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Welcome to the latest issue of ACL e-news.
In this Issue
Marriage under attack at ALP national conference
Labor's support for marriage between a man and a woman is under threat with gay activists agitating to have the party's platform changed at the up-coming national conference in Sydney. Click here for report.
If you are a Labor member, please let your conference delegate know that you don't support undermining marriage.
Anyone living in a Labor electorate should e-mail their Federal Member of Parliament and Senators.
Whilst minority rights are important, it is also important that this basic building block of society is not undermined to suit the agenda of an activist component of two per cent of the population.
Marriage is also under attack in the Australian Senate with a Greens bill for same-sex marriage now the subject of a Senate Inquiry. Please lodge a submission - no matter how short - so that our voices are heard clearly in this debate. More information about the inquiry is available by clicking here.
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Time to Make a Stand against euthanasia
The deadline for Tasmanian supporters to get their submission into the euthanasia bill inquiry is quickly approaching. You have until July 31 to make your voice heard on this very important issue.
Please go to our ‘Care not Killing’ campaign at the Make a Stand website. There you will find all the information and points of argument you need to make a submission to the inquiry. All submissions, no matter how short, will send the very strong message to the committee that protecting the lives of the vulnerable important.
It is also vitally important that as many people as possible engage with this campaign, as euthanasia campaigners have been trying for years to get a foot in the door of an Australian jurisdiction to legalise ‘voluntary’ physician-assisted suicide.
Not only would legal euthanasia in Tasmania put in jeopardy the welfare of elderly, sick and depressed people in that state, but would provide considerable leverage for campaigners to push on into other states.
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Faith under fire - please act to preserve religious freedom
Christian schools may lose the freedom to employ Christian teachers, churches may be in hot water if they want to hire a Christian receptionist and Christian charities could lose the right to employ workers who reflect their ethos.
These are not the latest clangers in the political correctness-gone-mad United Kingdom. All this and more could be coming to Victorian Christians soon.
The Victorian Government recently called for public submissions on the exceptions in the Equal Opportunity Act. The time frame for submissions has now closed but now is the time to tell politicians not to tamper with religious freedom.
It is time to make a stand for basic Christian freedoms. If you thought the ‘Catch the Fire’ case was a fiasco, the proposals in the Scrutiny of Acts and Regulations Committee (SARC) Options Paper make that look tame.
If you live in Victoria, please go to our Make a Stand Campaign - Faith under Fire for more information and to send a quick e-mail to your politicians.
This excellent eight minute video by the Rev Dr Mark Durie clearly outlines the grave threat this inquiry poses.
A briefing paper he has prepared can be viewed here.
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Australian initiative tackles extreme poverty
A new and innovative Australian-based initiative is taking the message of tackling extreme poverty to the world. The Global Poverty Project aims to improve the lives of the world’s poorest people by 2015, by globally reaching and engaging millions to activate on this critical issue.
According to the Project website, “1.4 billion people on our planet live in extreme poverty. The Global Poverty Project seeks to invigorate the global movement to take effective concerted action on poverty through the presentation 1.4 billion reasons.”
1.4 billion reasons is a 90-minute presentation that explains the facts of extreme poverty and challenges people to take action, linking audience members with leading development organisations. 1.4 billion reasons explains how everyday actions, in what you buy and do, can be connected to the ending of extreme poverty.
In consultation with a Christian advisory panel of leading Christian aid agencies, the Project has also produced a church presentation of 1.4 billion reasons. The presentation draws on Scripture, and demonstrates the motivation of faith in case studies of Australians committed to ending extreme poverty.
The Global Poverty Project was started by Hugh Evans, Young Australian of the Year for 2004, and founder of the Oaktree Foundation, which is an aid and development organisation run entirely by volunteers under 26 years of age.
Recently Hollywood actor Hugh Jackman joined the Global Poverty Project as a Global Advisor, representing Australia at the UN in the fight against poverty. Click here for more.
To learn more about the Global Poverty Project, including 1.4 billion reasons, and how you can play a part in ending extreme poverty, visit the Project website by clicking here.
