An Australian couple who vowed to divorce if gay marriage was made legal have become the target of online ridicule for their hysterical pronouncement.

Practising Christians Nick and Sarah Jensen came to public attention when an opinion piece by Nick was published in the couple’s local newspaper Canberra’s City News.

“We believe marriage is not a human invention,” wrote Jensen.

“Our view is that marriage is a fundamental order of creation. Part of God’s intimate story for human history. Marriage is the union of a man and a woman before a community in the sight of God. And the marriage of any couple is important to God regardless of whether that couple recognises God’s involvement or authority in it.

“My wife and I, as a matter of conscience, refuse to recognise the government’s regulation of marriage if its definition includes the solemnisation of same sex couples.”

The piece, published June 10, has generated considerable attention and, for the couple, a considerable backlash.

The Sydney Morning Herald reports that the couple have been the victim of several internet pranks which included fake dating profiles depicting Mr Jensen as a gay man and a Facebook event – with more than 143,000 ‘attendees’ – celebrating the couple’s upcoming divorce.

Jensen’s brother, Soren, published a response to his brother’s letter distancing himself from his hateful sibling while Annie Hagar, a school friend of the couple, told Nick Jensen that “it was best he didn’t come” to her upcoming wedding because he is “better at picking arguments than moments”.

In a piece published by News.com.au, Hagar wrote “I’m sure everyone already married or currently engaged knows exactly that feeling, and how joyous declaring and celebrating that with your family and friends is.”

“I’m entirely certain Nick and Sarah remember this feeling, too – and it’s a happiness Nick has decided some people should explicitly be denied. That offends me, and pretty much everyone I know.”

Despite calls from many Aussie media outlets, the couple have yet to respond to the controversy.