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Anthony Fisher made a call for a no-vote in the same-sex marriage postal survey during his mass on Sunday.
Under current laws in Australia, marriage must be between a man and a woman, but the government is circulating a non-binding survey on the issue measuring support for reform.
Speaking to parishioners in a congregation on Sunday, the Guardian reports he said the government should “keep out of the friendship business and out of the bedroom”.
He went on to tell the St Mary’s Cathedral congregation: “The state has no business telling us who we should love and how, sexually or otherwise.
“The only kind of friendship the state has a proper interest in recognising and regulating is heterosexual marriage, because that’s what leads to children – new citizens – and gives them the best start in life.”
The archbishop said children should have a mother and a father and this was what marriage was intended for.
He also claimed changing the law would have a direct impact on religious freedom.
He explained: “If overseas experience is anything to go by, if marriage is redefined it will be very hard to speak up for real marriage anymore – in schools, at work, socially.
“Traditional believers will be vulnerable to discrimination suits and other kinds of bullying for their beliefs. Some may lose their jobs, promotions, businesses, political careers.”
The non-binding postal ballot began in September but the government will not legislate on the issue without it.
If most Australians vote no, the government will not allow Parliament to consider lifting the nation’s ban on same-sex marriage.
The result of the voluntary postal survey will be announced on 15 November.
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