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Gay adoption ‘unconscionable’ says Labor MP
A NSW Labor politician has labelled “unconscionable” a Parliamentary Committee’s recommendation to grant adoption rights to same-sex couples.
Last week we reported that the Legislative Council Standing Committee on Law and Justice released its report Adoption by same-sex couples.
The ALP Upper House member and Government Whip Greg Donnelly (pictured), a member of the six-person committee, said the recommendations ‘turn on its head’ the conventional wisdom that children should have every chance to be raised by a mother and a father.
In his dissenting statement which appears on pages 184-185 of the report (205-206 in pdf reader), Mr Donnelly said the recommendations, if implemented by the Parliament, would “deny some children the right to be raised by a mother and a father.”
"It would amount to a statement by the government that for a child both ‘mothering’ and ‘fathering’ are not important.”
Mr Donnelley also hit out at the committee’s recommendation to force faith-based adoption agencies to refer same-sex couples to agencies which would place children with them.
“Forcing a faith-based agency to act in a way that did not accord with the tenets of their beliefs would undermine the exercise of legitimate religious freedoms,” he says.
Please send an e-mail to Mr Donnelly (greg.donnelly@parliament.nsw.gov.au) and thank him for supporting the rights of children.
If you live in NSW, please e-mail your members of Parliament and tell them not to implement the anti-child recommendations of this report.
Mr Donnelly reveals that the committee was split three-three with chair, Christine Robertson, using her casting vote to get the recommendations through.
“This inquiry report does not provide a mandate for change of adoption laws,” Mr Donnelly says.
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Qantas ditches misleading GetUp ad
ACL has welcomed Qantas' decision to refuse to screen a misleading GetUp advertisement on its flights. A media report can be read here.
We wrote to Qantas CEO Alan Joyce last week urging him to check the accuracy of claims in the advertisement that the Rudd Government's cyber-safety plan for kids would cause "what happened in Iran to happen here".
Whilst we don't begrudge any lobby group arguing its case vigorously in the public arena - as we ourselves do - it is important that the public are not misled even when humour and satire are being used to convey a message.
We have been concerned that people might be responding to GetUp's plea for money to screen its ad because of the misleading claim that the Rudd Government's clean feed for kids election promise might lead to Iranian-style political repression.
The GetUp ad is very funny and we wish we had the resources to make our campaigns as entertaining. However, political parody is not an excuse for playing loose with the truth, especially when raising money from the public.
The Rudd Government is trying to do a noble thing for Australian kids and parents by providing a safer online environment through Internet Service Provider level filtering.
Opponents of ISP filtering should await the results of trials now underway before passing judgement.
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British researchers create sperm in laboratory
"This is man at his maddest. I think that sometimes we have to stop meddling and accept infertility. Science must be totally ethical and totally safe – this is neither."
This was the clear response of Josephine Quintavalle, director of Comment on Reproductive Ethics, to recent news that human sperm has been created in a science laboratory for the first time.
Researchers at the Northeast England Stem Cell Institute, which includes Newcastle and Durham Universities and Newcastle Hospital, claim they made the ‘breakthrough’ using stem cells from an embryo. With some minor changes they claim the sperm could fertilise an egg to create a child, allowing infertile couples to parent their own genetic child.
The use of embryos in research is already controversial, but this ‘development’ is doubly disturbing – the scientists believe their technique could be used in future to create sperm from female stem cells, which would allow a woman to have a baby without a man.
The results of the experiment, which were published in the Stem Cells and Development journal, are being touted by the researchers as a development in infertility treatment. Although the scientists do not believe that their created sperm should be used to impregnate women, possible future misuse of their technique poses obvious ethical challenges.
Media reports about the creation of the world’s first laboratory sperm can be found here and here. The Stem Cell Institute have also produced a media release and published a video explaining the technique, which are available here.
