They were driven by the idea that life could be made better by recognising and challenging barriers to social inclusion, and by seeking to overturn unjust structures. It was the brand of Christianity that had worked in the slums of London in the 1930s, the impoverished areas of Australian cities, and had given birth to a large number of church-based social justice agencies. The desire to see human flourishing was at its core.

These people modelled their life on the life and faith of Jesus who dismantled entrenched unjust societal structures; structures his opponents argued God had put in place. Jesus drew a distinction between societal norms and God. Human flourishing was the measure. Jesus taught us that God wanted people to flourish.

It is this expression of Christianity that I believe makes the church most relevant and effective. It is the form of Christianity that has deeply shaped our society. It is so deeply entrenched in our community that it has affected our character and our interests. It is a prime source of our interest in human rights, justice and equality.

Informed by this idea of the church and its mission I became very interested over 30 years ago in the issue of gay and lesbian rights. Many of my friends from university days and in the church were gay or lesbian and I could see the deleterious (sometimes deadly) effects that bigotry, isolation and discrimination were having on some wonderful, loving people. Many of my university friends in particular lived in nurturing but socially unacceptable relationships. Most of my gay and lesbian church friends chose to live alone.

It seems to me that last weekend the people of Ireland responded to the deeply imbedded social teaching of the church. Despite the calls of the church hierarchy many people of the church voted for a measure that will enhance human flourishing.

The same move is a foot in the Australian community and the Australian churches. While many church leaders oppose the call for marriage equality, a significant majority of Christians surveyed by Crosby Textor in 2014 were found to be supporters.

Conversations I have had across the churches reveal that the Christians who support marriage equality have been moved by the desire to enhance human flourishing. Many have experienced first-hand the richness of the relationships that their sons, daughters, grandchildren, parents and siblings have established. They have seen the children of these relationships flourish. They know love at work when they see it. And now desire to see those relationships honoured and cherished. They know that such recognition is good not only for the individual relationship but also for social cohesion. A Progressive Christian Voice (Australia) exists to ensure that these Christians are heard in the public arena.

This should all come as good news to our political leaders. The time for them to progress marriage equality has come and they can do it knowing they are supported by a majority of church members.

* Peter Catt is an Anglican Priest and is President of A Progressive Christian Voice (Australia).