Church cancels wedding due to bride's support for gay marriage on Facebook
A Victorian church has cancelled a heterosexual couple's wedding after they expressed support on social media for same-sex marriage.
The bride, 26, and her 25-year-old groom had planned to be married by minister Steven North at Ebenezer St John's Presbyterian church in Ballarat in November.
But after the bride posted a Facebook status saying she "stands for" same-sex marriage in August, the couple were called in and told Mr North would not marry them, The Age reported.
"I know it's something not everyone will agree on and that's fine but this is what I stand for and frankly it doesn't effect [sic] my relationship with [my partner] one bit," the bride had written on Facebook.
In a letter to the couple, Mr North said their beliefs "opposes the teaching of Christ Jesus."
"By continuing to officiate it would appear either that I support your views on same-sex marriage, or that I am uncaring about this matter. As you know, neither statement is correct," he wrote, according to The Age.
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The couple had already sent wedding invites with the church as the location to their guests.
The decision has sparked debate among commentators and 2GB's Chris Smith said it could probaby be considered "discrimination" before same-sex marriage is legalised.
"But after same-sex marriage, is it allowed?" he said on Sunrise. "These are all the considerations we haven't been told about. This is the legislation we haven't been given prior to having this postal plebiscite sent to our homes."
Herald Sun columnist Susie O'Brien called the decision "absolutely appalling."
"The thought of the churches trawling through this couple's Facebook pages to see what they think about gay marriage is the most appalling waste of their time," she said.
