the dignity of all could support and inspire Australia’s LGBTI and Indigenous people. Christian leaders might commit to a discourse of deep respect and listening to marginalised voices and indeed amplify those voices that are crying out not to be strangled by the majority.
We religious people have much to learn about how to contribute constructively to the new world emerging around us. It is about being a leaven in the communities to which we belong without compromising our uniqueness and sustainability as one voice within a multicultural, multi-faceted and multifaith society learning to live in harmony and peace for the good of all.
