Victoria – Review of ‘hate crime’ laws

Removal of Free Speech in VictoriaSalt Shakers E-News – Helping Christians Make A Difference

‘Hate crimes’ are under review in Victoria. If what is being proposed in one of the review documents is introduced into legislation, it will mean even MORE RESTRICTIONS on the freedom of speech.

In fact, if you OFFEND or INSULT a homosexual you could be hauled before the Equal Opportunity and Human Rights Commission – and with their NEW POWERS, the EOHRC could launch their own investigation into behaviour they think ‘offends’ someone! Churches and Christians will be under even more threat if this is put into legislation!

Last year Victoria’s Attorney-General Rob Hulls initiated changes to the Sentencing Act regarding the sentencing of hate crimes. The amendment requires a sentencing court to have regard to whether an offence was motivated (wholly or partially) by hatred of, or prejudice against, a group of people with common characteristics with which the victim was associated or with which the offender believed the victim was associated.

But that isn’t enough for Mr Hulls.

Mr Hulls has asked Hon Geoffrey Eames, a retired Supreme Court judge, to conduct a review of ‘Identity Motivated Hate Crime’ in Victoria to “determine whether current hate crime laws are adequate”. They are considering whether ‘hate crimes’ should be a specific part of the criminal law. (more…)

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Australia Bans Christian Schools from Teaching Creationism

By Thaddeus M. Baklinski ADELAIDE, South Australia, March 4, 2010 (LifeSiteNews.com) – http://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2010/mar/10030403.html

The South Australian Non-Government Schools Registration Board has published a new education policy that states it requires the ”teaching of science as an empirical discipline, focusing on inquiry, hypothesis, investigation, experimentation, observation and evidential analysis.” It then goes on to state that it “does not accept as satisfactory a science curriculum in a non-government school which is based on, espouses or reflects the literal interpretation of a religious text in its treatment of either creationism or intelligent design.”

The policy effectively bans the teaching of creationism in South Australian Christian schools.

A spokesman for the South Australian Non-Government Schools Registration Board is quoted by the Sydney Morning Herald saying there is no ban on teaching creationism. “It can be taught in religious studies,” said the spokesman.

However, Stephen O’Doherty, the chief executive of Christian Schools Australia, said that he believes the intention of the South Australian policy was to ban the teaching of the biblical perspective on the nature of the universe altogether. It was the only such subject singled out, he said. (more…)

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Geert Wilders on course to be next Dutch prime minister

Geert Wilders looks like next Dutch Prime MinisterBy Bruno Waterfield – The Telegraph – 05 March 2010

Municipal results announced on Thursday put his party in first place in Almere, a region near Amsterdam and second in The Hague, one the country’s largest cities and the seat of the Dutch government.
 
If repeated in national elections on June 9, the Freedom Party could win 27 out of 150 seats, becoming the largest single party and putting him in line to become prime minister and form a new government.

Mr Wilders has called Islam a backward religion, wants a ban on headscarves in public life and has compared the Koran to Hitler’s Mein Kampf.

“We are going to conquer the entire country we are going to be the biggest party in the country,” he said after the vote. (more…)

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Muslim leader wants elements of sharia in Australia

Sydney Morning Herald – Paul Bibby – March 8, 2010
 
ELEMENTS of Islamic law – the sharia – should be legally recognised in Australia so that Muslims can live according their faith, a prominent Muslim leader says.

Addressing an open day at Lakemba Mosque on Saturday, the president of the Australian Islamic Mission, Zachariah Matthews, said parts of sharia could be recognised as a secondary legal system so that Muslims were not forced to act contrary to their beliefs. ”Sharia law could function as a parallel system in the same way that some traditional Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander law was recognised in the Northern Territory,” Dr Matthews told the Herald after the session.

”I don’t think we are so unsophisticated that we cannot consider a multilayered legal system as long as it doesn’t conflict with the existing civil system.”

The comments shocked some attending the open day. They felt Dr Matthews was advocating the introduction of the penal system under which women have been stoned to death for adultery, and corporal punishment is meted out for some offences. (more…)

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Police stop re-enactment of crucifixion of Jesus in Geelong, Australia

Crucifixion of Jesus re-enactment in Geelong, Victoria, Australia deemed too offensive by local policeDear family & friends in Christ in Australia and around the World,

Due to the widespread national and international media coverage, you possibly would have heard by now that a church in Geelong, Victoria, Australia did a re-enactment of the crucifixion of Jesus on the Easter weekend, which was shut down by the local police because a few complaints were alleged to have been received.

However, what seemed to be initially negative has now turned out to be very positive for the Kingdom of God!

