Australia - Homosexuals can sue Christian Pastors




The Marriage Act provides that a minister of religion that's registered under a particular denomination is able to refuse to solemnise a marriage for any reason. So if a pastor in Mount Isa was registered as part of a denomination which is registered under the Marriage Act, they could refuse to solemnise a same-sex marriage, and they wouldn't be able to be sued for the discrimination. In section 47 of the Marriage Act it says 'Nothing imposes an obligation on an authorised celebrant, being a minister of religion, to solemnise any marriage. This protection did not extend to independent marriage celebrants, who could not rely on their attachment to a registered denomination under the Marriage Act. If an independent civil celebrant had their own particular religious convictions but weren't officially attached to a recognised denomination, if they refuse to solemnise a same-sex marriage, they wouldn't be protected by the Marriage Act and under the current exemptions in the Commonwealth Anti-Discrimination Act.So there is the possibility they could be sued for sexual orientation discrimination. That will be the same if they were a normal civil celebrant or JP or any other kind of person that's able to solemnise a marriage

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