Australian Quakers said they will lobby the government for an amendment to the federal Marriage Act so that same-sex couples can legally marry, following a similar decision last year by the British Quakers to support such unions. Quakers - known more formally as the Religious Society of Friends - also resolved to practise "full marriage equality" throughout Australia, said the Ekklesia website.
"Seeking legal recognition of such unions is consistent with our long-held spiritual belief in the equality of all people" said Lyndsay Farrall, Presiding Clerk of Australia Yearly Meeting of Friends.
"Ongoing discrimination against people on the basis of their sexual orientation and gender under Australian law is a matter of growing disquiet for Quakers," she added.
Friends in Australia have celebrated same-sex and mixed-sex commitment ceremonies since 1994.
The country's first Quaker same-sex marriage took place in 2007.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Disclaimer
No responsibility or liability shall attach itself to us or to the blogspot ‘Clerical Whispers’ for any or all of the articles placed here.
The placing of an article hereupon does not necessarily imply that we agree or accept the contents of the article as being necessarily factual in theology, dogma or otherwise.
SIC: CTHAU