On Wednesday, 15th November this week, the results of the Australian Marriage Law Postal Survey were released, with 61.4 per cent of Australians who took part voting yes and 38.4 per cent voting no. Below are two paragraphs from Bishop Peter’s letter to the people of Broken Bay. A copy of this is on display in the foyer.

• I want to stress, once more, that I never considered this a ‘referendum’ on the worth or dignity of gay and lesbian people, which is beyond question. My concern has always been with the question of what constitutes marriage as a distinctive kind of relationship, and the unique roles of a husband and wife in a family.
• The Catholic Church will continue to uphold our well-established teaching, received from the Lord himself (Mt 19.3-6), that the covenant of matrimony is between a woman and a man for life, which allows for the procreation and nurturing of children. Any changes to the civil law will not alter this key tenant of Christian belief.