Religious Discrimination Bill passes lower house along with SDA amendment

“This morning Australia woke up to the news that at an all-night sitting which concluded around 5 am, the House of Representatives has passed the Religious Discrimination Bill 2022. (The link there will take you to official Parliamentary site for the Bill; as I write the updated version given a third reading has not been published but should be later in the day.) The government amendments which I noted in a previous post were apparently all accepted.

There was an amendment moved by the Opposition which came very close to being accepted, but which in the end did not pass. (It can be seen here in the Opposition amendments document.) It would have introduced a prohibition on “religious vilification”. I do not think Australia needs more such laws; in the time available now let me link a paper I produced a few years ago on the dangers of limiting free speech in this way.

However, the package of bills also includes the Human Rights Legislation Amendment Bill 2022, which saw an Opposition amendment accepted when 5 members of the government crossed the floor. …”

– In this post at Law and Religion Australia, Neil Foster summarises the current position, and gives some examples of how the changes to the bill could play out in a faith-based school.

“Rushed amendment has gutted the Religious Discrimination Bill package”

Here’s a media release from the Australian Christian Lobby:

“Rushed amendment has gutted the Religious Discrimination Bill package
10 February 2022

The Morrison Government should withdraw its Religious Discrimination Bills from the Senate after they have been completely undermined by the simultaneous voting down of section 38(3) of the Sex Discrimination Act in the House of Representatives overnight, according to the Australian Christian Lobby.

Australian Christian Lobby’s National Director of Politics said, “The bills were intended to help faith-based schools, but they now do more harm than good.

‘Labor, independents and Liberals, Bridget Archer, David Sharma, Trent Zimmerman, Katie Allen and Fiona Martin voted for an amendment to remove section 38(3) of the Sex Discrimination Act which contains vital protections for religious schools. These protections have enabled faith-based schools to teach their religion and conduct their schools according to their faith values. The loss of this protection would outweigh any benefits that could be obtained by the Religious Discrimination Bill.

‘The Australian Christian Lobby withdraws its support for the Religious Discrimination Bill package and calls on the Morrison Government to now withdraw the Bills from the Senate.

‘Taking away protections for Christian schools is a price too high to pay for the passage of the Religious Discrimination Bill. The amendments voted on by Labor, independents and these Liberal MPs unnecessarily interfere with the operation of faith-based schools.

‘With the amendments so damaging to religious freedom, the Government should immediately withdraw the bills’ Ms Francis said.

ENDS

– From The Australian Christian Lobby.

(Of course, the Australian Christian Lobby should not be confused with the Anglican Church League.)

God’s quiet and mysterious work

“God moves in a mysterious way,/ His wonders to perform.

So begins one of the finest hymns in the English language. It was penned by one of the most depressed men who ever lived, William Cowper, who was friends with one of the most grateful men who ever lived, John Newton.

Down through the ages, God has chastened and warned His people with the four horsemen of sword, famine, wild beasts and plague. At times it may appear that they have all been let out at once, and our present age seems particularly disoriented and afflicted. …”

– Moderator-General of the Presbyterian Church of Australia, Dr Peter Barnes, shares some encouragement in the midst of difficult times.

Down Under Theology podcast

“Down Under Theology” is a relatively new podcast featuring two lecturers from Christ College at Burwood.

In Season 1 they explored the Westminster Confession of Faith.

Season 2 has just begun and sees them walking through each book of the Bible, “bringing out the big ideas, themes, and implications for the life and mission of the church”.

Worth checking out. Listen here.

The power of forgiveness

“Archbishop Kanishka Raffel has thanked the Abdallah family for activating a community conversation about forgiveness, on the second i4Give day.

A service at The King’s School chapel was packed on Sunday, February 6, as members of the school communities of King’s and Tara, local residents and dignitaries, including the Prime Minister and Premier, joined the Abdallah and Sakr families in celebrating the power of forgiveness. …”

– Russell Powell has the story at SydneyAnglicans.net.

Government amendments to Religious Discrimination bills

“Debate in the House of Representatives in the Federal Parliament resumed today on the package of bills dealing with religious discrimination. …

The second reading debate continues on Wednesday, I think, but the government has now released two sets of amendments it will be making to the bills. …”

– Assoc Professor Neil Foster posted this update late last night (8th February 2022) at Law and Religion Australia.

Image: Diocese of Sydney.

A small step forward for religious freedom – with Bishop Michael Stead

From The Pastor’s Heart:

“Religious Freedom will be debated in the Australian Parliament this week.

Two parliamentary reports were released late on Friday afternoon. MP’s and Senators have spent the weekend reading them.

The reports show the Coalition and Labor broadly in support of introducing improved protections for people of Faith.

The reports recommendations are set to go to the party rooms on Tuesday morning, and the House of Representatives as early as Tuesday afternoon.

Anglican Bishop Michael Stead is the new chair of Freedom for Faith.”

– Watch or listen at The Pastor’s Heart.

And please pray about the expected vote this afternoon (Tuesday 8th February).

See also:

Submission to the Senate Legal Affairs Committee on the Religious Discrimination Bill – Freedom for Faith.

Men Meeting the Challenge conference online Saturday 26th March 2022

The organisers of the Men Meeting the Challenge conference on Saturday 26th March 2022 have announced that this year it will be online.

“The aim of this conference is to allow God’s mighty word to transform men from the inside out as we hear the Bible taught. Our prayer and our goal is to see men equipped for the service of God, his people and the world through knowing Jesus and understanding what it is to be a man who belongs to Him in this world. Our desire is for men to know and to proclaim the true gospel message that is faithfully recorded in the Scriptures.”

