Human rights - anti-discrimination law - ACT NOW!

The federal Labor government is continuing with its 'plan' to promote human rights. They held a 'National Consultation on Human Rights' back in 2008-2009 - but decided NOT to have a full 'Bill of Rights'...

BUT they are implementing a range of measures to promote human rights - they are all part of the government's document: "Australia's Human Rights Framework". Read about it: click here.  

We're printing an article in our February journal - which will be posted next Thursday (2/2/2012). It summarises the measures - a 'National Human Rights Plan', scrutiny of ALL proposed legislation against UN treaties, a special Parliamentary Committee to undertake that task, education on human rights, more anti-discrimination laws and so on. It highlights submissions for the 'Action Plan' - they close Feb 29, 2012.  
Raad article: Government promotes human rights

Anti-Discrimination law - Submissions needed by Feb 1, 2012
Please act NOW!

The most immediate challenge is an Inquiry into Commonwealth anti-discrimination law. A Discussion Paper on anti-discrimination law was released last year. The federal Labor government's plan is to 'consolidate' all Commonwealth anti-discrimination law - and ADD laws on 'sexual orientation'..
The overview says "the Government is seeking to consolidate Commonwealth anti-discrimination laws into a single Act."
The overview and Discussion Paper are posted on this specific webpage:
Consolidation of Commonwealth anti-discrimination laws T
is has a general overview - plus a link to the Discussion Paper (60 pages).
Discussion Paper - direct link - click here.

ADDING sexuality and gender identity anti-discrimination laws
Currently there are laws affecting race, sex, martial status, disability, age and so on - in different Acts of Parliament. List is at Paragraph 71, Page 21 of Discussion Paper.

There are NO Commonwealth anti-discrimination laws based on sexuality (or homosexuality).
[There are such laws at state and territory level]. This is largely due to the decision of the Howard government to resist implementing such laws. Over the past 15 years the Democrats and Greens repeatedly pushed for such laws. BUT the federal Labor government wants to introduce anti-discrimination laws based on sexuality and gender identity. Apparently this was an 'election promise' at the 2010 election.
See Discussion Paper, Para 73-76, Page 21. The Overview gives the government's intent...

In considering options for reform, the Government will keep the following principles in mind:

• a reduction in complexity and inconsistency in regulation to make it easier for individuals and businesses to understand their rights and obligations under the legislation
• no reduction in existing protections in federal anti-discrimination legislation
• ensuring simple, cost-effective mechanisms for resolving complaints of discrimination, and
• clarifying and enhancing protections where appropriate.

The Government has committed to introducing new protections against sexual orientation and gender identity discrimination as part of this process.

Action - Now is the time to act. . . 

Making a new 'Act' gives the government opportunity to extend such laws. As well as adding laws based on 'sexual orientation', they specifically state (Para 73)
" This project provides the opportunity to consider whether other attributes should be covered in the federal legislation, including those attributes protected under the Fair Work Act or at the State or Territory level."

That gives them an 'open door' to do what they want!

Please send a brief submission or letter to the Inquiry.
Submissions close on Feb 1, 2012.

Send submissions to This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it  (preferred by email)

Address to   

Assistant Secretary

International Human Rights and Anti-Discrimination Branch

Attorney-General’s Department

Robert Garran Offices

3-5 National Circuit

BARTON ACT 2600

Send a submission from yourself - and/or from your church or organisation. It can be short - but we need to tell the Inquiry - politely - what we think!  

Some points to include - use your own words, please...
- Ask that no changes be made to extend anti-discrimination law. All anti-discrimination law removes freedom of choice - we already have too many such laws. [Anti-discrimination law is dealt with by Equal Opportunity Commissions and Tribunals - the 'rule of law' is not the overriding principle there!]
- Oppose the introduction of anti-discrimination law based on sexuality and gender identity.
- Highlight the adverse impact that this has on freedom of choice and freedom of religion.
- Cite particular cases where churches and Christians have been subject to such laws. There are numerous cases in Australia under similar state laws - Wesley Mission, CYC camps (Phillip Island etc).
A paper, by Neil Foster, presented at a Conference on religion and law, details some Australian and overseas cases and highlights the adverse impact they have had on the freedom of religion.
Click here to read his paper.

Thank you for taking action - and making a difference!

Summer Weekly Update #4 - 12 January

Three items for Action and Prayer... we could write a lot more but we've selected just three items!

UPDATE (16 Jan) - Cotton Onhas removed the 'offensive' products. Mandy Ahmadi's husband has been charged with her murder and a body has been found in the back yard of their home.
Click here to read our 'Update' on these two developments. 

'Cotton On' continues to promote sleaze
Some time back we wrote about Cotton-On - a company making (mostly) cotton fashion clothing - having objectionable slogans on babies clothing.
Now Cotton On are promoting pornography - which degrades both women and men. They own the company Typo, which sells stationery and giftware. 