Dr David van Gend, national director of Australians for Ethical Stem Cell Research, strongly condemned the exploitation of a dead embryo to create the sperm, writing on his “No Human Cloning – Do No Harm” blog that:
"If there is any medical value in learning to create sperm from stem cells – and there are some arguable uses – then this objective could have been met in an ethically uncontentious way: the sperm could equally well be created from non-embryonic stem cells.”
You can read more of Dr van Gend’s response to the news from Britain by clicking here.
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Gleanings (other articles of interest from the Net)
Living together kills joy of marriage: study
COUPLES living together before marrying stand a higher chance of divorce than those who wait until they are engaged or married before moving in together, according to the Journal of Family Psychology.
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Donate and make a difference
ACL brings Christian influence to politics because of thousands of committed supporters who give financially.
If you are not giving regularly, why not consider a $20 per month donation to the work of ACL? One off donations – no matter how small – are also appreciated.
Click here to donate securely online. Thanks for your support!
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Coming up
ACL National Conference in November
Please be aware that the dates for the National Conference have been changed to November 20 and 21 (one week later than previously advertised). The venue remains the Hyatt Hotel in Canberra. Please keep these dates free in your diary!
ACL will soon be releasing details of the Conference, including confirmed speakers.
We look forward to seeing you there.
ACL Tasmania Kingdom Summit
ACL Tasmania will be holding its annual Kingdom Summit on Friday August 7 (full day) at the Tailrace Centre, 1 Waterfront Drive, Launceston.
The aim of the summit is to assist Christian leaders to learn, challenge, and be challenged on how to be effective in ushering in the Kingdom of Heaven in contemporary Australian society.
Guest speakers include World Vision CEO Rev Tim Costello, ACL’s Director of Strategic Development David Yates, and the founder and CEO of Paladin, Dave Hodgson.
Registrations for the conference are due by July 31 and cost $85 per person or $65 for students and seniors (morning and afternoon tea and a gourmet lunch provided). For more details or to register please contact ACL Tasmanian Director Nick Overton on
03 6420 7550 or at tasoffice@acl.org.au.
WA Pastors & Church Leaders Special Briefing with Jim Wallace
If we are to see positive change in our nation, we need a unified and strategic approach. ACL is well positioned to inform and activate the church on key issues. This short 90 minute session will be well worth your time to be briefed on the issues.
Wednesday 5th August @ 3:00-4:30pm
The Boulevard Centre, 99 The Boulevard
Lower level Cambridge Library, Floreat
RSVP by Wednesday 29th July to waoffice@acl.org.au
or
08 9221 0655
Light refreshments will be provided
ACL 'Church Rep' Training Day in Perth
ACL is seeking people to take on the voluntary role of “Church Representative” who will help keep their church informed about the current political issues of concern to Christians and help activate people on specific campaigns. If you are interested in becoming a "Church Rep" then you are more than welcome to join us at our Church Rep Training Day.
Where: City Church of Christ, 111 Stirling Street, Northbridge
When: Saturday 22nd August 9am-1pm (lunch included)
Price: $10 to cover lunch and training material (pay on the day)
RSVP: Friday 14th August to 9221 0655 or waoffice@acl.org.au
Brisbane launch of Don't Leave Us with the Bill
You are invited to the Brisbane launch of Don’t Leave Us with the Bill: The Case Against an Australian Bill of Rights. Edited by Julian Leeser and Ryan Haddrick, this Menzies Research Centre book is the only major collection of essays making the case against the bill or charter of rights.
Contributors include John Howard, Dr Gary Johns, IDF Callinan, Senator George Brandis, Bronwyn Bishop, Cardinal George Pell, Brigadier Jim Wallace, Professor Helen Irving and Professor James Allan.
Chief Justice of Queensland, the Hon Justice Paul de Jersey AC, also a contributor to the book, has agreed to conduct the Brisbane launch of Don’t Leave Us with the Bill on Monday, 27 July in the Banco Court, The Law Courts Complex, 304 George St, Brisbane at 6.00pm.
A brochure outlining details of the event is available here. Please RSVP to functions@mrcltd.org.au by 24 July if you wish to attend.
