Opposition of Marriage Equality-Free-Samples-Myassignmenthelp.com

Question: Write an opinion editorial (Op-Ed) in a topic " Marriage equality " that critically analyses the challenges with realising aspirations of the common good in your professional community, locally and globally. Answer: Marriage equality is all about justice and law and is not a concern related to procreation and religion. The modern religious communities claim that it is upon them to state how and who should be entitled to marriage. However, marriage being the religious duty not only predated these religions but also was not even considered as a part of any celebration, in case of Christianity, in particular until the 9th century. Since then marriage and the legal privileges have undergone significant changes irrespective of any religious claims relating to the resolute and sacred immutability. In the contemporary era, marriage is all about two adults who are non-related to each other and intends to acknowledge their love for each other legally. The concept of marriage equality signifies the change in the definition of marriage in the Marriage Act 1961 from a man and a woman to two people in the statute. This was claimed to ensure that the statute was favorable for same-sex marriages, thus, rendering the statute genderless in terms of the matter of who one is entitled to get married legally (Becker, 2015). Several factors attribute to the opposition of marriage equality such as aged people, in particular, who are comfortable with their long-held beliefs including their religious beliefs. It is a well-known fact that it is difficult to except changing attitudes towards the long established social beliefs and rules. In this context, a former Justice of the High Court of Australia [1996-2009], Michael Kirby AC CMG has stated about his own experience and attitudes towards the changing attitudes towards the acceptance of same-sex marriage. He was himself homosexual and being in a relationship with his male partner signified the conventional beliefs of his legal values and his legal rights within which he was raised. It is a fact that accepting new attitudes in old institutions is bound to face opposition (Cahill, 2015). Some of the opponents of marriage equality usually use religious beliefs, non-faith-based arguments to justify their beliefs and arguments. Such arguments include the age-old belief that marriage can only take place between heterosexual persons and that procreation of children is essential to marriage, which makes heterosexual marriage most appropriate way to form families. These arguments imply an attempt to disguise the underlying motivation of such people, which is to promote their long-held conventional beliefs (Tebbe, 2015). If such motivation were not subjected to frequent examination, it would prejudice the heterosexual persons. The two essential arguments that arises in this context is whether religious belief should have any role to play in determining public policy regarding civil same-sex marriage in the Australian community. The second essential argument is to oppose the proposition that marriage is the union of a man and a woman. In regards to the first argument, the right of people to oppose same-sex marriage on the grounds of faith is respected. The significance of marriage in various faiths and the right of the people to perform marriages as per their rituals and teachings is also respected. Similarly, the right of several faiths to determine who they want to get married and under what situation, should be equally respected. This is evident from the fact when one of Australias leading Catholic thinker, Frank Brennan has asserted that legalization of same-sex marriage signifies common good as civil marriage cannot be considered as some instrument of the church. He referred to the legalization of same-sex marriage and support of marriage equality in like-minded nations such as New Zealand and Britain to support such change and endow the couple with consistency while moved worldwide. In regards to the second argument, which defines marriage as a union between a man and a woman the opposition to marriage, equality derives from the age-old belief that is considered unchangeable. Father Brennan promoted the teachings of Catholic Church on marriage stating that it should take place between man and a woman but this concept should be segregated from civil marriage, which is a distinct institution from the marriage concept in the Catholic Church. He further stated that the concerns relating to religious freedom are valid but the same shall be dealt with by the Parliament (Eskridge, 2014). Consequently, the parliament of Australia has assented for legalization of same-sex marriage in the nation and the Bill is likely to be enforced within few months. The aspirations of common good with respect to marriage equality can be achieved if legal equality of marriage concerns more than marriage as a ceremony. It should not imply exclusion of any group in the community but it is to ensure the group has easy access to the legal right to be married. Reference list Becker, J. (2015).Forcing the spring: Inside the fight for marriage equality. Penguin. Bernstein, M., Taylor, V. (2013).The Marrying Kind?: Debating Same-Sex Marriage within the Lesbian and Gay Movement. University of Minnesota Press. Cahill, C. M. (2015). The Oedipus Hex: Regulating Family After Marriage Equality.UCDL Rev.,49, 183. Eskridge Jr, W. N. (2014). The Marriage Equality Cases and Constitutional Theory.Cato Sup. Ct. Rev., 111. Tebbe, N. (2015). Religion and Marriage Equality Statutes.