Christians dying daily

ALONG with Rev’d Bev Thorogood (TC, 21/03), I too am horrified, along with my Muslim neighbour, by the attacks on worshippers at mosques in Christchurch.

But what is very concerning also, is the almost total press reluctance to acknowledge Islamic inspired attacks, particularly on Christians, in many countries every day.

Open Doors, a relief agency to persecuted Christians, has published its 2019 World Watch List, detailing in which countries Christians were persecuted. A staggering 11 Christians die brutally every day.

It lists nations such as North Korea (dictatorial paranoia), India and Myanmar (religious nationalism), communist oppression (Laos) and organised corruption (Mexico).

But the biggest category for persecution of Christians and others, is found in a list of 32 Islamic nations.

Another Christian aid agency, Barnabas Fund, reports that since February, more than 300 people including children, were killed by militant Fulani herdsmen shouting Allahu Akbar in seven villages in Kaduna State, Nigeria.

These atrocities were not reported on the nightly television news. Why? The lives of these precious ones are as important as those slain in Christchurch.

Rev’d Thorogood should reflect that amidst the fear and fury of the Christchurch atrocity, it would be good to remember these barbaric incidents are happening in many places around the world.

PETER KNOBEL, Toowoomba

DISASTER RECOVERY

ALL of us who have had, or have, any rural connection, will be appalled by the sheer magnitude of the recent rural disasters – fierce droughts and years of hand-feeding stock, followed by raging bushfires, and unprecedented floods.

Many city people, like those in Townsville, have suffered equally, but at least they have local authorities, and generally insurance policies that help with recovery.

Very few of the rural community will have been able to afford sufficient insurance to cover all fire and flood losses. Although communities and good people like “Blaze Aid” do much to restore hope and morale, the ultimate return to normality and economic viability is in the hands of the affected people themselves, and their banks.

My understanding of “negative gearing,” is that circumstance where a person pledges existing property as surety for a loan, to wholly cover the cost of purchasing additional income producing property or equipment.

The cost of borrowing, i.e. the interest on the loan, can be offset against taxable income, being as it is, a genuine cost of production. From personal experience, I know that the majority of rural enterprise relies on this financial system, and could not survive without it.

Mr Bill Shorten, and the ALP, regards all rural property owners as overly rewarded “fat cats” and could not care less that the adoption of his financial policy would decimate them. One of his avowed intentions if elected to power in May 2019 is to abolish “negative gearing”.

“Free trade” has destroyed the manufacturing industry in Australia, the car industry is gone, the dairy industry is on its last legs, and the grain production is only profitable for large integrated enterprises. If you really want to see small to medium rural enterprises remain viable in our country, and help them to recover from recent catastrophic events, exercise your vote in the coming elections in May, very carefully.

E.A. ZERK, Allora

CELIBACY IN CHURCH

MAY I briefly comment on some points raised in Peter Knobel’s letter (TC, 14/3).

Celibacy for priests has been encouraged since the very earliest times in the church. To quote Saint Paul: “The unmarried man is anxious about the affairs of the Lord, how to please the Lord; but the married man is anxious about worldly affairs, how to please his wife, and his interests are divided.”

Since the vast majority of clerical sexual abuse is homosexual in nature, marriage would not change very much at all.

The doctrine of Papal infallibility has always been acknowledged in the church, even though it is frequently misunderstood, even by Catholics. It was simply formally defined at the First Vatican Council of 1870.

Numerically, abuse by Catholic priests comes high on the list of institutional abuse, but percentage-wise it falls very much lower. However many seem to judge by numbers rather than percentages, which is, of course, illogical.

I hope this helps to clear up some misunderstandings.

ZELDA RICHARDSON, Toowoomba