Christian leader says he’ll get divorced if Australia legalizes same-sex marriage

An Australian Christian couple says they will divorce if Australia sanctions same-sex marriage.

Nick Jensen, a former director with the Australian Christian Lobby, has been married to his wife Sarah for 10 years. They have two children. But Jensen told Canberra CityNews that if marriage is re-defined to include people of the same sex, he and his wife will divorce rather than recognize the legitimacy of the new definition.

“My wife and I, as a matter of conscience, refuse to recognize the government’s regulation of marriage if its definition includes the solemnisation of same sex couples,” Jensen said.

That’s not to say the couple would separate. He said they’ll still live together, raise their kids, call each other “husband” and “wife” and consider themselves married in the church’s eyes.

Jensen’s main argument, it seems, is that by allowing same-sex marriage, Australia would be re-defining the covenant under which he and Sara married in 2005.

“When we signed that official-looking marriage certificate 10 years ago at Tuggeranong Baptist Church, we understood that the state was endorsing marriage, as currently defined, as the fundamental social institution – with all that this implied,” he said.

“But if this is no longer the case, then we no longer wish to be associated with this new definition. Marriage is sacred and what is truly “marriage” will only ever be what it has always been.”

If this reeks of being a publicity stunt, there’s a good chance that’s true. According to Australian law, the Jensens wouldn’t be able to legally divorce without actually separating unless they provide affidavits explaining a change in sleeping arrangements, reduction in shared activities or family outings, decline in performing household duties for each other, division of finances and any other matters that show the marriage has broken down. From Jensen’s own statements, none of that would be true.

According to his official biography, Jensen holds a Bachelor of Theology in biblical studies and church history.

Jensen’s day job involves the administration of the Lachlan Macquarie Internship, aimed at exerting Christian influence on public policy in Australian politics.  The internship itself, which is affiliated with the Australian Christian Lobby, is named after the former governor of New South Wales, who forced ex-convicts to live reformed, Christian lives, including regular attendance at church services and formal Christian marriages. The Australian Christian Lobby has been described as the country's largest opponent of same-sex marriage.