It's not every day that you hear a seasoned politician, much less the leader of a major party, publicly defend same-sex marriage against the dogmatic antagonism of a fundamentalist Christian pastor, especially in the United States.

Which is why this poignant exchange took place on the opposite end of the time zone map.

During a recent Q&A on ABC News, Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd was asked by Pastor Matt Prater how he could call himself a Christian and still support gay marriage.

"Well mate, if I was going to have that view, the Bible also says that slavery is a natural condition," Rudd responded to a round of applause from the audience.

He went on to tell the visibly stunned pastor that changing his mind on the subject, which he did back in May, did not come easy, but was based on an "informed conscience and Christian conscience."

Sadly for Mr. Rudd and Australia as a whole, the most recent polls predict his opponent, Tony Abbott, will claim victory in the September 7th election.

Abbott last month reiterated his opposition to gay marriage and called it "the fashion of the moment."

[H/T: Upworthy]