Priest holding a copy of Don’t Mess With Marriage

Archbishop of Hobart, The Most Reverend Julian Porteous DD, has received notification from the Office of the Anti-Discrimination Commissioner that a complaint made about him has been viewed as a possible breach of the Anti-Discrimination Act 1998 (Tas).

The complaint concerns the distribution of a statement by the Australian Catholic Bishops,’Don’t Mess with Marriage’ to all Catholic schools in Tasmania. The Australian Bishops as author of the booklet has also been named as a respondent.

“In distributing the Pastoral Letter, ‘Don’t Mess With Marriage, my aim was to assist the Catholic community in understanding the teaching of the Catholic Church, at a time when debate on this matter was widespread within the community,” Archbishop Porteous said.

“The intention was to inform the debate as leader of the Catholic Church in Tasmania, to ensure the Catholic community understood where we stand on the issue of marriage.

“It was not my intention to offend, rather, it was and is, to express the teaching of the Catholic Church. I regret if offence has been taken by individuals, and will work with the Commission to resolve this matter,” said Archbishop Porteous.

Archbishop Porteous and the Australian Catholic Bishops Conference have been given 21 days to respond to the finding of the Commission.

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