Anti-vilification legislation for marriage ballot to pass this week


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Mathias Cormann gave an assurance that there would be a bias towards freedom of speech.
Mick Tsikas/AAP

Michelle Grattan, University of Canberra

The parliament is preparing to rush through anti-vilification legislation to apply during the postal ballot on same-sex marriage.

Under the bill a person must not vilify, intimidate or threaten another person because of their views, expressed or believed to be held, or because of their religious conviction, sexual orientation, gender identity or intersex status.

The safeguards bill will be introduced on Wednesday and passed before parliament rises on Thursday. It has a sunset provision that means it only lasts for the duration of the ballot, the result of which will be announced on November 15.

Civil penalties will apply, to a maximum of A$12,600. But the attorney-general, George Brandis, must consent to a person taking enforcement action under the vilification and related provisions.

People are also protected from being discriminated against – in employment or by being denied access to membership of a union, club or other body – for making a donation to the campaign.

The bill requires that broadcasters, if they give opportunities for one side to put their views, must provide the other side with reasonable opportunities.

The government negotiated the emergency legislation with the opposition over the last few days.

The bill also includes requirements for authorisation of advertising and other provisions that apply to ordinary elections but did not automatically cover this voluntary postal ballot.

In the Coalition partyroom meeting one person objected to the anti-vilification provisions. But Acting Special Minister of State Mathias Cormann gave an assurance that Brandis’ approach would have a “bias towards freedom of speech”.

Labor claimed credit for securing “important concessions from the government that prohibit vilification and hate speech” during the ballot. But opposition spokespeople Mark Dreyfus and Terri Butler said in a statement: “Let’s be clear – this safeguards bill does not in any way legitimise this survey process, which has been foisted upon Australians at a massive cost”.

The ConversationThe ballot papers started to go out on Tuesday.

https://www.podbean.com/media/player/fr3g9-72ed6d?from=site&skin=1&share=1&fonts=Helvetica&auto=0&download=0

Michelle Grattan, Professorial Fellow, University of Canberra

This article was originally published on The Conversation. Read the original article.

Christianophobia & Homophobia


Does Christianophobia actually exist? The word itself means ‘fear of Christians.’ Therefore someone who is described as a ‘Christianophobe,’ would be someone who has a fear of Christians. But that is not what the word has (or words have) come to mean in modern parlance.

I am sure that somewhere, out there, there are people who have a genuine fear of Christians for whatever reasons, whether real or imagined. Generally speaking most people have no reason to fear genuine Christians, except perhaps for the very realisation that they expose their lives for what they really are and are a powerful reminder to them of the threat of eternity and what that may mean for them in their future existence. However they pose very little in the way of actual threat to them in their everyday existence and so there is no real basis for an actual fear of Christians themselves.

What is really displayed is not ‘Christianophobia,’ but a deep seated hatred of Christians and therefore a twisting of what the word now means. Christianophobia has now come to mean that very thing, a hatred of Christians and it is displayed in all manner of opposition to Christians and their way of life, their beliefs, and even their existence. It is brutally seen in the actual persecution of Christians and in many places around the world in discrimination against them, in the imprisonment of them, in their torture of them and ultimately in their martyrdom of them. It is what historically has been known as persecution.

One of the current ways to oppress Christians and it is a way that is gaining momentum around the world, particularly in Western countries, is via homosexuality. Now that I have mentioned homosexuality such opposers to Christianity would have already started beating on their war drums and are more-than-likely breathing out their hatred towards me and what I stand for. I have probably already been charged with ‘homophobia’ and of being a ‘homophobe.’ And all this, most likely, with no knowledge of what I actually believe, stand for or practice.

I have been friends with gay people, been very close to some gay people and lived and worked among gay people. I have had very normal conversations and relationships with gay people (all without fear of gay people). I have loved gay people. Some gay people have been very dear to me and dare I say more dear to me then some Christian people that I know. Yet I am still regarded as a homophobe by the politically correct.

Let me be clear though, I have not embraced the gay lifestyle nor have I accepted it as being a way of living acceptable to Biblical standards or Biblical Christianity.

