Magda Szubanski challenges Anglican Archbishop on ABC Q&A

Australian actress Magda Szubanski accused the Anglican Archbishop of Sydney of ‘de-licensing’ a priest who spoke of his support of same-sex marriage during a heated debate on ABC’s Q&A on Monday night.

Szubanski and Dr Glenn Davies, who is an adamant supporter of the ‘no’ campaign, butted heads frequently during the hour-long panel discussion centred on the legalization of gay marriage.

Dr Davies told the audience the ‘consequences’ of same-sex marriage would be ‘greater than what people realise,’ affecting schools and church clergy.

 

Magda Szubanski (pictured) accused the Anglican Archbishop of Sydney of delicensing a priest who spoke of his support of same-sex marriage during a heated debate on ABC’s Q&A on Monday night

Szubanski and Dr Glenn Davies (pictured together), who is an adamant supporter of the 'no' campaign, butted heads frequently during the hour-long panel discussion

Szubanski and Dr Glenn Davies (pictured together), who is an adamant supporter of the ‘no’ campaign, butted heads frequently during the hour-long panel discussion

‘In Sweden, for example, the PM of Sweden said to clergy generally if you’re not going to marry gay people, then find another job,’ he said.

‘If you talk about homosexuality from the perspective of the Bible, and that offends a homosexual person, that is seen as hate language and it’s a criminal offence.’

A frustrated Szubanski quickly interrupted the former school teacher, telling him he’s ‘the person that delicensed a priest who dared to speak in favour of same-sex marriage and [is] protected by religious exemptions.’

‘You did it,’ she said emphatically.

Dr Davies argued her claims were not true, telling the comedian to ‘try fact check.’

‘Try having a lot of obsessive religious exemptions when ordinary citizens don’t,’ Szubanski retorted.

A frustrated Szubanski quickly interrupted the former school teacher, telling him he's 'the person that delicensed a priest who dared to speak in favour of same-sex marriage'

A frustrated Szubanski quickly interrupted the former school teacher, telling him he’s ‘the person that delicensed a priest who dared to speak in favour of same-sex marriage’

Last year, Dr Davies refused to renew the license of Sydney priest Keith Mascord for his support on same-sex marriage, according to the ABC.

‘Because of his rejection of the authority of the Bible and the doctrine of Christ [as received by the Anglican Church], the Archbishop formed the view that it is not appropriate for Dr Mascord to hold a licence to preach in the Diocese of Sydney,’ the Archbishop said in a statement at the time.

The pair butted heads once again when discussing if the church was telling people across the country what to think

‘I don’t think the views expressed have been telling anyone what to believe…That’s not my job,’ the Archibishop said.

‘You paid a million dollars to fund the no campaign. I think that, not out of your personal money either,’ Szubanski quipped.

Karina Okotel, vice president of both the Federal and Victorian divisions of the Liberal Party, also appeared on the program, during which she contracted herself repeatedly

Karina Okotel, vice president of both the Federal and Victorian divisions of the Liberal Party, also appeared on the program, during which she contracted herself repeatedly

Dr Davies insisted the money for the campaign came from church funds, not the donations, and was therefore not tax deductible.

Karina Okotel, vice president of both the Federal and Victorian divisions of the Liberal Party, also appeared on the program, during which she contracted herself repeatedly. 

A firm ‘no’ supporter, Ms Okotel confused the audience and panel when she said she would have no problem with a same-sex couple raising children – which has been used as a main argument against legalization.

When pushed, Ms Okotel said it was in situations where couples used IVF to have children that she was concerned, because they may never have contact with their biological parents.

In a rebuttal, Szubanski asked Ms Okotel if she had the same concern for heterosexual couples who undergo IVF to have a family.

 

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