Controversy
Love thy phobia
The youth support group said it wanted to help gay youth tackle homophobia.
The way the Christian Brethren understood it, allowing the promotion of a homosexual lifestyle at a campsite they owned was against the word of God.
Cobaw Community Health Service is seeking compensation from Christian Youth Camps Ltd, claiming its decision to refuse members of its Way Out project to camp at a Phillip Island resort in 2007 discriminated against the young people based on their sexual orientation.
In a case that raises controversial exemptions from the Equal Opportunity Act relating to religious groups, a tribunal heard the trouble began when Way Out project co-ordinator Sue Hackney googled accommodation at Phillip Island for 60 rural youth and 12 support workers.
The Phillip Island Adventure Resort – run by Christian Youth Camps and owned by the Christian Brethren – was top of the list. When Ms Hackney spoke to its manager Mark Rowe, she explained that Way Out intended to speak to gay youth about tackling homophobia and discrimination.
The Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal heard that Mr Rowe would claim Ms Hackney told him her group was about promoting a homosexual lifestyle as natural and healthy for young people.
Greg Garde, QC, for Christian Youth Camps, said Mr Rowe disagreed with the nature and purpose of the group’s activities ”in conformity with the doctrines of Christianity he and CYC accept”, and was also concerned about the impact on other groups using the park.
After questioning by Judge Felicity Hampel, Mr Garde denied Mr Rowe’s concern was about the young people’s sexual orientation. Rather, Mr Rowe had a duty of care to all park users and ensuring they ”react to each other favourably and appropriately”.
Debbie Mortimer, SC, for Cobaw, said the Christian group’s reliance on the doctrine of ”plenary inspiration” – the direct word of God in the Bible – was flawed, as it was not necessarily common to all Christians.
Christian Brethren’s Camp Discrimination
A Victorian tribunal will be asked to decide if a Christian group can discriminate against gay people for religious reasons.
The Christian Brethren will face the discrimination complaint today after it stopped a suicide prevention project for gay youths from using its facilities.
While some religious groups have exemptions under the state’s equal opportunity act allowing for sexual discrimination, the group lodging the complaint will argue those exemptions end when it is involved in a commercial operation.
The complaint arose when the Christian Brethren’s campsite on Phillip Island was booked in 2007.
Gay youth support group WayOut had hoped to use the resort to host a group of gay rural Victorians, but they claim the Christian Brethren cancelled their booking ”once it became clear what the nature of the camp was going to be”.
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Iranian Cleric fights to remain in Australia
From AlJazeeraTV:
Mansour Leghaei, an Iranian cleric, is fighting deportation after living in Australia for 16 years.
Supporters have launched a campaign to keep him in the country, travelling with him from Sydney to ask the Australian parliament in Canberra to overturn its order for him to be deported. The Australian intelligence agency said it does not have to disclose any evidence against him.
Al Jazeera Azhar Sukri reports. (June 19, 2010)
YouTube: http://youtu.be/EXLpUcJq90w
Dr. God: ‘Thou shalt suffer for my pleasure’
Catherine Deveny’s one woman show God Is Bullshit has been extended due to popular demand. For more details go to www.catherinedeveny.com Her column appears in The Age’s MelbourneLife on Wednesday.
Checking out with dignity, by Catherine Deveny
One of my favourite people is an old boyfriend’s mum, Marijke, a stuttering Dutch psychologist, heart of gold, body of a Veronica and a penchant for buying old furniture, painting it beige and re-upholstering it in calico.
Meeting her in my teens was a revelation. The women I knew mostly fell into the category of teacher, housewife, mother, nurse or tuckshop lady rather than fiercely independent, free-thinking European woman who cooked lentils, travelled the world and danced to her own tune. Clothes optional.
I caught up with Marijke a while ago to meet her new man, Rene, a Dutch cardiologist. The little boys and I rolled up to a breakfast by the sea. Whole-wheat pancakes, bowls of stewed fruit the colour of jewels, fluffy clouds of yoghurt, steaming cups of coffee and light streaming in. At the moment I was reflecting on what a healthy sight it was, Rene pushed his chair back and lit a cigar. At the table.
I love Europeans.
He turned to me and said: ”Cathy, did Marijke tell you how we met?”
”No, she didn’t.”
He took a drag of his cigar and said: ”I killed her father.”
Rene had legally euthanised Marijke’s father in the Netherlands, where euthanasia is legal. A death with a happy ending.
I thought of Marijke and Rene when I addressed the Dying With Dignity Rally on the steps of Parliament House last week.
Passionate supporters huddled together on the steps like many Melburnians past. I hoped this was the last rally for euthanasia ever, but infuriatingly I knew it wouldn’t be. Despite the need for our laws to catch up to reflect social progress and our community values, 85 per cent of people support voluntary euthanasia.
I was disappointed by the turnout – about 150 people. Some 10,000 rocked up to the Save Live Australian Music Rally when they closed The Tote. But the collective age at the Dying With Dignity Rally was probably twice that of the Slam Rally. Perhaps it’s a good sign – maybe people were thinking: ”I don’t have to turn up to a rally for voluntary euthanasia. Clearly it’s going to happen; they legalised abortion.”
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Bishop ‘disgraceful and scandalous’
© Fairfax, Feb. 9th 2010.
Disgrace charge brought against Bishop, by Barney Zwartz
Two South Australian Anglican bishops have brought formal charges of disgraceful and scandalous behaviour against a third, claiming that he tried to stack his diocesan council to get a $1 million payout and that he protected and promoted a senior priest accused of sexual abuse.
In a nine-count charge lodged with the church’s Special Tribunal, Bishop Ross Davies of The Murray diocese in Murray Bridge is alleged to have taken a year’s sick leave without ever providing evidence of ill-health and dodged his duties as a bishop.
The claims, brought by Adelaide archbishop Jeff Driver and Willochra bishop Garry Weatherill, say Bishop Davies lives outside his diocese and worships at a Catholic church in Adelaide while still being paid, that he has publicly claimed the Anglican Church of Australia is not a true Christian church, and that he took part in consecrating a dissident bishop against church rules.
In his diocese he licensed as Anglican clergy two bishops of the dissident Traditional Anglican Communion, which split from the Anglican church after it ordained women in 1992.
Bishop Davies said he would defend the charges. ”I don’t think I’ve done anything that deserves me to be ejected from office,” he said.
According to the Anglican Directory, the tiny diocese, which covers the south-east region of South Australia, has 26 parishes – of which 10 are vacant – and lists more than 50 clergy, including six bishops. Few of them are active in the diocese.
The nine charges, with more than 100 particulars, include allegations of bullying, verbal and emotional abuse. They claim Bishop Davies protected former Archdeacon Peter Coote, whom three women accused of improper advances, and ignored recommendations by a church disciplinary committee.
A disaffected group called Voice of the Laity has set up a website to air grievances. Its founder, Lee Lyons, says the bishop’s own diocesan council passed a vote of no-confidence in him, after which a deputation went to Archbishop Driver.
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