The senior minister of the church in Geelong told Pastor Daniel that he had challenged the police as to how many complaints they actually had received and as to why they abruptly shut down their street drama.  He also told the police that the ‘Gay and Lesbian Mardi-Gras’ is very offensive to many people (Christians and non-Christians alike) in addition to the ‘Nude Bike Ride’ and people posing nude in public places for photos. He challenged them as to what they do when they receive many complaints on those issues. The police admitted that they received only 2 complaints in relation to the re-enactment of the crucifixion of Jesus and that they had over reacted. The police have now made a public apology which was printed in several newspapers.   (more…)

Continue ReadingPolice stop re-enactment of crucifixion of Jesus in Geelong, Australia

President Obama’s anti-Israel hysteria and plan to microchip citizens

President ObamaDear family & friends in Christ in Australia and around the World,Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Nethanyahu
 
President Obama is definitely de-Christianizing America, making it an Interfaith nation to further the Antichrist’s diabolical agenda of a One World Government, Religion, and Economy.
 
He is planning to microchip citizens in America and trying his very best to divide Jerusalem. We must continue to pray that the Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will continue to stand strong and not let this happen.  Pray for Israel and especially Jerusalem!
 
I am shocked that thousands (perhaps millions) of Christians are so misled and do not support Israel. Thank God for the nameless and faceless remnant who will rise up and take a stand for the soon coming King of kings and the Lord of lords! These Kingdom warriors will prepare the way for the second coming of Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. We must remember that where there is darkness, the light shines even brighter. So let your light shine!
 
Following are 2 very interesting and alarming articles regarding President Obama’s anti-Israel hysteria and plan to microchip citizens.
 
Jesus is coming back very soon!!! ARE YOU READY TO MEET HIM?????? Please pray for the nations!!!

(more…)

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Minister admits Islamic extremists who believe in jihad and sharia law have infiltrated the Labour Party

Islam is spreadingBy Daily Mail Reporter on 28th February 2010

Minister Jim Fitzpatrick said the Islamic Forum of Europe was acting like a party within Labour

The Labour Party has been inflitrated by Islamic fundamentalists, a Government Minister admitted today.

Members of the Islamic Forum of Europe (IFE) which believes in Britain should develop sharia law have placed sympathisers in elected office and local branches of parties, an investigation revealed.

The covert campaign is part of an attempt at ‘mass mobilisation’ of voters by the group, which believes in jihad.

Jim Fitzpatrick, the Environment Minister, told the Sunday Telegraph the IFE had become a secret party within Labour.

He said: ‘They are acting almost as an entryist organisation, placing people within the political parties, recruiting members to those political parties, trying to get individuals selected and elected so they can exercise political influence and power, whether it’s at local government level or national level.’

(more…)

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Vic – Equal Opportunity – URGENT: PLEASE write to MPs

Attorney-General Rob Hull’s proposed  Equal Opportunity Bill 2010 – with its many restrictions on freedom of religion and freedom of expression – will be debated NEXT WEEK (probably WED 24 March) in the Victorian Legislative Assembly.

Do you live in Victoria?

If so, please write to your MPs this WEEKEND

… to your ONE MP in the Legislative Assembly and your FIVE Members in the Legislative Council.

The Coalition will be deciding how they will vote on this bill early next week.

PLEASE encourage your Victorian friends and churches to write also!

Ask your MPs to vote against the  Equal Opportunity Bill 2010.

(more…)

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Don’t let politicians bully you, Lord Carey warns Christians

Lord Carey - Former Archbishop of CanteburyBy Steve Doughty – 2nd March 2010

Former Archbishop of Canterbury Lord Carey today accused politicians of trying to bully Christianity out of public life.

He complained of a ‘strident and bullying campaign’ to marginalise Christianity in the name of political correctness.

Lord Carey said: ‘We have reached the point where politicians are mocked for merely expressing their faith.

‘I cannot imagine any politician expressing concern that Britain should remain a Christian country. That reticence is a scandal and a disgrace to our history.’

(more…)

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Does Obama Walk the Walk When It Comes to Christians and Jews?

President Barack ObamaBy Ken Blackwell – FOXNews.com

It’s hard to call for an end to the culture wars when your own side is manning the barricades. President Obama is big on civility. He talks a very good game. But his nominee for a top slot at the Department of Justice–Dawn Johnsen–is a leading exponent of incivility. Johnsen worked with the ACLU for years. And she joined ARM–the so-called Abortion Rights Mobilization–to strip the Catholic Church of its tax-exempt status because of its pro-life advocacy. The Catholic Church eventually won that case–but not until it had spent years and millions of dollars defending itself. The Catholic Church was just the biggest ARM target. If they had succeeded against the Catholics, they surely would have come after the Southern Baptist Convention, the National Association of Evangelicals, and The Lutheran Church–Missouri Synod.

