A few explanations.

First, as a voluntary pastor, I work more hours per week in a research company than in the church, and am sensitive to the misuse of research to imply that it says certain things which it does not say. I took the time to read the report, because I found it surprising that it might say the kinds of thing Ms. Pryor’s piece suggested it said.

By all means, let journalists write their opinion pieces, but if they use research to support a point of view, let them use research appropriately, as I had to when working as a journalist.

Second, I am not a fundamentalist and am uncomfortable with fundamentalism. However, in the broad sweep of Australian Christianity, fundamentalists are a minority. I’ve lived through enough attempts to demonise minorities (I think of Asians and the Communist Party in Australia; intellectuals, practitioners of religion in some other places) to be alert to such things. I am sad that far too many Australians either don’t know about it or couldn’t give a damn. If people don’t call it when it begins, it will grow cancerously in our society.

Third, while I am unsure whether “marriage” per se is the best solution for gay relationships (I am not a lawyer, but have spent sufficient time in their company to beware of pronouncing on legal mechanisms), I certainly believe that there are injustices in the present situation which must be corrected. However, my views were irrelevant to the matters on which I wished to comment.

Perhaps the bigotry lies elsewhere.