Here's what Cr. Clover Moore M.P. had to say when she moved "That this bill be now agreed to in principle":
My Adoption Amendment (Same Sex Couples) Bill will make same-sex couples legally eligible to adopt. It will provide for the introduction of a second-parent adoption provision similar to the existing step-parent adoption provision, and allow same-sex couples to be assessed for adoption as a couple. Importantly, under the bill, adoption laws would treat families headed by same-sex couples in the same way as families headed by heterosexual couples. Same-sex couples in Western Australia and the Australian Capital Territory already have these rights. Specifically, the bill changes the definitions for "couple" and "spouse" provided in the Adoption Act from "a man and a woman who are married or who have a de facto relationship" to "persons who are de facto partners, whether they are of the same or opposite sex".
Meanwhile, New South Wales's "devout Catholic" Premier, The Hon. Kristina Keneally M.P., has the following to say on the matter:
"My religious views do not play a part in the legislation that I as a leader of the Labor Party bring before the government," she said.
"If I look at the gospel message it is one of acceptance, it is one of love ... Jesus sat with the sinners and the saints and he was not a man of judgment but rather a man of love".
[http://news.smh.com.au/breaking-news-national/keneally-says-religion-wont-impact-bill-20100628-ze83.html]
NSW Premier Kristina Keneally under fire over religious parable
AAP June 28, 2010 3:31PM
NSW Premier Kristina Keneally says she didn't mean to compare homosexuals to "sinners" in a religious parable.
The devout Catholic was answering questions about the same-sex adoption Bill, introduced to Parliament last week by independent MP and Sydney Lord Mayor Clover Moore.
Today, she reaffirmed her "in principle" support for the bill and said she would allow Labor MPs a conscience vote.
When asked to reconcile her progressive view on adoption with her religious background, she replied: "Jesus sat with the sinners and the saints and he was not a man of judgment but rather a man of love".
The Premier was later forced to clarify her position, saying her choice of words was not a direct comparison between "sinners" and same-sex couples.
"That's not all what I meant to say," she said.
"My point is this - is that Jesus loved all. He loved all and he accepted all. And for me that is the strongest message that comes out of the gospel." [...]
[http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/news/breaking-news/nsw-premier-kristina-keneally-under-fire-over-religious-parable/story-e6freuyi-1225885280698
See also
http://www.smh.com.au/nsw/come-in-sinners-keneallys-gay-slip-20100628-zf9d.html?skin=text-only]
1 comment:
And as though that clarification wasn't enough, Ms Keneally has had a letter published in today's Herald:
"Sinners and saints
"When I said Jesus sat with sinners and saints as a way to illustrate his message of love, why does your report assume that homosexual people are sinners (''Come in sinners: Keneally's gay slip'', June 29)?
"I made no such claim. In fact, I spoke at length in terms that could only be described as accepting and supportive of gay and lesbian people in general, and specifically in terms of adoption.
"Kristina Keneally NSW Premier, Sydney"
[http://www.smh.com.au/national/letters/dodgy-lodge-logic-an-insult-to-modern-women-20100629-zj0a.html?skin=text-only]
If that's still not enough then I suppose it'll be sackcloth and ashes on George Street.
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