The Catholic Church has spared no expense in ramping up its ‘say no’ campaign by producing a pastoral letter from bishops to all Australians.

We’re told the document – pointedly entitled ‘Don’t Mess With Marriage’ – will also be distributed to Catholic primary and high schools.

The bishops emphasise heavily the “importance of marriage and family” … that a marriage between a man and woman “joins distinct families to each other, fostering greater communion between people.”

Are they saying this wouldn’t happen in same sex marriages?

The document also touts the patronising “respect for all” theme which many of those in the ‘say no’ camp conveniently refer to when pressed on their views.

What the church isn’t keen to explore at all in this pastoral letter is the alarming rates of divorce.

In Australia, about one in three marriages end in divorce. Catholics are amongst them. About half of divorces involve young children.

The bishops make no mention of it in this document.

Their “messing with marriage, therefore, is also messing with kids” mantra must also apply to male and female unions.

Still, the church maintains that a “further tearing away at the traditional understanding of marriage will only hurt more people …”

If we are to respect that view (as well as those espoused in this column and the letters on the next page), then we should place equal value on the view of local man Tom Sebo who says today “people shouldn’t be sub-categorised based on superficial influences.”

If you believe strongly one way or the other, make your views known to Member for Hume Angus Taylor.

ELECTORAL boundary redistributions are a pain in the backside – and the taxpayers’ pocket.

Most voters really don’t care about the machinations that go on behind those doors of the Australian Electoral Commission.

But a boundary shift here or there can make or break a politician, especially a sitting Member.

The next federal redistribution will see New South Wales decrease its representation from 48 to 47 federal electoral divisions by early next year.

Population shifts and/or a period of seven years essentially determine when these things happen.

Political parties and members of the community are entitled to have a say in the shakeup.

But with Hume, it would be unthinkable for there to be a major adjustment.

As the seat’s Member Angus Taylor says “continuity of representation” is everything.

He and his party should have the biggest say.