An article in Monday's Herald Sun reports that Typo is selling pornography-themed items in its 'back-to-school' sale. Items included a "travel mug that says "Porn is my saviour" and an iPhone cover featuring a naked woman sitting provocatively in a cross-legged pose with the word "dirty" above her. A notebook featuring a topless woman pouting in front of a bullseye is also for sale, while another appears to be trying to emulate the front of a porn magazine. The words "entertainment for men" appear over a photo of a naked woman."
Read the full article: Anger over 'pornographic' stationery in Australian back-to-school sale 
Another article from 'Smart Company' reflects on company practices - click here.

ACTION:
There is an online petition protesting against the sale of these goods - click here to sign it- and Melinda Tankard-Reist, of Collective Shout, is calling on people to boycott Typo.
Please write to Typo - and Cotton On - about these products - click here for an online form (and here for the Typo website).

Abortion - Some good news
Women in Texas who are seeking an abortion must be given an ultrasound by the abortionist and they must offer to show it to her, according to a US federal court decision on January 10, 2012.

The 'Woman's Right to Know Act', which was passed in Texas in 2003, requires that women who are seeking an abortion must be shown pictures of the child's development at least 24 hours before the abortion.
In 2011, the law was amended to require doctors to also do a sonogram (ultrasound) of the pregnant woman's child and offer to show it to the mother - as well as let her hear the child's heartbeat. This new law was signed into law on May 24, 2011 by Governor Rick Perry.

Abortionists and the Center for Reproductive Rights took legal action against the law, claiming that being 'compelled' to show the sonogram to women restricted their 'First Amendment free speech rights'. A District Court judge declared it unconstitutional in August 2011. Thankfully, the Federal Court has now overturned the District Court decision!
References:
Court Rules Texas Sonogram Mandate for Abortion Is Constitutional, Christian Post, 11/1/2012.
The Woman's Right to Know Act: click here.

Christian woman missing in Melbourne
A Melbourne Christian woman has been missing for almost a month. 'Mandy Ahmadi' arrived in Australia from Iran with her husband and family in 1999. She became a Christian about five years ago, followed by her husband about a year later. They have been conducting an outreach to Muslim refugees through Cornerstone Church in Dandenong. She disappeared from her home on Dec 16 - her phone was missing (it hasn't been used) but her handbag and credit cards were left in the home.
Fears are held for her safety, and her husband and family fear that she may have been abducted or killed by Islamic extremists - since there is a death penalty for apostates who convert from Islam (see this article on Answering Islam).

The case has now been handed over to the police Homicide Squad in Victoria to investigate and they said "we believe her disappearance is suspicious and have grave fears for her welfare". They said they have rejected the notion that she was abducted by Islamic extremists but will fully investigate the case. The police revealed today that her real name is  Zahara Rahimzadegan. It seems that she has gone away for a couple of days twice before but has always let her family know what she is doing and where she is.
The case was highlighted by Pastor Danny Nalliah in an email on Tuesday (and posted on the CTFM website) - and The Age ran a front page story yesterday.

Today the reports mention the investigation by the Homicide Squad - and reveal her real name.
Please pray for Zahara and her husband and family. Pray that Zahara is found alive and well.

References:
Email/website post from Danny Nalliah - click here.
Article in The Age - Fears held for Christian convert, The Age, 111/1/2012
Article in The Australian - Police do not believe religious conversion played a part in Melbourne mother's disappearance (12/1/2012)
Victoria Police statement: Homicide Squad to investigate suspicious disappearance

Weekly Update #3 - 7 Jan

A belated 'Happy New Year'., to you all. Apologies that our planned weekly update turned 'fortnightly' due to us having 'quality time' with our grandson last week. It is largely the thought of what sort of future our grandchildren, and your children and grandchildren, will have to face if we don't 'stand in the gap', that keeps us going.

The Queen's Christmas Message
The Queen of Great Britain, Australia, and the Commonwealth gave a surprisingly 'Christian' Christmas speech two weeks ago. It is worth listening to.
Steve Addison, a Baptist blogger who is the Director of Church Resource Ministries (CRM) Australia, summed it up along with some interesting comments on the Media coverage it received... Click here to read the Queen's message. Click here to listen to the speech.
Click here to read Steve's comments.

Australia - same-sex 'marriage' debate
There is division in the ranks of those pushing for 'sexual equality' by gaining s-s 'marriage', and that is a good thing. Remember, "united we stand, divided we fall" which is one reason we have been losing this debate to date, because the 'church' has been far more divided than the so-called 'progressives'.

Well, now they are divided too - not on wanting s-s 'equality' but on when they should make the push for 'marriage' in the Federal Parliament. The stumbling block, praise God, is Tony Abbott's refusal to give a conscience vote to Liberal/National MPs and Senators. There are also accusations that some Labor MPs want to rush the vote so it will fail. There are some Labor MPs who will use their conscience vote to say 'No' to changing the Marriage Act, so those supporting change know they need some Coalition MPs to also vote for the change to get the Act changed. Small 'l' liberals like Malcolm Turnbull, given a chance, will vote with Labor and the Greens on this issue. Some of the so-called 'Independents' also support it so we already know it is a close race. The division is 'when', not 'if', to bring on the vote. Pro-homosexual group 'Australian Marriage Equality' chairman, Alex Greenwich, believes that, given time, Tony Abbott will be persuaded to accept a conscience vote, therefore virtually guaranteeing a win in the Parliament. WE must make sure we continue to appeal to Tony Abbott to uphold the Coalition election pledge to support the Marriage Act. Send him an email - This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
Please also write to the leader of the Nationals, Warren Truss - click here for contact form. Links to Media Articles: Bill to fuel same-sex marriage squabble / Call for Patience / MP takes vow of consensus on same-sex marriage bill

American Presidential elections
Iowa, USA, was the first place that voted in America's rather strange voting system to find the Republican candidate to oppose President Obama in the National Election later this year.

