Current Events > Couple vowed to divorce if SSM law passed in Australia. Law passed.

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https://goo.gl/2HrrTN

THEY vowed to divorce if Australia said Yes to same sex marriage.
Theyve been in a holding pattern since the postal survey gave them their answer.
But Nick and Sarah Jensen said theyd wait to see what shape the law took in parliament.
Now they know.

And, well, their response might disappoint you.

In a statement to news.com.au immediately after Australias House of Representatives voted overwhelmingly to legalise same sex marriage, Mr Jensen backed away from his once-bold stance.

My previous public comments regarding civil divorce never envisaged me separating from my wife, but rather our marriage from the state, he said.

The legislation currently makes it untenable for us to do this under the law. The point we were highlighting and that still stands however is the fact that a redefinition of marriage changes the agreement under which we were originally married.

We will be making no further comment.
The Christian couple captured national attention in 2015 with a very public pledge to end their marriage despite the fact theyre very much in love if gay couples were also allowed to wed.

My wife and I just celebrated our 10th wedding anniversary but later this year we may be getting a divorce, Mr Jensen told Canberra City News back then.

As Christians, we believe marriage is not a human invention, he wrote.

Our view is that marriage is a fundamental order of creation. Part of Gods intimate story for human history. Marriage is the union of a man and a woman before a community in the sight of God. And the marriage of any couple is important to God regardless of whether that couple recognises Gods involvement or authority in it.
My wife and I, as a matter of conscience, refuse to recognise the governments regulation of marriage if its definition includes the solemnisation of same sex couples.

But he said it would not be a traditional divorce.

After our divorce, well continue to live together, hopefully for another 50 years. And, God willing, well have more children. Well also continue to refer to each other as husband and wife and consider ourselves married by the Church and before God.

After the public divorce proclamation, 100,000 people signed up to attend a Facebook event called Celebrating Nick and Sarah Jensens divorce.

When the same sex survey Yes result was announced last month, quick-thinking lawyer Michael Tiyce offered to help them with the legalities of divorce.

My firm does quite a bit of pro bono work in family law each year in the gay, lesbian and trans community. I thought offering assistance to Nick and Sarah would be an excellent way of reaching out across communities with my family law expertise, because quite simply they are going to need it, he said.

It would be needed for questions like whether the couple could legally divorce without separating for one year, as Federal law requires.

The Jensens didnt take up the offer.

Mr Jensen told the Mail Online he and Sarah would wait to see what any change to the marriage law is before publicly announcing their future plans.

We just need to see the legislation and if it all goes that way, he said.

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Then we know what situation were in and what were going to do.
The pair maintained a low profile in the media throughout the debate, but the Nick Jensen Facebook page carried a picture of the couple with an, Its OK to vote No Coalition for Marriage banner, and featured posts with Mr Jensen debating the issue.

Mr and Mrs Jensen married at the age of 21 and were high school sweethearts for several years before that.
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, Mr Jensen wrote in 2015.

But if this is no longer the case, then we no longer wish to be associated with this new definition.

The truth is, marriage is simply too important. It is a sacred institution, ordained by God. It has always been understood to be that exclusive relationship where one man and one woman become one flesh. Any attempt to change the definition of marriage by law is not something in which we are able to partake.

The response to their declaration was vicious, with Mr Jensens brother, Soren, penning his own article, saying that while he disagreed with Nicks stance, he respected and defended his right to say and believe it.

He is not a loony, a religious nut or any of the many other descriptions being thrown around. Nor is he a hateful person, Soren wrote.

He is an intelligent, reasoned man making an argument and a stand on his principles and his religious truth on this issue.

But his statement has hurt people. He is actively involved in the Australian Christian Lobby and this is their moment in the sun on the issue. And the internet has responded accordingly.

I disapprove of what my brother has said, but I will defend to the death his right to say it. And your right to respond. But lets do so in a way that is constructive..

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burp.
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Lol welchers
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(Deflection post warning)

Remember when Whoopi Goldberg said she would move to Canada if Trump won?
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Caution999 posted...

(Deflection post warning)

Remember when Whoopi Goldberg said she would move to Canada if Trump won?

Well, the View is taped in NY, she could technically move out there and still work...
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Damn welchers
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So they welched. Ok.
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welching is a bigger crime than genocide on gamefaqs and causes huge amount of salty tears
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Were upset about the sanctity of marriage being trampled on!....so were going to disgrace our marriage by getting a divorce..

........
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So basically: "We're legally divorcing but literally nothing is gonna change because we still consider ourselves married"?

Caution999 posted...

(Deflection post warning)

Remember when Whoopi Goldberg said she would move to Canada if Trump won?

Yeah and I remember when Ted Nugent said he would kill himself if Obama won in 2012.
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Mikablu posted...

So basically: "We're legally divorcing but literally nothing is gonna change because we still consider ourselves married"?

And even if that is their excuse, if the legal contract with the state doesnt matter with regard to gods law and they can still be married then why are they so upset about gay people getting legally married with the state?
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who even cares if they get divorced or stay married?

Zikten posted...

who even cares if they get divorced or stay married?

No one. Its just funny to call idiots like this out sometime. Its not a big deal either way.
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As if anyone outside of their family would give a shit if they got divorced.......
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