If Mr. Obama is serious about civility he needs to withdraw Dawn Johnsen’s nomination. If she is confirmed, we will see a radical anti-Catholic, pro-abortion zealot influencing policy thoughout the Justice Department—but also policy throughout the entire federal government.

What we are witnessing right now is an anti-Christian programmatic pogrom. What is a “pogrom” it’s the word that describes anti-Jewish raids by Cossacks and others in czarist Russia, but a programmatic pogrom best describes what is happening right now. These are not isolated attacks. And while we no longer have Cossacks to threaten, we now have left-wing bloggers who actually call themselves Kossacks (after the Daily Kos). (more…)

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Muslim face veils: religious right, or security risk?

Full Face VeilAngela Shanahan | Saturday, 6 February 2010

In an opening article on this issue an Australian journalist says veils are a security risk in the West and should be banned in public.

The reports that a French parliamentary committee wants to ban the full face veil in certain circumstances has caused outrage among not only Muslims, but some respected Christian commentators as well. As an opinion writer who has closely followed issues of human rights and freedom of religion for The Australian newspaper, I too received a flurry of emails when the news broke.

One friend and colleague — the editor of Mercatornet, actually – seeking my opinion expressed his own: “To me, it seems crazy, a violation of freedoms, a victory for a certain brand of feminism, etc. But obviously, many respectable people take a different approach.”

Well, I am one of the “respectable” people to whom he refers (I hope). I do not agree with the wearing of a full face and body veil in the West. In these insecure times there are good reasons for banning it in government offices. (more…)

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Are Killings from within? Media release from Pr Daniel

The debate over whether Australia is a racist country has been renewed in the wake of the murdered three year old Indian boy in Melbourne overnight with Catch the Fire ministries president Pastor Daniel Nalliah suggesting the slayings perpetrated against the Sikh community might come from fellow countrymen from their country of origin.
 
As police in Melbourne hunt for the killer of three-year-old Gurshan Sing Channa, Pastor Daniel Nalliah, who is darker skinned and hails from Sri Lanka, said many would see Australia as a racist country with ‘yet another tragic death of an Indian in Australia’.
 
“I think we need to take a good look at the recent spate of attacks on mainly Indians from a Sikh background. The whole world seems to believe Australia is rampant with racism. Darker skinned people are even scared to travel to Australia,” Pastor Daniel said.
 
“My question is, if the attacks are from Whites against blacks, then we all will be possibly on the receiving end but how come the attacks are so clearly on one group of people – the Sikhs from India?”
 
(more…)

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Criminalization of Christianity in Great Britain

Dear friends and family in Christ around the World, Following is a link from Christian Broadcasting Network regarding the Criminalization of Christianity in the West, in particular Great Britain. http://downloads.cbn.com/cbnnewsplayer/cbnplayer.swf?aid=9425…

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Christianity being squeezed out in the name of ‘equality’, Archbishop of York warns

Dr John SentamuBy Steve Doughty 4th February 2010

Christianity is being wiped out from public life in the name of equality, the Archbishop of York said yesterday.

Dr John Sentamu accused politicians and others of trying to sideline religion by promoting their false idea of ‘tolerance’.

He cited Labour’s equality laws as an attack on the freedoms of churches.

Attempts to denigrate church schools and ban the mention of Christmas in favour of bland ‘Winterval’ celebrations were also part of a drive to censor Christianity, he said.

The Archbishop’s comments followed the Pope’s unprecedented attack on Harriet Harman’s Equality Bill earlier this week.

Benedict XVI called the proposed legislation ‘unjust’, saying it restricted religious freedom and violated ‘the natural law’  -  in other words, Christian teaching.

(more…)

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Islamic Finance for Australia!

Salt Shakers I-List – Jenny Stokes – 12th February 2010

Some time ago I read that there was some investigation occurring into the provision of Islamic finance in Australia.
 
Today, the Trade Minister, Simon Crean, launched a booklet published by the Australian government called Islamic Finance.

It has been produced by Austrade (part of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade).
 
The media release says “The booklet Islamic Finance provides a detailed explanation of the opportunities that booming Shariah-compliant investment and banking offers Australia’s financial services sector.”
 
In the booklet, the ‘opportunities’ for the expansion of Islamic finance in Australia are explored – including attracting more international banks and Islamic banks to Australia to provide the finance, Australian banks providing shariah-compliant finance, funds managers doing Islamic finance etc etc…. (Page 6)

The booklet then looks at a wide range of trade areas in Australia and ways they could ‘benefit’ from or use shariah or Islamic finance!

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