Tambourine Army accuses churches of condoning rape of married women

The women's rights group, Tambourine Army, has criticised the six churches which told a parliamentary committee reviewing the Sexual Offences Act that it should avoid passing laws to punish husbands who have sex their wives without consent of condoning the rape of married women.

In a release, Tambourine Army said their position is denying married women legal protection.

The group says this is a serious indictment on the group of churches as it amounts to supporting the rape of married women.

According to the women's rights group, the church does not understand the difference between rape and sex.

It argues that the church's position that marriage presumes consent to sex is dangerous as it ignores the reality of intimate partner violence.