The Bible, marriage equality, and Coopers beer
Australian media did not quite know what to make of this: two Liberal MPs discussing marriage equality over a couple of Coopers Premium Light beers while having an open Bible and a TV camera in front of them. The debate was sponsored by the Bible Society Australia and Coopers Brewery.
Titled “Keeping it Light”, the video is part of a joint campaign between the Adelaide brewer and Bible Society Australia “to reach even more Australians with God’s word” and can be viewed at vimeo.com/207564550.
Shot in the grounds of Canberra’s Parliament House, it shows Tim Wilson, an openly gay agnostic, and Andrew Hastie, a Christian conservative, debating marriage equality while drinking Coopers Premium Light beer.
The Liberal Party is one of the two major Australian political parties and currently in a coalition government under Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull. In November 2016 its proposal to hold a plebiscite on legalising same-sex marriage was defeated in the upper house of parliament on the grounds that a plebiscite would be expensive and could unleash a divisive campaign.
In most Australian states same-sex couples can have civil unions or registered relationships but they are not considered married under national law.
Opinion polls indicate that most Australians support same-sex marriage.
The proposal’s defeat in the senate means the issue will be taken off the agenda at least until the next term of parliament.
Media said on 10 March 2017 that, while the video is meant to be light-hearted, with Mr Hastie and Mr Wilson joking about the Bible’s message of loving thy neighbour, it is unusual to see MPs promote a cause with such a heavy commercial influence.
What do they mean? Is it taboo for a brewery to engage in political debate or sponsor an NGO while it is ok to write a cheque for political parties?
The partnership between the Coopers Foundation and the Christian non-profit organisation coincides with Bible Society Australia’s 200th anniversary. The foundation has been a strong supporter of its work, in particular the provision of Bibles for the defence forces.
Reportedly, Coopers Brewery has produced 10,000 cases of beer printed with Bible verses as part of the campaign.
Dr Tim Cooper, a fifth-generation Cooper and Managing Director of the company, said both brewing and the Bible boasted long histories. “Part and parcel of doing a good job is reflecting on the gifts that we have and using them to God’s best purpose,” he said.
But, after receiving a lot of negative comment on social media, Dr Cooper felt it necessary to issue another comment on 12 March 2017.
“With regards to the ‘Keeping it Light’ video from the Bible Society featuring Andrew Hastie and Tim Wilson, this is a light hearted but balanced debate about an important topic within Australia. As a mature community it’s a debate we need to have but in a good spirited and good natured way. That's how we’ve done business for 154 years. Coopers isn’t trying to push religious messages or change your beliefs by celebrating 200 years of charitable work undertaken by the Bible Society, in fact, over the years we have produced a number of different celebratory cans to recognise the historical achievements of a vast array of different organisations.”
Maybe, in modern secular Australia and in the eyes of some people, this apparently innocent collaboration with the Bible Society was not a good idea – particularly with the on-going sensitivity in some quarters regarding marriage equality.
As always, only time will tell.
