A team of New Zealand celebrities has banded together in a video called “Marriage Equality Matters” to promote same gender marriage. “Marriage Equality Matters” features Tamati Coffey, Anika Moa, Rachel Hunter and other local celebrities, media personalities and sports people talking about what it means to be able to marry the person you love. Released Read more
Posts Tagged ‘same gender marriage’
Sacked teacher against homophobia in schools
Tuesday, December 4th, 2012A teacher sacked from a Catholic college in Northland for supporting students campaigning for gay rights has told a conference that more needs to be done to fight homophobia in schools. Nigel Studdart was dismissed from Pompallier College in Maunu in September after he helped students protest against comments made by the principal about gay Read more
NZ Catholic Bishops make submission to Marriage Bill Select Committee
Wednesday, November 28th, 2012
New Zealand Catholic Bishops appeared before the New Zealand Government Administration Select Committee considering the Marriage (Definition of Marriage) Amendment Bill on Wednesday to share their concerns over the future implications should it become law. Archbishop John Dew, Bishop Colin Campbell and Mrs Sue Devereux, representing the New Zealand Catholic Bishops Conference, made a verbal submission Read more
Law professor – include conscience clause in same gender marriage bill
Tuesday, November 27th, 2012
Some churches have expressed concern that freedom of religion will be breached if the proposed same gender marriage legislation is passed. Victoria University Faculty of Law professor Bill Atkin has recommended that the parliamentary select committee considering a bill which proposes to to legalise same gender marriage add a “conscience clause” to the legislation, to Read more
Wellington church breaks ranks on same gender marriage
Friday, October 12th, 2012
A Presbyterian church in Wellington, New Zealand, has restated its decision to support same gender marriage. Senior minister at St Andrew’s on the Terrace, Margaret Mayman, said it would be part of a small minority of churches doing so. The Presbyterian General Assembly in New Zealand opposes a bill before Parliament which seeks to legalise Read more
Same sex issues: Church should show compassion says moral theologian
Friday, September 14th, 2012
A number of ministry and church leaders believe a cautious approach to same-sex marriage is needed so as not to alienate those outside the church. Father Neil Vaney, an Auckland Roman Catholic moral theologian, said the secular media and various people were “pushing” the same sex issue. He said the Church should “show great compassion” Read more
Family First domain name diverted
Tuesday, September 11th, 2012Thousands of people who want to access Family First’s website are instead inadvertently being directed to the marriage equality campaign’s website. Wellington man Hamish Spencer purchased the domain www.familyfirst.co.nz last week. While one would expect the site to provide an insight into the charity, it instead redirects you to the marriage equality campaign’s website. Family First is staunchly Read more
Lawyer questions Human Rights Commission: ministers of religion not free over same gender marriage
Friday, August 31st, 2012Church ministers with a moral objection to same gender marriage would be criminalised by refusing to wed same-sex couples if a new bill becomes law, a legal opinion states. Ian Bassett’s opinion suggests church ministers, marriage celebrants and even wedding photographers who withheld their services to same-sex couples on the grounds of a moral objection Read more
Pompallier college teacher suspended for same gender marriage stance
Friday, August 31st, 2012A teacher at a Catholic college in Whangarei has been suspended and students allegedly threatened in a dispute with the principal over same gender marriage. The bitter stand-off was prompted by comments from Pompellier College principal Richard Stanton in the school newsletter in which he lays out his objections to gay marriage under the heading Read more
NZ Bishops: changing definition of marriage has implications for society
Friday, August 31st, 2012
New Zealand’s Catholic Bishops have expressed disappointment after the Definition of Marriage Bill, allowing for same sex marriage, passed its first reading by 78 to 40 on a conscience vote with no abstentions on Wednesday. “To propose any alternative definition will have implications in law, and in society, but also for education and the family structure Read more
- Definition of Marriage - how MPs voted
- MPs may not remain faithful to gay marriage.
- 70 church leaders speak out on Definition of Marriage Bill
- How protestantism redefined marriage
- Marriage Bill to go to Select Committee
- A list of blogs about the definition of Marriage Bill
- Definition of Marriage debate will get tougher and nastier
- Gordon Campbell on Definition of Marriage vote