An Australian couple in Canberra recently penned an op-ed for the Canberra CityNews saying that, if the Australian government decides to recognize same-sex marriages, they will get a divorce. It’s not because they don’t love each. They do. They were high school sweethearts who have been married for 10 years. It’s not that. It’s that, if same-sex couples can get married then their marriage means nothing.
When we signed that official-looking marriage certificate 10 years ago at Tuggeranong Baptist Church, we understood that the state was endorsing marriage, as currently defined, as the fundamental social institution – with all that this implied.But if this is no longer the case, then we no longer wish to be associated with this new definition. Marriage is sacred and what is truly “marriage” will only ever be what it has always been.
You see, it’s their “sincerely-held religious beliefs” that will force them to get the divorce and we all know how sacred and powerful “sincerely-held religious beliefs” are.
There is, however, one problem. The Jensens have no plans to separate and will continue to cohabitate after their “divorce”:
You see, after our divorce, we’ll continue to live together, hopefully for another 50 years. And, God willing, we’ll have more children.
The problem with this is that the Australian divorce law requires couples to be separated for at least one year and testify that there is no “reasonable likelihood of resuming married life”:
You can apply for a divorce once you have been separated for twelve months – you will need to provide a date of separation so the court can be satisfied that you and your spouse have been separated for at least 12 months and there is no reasonable likelihood of resuming married life.
If you share a home during the separation, you must file an affidavit swearing you’re not living as husband and wife.
So, if the Jensens go through with their threat, they will be violating the 9th Commandment that forbids lying and false testimony. Apparently the 9th Commandment is one religious belief that’s not-so-sincerely-held by the Jensens.
We’ll let Nick Jensen bring it home for us:
This has been a big decision for my wife and I. Some will accuse of us being bigoted or too hateful to share.
Yes. Yes we will. And of being liars. And of being hypocrites. And of really not being Christians at all. Because Christ was about love and acceptance of others. Not about lying and hypocrisy.
Be sure to read the comments on their op-ed. They’re epic.
