Elder Jeffrey D. Cummings, Area Seventy in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, joined 40 other leaders of various faiths this week in sending a letter to the Australian Prime Minister, Hon Tony Abbott MP, in support of traditional marriage.
The letter reads, in part:
“As leaders of Australia’s major religions we write to express the grave concerns that we, and those who share our various faiths, share regarding Bills that have or will be introduced into the Federal Parliament to change the definition of marriage in Australian law. The definition of marriage enshrined in the Commonwealth Marriage Act 1961 – “the union of a man and a woman, to the exclusion of all others, voluntarily entered into for life” – reflects a truth deeply embedded across diverse communities, faiths and cultures. To uphold marriage as the mutual love of a man and a woman, open to the gift of children, is not bigotry or prejudice. At many times throughout history, and sadly still today in some places, people with same-sex attraction have suffered injustice. This is to be deplored. We should do more to ensure that our brothers and sisters who are same-sex attracted are treated with the dignity and respect owed to every human being. But this does not require the further deconstruction of marriage as traditionally understood.”
Read the entire letter at the Roman Catholic Church’s Sydney Archdiocese website.
Read The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints’ 1995 statement on marriage and family, titled: “The Family: A Proclamation to the World.”