Wednesday, February 17, 2010

Sunshine Coast priest supports same-sex parents

Sunshine Coast priest Father Stan Griffiths said he supports the Queensland Government's surrogacy bill and the right of gay couples to be parents, contrary to the official Church stance.

The bill was passed by parliament on Thursday.

Fr Griffiths, of Maleny, told the Sunshine Coast Daily that: "The most important thing is that a child is loved and treasured and I can see no reason that this would not be the case if both parents were the same sex.

"Our families are different now. They're not just straight mums and dads.

"Allowing same-sex couples to have children is an example of how the definition of 'family' is diversifying."

He said statements made by local MPs, who unanimously voted against the bill, stating they "smacked of discrimination", had portrayed the region's people as "rednecks" and "appealed to people's fear".

Support also came from Anglican Archdeacon Richard Gowty, the director of St Mark's Anglican Church at Buderim, also said he fully supported the rights of gay couples to have children.

"There are many same-sex couples in very stable relationships and they have the same desires for children as ‘traditional' parents," Archdeacon Gowty said.

"We want to promote circumstances where children have the best chance in life.

"The issue is about the love a child's parents provide, not the sexuality of the parents."
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