Subject: Date: Sat, 14 Sep 2002 11:52:22 +1000 From: Victor To: webmaster@jesus-is-lord.com Greetings, This is the first in a series of articles that will be sent out dealing with the effects of current anti discrimination laws on religious freedom. As things now stand in a number of countries certain statements in the New Testament cannot be read in a public place without violating existing anti vilification laws. A number of biblical texts are now in conflict with both state and Federal legislation because they are offensive to homosexuals, non Christian religions and apostate institutions. Christians may need to discover new ways of conducting their business when they preach the gospel - or be prepared to break the law. Careful reflection will show that current anti villification legislation represents an attack on the right of free speech and a denial of the right to preach the whole Bible as the word of God. The anti vilification laws currently in force in a number of Australian states specifically outlaw any comments that constitutes "severe ridicule" of any individual or institution. It is now illegal, for example, to teach traditional Protestant interpretations of prophecy that identify the papacy as the antichrist. The politicians who have introduced anti villification laws have for the most part acted honestly and, as they see, in the best interest of the people. But the words of Jesus are appropriate at this time. "Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing" (Luke 23:34). In essence anti vilification legislation places Christianity under the jurisdiction of the state and empowers secular forces to determine what Christians can, and cannot, preach. Anti vilification legislation in effect puts Christianity under the control of unbelieving politicians. These politicians are now using their new powers to set limits to Christian teaching and to restrict aggressive evangelism. The primary evil in anti racial legislation is that it subjugates Christianity to the principles of a secular philosophy and makes it a criminal offence to tell infidels, Moslems, Hindus, Buddhists and Jews that "salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved". (Acts 4:12) Imagine this, in Australia today the preaching of Acts 4:12 can be classified as a hate crime. What also concerns many in the Christian community is that the anti villification legislation specifically defines a church as a public place. What does this mean? It means that even the contents of a pastors sermon must now conform to the requirements of civil law. While they can be made to appear to be a benefit for the community anti vilification laws reduce Christianity in legal terms to the level of one opinion among many others. The driving force behind a state enforced concept of the equality of religions is the abolition of the biblical concept of absolute truth. At a fundamental level anti vilification laws put the gospel in a straight jacket. It is now an offence to offend a persons emotions. If you traumatize a person by telling them that unrepentant sinners are going to hell you have committed a hate crime. In an attempt to use the law as a weapon against Christians non Christians have already entered churches uninvited and have lodged protest at what was being preached from the pulpits. Because these unbelievers did not like what they heard they brought civil action against Christians for doing nothing more than preaching their understanding of truth on their own property to their own people. The law has legislated madness. Also, every church building is now under law as much a public place as Central Station. And because a church building is now classified as a public place it is illegal to prevent anyone from entering the premises when a meeting is being conducted. There is now no such thing as the right of private assembly for those who share a common faith. It is now illegal for a Christian to only employ Christians. This email goes to the US, Canada, South America, Africa, Denmark, Scotland, New Zealand as well as Australia. Your contribution of useful information in relation to freedom of speech is welcome. This is a situation where unity of purpose and the pooling of resources is essential to the defense of truth. There is a need to establish a central agency that can farm out critical information that relates to the freedom to worship to Christians everywhere. We all need to vigorously defend the biblical princip[le of the separation of church and state. The article in the attachment is by Richard Bennett an ex Roman Catholic priest. His website address is www. bereanbeacon.org. Richard needs your prayers and your financial support. Who do you think the antichrist is? It doesn't matter what you think brothers and sisters. Anti vilification laws require that you keep your opinion to yourself - or else. Throughout history religious freedom has been like the morning mist. It comes for a time, but it never stays and always goes away. Work while it is day for the night cometh. kind regards, Victor The following article tells its own story. The site address is