CHRISTIAN leaders have applauded Prime Minister Kevin Rudd's (pictured) decision to oppose the introduction of gay marriage in Australia.

The Archbishop of Sydney, Dr Peter Jensen, welcomed the government’s “clear and firm determination to make sure that whatever happens this is not about marriage. Marriage is between a man and a woman and it is excellent that the Government has made that clear.”

On May 4, the Labor government announced it would veto Civil Partnership Legislation proposed by the government of the Australian Capital Territory in Canberra, arguing the proposed civil union ceremonies too closely resembled marriage. The ACT government will be permitted to introduce legislation allowing same-sex couples to register their unions, but any ceremony memorializing the union would have no standing under law.

The Australian Christian Lobby chairman Jim Wallace applauded the decision, telling the Australian Broadcasting Corporation [ABC] that marriage should not be a “political trophy for two per cent of the population.”

Last week the Rudd government introduced legislation giving same-sex partnerships parity with marriage in terms of tax, pension and health benefits. Gay activists and liberal church leaders had hoped Labor would take the next step and permit gay marriage. The government’s opposition came down to the argument that “marriage is between a man and a woman," Australian Coalition for Equality spokesman Rodney Croome said.

“Just because that was the tradition doesn't mean that change couldn't occur," he told the ABC.

Melbourne Anglican activist Muriel Porter wrote in The Australian that the “claim that somehow gay marriage will damage heterosexual marriage” was “outrageous.”

“It may be one thing for the church to have its own rules in this area, but to use its influence to stop outside arrangements is outrageous,” she argued, urging the government to stop making “gay people pariahs” and “invite them to share in the wonderful, time-honoured benefits that a faithful, committed, publicly affirmed marriage can bestow.”

However, Dr Jensen said he remained “concerned about the impact of the gay lifestyle on our community and I don’t believe any of us should be forced to accept it.” However, a change in tax and benefit laws to address “injustices” was necessary. However, he argued that such arrangements should be granted to other types of relationships, which are non-sexual, so that the changes are “not just pro-gay but pro-people.”

“Marriage is not a matter of government fiat,” Dr Jensen said. “We can’t simply say, because some people want it, that marriage is different now. Marriage is between a man and a woman and I’m pleased the Government seems determined to recognise that basic fact.”