Four reasons the Christian and Jewish faiths are set to approve equal marriage

Last month’s highly public split over gay marriage shifted to Australia the spotlight on the issue bitterly dividing Christian and Jewish communities worldwide.

The greatest revision of belief within the Judaeo-Christian faiths since the Reformation is underway. It is a bruising process with skirmishes erupting regularly around the globe. Conservatives are still winning, but progressives are gaining rapidly.

Six Roman Catholic bishops in Victoria wroteto their flock in late March urging them to lobby politicians with their views on same-sex marriage. This was in response to proposed legislation in Australia’s federal Parliament to extend marriage to gay couples.

“A grave mistake will be made if such legislation is enacted,” the bishops warned.

In response to this 77 other faith leaders produced a contrasting letterurging Christians and Jews to support the marriage reforms.

Signatories included respected Evangelical elder statesmen, Jewish Rabbis, a Buddhist priest and prominent clergy from the Uniting, Anglican, Apostolic Johannite, Quaker, Metropolitan and other churches across Australia.

These letters are significant both for Australian politics and the future of the religious bodies.  Read More