THE Australian Christian lobby has issued a bizarre statement arguing that same sex marriage could lead to a new "stolen generation", and would inevitably lead to children being taught the mechanics of homosexual sex in school sex education classes.

In a rambling statement, the Lobby's managing director Lyle Shelton said Kevin Rudd's overnight change-of-mind ignored the consequence of "robbing children of their biological identity through same-sex surrogacy and other assisted reproductive technologies".



"Marriage is not just an affectionate relationship between two people regardless of gender," Mr Shelton said. "Marriage has always been about providing stability and biological identity for children wherever possible.



"What Mr Rudd has not considered is whether or not it is right for children to be taken through technology from their biological parent so that 'married' same-sex couples can fulfil their desires."



Mr Shelton's concerns over same sex marriage range beyond his fear of robbing children of their identity. He also fears potential backlashes against the church.



"Wherever same sex marriage or equivalents have been legislated, Christians have been pursued by activists, he said.



"Christian businesses have been closed down, public servants and even pastors hauled into court and fined for exercising their conscience.



"No government has the right to create these vulnerabilities for the church-going twenty per cent of the population in order to allow the point two per cent who will take advantage of this to redefine marriage,"he said.



But not every Christian sees it that way. Reverend Ben Gilmour, a minister at Paddington Uniting Church in Sydney, describes Mr Shelton's comments on the so-called new stolen generation as "fear mongering".



"I think that that kind of statement really victimises any child who may not have been brought up in a heterosexual marriage," Rev Gilmour told news.com.au. "It's an abusive thing to say."



Rev Gilmour said Mr Shelton's comments about churchgoers being "vulnerable"were laughable. "I think the argument of playing the victim is a bit rich," he said.



"I would say there are lots of Christians who do not support the ACL. My community in Paddington would say they don't support it."



Rev Gilmour's church in Paddington will host a talk at 7pm this Friday by America's first openly gay bishop, Gene Robinson, who will speak in support of same sex marriage.



The ACL appears to have developed an unusual PR policy of linking same sex marriage to other social issues. In a statement last year, it said smoking was healthier than gay marriage.

It concluded its statement today by saying that all major Australian church denominations officially oppose same sex marriage.

Meanwhile Finance Minister Penny Wong issued a statement saying "[ACL Deputy Chairman] Jim Wallace and his colleagues have demonstrated how out of touch they are. This type of bigotry has no place in Australia.

"Our children are loved and our children are cherished and they deserve far more than the kind of prejudice shown by Mr Wallace today."

Continue the conversation @antsharwood @newscomauHQ