There is a huge difference between can’t and won’t.
EVERY marriage is performed under the laws of Australia which deffine the requirements for a celebrant. Basically there are 2 types – Civil Celebrant and Minister of religion. A minister of religion solemnises a marriage according to the “rites of (insert denomination)”. The Celebrant’s right to do this is controlled by the denomination in this case the Anglican Church.
Should the Church remove that right, then ANY marriage celebrated by Father Rod would not be legal.

If you search for his name, you’ll find that Father Rob has, indeed, marched for marriage equality.

Much as I admire your stance in terms of pushing for marriage equality, I think it needs to be said that “can’t” and “won’t” amount to the same thing here.

Oliver, my Lady and I already HAVE a child. Not being allowed to legally marry had no impact on that.

Be good to one and other – reserve judgement. Be a good human.

*There’s nothing in the Australian Constitution about sex, sexuality or gender. That is why religions always have an upperhand on these issues.

When I and my partner win $1 million on Keno (numbers picked are 1, 10, 19, 31, 33, 39, 44, 69, 71 and 80), I will be moving to Norfolk Island and permanently living there because they will soon have it!

I am sick and tired of Australia, it is not what is was in the past were people were given a fair go and now with a Government so corrupt and every single news story being about murders, shootings and terrorism acts – I am moving to Norfolk Island!

Thank you for your kind understanding Boon :) Cheers. Rod

When it comes to human rights and that deeply immutable need to be accepted and loved by our peers, our communities, our tribes and our nations, we’re walking territory governed by emotions, not logic or rationality. It’s difficult, if impossible, to stay perfectly measured and carefully considered at every turn. Especially in print, where we don’t have the benefit of body language and tone to help us understand intent.

I’m guilty of poorly chosen words more often than I would like :)

Thank you for the apology, though it isn’t needed. You do far more good for my place in the world than most.

Thank you Boon
I did put that very clumsily. you know when something comes out of your mouth and you just know that it isn’t just right. I was trying to illuminate the fact that there are a number of issues that take my time and attention. Anger is a very contagious emotion and I think I caught a bit from the person mentioned in the article. Sometimes it sneaks up on you and before you know it……I apologize for the insensitive way I formed that sentence as it does not truly reflect my views. Please forgive me. Fr Rod

“everyone should have the rite [sic] to be married”

Father Rod, the headline is sensationalist click-bait. As is the way with media today. You would be hard pressed to find an article published in the last year that didn’t take liberties with the context to imply melodrama.

Also, I wrote a longer reply in the comments, but “the people you have risked your job to support” account for at least 200,000 members of the Australian population. A few replies here do not represent that community.

Perhaps those replying are doing so emotionally. This is a charged issue for those of us who live with it day to day. Don’t be discouraged. There’s a lot of unresolved emotions in this discussion.

But I object to this quote: “I know that for the people it effects personally it’s all consuming but it’s not the only issue we’re concerned with and, to be blunt, when people are committing suicide in detention camps there are other issues which are a little more pressing.”

Suggesting that we have “more pressing” issues is depressingly dismissive, and the same argument that has been regularly used against equality advocates, perhaps to shame us into silence, as though asking for equality is a selfish and cruel act that impacts on the well being of others.

Are we limited to addressing one social injustice at a time? Does someone maintain a list of ethical concerns, to which we should submit our case and quietly wait our turn?

And for the record, as I’m sure you’re aware, gay people have some of the highest rates of mental health issues, self-harm, homelessness and suicide among any demographic, thanks to vilification and marginalisation by the wider community.

I am hugely appreciative of your support. Your advocacy has been a positive influence, in a world that often overloads those of us on the fringes with negativity. But I won’t apologise for feeling that equality for myself and the people dear to me is more than an interesting little dinner table conversation.