工党议员：小议《婚姻（婚姻定义）补充法案》

　　《婚姻（婚姻定义）补充法案》（俗称“同性婚姻法案”）上周以包括总理约翰基、司法部长兼民族事务部长朱迪﹒柯林斯在内的８０位议员投了赞成票而在国会通过了一读。现在进入了专业委员会讨论阶段，同时开始向公

　　《婚姻（婚姻定义）补充法案》（俗称“同性婚姻法案”）上周以包括总理约翰基、司法部长兼民族事务部长朱迪﹒柯林斯在内的８０位议员投了赞成票而在国会通过了一读。现在进入了专业委员会讨论阶段，同时开始向公众征求意见。

　　这一法案将婚姻定义为：缔结两个人的婚姻关系无关性别、性取向或性别认知。

　　法案自提出后各方反应非常激烈、异见纷呈，因此也充份反映出新西兰社会的多元性。所幸人们终于能够就此议题展开讨论，尤其应当指出的是这样的讨论正是构成一个现代民主社会的重要方面。

　　这个法案并没有要求任何个人或教会为一对新人主婚――如果这么做不符合司仪神父或教会的宗教信仰与阐释。

　　这个法案既不会影响到宗教团体关于婚姻的定义，也不会影响个人关于婚姻的看法。法案只是立法规范婚姻中的民事关系。这不同于宗教或圣经中对于婚姻的观点与界定，后者也不属于此法案的立法范畴。

　　现有婚姻法第29款指明：司仪神父或牧师并不因为持有执照就必须为一对新人主持婚礼。是否主婚完全取决于个人选择，而这一条款保持不变。

　　教会将不会被迫为同性伴侣缔结婚约。同理，司仪神父或牧师也不会被迫为新人主持婚礼，而且任何一个教堂都可以自主拒绝为一对新人主婚。所以婚姻法下的现状并没有任何改变。

　　就在路易莎•沃议员的婚姻补充法案进行国会一读的前两天，新西兰家庭优先党（Family First NZ）发表声明说教会的牧师们将要被迫违心为同性伴侣主婚。这一声明其实是基于错误的观念――即认为主婚神父是执行公务，从而必须遵守新西兰权利法案（1990）的相关法令。

　　但是，虽然路易莎•沃议员在她的议案中将为包括同性和变性伴侣在内的所有新人发放结婚证列为一项公共义务，却不能强迫任何一位司仪神父为上述新人伴侣主婚――如果神父认为这么做与他们自己的信仰或良心相违。 沃女士的补充法案对于现有婚姻法第29款下的绝对权利丝毫无损。

　　即便是现婚姻法第29款关于婚姻注册的部份，也赋予注册人员对证婚说“不”的权利。

　　所谓这个法案将对教会等私人团体是否主持与其习俗、教律、信仰等一致的宗教仪式（包括婚礼）的自主权造成影响的种种断言都是错的。此类仪式不具备“公众的”性质，所以新西兰权利法案在此并不适用。

　　《婚姻补充（婚姻定义）法案》只不过要让和所有新西兰公民一样坚信爱、公正与平等原则的同性伴侣们获得婚姻平等的权利。

　　The Marriage (Definition of Marriage) Amendment Bill

　　The Marriage (Definition of Marriage) Amendment Bill passed its first reading in Parliament this week. It will now be considered by a select committee and public submissions will be called for.

　　This Bill defines marriage as between two people, regardless of their sex, sexual orientation or gender identity.

　　The Bill has attracted passionate reactions from a number of quarters and the result of that passion has seen statements that reflect a diversity of opinions across our society.  The ability to have a say about this issue is fundamental and it is important to highlight that this is an important aspect of a modern democratic society.

　　What this bill does not do is require any person, or church, to carry out a marriage if it does not fit with the beliefs of the celebrant or the religious interpretation that a church has.

　　This Bill does not affect a religious groups' definition of marriage. Nor does it affect a person's personal views about marriage. This Bill is about the civil regulation of marriage.

　　That is separate to the religious or biblical view or definition of marriage which is not part of the law.

　　Under the current Act section 29 states that a celebrant/minister is not obliged to marry a couple just because they have a licence. It is a choice and that section remains unchanged.

　　Churches will not be obliged to marry same-sex couples. In the same way as a celebrant or minister is not obliged to marry a couple so too is a Church free to decline to solemnise a marriage of a couple if it chooses. There is no change to the current situation.

　　About two days before Louisa Wall’s Marriage Amendment Bill was due to have its first reading in Parliament, a legal opinion was produced by Family First NZ which stated that Church ministers will be obliged to carry out same-sex weddings against their wishes.  The opinion was based on the erroneous notion that marriage celebrants are carrying out a public duty and accordingly the New Zealand Bill of Rights Act 1990 will apply.

　　Although Louisa Wall’s Bill will establish a public duty on the part of the registrar to issue a marriage licence to all persons including gay, lesbian and transgendered persons, no public duty or obligation can be imposed on any individual celebrant to carry out that marriage if it transpires that such is against their own particular belief structures or conscience.  Ms Wall’s amendment does not take away the absolute right under section 29 of the Marriage Act to say no.

　　Even in the case of registrars section 29 of the Marriage Act provides the registrar also with a power to say no. 

　　Assertions that this bill will impact on the freedoms that private organisations such as churches have, to conduct or not to conduct their religious ceremonies, including marriage ceremonies, in accordance with their customs, doctrines and religious usages are wrong. Such ceremonies are not somehow “public” in nature and the New Zealand Bill of Rights Act will not apply. Such misinformation is unhelpful.

　　This Bill simply enables marriage equality between consenting adults underpinned by principles of love, fairness and equality of opportunity for all New Zealand citizens