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Registration of relationships - Christian responsesSalt Shakers is opposed to any form of legal recognition of same-sex relationships. Explanation and documents relating to the issue of registration of same sex relationships. (Documents are attached below) Unfortunately, in response to a proposed Civil Unions Bill for same-sex 'couples' in the ACT earlier this year, Christians were encouraged by the Australian Christian Lobby (ACL) to sign a petition, and pastors were asked to sign a "Statement of Concern'. Whilst the ACL rightly opposed the introduction of Civil Unions, in their petition and statement they went on to actually call for the ACT government to "instead introduce legislation that would allow for the registration of same-sex and caring relationships, which does not mimic or diminish marriage, such as is in force in the state of This position was also promoted as a future strategy for all other states. While this position may have been adopted as 'political expediency' or the 'lesser of two evils', we do not think this is a Biblically correct way to deal with such an issue. We discovered that a number of people in the ACT had already signed the petition or pastors 'statement of concern', without understanding that they actively promoted the legal recognition of same-sex 'relationships. Because of this we believe we had no option but to inform the wider Christian community of our specific concerns relating to the ACL position. Unfortunately, the petition and 'Statement' were presented to the ACT Government on May 11 as the 'Christian position'. The 'Civil Unions Bill' was debated and passed by the ACT Assembly on May 12. Eventually the federal government intervened and overturned the ACT 'Civil Unions Bill'. The ACT government has stated that it will reintroduce some form of legislation giving legal recognition to same-sex 'couples'. Due to the position taken by the ACL it will be very difficult for Christians to legitimately oppose any lesser form of relationship recognition. This is always a consequence of compromise. Unfortunately, Dr Brian Edgar, Australian Evangelical Alliance (EA) Director of Public Theology and the Rev David Palmer, Presbyterian Church of Victoria (PCV) have written papers in support of the 'political' position taken by the ACL and added a flawed 'concept' of 'justice' into the dialogue, thus extending the debate to a much wider audience. Many evangelical Christians are concerned about the detrimental ramifications these papers will have on the Christian voice, both in regards to homosexuality itself and the legal recognition of same-sex relationships in It is vital that a strong Biblical Christian voice, opposing the normalisation of homosexuality and homosexual relationships, is maintained. All the groups/people listed below are committed to maintaining such a voice. Salt Shakers papers: The introduction of Civil Unions - the Christian Biblical response Salt Shakers' Response to the Evangelical Other Responses: Serious misjudgment: the Australian Christian Lobby advocates a relationships register for homosexual couples Same-sex relationships and the law -- A response to Brian Edgar An Assessment of the EA Paper on Homosexuality The Status of Marital Status Certain issues of justice: same sex relationships and the law |