Same-sex marriage bills to be debated

AAP

Same-sex marriage legislation could be debated for the first time in federal parliament on Monday, a day after church leaders damned the move from their pulpits.

The Greens decried the Sunday sermons as blatant scaremongering, saying the bills won’t force church groups to marry anyone they don’t want to.

A video was also released calling on Prime Minister Julia Gillard and Opposition Leader Tony Abbott to “get out of the way” of the reforms.

Ms Gillard has said she will vote against the marriage reforms, although Labor MPs will be allowed a conscience vote.

Coalition MPs will have to cross the floor if they want to vote in favour of same-sex marriage.

“The prime minister’s opposition to equality is stopping MPs from all sides from voting yes, and Tony Abbott’s blocking of a free vote is standing in the way of marriage equality passing the parliament this year,” Greens Senator Sarah Hanson-Young told reporters in Sydney.

A report from a social policy and legal affairs committee inquiry into legalising same-sex marriage will be tabled in parliament on Monday.

It looked at two bills, one from Labor’s Stephen Jones and the other a joint effort by independent Andrew Wilkie and Australian Greens deputy leader Adam Bandt.

Both bills will then be debated in the lower house.

Tension has been mounting in the build-up to the debate, with top Anglican and Catholic clergy warning a change to the Marriage Act allowing gay or lesbian couples to wed would be inconsistent with religious teachings.

The Greek Orthodox Church wrote a similar statement in May that is expected to be read out this weekend.

Australian Marriage Equality national convenor Alex Greenwich appealed to the church leaders for respect.

“I’d like to send a message to the priests and parishioners that we come in peace, and we share your respect for the institution of marriage and … for freedom of religion,” he told reporters in Sydney.

“We can strengthen marriage in a way that doesn’t deny same-sex couples the right to marry.”

Mr Greenwich, who joined Senator Hanson-Young for the launch of the video, said support for same-sex marriage within the Labor and coalition ranks was growing.

“We know we are at a tipping point and we have growing parliamentary support,” he said.

Reverend Mike Hercock urged Christians attending Sunday services to make up their own minds.

“The enemy here is ignorance, and that is what the Australian Christian lobby is relying upon,” he told AAP.

“You can be a good Christian … and support marriage equality.”

Senator Hanson-Young said it was disappointing that religious leaders were out of step with the attitudes of the broader public.

“It’s sad that in churches this morning they will only be presented with one view,” she said.

“Frankly, it’s scaremongering at its most blatant…

“The legislation before parliament won’t force church groups to marry anyone they don’t want to.”

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