National Marriage Day Breakfast
The Australian Family Association, the National Marriage Coalition, and the National Marriage Day Committee, are inviting all interested people to the inaugural National Marriage Day celebration which will take place on 13th August 2009 with a breakfast in the Great Hall, Parliament House, Canberra.
Join dignitaries, academics, public figures and representatives of the family movement as internationally acclaimed speaker, Dr James Bogle, puts the spotlight on marriage. Be there for the announcement of the first National Marriage Day Ambassadors, to hear inspirational stories of fidelity, courage, love and forgiveness, the launching of a youth report, and lots more.
The National Marriage Day Celebration Breakfast will call for the 13th August to be dedicated as National Marriage Day. Please go to www.marriageday.org.au and download and circulate the petition for this purpose.
Please also go to www.marriageday.org.au to download and complete the registration form to attend the breakfast and forward with payment by Friday 24th July 2009.
Outer Eastern Prayer Breakfast - Melbourne
Reserve Bank of Australia board member and former Woolworths CEO Roger Corbett will be the guest speaker at the 3rd Outer Eastern Prayer Breakfast to be held in Ringwood, Melbourne on Thursday August 6 from 7 am.
The purpose of the Prayer Breakfast is to bring together members of the community and business leaders from across the outer east of Melbourne for a positive and uplifting experience centred on the life and teachings of Jesus Christ. Federal Member for Aston Chris Pearce is the breakfast’s patron.
Please click here for details and a registration form.
John Howard ‘Charter of Rights’ Lecture
John Howard will speak on the proposed Charter of Rights for Australia at the revived annual Menzies Lecture on Aug 26, 2009, 7.30pm at the Winthrop Hall, University of Western Australia. To reserve a spot email events@wa.liberal.org.au.
Voices for Justice 09
Micah Challenge, a Christian organisation aimed at reducing global poverty, is holding its national gathering, entitled ‘Voices for Justice 09’, in Canberra from 12-15 September.
The event involves four days of advocacy training, biblical teaching, workshops and prayer. Speakers include World Vision Australia CEO Tim Costello and HEAL Africa founder Lyn Lusi. Registrations are limited to 250 delegates and will close on August 7. Please click here for more information or to register online.
‘Marriage Week’ to be celebrated in September
A special Marriage Week which aims to place the nation’s focus on marriage will be celebrated throughout Australia this year from September 13-19. The non-denominational event is supported by local churches, which will run a variety of community events that connect with the values of marriage.
‘Marriage Week’ has already run successfully as a ‘pilot’ within Sydney in 2008 and even then churches as far away as Kalgoorlie, WA and Dalby, Qld joined in ‘the celebrations’.
“Whilst taking ‘Marriage Week’ out nationally is a challenge, we’re confident ‘Marriage Week’ will receive the support of regional leaders and churches,” Dennis Outred said. More detail can be found at http://marriageweek.org.au.
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ACL in the media
- Last Friday Christian Today Australia posted an article detailing ACL's response to the NSW same sex adoption inquiry, which recommended same sex couples be able to adopt children in that state.
- ACL Victorian Director Rob Ward was quoted by Christian Today Australia on Saturday regarding the Inquiry into the Exceptions and Exemptions to the Equal Opportunity Act.
- The same day, the same news service published an article about ACL's concerns over a deceptive internet filtering advertisement by activist group GetUp.
- On Tuesday Christian Today Australia also ran a piece about ACL welcoming the decision of Qantas not to screen the misleading GetUp advertisement on its flights.
- In this week's Political Spot (broadcast on Canberra Christian radio and some other stations) ACL National Chief of Staff Lyle Shelton and Research Officer Ben Williams examine the misleading claim of internet activist group GetUp that the Rudd Government's plan to filter the internet at ISP-level is akin to Iranian-style politcal suppression. Other issues discussed include Tony Abbott's call to bring back optional fault-based divorce, Faith Under Fire in Victoria and more.
- Last weekend's The Sunday Telegraph refers to the speech given by Malcolm Turnbull at last year's ACL conference in an article (not online) about the revival of faith in Australian politics.
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