“DESPITE the claims of those advocating marriage equality, you cannot equate something that is essentially different.”
Canberra archdiocese administrator Monsignor John Woods said this was because “a union between same-sex people and a union between opposite-sex people is essentially different and only one has the potential to create new life”.
Msgr Woods’ comments were made after the Marriage Equality (Same-Sex) Bill 2013 passed nine votes to eight on October 22.
The Federal Government lodged its writ of summons against the ACT Government in the High Court, a day after the national capital’s Legislative Assembly’s vote.
Prime Minister Tony Abbott said his Government’s challenge to the legislation was not about the morality of the issue despite his personal opposition to gay marriage.
He also warned anyone planning to marry under the ACT’s new same-sex marriage laws to wait for the High Court to rule whether the legislation was valid.
The Federal Government argues the ACT’s legislation is unconstitutional because it is at odds with the Federal Marriage Act, which defines marriage as a union between a man and a woman to the exclusion of others.
Under the Constitution, federal law overrides state law when there is a conflict but the ACT and some legal experts believe states do have the power to legislate for same-sex marriage.
