The Relationships (Civil Partnerships) and Other Acts Amendment Bill 2015 proposed by the Queensland Parliament seeks to reinstate legislative provisions removed in 2012 in respect of legally recognised partnerships between two adults, to:
- allow a state-sanctioned ceremony prior to registration of a civil partnership
- allow such a relationship to be registered as a ‘civil partnership’, rather than a ‘registered relationship’.
The Bill would also support the transition to a digitised births, deaths and marriages registration service, establishing electronic lodgement as the means of lodgement for births and deaths. It would recognise the validity of digitised copies of source documents relating to registrations of life events, the same legal status as the original paper versions.
This legislation first step on the journey of honouring the human dignity and commitment of same sex couples. It is also a basic human right that protects the legal status of the relationship. Written submissions addressing the Bill’s proposals as outlined above are now invited, and will be accepted until 4.00 pm on Monday, 19 October 2015.A guide to making submissions is available here.
I find it bizarre that so many of my fellow Catholics get upset by this. The Church blesses all sorts of inanimate objects including houses, cars, footballs, statues and buildings. It has blessings for all sorts of people from students to pilgrims but won't even offer a blessing ritual to same sex couples.
The official book of blessings however does include a Blessing of Organisations Concerned With Public Needs so perhaps Brisbane LGBTIQ Action Group could qualify for that.
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