The real blessing was the marriage equality legislation passed by the secular Australian parliament in defiance of most church leaders, signalling a change in contemporary values but leaving the church jilted at the altar and it looks like she's stuck there. The vulnerability of the couple, the bishop and the synod of Wangaratta is a diagnosis of the problem of religious prerogative when an institution turns its guns on its own people.

Like fake beggars, religious institutions are handing around the plate for more power that they intend to use against vulnerable minorities. Defending the human rights of clergy would have to be Australia's least fashionable cause, but all Australians should be horrified at the fear preventing adults from celebrating their identity until retirement age only to find themselves and their supporters hunted.

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It is a comfort that the ingredients required to produce such suffering require someone to cook them and most young Australians seeking to share the good news of unconditional love can see the warning on the packet and opt for safer workplaces.

The writing is on the wall but conservative parts of the church can't read it.

This secular marriage and the support of the refugee Christian community supporting them was an unforgettable lesson in the power of sending conditional acceptance back to the kitchen.

We can thank Fr John, Fr Rob, Bishop John and their friends for giving us a fresh taste of authentic Christianity even if it remains off the official menu.

There are unprecedented fires in the Arctic Circle and the Amazon rain forest as well as dozens of fires up the east coast of Australia in the first week of spring.

We, as Australians, are fuelling the conditions that create these fires by not acting sensibly on the causes of climate change. Australia is the largest exporter of coal in the world and one of the highest per capita emitters of greenhouse gases. The longer we pretend that its all okay, the worse we make it and the more expensive the consequences and the fixes.

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Our children can see clearly that the problem is largely a lack of political will. This coming Friday (20 September) they are gathering at 11am in QEII Square for a couple of hours to ask our so-called leaders to take serious action according to the science. They have generously invited adults to join them.

I urge everyone who cares about our future to show support by attending - even it is only for a short time. Numbers matter to our leaders.Have the courage to be there.

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