There are 5 main contenders, and the result in Iowa is an indication of who that person might be... Brian S. Brown, President of the National Organization for Marriage reported on the outcome stating that, the winner was Gov. Mitt Romney, but the big surprise was Sen. Rick Santorum who surged forward into second place, with just eight votes less than Romney. T

he main thing about this result is that they are both strong marriage supporters - meaning they oppose same-sex 'marriage'. This race to the White House in very important, even to Australians, because if the USA continues with Obama, marriage will likely become 'gender neutral' very soon. Obama continues to placate the homosexual activists and refuses to support DOMA, the national 'Defence of [heterosexual] Marriage Act' passed by the US Congress and supported by both Parties.

Bill Muehlenberg says "the man to now watch as the most consistently Christian and conservative candidate is Rick Santorum". Read Bill's analysis of the current situation - click here.

Weekly Update #2... 23 December

A round-up of the News this week... (along with our greetings for Christmas as we celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ - click here to read)...

Woman dies following abortion at Croydon clinic
A woman has died following an abortion at the controversial abortion clinic in Croydon, Victoria which is now run by Marie Stopes International.
This is the abortion clinic where many women were infected by hepatitis.

Sonja Couroupis of Life Network Australia writes:
"The Age have reported that "A 42-YEAR-OLD woman died days after attending a controversial abortion clinic in Croydon last week". It goes on to say that "Authorities have confirmed that the woman was taken to the Box Hill Hospital where she died on Sunday, after earlier having ''a procedure at a private Croydon clinic."

Sonja says, "This is the fourth investigation involving this particular clinic in six years."

Sonja encourages everyone to write to the Victorian Premier, Ted Baillieu, the Health Minister, David Davis, and your local Members about the awful abortion laws in Victoria.
Read the Life Network post for details on contacting these men by phone or fax.
For email contact details, click here. 

UK PM David Cameron on Christianity
David Cameron recently gave two quite 'conservative speeches' - one of these promoted the importance of Christianity.

However, this follows a recent announcement by Mr Cameron that the Conservative Party will support full same-sex 'marriage' by 2015.

Bill Muehlenberg asks the question:
"Does David Cameron really mean it when he talks of the need for Christianity?
Read Bill's article: Cameron, Conservatism, and Christianity

Political alliances in the UK and in Australia
In the UK the Conservative Party has aligned itself in a 'Coalition' with the Liberal Democrats in order to gain enough seats to govern.

In Australia, we have a similar situation with Labor and its alliance with the Greens.

In both cases, when a political party aligns itself with a radical left-wing group, the policies and the principles of the party are adversely affected as the minor party increasingly 'calls the tune'!
Read Melanie Phillips' article... (writing in the UK):
Marriage and why adolescent Clegg must be living on a different planet

Death of two world leaders
During the past week two world leaders have died - North Korean dictator Kim Jong-il and the man who liberated Czechoslovakia, Vaclav Havel.

Mr Havel was President of that nation until 2003 and in recent years he has written and spoken out against the global warming agenda.
Bill Muehlenberg provides an insightful analysis of the character of these two men:
The Death of a Hero, and of a Monster

Newt Gingrich - on religious freedom
US Republican presidential hopeful Newt Gingrich has published a manifesto on religious freedom. Click here to read it.

It starts with 'On Day One' and proposes "Establishing a presidential commission to examine and document threats or impediments to religious freedom in the United States and to propose steps for reaffirming and protecting the foundational principle of freedom of thought, conscience and religious belief upon which our republic is built and thrives...." 

AND political correctness gone mad!
The American Family Association reports that Members of the US Congress have been BANNED from saying 'Merry Christmas' in their mail sent to constituents that is paid for by taxpayers. They've even been banned from saying 'Merry Christmas' on their official Facebook and other social media sites!
AFA reports, "According to a Dec. 12 memo by the House Franking Commission, congressmen in the House of Representatives are not allowed to wish voters a "Merry Christmas" or "Happy New Year" in mail and email. Congressmen use their official franking privileges (using taxpayer dollars to pay for postage) to send mail and email to voters throughout the year. However, the Franking Commission, the six-member bipartisan group officially known as the Commission on Congressional Mailing Standards, told legislators that "Merry Christmas" is strictly prohibited."

Now that's a crazy world - what do the bureaucrats think they are actually having a HOLIDAY for?

Some Congressmen are fighting back - read the report at Lifesite.