Homophobia of course means ‘a fear of homosexuals’ and a homophobe is someone who ‘has a fear of homosexuals.’ Again, I am sure that for whatever reason there are those who have some actual fear of homosexuals and homosexuality, but let me say there are very few genuine Christians that do. To say Christians in general have a spirit of homophobia is completely false and it is a falsehood that supporters of gay rights love to cast into the face of Christians as a way of shutting down any form of rational debate. It is a way to silence opposition to their agenda, as though that should automatically end the argument, it being politically incorrect to have any other belief or conviction that is contrary to popular opinion.

So in popular parlance it has become the norm to refer to homophobia as hating homosexuals and homophobes as those who have a hatred of homosexuals. This of course is a popular term to throw in the face of Christians because true Christianity doesn’t bow in the face of political correctness and the will of the majority. So Christians are termed bigots for having a different view to gay rights and homosexuality in general.

Interestingly, it is these very champions of gay rights who display a bigoted approach to their dealings with people who have a different view to themselves. It is they who are actually intolerant towards others who have a differing view to their own and who want to force their views onto others, while actually accusing Christians of being what they themselves are actually delivering. It is an argument flawed with hypocrisy and double standards, not that they would reasonably consider such a possibility for they are after all in the ascendancy.

Let me also be clear that there are indeed those who go by the name Christian that do in fact hate gay people and without knowing the hearts of such people, let me suggest that those attending Westboro Baptist Church would seem to be an obvious, in-your-face example of such. Such displays are not a true reflection of Christianity toward gay people.

And may I also say, seeking to embrace the political correctness and pragmatism of our day, by denying what the Bible teaches concerning homosexuality and embracing the modern movement of gay rights is not a true reflection of Biblical Christianity either.

USA: Persecution News Update


The links below are to articles reporting on persecution news from the USA.

For more visit:
http://www.thegospelcoalition.org/article/what-you-should-know-about-the-kentucky-clerk-marriage-license-controversy
http://www.thegospelcoalition.org/article/this-story-isnt-about-marriage
http://www.nytimes.com/2015/09/04/us/kim-davis-same-sex-marriage.html

More Articles on Tony Campolo’s Support for Gay Marriage


The links below are to articles commenting on Tony Campolo’s support for gay marriage.

For more visit:
http://www.firstthings.com/blogs/firstthoughts/2015/06/a-day-late-a-dollar-short
http://www.albertmohler.com/2015/06/10/which-way-evangelicals-there-is-nowhere-to-hide/

Tony Campolo Joins the Gay Acceptance Camp


The link below is to an article reporting on American Tony Campolo’s acceptance of gay marriage in the church.

For more visit:
http://christiannews.net/2015/06/13/former-christianity-today-editor-praises-tony-campolos-call-for-full-acceptance-of-homosexuals/

USA: Persecution News Update


The link below is to an article reporting on persecution news from the USA.

For more visit:
http://christiannews.net/2015/02/03/judge-finds-christian-bakers-guilty-for-refusing-to-bake-gay-cake-fines-may-bankrupt-business/

Biblical Christianity and Homosexuality


The link below is to an article that takes a look at a major issue facing the Christian church, with particular concern for Evangelical Christians and that is the place of homosexuality in Biblical Christianity.

For more visit:
http://www.albertmohler.com/2014/04/22/god-the-gospel-and-the-gay-challenge-a-response-to-matthew-vines/

United Kingdom: Persecution News Update


The link below is to an article that takes a look at a form of persecution that many western Christians may face into the future.

For more visit:
http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-manchester-26816850

Article: Sydney Pastor Slams Anti-Gay Marriage Campaign


The link below is to an article written about a Baptist pastor’s opposition to a letter read out in various denominational churches against gay marriage. 

For more visit:
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2012-06-17/pastor-slams-anti-gay-marriage-campaign/4075352

Today’s Evangelicals & Same-Sex Marriage


The link below is to an article examining where today’s Evangelicals stand in relation to same-sex marriage.

For more visit:
http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2012/mayweb-only/evangelicals-shift-same-sex-marriage.html