Three days before St. Valentine’s Day, February 11, 2017, we may have the same sex marriage plebiscite: “Should the law be changed to allow same-sex couples to marry?” The vote will be compulsory and determined by an overall national majority. Well, the plebiscite will go ahead if Labor supports it, but they are still making up their little minds on that one. They wouldn’t want the “No” side to win.
There is no guarantee of free speech for the “No” case and supporters may violate oppressive state-based anti-discrimination laws. The federal government confirmed to Family First that it will not override state suppression laws.
Of course not; such laws are in place just for moments like this, to be used as a political weapon if necessary.
What we really need is a referendum putting a robust right to free speech into the constitution so that all of these laws can be knocked down in one swoop.
I imagine that many – but none of us of course – will ignore those suppression laws and campaign anyway. I can see that these people, drawing inspiration from the struggles of the past, will feel that the laws of God, as they perceive them, override suppression laws, made by a particular fragile regime, at one point in human history.
We would never recommend or endorse anybody breaking even oppressive laws as a form of political protest, no matter how utterly wrong such laws may be. The point is to lawfully change such laws and not descend to the level of the mob. Keep oneself lawful!
Speaking of law breakers, a meeting of four Christian groups at a Sydney hotel had to be cancelled because of threatening phone calls made to the hotel. (The Australian, September 20, 2016, p. 8) The group planned to work on the “No” case, but were prevented from doing so. In my opinion, that is good enough reason to vote “No,” even if before that sorry event one supported in principle same-sex marriage. Expect to see more dirty tricks like that. But I pray that our side keeps themselves lawful and takes the high moral ground.