Source: LifeSiteNews.com
Tasmania, Australia, November 13, 2015
Australian Archbishop Julian Porteous
An Australian Catholic archbishop is facing legal action after recently distributing a pamphlet to local Catholic school children that supported Catholic teaching on marriage being between a man and woman.
“Dear Friends, I have received notification from the Office of the Anti-Discrimination Commissioner that a complaint made about me has been viewed as a possible breach of the Anti-Discrimination Act 1998 (Tas),” Archbishop Julian Porteous from the Archdiocese of Hobart in Tasmania posted yesterday to Facebook about the allegations of discrimination against him.
The 18-page pamphlet titled “Don’t Mess With Marriage” was put out by the country’s bishops and details the Church’s teaching on sexuality and marriage. The pamphlet states that it is “gravely unjust” to children, adults, and society to redefine marriage to allow for homosexual partnerships to be called “marriage.”
“The Catholic Church cares deeply about marriage because it is a fundamental good in itself, a foundation of human existence and flourishing, and a blessing from God,” states the pamphlet.
Martine Delaney, the homosexual activist behind the complaint, says the pamphlet “offends and humiliates” same-sex partners and the children they look after by indicating that “same-sex relationships are [merely] friendships,” that “same-sex attracted people are not whole,” and that the “children of same-sex couples are not healthy or virtuous.” Delaney’s complaint to the Tasmanian Anti-Discrimination Commissioner was lodged September 15.
The archbishop went on in his Facebook post to “state for the record” his motives for distributing the pamphlet.
“In distributing the Pastoral Letter, ‘Don’t Mess With Marriage’, my aim was to assist the Catholic community in understanding the teaching of the Catholic Church, at a time when debate on this matter was widespread within the community.”
“The intention was to inform the debate as leader of the Catholic Church in Tasmania, to ensure the Catholic community understood where we stand on the issue of marriage.”
“It was not my intention to offend, rather, it was and is, to express the teaching of the Catholic Church. I regret if offence has been taken by individuals, and will work with the Commission to resolve this matter,” he said.
In 2011 Archbishop Porteous wrote a column in which he argued that discrimination, though cast in a negative light in modern society, can be an important quality, and even a virtue that reflects wisdom and prudence.
“[Discrimination used to be] considered a natural process to make decisions, judgements and distinctions on the basis of distinguishing between objective good and evil, between right and wrong,” he wrote at that time. The bishop’s words reflect a passage in the Catechism of the Catholic Church that calls for an end to “unjust discrimination” against homosexuals, implying that there can be a “just discrimination.”
It’s “ironic,” he wrote, that efforts to eliminate discrimination “run the risk of proposing an unjust discrimination against religion.”
“The future of our society depends upon our ability to discriminate between good and evil, right and wrong and what is or is not acceptable behaviour for our society,” he wrote.
In 2013 the Archbishop faced accusations from the Anti-Discrimination Commissioner that he may be found to have violated state law if he restricted altar serving to boys.
within ten years only the commie states and radical islamic states will not do so
lets hear it for the commies masquerading as xtinas and denying Jesus who loved everyone
If I were them these rotten people always using xtianity to hate, buy a fireproof suit - y ou will need it in hell
-And? I'm offended when everywhere I look homosexuals are promoted as virtuous, superior, and normal. I'm offended that almost all major companies have embraced the homosexual agenda in fear of lawsuits or in greed for profits. I'm offended that homosexuals wear illicit themed jokes on their clothing in public intended to provoke that are additionally highly inappropriate for children to see. I'm offended that I can't watch TV without mandatory gay characters on every show (and now commercials) intended to brainwash children and the weaker minded through normalization of perversion.
The only thing Archbishop Porteous did wrong was to semi-apologize for offending the perpertually offended. There's a difference in attempting to be a peaceful person and not start fights, and backing down against evil and allowing it to spread and gain power.
We need more leaders are speak the Truth and are willing to fight for God's laws and people. His people are thirsty for this.
Neither “Australia”, nor the Australian Government, nor the government of any Australian State or Territory, is involved in any action in relation to any Bishop, Roman Catholic or Orthodox, in regard to any publication relating to same sex marriage. An individual has initiated a civil action under anti-discrimination law in the State of Tasmania. The Anti-Discrimination Commissioner is administering the action as she is required to so by law.
The further statement that “In 2013 the Archbishop faced accusations from the Anti-Discrimination Commissioner that he may be found to have violated state law if he restricted altar serving to boys” is equally dishonest. The Archbishop faced no accusations from the Anti-Discrimination Commissioner. The Commissioner received a complaint and, as required by law, investigated it. However, given that Section 27 of the Tasmanian Anti-Discrimination Act 1998 specifically states that discrimination in a religious institution is not unlawful if it is required by the doctrines of the religion of the institution the complaint could not proceed, and the Archbishop could not have been found to have violated state law.
The Kingdom of God is taken by force (Mt 11:12), not by apologies. Our leaders have remained still while God's signs are taken down everywhere, because they offend someone. Christianity is over 3 billion strong, counting all its branches. But one person protests and God comes out of that place. Prayers, statues, symbols... In any field, flock is as strong as it"s shepherd. Thank God for Pope Francis, and the saintly Popes we've had before him.