An interfaith group is promoting an “Australian Creed for Sexual Integrity”—a clear and concise statement of traditional Christian ethics.
One of its leading signatories is Hobart’s Catholic Archbishop Julian Porteous. He says that the document crystallises what Christians believe about human sexuality. At a time when distinctively Christian positions are being attacked on a broad front, the “creed” will be a reference point which summarises traditional teachings.
The 200-word statement is couched in positive terms, but it is an unambiguous affirmation of centuries of Christian doctrine.
It states, for instance, “We believe God blesses sexual intimacy solely between a man and a woman within the holy covenant of marriage, a life-giving mystery that reflects Christ’s love for his church.”
And it continues: “We believe God calls a husband and wife to be fruitful and multiply, that every life is sacred, and that children are precious to God and must be protected from sexualisation.”
So far, the internet statement has been signed by nearly 6,000 people.
Perhaps no one knows better the advantage of having a firm reference point for Christian views on sexuality than Archbishop Porteous. He was forced to defend himself before Tasmania’s Anti-Discrimination Commission in 2015 over allegations of homophobia in the lead-up to the plebiscite on same-sex marriage.
An activist lodged a vexatious complaint after a booklet, “Don’t Mess with Marriage”— which had been published by the Australian Catholic Bishops Conference—was distributed in parishes and schools in Tasmania.
It took six months of negotiation before the complaint was withdrawn.
Another of the signatories to the “Creed,” Anglican Bishop Glenn Davies (Glenn Davies), of the Diocese of the Southern Cross, recently told Vision Christian Media that his Catholic colleague is “a hero, a champion for Gospel truth.”
Bishop Davies has also been at the centre of controversy. As Anglican Archbishop of Sydney he firmly opposed same-sex marriage and in 2022 ended up forming a breakaway Anglican diocese which supports a traditional view of marriage.
Catholics may be better placed to defend themselves on controversial issues like abortion, homosexuality, transgenderism, pornography or same-sex marriage. Their views are spelled out clearly in the Catechism of the Catholic Church and in many papal documents. They are backed up by centuries of theological reflection and pastoral experience.
Around the world, the Catholic Church presents a more or less united front. An individual bishop, priest or lay person cannot be accused of promoting eccentric personal views when they defend Catholic views on sexuality.
However, Protestant denominations have splintered on this issue, some accepting progressive notions and others standing staunchly for what they describe as biblical truth. For the latter, the Australian Creed for Sexual Integrity provides a doctrinal mooring. It shows that their views are not just personal but biblically based and thoroughly traditional.
As the Creed’s website explains: “Every era has its particular heresies. In the 21st century, heresies abound in the area of human sexuality. The church has not been immune to these errors. We believe the time has come for a new creed that affirms the timeless teachings of the church regarding sexual integrity, and that articulates God’s glorious design for sex and marriage as revealed in Holy Scripture.”
“It was very much an initiative of Protestant churches,” says Archbishop Porteous, “but I thought it was good ecumenically to show support. And from the Catholic point of view, I felt we had a lot to offer because we have been able to articulate a lot of this material through magisterial teaching, through the catechism and so on, and help them with terminology.”
The archbishop emphasises that Christian morality is eminently positive.
“We believe that this Christian teaching about the nature of sexuality, the nature of marriage, is vital for human flourishing.
“It’s God’s plan for human life, the way human life should be lived. It is in the best interest, we believe, of people living a healthy, integrated life.”
He sums up his own approach with some wry theological wisdom: “I always like to use the little phrase, for best results follow the Maker’s instructions.”