An Australian Catholic bishop has said that his diocese will cease performing legal marriages if it is ever forced 
to conduct same-sex unions.
Archbishop Barry Hickey (pictured), of the archdiocese of Perth was speaking to parishioners as politicians in the state of Western Australia debate introducing same-sex marriage.
Earlier this month, State Premier Mike Rann, of the Labour party, called on the Australian Federal government to legalise same-sex marriage. Every other state Labour party leader has also called on the Federal Government to introduce gay marriage.
However, Archbishop Hickey has blasted any suggestion that the Church in Australia might be obliged to conduct such ceremonies.
He said: “We might be back to the ghetto. We can’t do those marriages at all. And if the law forces us to, we cancel our registration as marriage celebrants. We just don’t do it.”
Archbishop Hickey said he had “very, very serious concerns” about the Federal Government’s push to amend marriage laws to include same-sex unions.
He said that even if the push for same-sex marriage succeeded, the Catholic Church would continue to celebrate sacramental marriage as it always had. However, these marriages would not have state recognition.
Father Joseph Walsh, from St Joseph’s Catholic Church in Subiaco, said marriage between a man and a woman was sacrosanct and he did not see any possibility of the Church changing its policy.
“There are areas of morality and ethics that will never change,” he said. “Some things are wrong and will never ever change in the Catholic traditions. I think every priest in the country would agree with that.”