Network Ten admits doctoring controversial footage
“Network Ten has admitted to digitally doctoring footage for a news item on the alleged spitefulness of the same sex marriage debate, digitally superimposing a homophobic image sourced online onto a stock image of a random bus stop. …”
– The Australian. (Subscription.)
See also:
Commentary from The Herald Sun. 28 August 2017.
Media Watch, ABC TV. 28 August 2017.
Screenshot of the stock image for purchase from Getty Images.
Constitutional challenge to anti-discrimination laws
“Two preachers subject to a complaint for preaching against homosexuality and same-sex marriage have launched action to halt the case on constitutional grounds, in a challenge that could invalidate state anti-discrimination laws.
A complaint against Hobart Presbyterian pastor Campbell Markham and street evangelist David Gee was accepted last month by Tasmania’s Anti-Discrimination Commissioner Sarah Bolt. But the preachers have filed a Supreme Court application seeking to strike out the complaint on the ground the state’s Anti-Discrimination Act is unconstitutional…”
– Story by Matthew Denholm in The Australian. (Subscription)
Related:
I was born in a free country – Campbell Markham.
Why I fight for free speech – Campbell Markham.
Same sex marriage: Christian Lobby makes bias complaint against ABC
“A complaint of bias has been made against the ABC after a news presenter appeared to suggest gay marriage opponents had no right to cheer gay athletes, such as Ian Thorpe. …”
– Story from The Australian. (Subscription.)
Watch the full interview in question here. Image: ABC TV.
Archbishop Glenn Davies preaches on marriage at Moore College chapel
On Friday 25 August the Archbishop of Sydney, Dr Glenn Davies, preached in the Moore College chapel on the Bible’s teaching on marriage, focussing on Matthew chapter 19. Good to watch and share widely.
See it at the Moore College website.
Religious freedom and rights
Yesterday, 2GB’s Chris Smith spoke with Associate Professor Neil Foster, from the University of Newcastle, about the repercussions of same sex marriage and the necessary protections.
Listen here. (h/t SydneyAnglicans.net.)
Marriage redefinition: What does Romans 1:26-27 really have to say?
“Today, an article appeared on the ABC News website by Dr Robyn Whitaker, a lecturer in biblical studies at Trinity College Theological School, Parkville, Melbourne. The article is titled: “Same-sex marriage: What does the Bible really have to say?”.
Whitaker looks briefly at six key passages in the Bible that are relevant to the question of homosexuality. She argues that these passages cannot be used straightforwardly in the same-sex marriage debates, because they do not directly address the issue of same-sex marriage. She also argues that there are only a small number of passages about homosexuality in the Bible, compared to the many passages about other topics such as love and justice.
Close to the start of her article, Whitaker claims the following…”
– At Forget the Channel, Moore College’s Dr. Lionel Windsor examines a number of claims made in the article on the ABC News website. Read it all here.
How to ‘respectfully affirm’ marriage
“The case for same sex marriage touches on easily understood and widely shared feelings and aspirations.
Conversation with gay friends and family members quickly reveals that some wish to express a long-term commitment to the person they love, and they want to celebrate that, and invite the people who matter most to them, to celebrate with them.
So, when many Christian people have heard just such hopes expressed by their gay friends and family, and Christians want to ‘respect all people’ (1 Peter 2:17 ) and ‘do good to all’ (Galatians 6:10), why do many remain opposed to changing the definition of marriage to include couples of the same sex? …”
– Dean of Sydney, Kanishka Raffel, writes at SydneyAnglicans.net.
How should Christians engage the Same-Sex Marriage debate?
“So we’ve got a voluntary ‘Australian Marriage Law Postal Survey’ (commonly known as a plebiscite) coming up in September.
The future definition of marriage is likely to be decided in the next few months. And while most Christians I know are happy to vote in the Postal Survey (plebiscite), questions are being asked about how to engage the SSM issue – and whether we should engage at all.
There’s uncertainty: should Christians ‘force their views’ onto other people, especially a vulnerable minority like LGBTI? Is opposing the redefinition of marriage contrary to what Jesus would do? Is it unloving?
These are important questions to think through.
Here are 11 things we should understand – beginning with a basic overview of political theology …”
– At The Gospel Coalition Australia, Akos Balogh helps us think through engaging in the same-sex marriage debate.
Will we still be free to have our own opinions of same-sex marriage?
