had this sent to me...
Do you value your free speech and freedom?
Beware of the project initiated by the Australian Human Rights Commission (AHRC, previously the Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission - HREOC) on Freedom of Religion and Belief in the 21st Century in Australia.

1 A "freedom of religion" project sounds good until you realise what is meant.
Last year the Commission told a Senate inquiry that "the rights to religious freedom and to gender equality must be appropriately balanced in accordance with human rights principles."
2 Here balanced really means restricted. The body which is supposed to defend our human rights is actually proposing to limit our right to religious freedom.

What recommendations could flow from this "religious freedom" project? They could well include:
• the removal of existing exemptions for churches, Christian schools and church-run welfare agencies from antidiscrimination legislation – forcing churches and schools to hire practising homosexuals, promiscuous heterosexuals or believers in witchcraft;
• national religious vilification laws, like the one in Victoria which was used to persecute Pastors Daniel Scot and Danny Nalliah;
• "equal treatment" of all religions represented in Australia in such areas as public holidays, prayers in parliament, carols and nativity scenes at Christmas – abolishing any idea that Australia has a Christian heritage.
Significantly, one of the three people appointed to conduct the review is Professor Gary Bouma, who gave evidence for the Islamic Council of Victoria against Christian Pastor Daniel Scot back in 2003.
3 AHRC's "Same Sex: Same Entitlements" project in 2007 recommended marriage rights be given to all homosexual couples. In 2008 the Rudd government complied. Will the Rudd government implement whatever the AHRC recommends on "freedom of religion"? Time will tell – but now is your opportunity to have your say.

If you value your religious freedom … make a submission to the AHRC.
You can download the discussion paper from the AHRC website at http://www.hreoc.gov.au/frb/frb_2008.pdf. It invites comments under 7 major headings on 41 questions, including:
• Do religious or faith-based groups have undue influence over government?
• Is there a role for religious voices, alongside others in the policy debates of the nation?
• How can faith communities be inclusive of people of diverse sexualities?
• Should religious organisations (including religious schools, hospitals and other service delivery agencies) exclude people from employment because of their sexuality or their sex and gender identity?
You could write a short submission making some of the following points:
• Freedom of speech is fundamental to our democratic freedoms. We should be free to disagree with other people's beliefs, even if that causes controversy. Vilification laws unfairly limit freedom of speech and should be opposed.
• Freedom of association is also fundamental to our democratic freedoms. Churches, Christian schools, church-run welfare agencies and other associations should be exempt from anti-discrimination legislation, so they can practise their own values – without being forced to admit or hire people who reject those values, such as practising homosexuals, promiscuous heterosexuals or believers in witchcraft.
• The rule of law is another fundamental element of our democratic freedoms. Laws are made by parliaments, which are accountable to the people at elections, and applied by judges who are not accountable. A bill or charter of rights should be opposed because it would give judges the power to decide our rights – without having to face an election.

Email your submission to frb@humanrights.gov.au or post to:
Freedom of Religion and Belief in the 21st Century Submission
Race Discrimination Unit: Education and Partnerships Section
Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission, GPO Box 5218 Sydney NSW 2001
Closing date for submissions: 31 January 2009
Endnotes
1. Australian Human Rights Commission, Freedom of Religion and Belief in the 21st Century project, http://www.humanrights.gov.au/frb/.
2. Submission 69, Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission, p 166; http://www.aph.gov.au/senate/committee/legcon_ctte/sex_discrim/submissions/sub69.pdf.
3. Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal Antidiscrmination List No A392/5002, 2003.

Freedom of speech/religion is important but it will always be "regulated" and revoked if they don't like what we are saying.

I don't think churches or religious schools should be forced to hire people they don't want to. Hospitals should, and welfare agencies should if they are administering money from the government. The idea that a church should be forced to hire someone who does not share the goals of the church is ludicrous. It's like expecting a company to hire someone who is opposed to the company making a profit.

Court: Christian school can expel lesbian students

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090128/ap_on_re_us/students_expelled

RIVERSIDE, Calif. – A California appeals court has ruled that a Christian high school can expel students because of an alleged lesbian relationship.

The 4th District Court of Appeal in Riverside on Monday upheld California Lutheran High School's right as a private, religious organization to exclude students based on sexual orientation.

Two girls sued claiming they were discriminated against after they were expelled from the Wildomar school in 2005. A lower court said the school isn't bound by the same anti-discrimination laws as a business establishment.

John McKay, attorney for California Lutheran, says the school's goal is to educate based on Christian principles.

The attorney for the girls could not be immediately reached Tuesday.

freediver wrote on Jan 28^th, 2009 at 11:49am:


On a similar note. The big hoohah in Brisbane about St Mary's church closing because of the blessings etc being given to people (I assume Catholics) who's lifestyles are not accepted by the Catholic faith.

It seems bizzare to me that if you were raised into a faith, then along the way you make lifestyle choices that fly in the face of what is accepted by your faith, that you would or could complain. There was a choice made with full knowledge about the rules for the club.

You can abstain from your lifestyle choice and remain a Catholic.
You can continue with your lifestyle and admit weakness and sin each week and seek absolution or penence.
Or you can go and find another denomination that accepts that lifestyle.

Swathe wrote on Jan 29^th, 2009 at 1:32pm:


I actually think cocaine is the opiate of the masses. That and alcohol.