BENDIGO Bishop Les Tomlinson has called on parishioners to lobby against same-sex marriage.
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Bishop Tomlinson was among six Victorian bishops to co-sign a letter telling Catholics they have a duty to express their views on same-sex marriage.
The bishops will distribute 80,000 copies of the letter this weekend.
“We are blessed by God with the gift of our sexuality,” the letter states.
“The design itself comes from the creator of life.
“We all have a responsibility to follow that design.”
The Bendigo Advertiser was unable to contact Bishop Tomlinson yesterday.
Bendigo MP Steve Gibbons said he had a good working relationship with central Victoria’s Catholic community.
He said he respected the bishops’ opinions but it would not change his support for same-sex marriage.
“People have voted for me and I have always voted progressively on these issues – such as RU486 and stem cell research,” Mr Gibbons said.
“I don’t think that as an MP I have a right to dictate how people live their lives.”
Greens MP Adam Bandt and Labor’s Stephen Jones have both initiated private members bills to make amendments to the Marriage Act to allow same-sex marriage.
The bishops’ letter stated their campaign “implies no lack of respect for people who identify as ‘gay’ and ‘lesbian’”.
It said endorsing same-sex marriage would be a grave mistake and that “the argument that same-sex marriage supports marriage is wrong”.
“Catholics, as responsible citizens of the Commonwealth of Australia, have a duty to remind their political representatives that much is at stake for the common good in this debate,” the letter states.
“We urge you to exercise that right and make direct representation to your members of parliament.”
The letter comes ahead of an April 2 deadline for people to make a submission about proposed changes to the Marriage Act.
“We urge supporters of human rights and respect to stand up for love and show they are not marriage sceptics, unlike some church leaders who think the institution of marriage is too fragile to handle further changes,” Greens marriage equality spokeswoman Senator Sarah Hanson-Young said.
“Marriage has always changed and adapted over time, and for most Australians it’s now a civil, public celebration of the love between two consenting adults.”
