Australia’s Anglican Church Will Vote on Whether to Ban Gay Weddings

Australia’s Anglican Church, based in Sydney, will vote on whether to implement a new policy that would ban same-sex marriages from taking place on any property owned by the church, the ABC reports.

The church currently owns 900 properties across the country and, if the new policy comes into effect, would “only allow the use of Church property for acts or practices which conform to the doctrines, tenets and beliefs of the Diocese.” This policy would extend to the many rental and commercial properties the church owns, included those rented to secular groups.

The list of inappropriate practices includes “advocacy for transgender ideology (e.g., gender-fluidity),” “solemnisation or blessing of a same-sex wedding,” “a reception venue for a same-sex wedding” and “advocacy for expressions of human sexuality contrary to our doctrine of marriage.”

The church would also seek to ban yoga classes, indigenous Australian ceremonies and the “promotion of non-Christian religions”.

Deputy to the Archbishop of Sydney told SBS: “The principle is simple—churches should not be compelled to use their property for purposes contrary to their doctrine.

“We also maintain that freedom of religion in Australia should allow us to use our property in accordance with this belief… the policy makes clear the church’s doctrine of marriage has not changed and that property use scenarios relate only to man/woman marriage.”

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