“The proposed changes to the Marriage Act are far-reaching and must not be taken lightly. Those proposing a private member’s bill in favour of same-sex marriage say clergy will be afforded legal protections for counselling, officiating and speaking with respect to weddings. However, would this prevent ministers and evangelists such as Campbell Markham and David Gee from being hauled before the Tasmanian Anti-Discrimination Commissioner when one referred to same-sex marriage in a blog and the other in a street meeting in Hobart?
If same-sex marriage becomes law this will have a significant and disturbing impact on our schools. There is no doubt that teachers will be required to teach pupils about the validity of same-sex marriage. What protections will there be if they conscientiously object? …
If we must have a plebiscite, the population needs to be informed beforehand of all the legal implications that will arise from the adoption of same-sex marriage in spheres such as education, defence, health and aged care.
A private member’s bill, secretly drawn up — according to Christopher Pyne — and sprung on parliament by a few backbenchers, cannot hope to address these serious human rights issues without due process and wide consultation. …”
– In today’s The Australian, John P Wilson Moderator of the General Presbyterian Church of Australia, writes an important opinion-piece.
Archbishop Davies to Sydney Anglicans: Enrol to have your say in the postal plebiscite
Archbishop of Sydney, Dr. Glenn Davies, has recorded a brief video message, and has written to Sydney Anglicans with an encouragement to participate in the postal plebiscite.
His letter may be downloaded from this link (PDF file). We have reproduced the text below: Read more
Love says No
“It is a terrible thing when Christian love and kindness becomes so misdirected that we wound the souls of the very people that we are trying to help.
Let us not think, in a ghastly fit of blind spiritual arrogance, that we know better than Jesus, and can love better than Jesus.
Let’s humble ourselves, and trust that he knows best, and submit to him, and love people the way he loves them, and wants us to love them. …”
— Campbell Markham at Cornerstone in Hobart says Christians should vote “no” out of love for their neighbours, and for Jesus. Read it all.
Our friendships are shattering
“Don’t trade Jesus’ truth for friendship. The greatest need for people in our lives is not our friendship, but Christ. The greatest need is not peaceful and quiet relationships, but Jesus’ saving death.
Yes fight hard to keep your relationships, but never at the expense of truth, or by keeping the kind of silence that communicates ambivalence about the truth. …”
– Campbell Markham at Cornerstone Presbyterian in Hobart (reportedly the subject of a complaint to the Tasmanian Anti-Discrimination Commission) writes about the tragic breakdown across the country, and the choices facing Jesus’ people.
Related: Push to change Tasmanian anti-discrimination laws rejected ahead of same-sex marriage vote – ABC News.
Albert Mohler on the Australian Plebiscite
In his daily commentary, The Briefing, for 17th August 2017, Albert Mohler speaks about the Australian plebiscite on same-sex marriage.
Worth hearing an outsider’s perspective.
Related: ABC offer helpline to staff distressed by same-sex marriage debate – Nine News.
Marriage Resources for the postal plebiscite
Australia will soon have a postal plebisciite on whether to change the definition of marriage to enable same-sex marriages. Here are some resources –
The Coalition for Marriage
The Coalition for Marriage is coordinating the campaign to oppose changes to the Marriage Act.
The Diocese of Sydney is a lead partner in the Coalition for Marriage, joining with over 80 organisations in support of the campaign to defend Australia’s man-woman definition of marriage. If you would like to support the Coalition for Marriage, you can sign up as a volunteer or provide financial support.
What has God Joined Together?
The Diocesan booklet entitled What has God Joined Together? is available online.
It explains God’s pattern for marriage, why it is best for society as a whole, and the negative consequences of same-sex marriage.
Last Chance to Register for the Postal Vote on Marriage
If you have moved house, or recently become eligible to vote in Australian elections, you need to update your electoral enrolment by 24 August 2017 to participate.
You can go to the AEC website to check or change your registration, or register online. More information and the relevant links are also available at the Coalition For Marriage website).
A popular vote is the best way to go, but arguments for gay marriage don’t hold up
“Ask yourself what is the most decent and respectful thing to do: is it to endorse this change that the gay lobby is stridently insisting upon; or is it to question whether a few years’ agitation should unmake a concept of marriage that had stood for many centuries and has always been regarded as the rock upon which society is built?
Ask yourself what’s more likely to maintain respect for marriage and to reinforce the notions of constancy and selflessness that sustain all lasting relationships: an ongoing recognition that marriage is a union of one man with one woman, preferably for life and usually dedicated to children; or changing marriage so that it can mean any two people who love each other? …”
– The Hon. Tony Abbott, MP, explains his thinking. Originally published in today’s The Australian, and also on his website.
What we believe
The message at the heart of Christianity is really quite simple…