The Archbishop of Sydney has told parents whose children attend Catholic schools that voting against same-sex marriage does not mean they are bigots.
Reverend Anthony Fisher and Dan White, the executive director of Sydney Catholic Schools, have written to parents to encourage them to vote 'no' in the national postal survey on same-sex marriage.
"Saying 'no' to same-sex marriage doesn't mean that you love anyone any less," the pair say in a signed letter from September 15.
They also describe the public debate and arguments about "love is love" and "all love is equal" as being one-sided, with its widespread support by media, sporting organisations and politicians resulting in "the voices of ordinary Australians being drowned out".
"Sadly, there has been a campaign to label all those who support traditional marriage as 'bigots' and 'homophobes', so as to silence all opposition," Archbishop Fisher and Dr White say.
The pair say they are against bigotry and love marriage.
"Most of us know someone who is same-sex attracted and we want only the best for them.
"But we also love marriage as traditionally understood and want to maintain what is special about this relationship."
Archbishop Fisher says parents and carers need to reflect on how redefining marriage will affect believers of traditional marriage.
He says faith-based schools have the most to lose if same-sex marriage is legalised.
"It is important to realise that no protections of our freedoms have been proposed so far by those who are pressing us to vote," he says in the letter.
"We are being asked to vote blind, without seeing what changes will be made to the law and what rights, if any, will be guaranteed."