See the details and register at menforchrist.asn.au.

Parliamentary reports recommend passage of Religious Discrimination Bills

“Two committees of the Australian Federal Parliament examining proposed legislation on religious discrimination handed down their reports on Friday 4 February, 2022. Both committees recommended that the Bills introduced in November 2021 be passed by the Parliament, with some minor amendments. The report of the Parliamentary Joint Committee on Human Rights (“PJCHR”) can be found here, and that of the Senate Legal and Constitutional Affairs Legislation Committee can be found here. …”

– Neil Foster posts the latest developments in the Religious Discrimination Bills.

Moderator of the Church of Pakistan calls for prayer following attack

The Moderator of the Church of Pakistan calls for prayer after last week’s attack on two Anglican pastors in Peshawar.

Anglican Mainstream is hosting a short video asking for your prayers.

The Queen’s Platinum Jubilee

Today marks 70 years since Queen Elizabeth II acceeded to the throne, on the death of her father King George VI.

Her Majesty has gone on to reign longer than any other British Monarch in history, and to become a beloved figure around the world – one who is unashamed to speak of the Lord Jesus.

Whatever your view of the British Monarchy, do be encouraged to pray for her, and to give thanks for her long, stable reign. As the Apostle Paul exhorts us,

“First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way.

This is good, and it is pleasing in the sight of God our Saviour, who desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.

For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, who gave himself as a ransom for all, which is the testimony given at the proper time.” – 1 Timothy 2:1-6.

Photo:

Queen Elizabeth shakes hands with Bishop Jack Dain outside St. Andrew’s Cathedral, Sydney, on 13 March 1977. Archbishop Sir Marcus Loane is at the Queen’s side, and Bishop John Reid is at centre. At right, Dean of the Cathedral, Lance Shilton, stands with Prince Philip. Photo courtesy Ramon Williams.

In his biography of Archbishop Loane, “From Strength to Strength”, ACL Emeritus Vice-President Allan M. Blanch writes, on page 317,

At a special cathedral service on 13 March, the Archbishop preached from Revelation 21 about the City of God. He referred to Augustine of North Africa who, in the fifth century, ‘with the destroyers rapidly approaching the city … gave himself to contemplation of the City of God’.

Loane spoke of the citizens of that heavenly city: ‘They will suffer neither from poverty nor misery, from pain nor vice, from sorrow nor crying … There will be no room for a permissive society, or an alternate culture, or a wealthy elite, or a down-trodden minority; there will be no place for political intrigue, or public wrangling, or partisan interests, or power struggles’.

He concluded by saying, ‘Therefore let us pray that the Silver Jubilee of an earthly reign will enlarge our vision of all that lies beyond the frontiers of earth and time, and will strengthen our resolve to live our lives for the glory of Jesus Himself who reigns as King of kings and Lord of lords for ever and ever. Amen.’ [Emphasis added.]

St. Andrew’s Cathedral in Sydney is marking the anniversary at its services today.

Australian pastor explains draconian Victorian conversion therapy ban

“An Australian pastor has warned UK Christians what to expect if the Government’s proposed conversion therapy ban resembles the one coming into force later this month in the state of Victoria.

Speaking to The Christian Institute, Murray Campbell, Lead Pastor at Mentone Baptist Church in Melbourne, said that under the ban, prayers and conversations on issues of gender and sexuality will be prohibited if they are perceived as an attempt to change or suppress someone’s sexuality or gender identity, even if they are consensual. …”

– See Murray Campbell’s interview with The Christian Institute in the UK.

Pastoral video from the Bishop of Bathurst, 5th February 2022

The Bishop of Bathurst, Mark Calder, has today released this Pastoral Video.

The planned diocesan Synod has not been able to take place, due to COVID, so this partly replaces what Bishop Calder had hoped to say at the meeting, however it will be of wider interest and encouragement.

The video includes an interview with Archbishop Kanishka Raffel who was to have spoken at the Bathurst Synod – plus lots of great news from around the Diocese of Bathurst.

Watch here and share widely.

Three Reasons to Read the Letters of John Newton

“Over the course of 2021, I slowly worked my way through Letters of John Newton. Some of us may know that name, and if not the name, most of us will know the lyrics he penned in the song Amazing Grace. 

As the near year begins, I would like to encourage you to read the Letters of John Newton. Here are three reasons I would commend the letters of this brother of old to you. …”

– Here’s some encouragement from Sean Sheeran at The Gospel Coalition, Canadian edition.

Related: The John Newton Project.

Advance Australia Fair?

“Watching the Australia Day celebrations whilst on holiday was much more interesting and revealing than I had anticipated. Normally I am bored to tears by these kinds of events however I have to say that I was impressed, and I learned a great deal. It was like a cross between the BBC’s Children in Need, celebrating the good that charities and volunteers do, and BBC Scotland’s Hogmanay show – a bit kitsch and cliched, but nonetheless something that makes you glad to be Scottish – or in this case, Australian.

The wonderful work done by Australians throughout the country was highlighted and the music was… not bad.The fireworks and setting in Sydney harbour (as well as the 12 Apostles and other spectacular Aussie scenery) made one thankful to be an Australian – or in the case of yours truly – a guest in this wonderful country.

But the whole show also revealed something deeply disturbing. …”

– Sometimes it takes a visitor to our country to point out what we might otherwise miss. David Robertson writes at AP.

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