http://www.pastornet.net.au/jmm/aasi/aasi0774.htm Religious Discrimination/vilification In Australia 18 July 2002 Dear Friends, Yesterday Festival of Light held a briefing for pastors about the SA government proposal to introduce a law against religious discrimination and vilification. Such a law could later have a devastating impact on our religious freedom, and the time allowed for submissions is very short - they must be in by 31 July. Keynote speaker Bishop John Hepworth explained that Australia is following a trend in Western nations to limit religious freedom by such laws. The Swedish parliament, for example, recently passed an amendment to their constitution which, if passed again after the next election, would prohibit any public preaching that homosexual behaviour is wrong. Bishop Hepworth said it is likely that this ban could extend to the Bible itself - that Sweden could make it illegal to publish or sell Bibles containing passages such as those in Romans and Leviticus which condemn homosexual acts. Dr David Phillips showed how anti-discrimination laws, which followed Australia's adoption of United Nations conventions in the early 1980s, have persuaded people to think of discrimination as a bad thing. However the Bible teaches that discrimination (or discernment) can be a good thing. Solomon for example desired wisdom - the gift of discernment or discrimination - above all others. He wanted the ability to choose what is good and to reject what is bad. Yet this is precisely what laws against religious discrimination say we must not do. Under such laws, a Christian man who runs a small business may not choose employees who share his faith and values. Another speaker, Dr Philip Burcham, pointed out how unfair such a law would be. Can you imagine SA Premier Mike Rann employing a strong Liberal supporter as his personal assistant? Of course not! He will, naturally, only feel comfortable with a Labor supporter in such a position of trust. So why does he want to ban discrimination based on religious belief - which in many ways is similar to political belief? A law against religious discrimination would take away the freedom of association of Christians - but not that of politicians. I explained what has happened in Victoria recently, under their new Racial and Religious Tolerance Act which bans racial and religious vilification. This law, like the one proposed for SA, uses the tribunal rather than the court system. Under the court system, a complaint to police results in prosecution only if there is clear first-hand evidence that a crime has been committed. The person against whom the complaint is made is considered innocent unless proved guilty in court. However in the "Equal Opportunity" tribunal system, anyone can make a complaint - which can be based on hearsay or feelings - and the Equal Opportunity Commissioner must pursue it unless it is trivial. The accused must then prove himself innocent of the complaint. Even if the complaint is later dismissed as baseless, the accused receives no compensation. The effect of this new law in Victoria - proclaimed in January this year - quickly became apparent. In March, a Christian group held a seminar on Islam in a Melbourne church. A Christian from Pakistan with expert knowledge of Islam, explained the meaning of Islam's holy books - the Qur'an and the Hadith. Three Muslims attended parts of the seminar and took notes. Their distorted and inaccurate account formed the basis of a formal complaint under the new law by the Islamic Council of Victoria. An article by Andrew Bolt in the Herald Sun (30/5/02, p 19) covers some of the unfair claims against the seminar. The two men against whom the complaint was made have since spent many hours attempting to prove themselves innocent. If they fail, they risk serious fines. If they succeed, they receive no compensation for their time, effort or legal expenses. In contrast, the Islamic Council of Victoria has nothing to lose - it simply had to make a complaint. Peter and Jenny Stokes of Salt Shakers in Melbourne say Victorian pastors are now reporting that some people are attending services - not to worship - but to monitor what is said. Are we heading for a state of fear, under "thought police"? Festival of Light field officer David d'Lima urged pastors to inform their people of what is happening, and to take the opportunity to write to Attorney-General Michael Atkinson and to talk to the head of their church and their local Member of Parliament. Pastors who attended the briefing received action kits including the 17 page government discussion paper on the proposed new law; a draft response to the discussion paper; the Herald Sun article by Andrew Bolt; a resource paper on religious freedom; an order form for an audiotape of the briefing and an action sheet (see attachment below). This matter is urgent - the closing date for submissions is 31 July. Please feel free to send this email to others. God bless! ROS Mrs Roslyn Phillips, B Sc Dip Ed Research Officer, Festival of Light 4th Floor, 68 Grenfell Street, Adelaide South Australia 5000 Email rhp@fol.org.au