Yet to make case for new law
RELIGIOUS FREEDOM
ARCHBISHOP Julian Porteous supports a federal law that will override the Tasmanian Anti-Discrimination Act (Talking Point, September 20) by allowing humiliating, intimidating, insulting and ridiculing language if it is in the name of religion. I don’t recall Jesus ever calling on his followers to humiliate, intimidate, insult and ridicule other people. So why does the Archbishop need this right?
What does he want to say that he can’t say now? The proposed federal law is a radical move that will punch a hole in the Tasmanian Anti-Discrimination Act, take protections away from many Tasmanians vulnerable to hate, and give special rights to people of faith that are not available to others. The Archbishop has yet to make the case for why any of this is necessary. the Constitution, which precludes the Commonwealth of Australia from making laws for prohibiting free exercise of any religion. While in the past this has not been an issue, it is now necessary for legislation to ensure freedom of religion in Australia, in compliance with our Constitution.
Support at highest level
ALTHOUGH the last Census indicated a decline in the number of people who regularly attend services, it is encouraging to see the place of religion supported at the highest level by our Federal Parliament.
It appears Tasmania has been slow to keep up with other states in protecting religious beliefs and practices. Archbishop Julian Porteous has written of the close link between culture and religion (“Religion a foundation of our society’’, Talking Point, September 20). When I was a cub reporter on a rural newspaper in England, I heard a lecture by a judge in which he referred to the Ten Commandments as the basis of our legal system. Sadly, in our more secular world, the link between society and religion is too easily forgotten.
Not always great nations
I FOUND Julian Porteous’s article flawed. Firstly he is not really talking about religious freedom, he is talking about freedom for the Christian religion. If that were not so, he would appear to be advocating for the rights of followers of fundamentalist Islam to advocate death for non-believers and the destruction of democracy along with aspects of sharia law including polygamy and subjugation of women. As for religion being the cornerstone of great Council open to options for North Hobart carpark A low-rise mixed housing/commercial development with several levels of underground parking would be even better. nations, in many cases development of nations was despite religion. In Australia, religion has been responsible for some despicable acts we have risen above. Think of abuse by servants of the church as paedophiles, abuse of orphans in workhouses and the stolen generation. This great “Christian” nation listed Aborigines as fauna and in early Christian times oversaw attempts of genocide. If you want to attach religion to greatness, accept the actions of that nation as indicative of Christianity or separate the nation from religion.
I find it somewhat ironic the call for freedom of religion translates into the right of the religious to discriminate, marginalise and denigrate. It protects the right to teach lies such as creationism and definitions of marriage when the law states otherwise. Ask me why I am an atheist.
Pursue love and peace
JULIAN Porteous makes an entirely unchristian contribution to discussion on legislation purportedly to protect religious freedom. Jesus came to set men free so they might live perfectly in the strength and power of his love, a new, transformed life free from wrongdoing. His command is perfect love. So, what does Julian feel he needs through legislation? Is he not free to live perfectly doing Jesus’s will? Is not the church called to purity, to be blameless and a place of refuge in a troubled world? Did He not say to leap for joy if you are persecuted on account of me, for in the same way they treated the prophets? The church should be pursuing love and peace and a perfect heart, giving no cause for offence. Let the world make its own laws and Julian and his flock do as God wills.
Good one
A NO-SHOW at the 2019 UN Climate Action summit? Where the bloody hell was he? On behalf of the meek and the young who will inherit the earth: “Good on ya, thanks Scomo”.
Outer space
SO, Trump is taking Scomo to Mars. How good is that!
Back to class
WOULDN’T it be far more beneficial if our teachers and lecturers were spending their time doing what the community expects of them, by giving students the benefit of their undoubted knowledge on the curriculum, rather than encouraging the students to join a greens-inspired protest on fraudulent claims about climate change.
Knighthood or cake
WHAT is it with England. Geoffrey Boycott, Andrew Strauss, Ian Botham all great cricket players but surely don’t deserve to be knighted for playing a game of cricket. Shane Warne, they say, is the greatest spinner of all, turned 50 and he was presented with a chocolate cake with all the sirs around him. Warne must feel he is living in the wrong country.
Finals just fine
THEY seem to change things without thought for people who make the game, the fans. Now twilight finals on the way to night finals, crazy. Just leave things the way they have been for 100 years. Without the fans you have nothing. GPO Box 334, Hobart, Tas 7001
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