Gleanings

The Assocation for Reformed Political Action has joined other organisations in submitting concerns with moves by the Federal Govt to consolidate anti-discrimination laws.  For discussion paper and submissions: http://www.ag.gov.au/antidiscrimination

The Association for Reformed Political Action argued that it “would appear to be the beginning of an attempt to codify human rights into a written bill. The proposal is analogous to preparing a charter or bill of rights.”

For the Association for Reformed Political Action submission: click here

On 8 February 2012 the Senate referred the Marriage Equality Amendment Bill 2010 for inquiry and report.

This private senator’s bill was introduced by Senator Hanson-Young.

Submissions should be received by 2 April 2012. The reporting date for the inquiry is 25 May 2012.

Submissions can be sent to: legcon.sen@aph.gov.au

For more on the inquiry: click here

Action: The Association for Reformed Political Action and Saltshakers is calling on people to write to their Federal MPs asking them to reject any moves by their party to introduce homosexual marriage by changing the Marriage Act.

Action: Bill Muehlenberg, from Culturewatch asks people to write to Tony Abbott encouraging him to stand strong. His email address is: Tony.Abbott.MP@aph.gov.au

The WA Govt did not debate the Prostitution Bill in the final sitting week of parliament for 2011. The next opportunity it can be debated is Feb 21, 2012. The Bill will make prostitution, for the first time, legal in WA. The Labor Party has said it would oppose the bill while the Liberal Party members have been given a conscience vote.

View the Govt press release

Read the ACL response

Meanwhile in Tasmania, the Attorney General Brian Wightman released a discussion paper on the Regulation of the Sex Industry. Submissions are due by 9 March. For more info and discussion paper click here.

Action: the Australian Christian Lobby, Association for Reformed Political Action, Saltshakers and other organisations say it is a good time to write to local MPs in WA and Tasmania.

Action: The ACL’s Make a Stand Website has launched the “Women are worth more” campaign for Tasmania in addition to the WA campaign of the same name. Send your local MP a letter using the Make a Stand website.

In the WA campaign as at 18 Feb 2012, 1198 people had sent a letter to their MP using this service.

The Tasmanian Legislative Council Committee has recommended on Dec 1 that the Surrogacy Bill 2011 be amended to \”better protect the interest of the child\” by making written surrogacy arrangements mandatory and including a medical and social need test. The Tasmanian Bill allows for homosexual partners (unlike in WA) to have a surrogant child and the committee did not recommend changing this in line with WA\’s laws. In her submission to the inquiry the Tasmanian Commissioner for Children Aileen Ashford urged the need to consider the interest of the child. She did not recommend that homosexual couples should be excluded from receiving surrogant children. View the press release.

See the Commissioner of Children\’s submission

View the report recommendations

Action: www.makeastand.org.au is urging Tasmanians to write to their local MP and write a letter to the editor. For more on the issue and to write a letter using the makeastand website through the Kids Rights Count campaign.

As at Feb 17, 2012, 8137 people had sent a letter to their MP using this service.

Action: Saltshakers is asking people to write to their local MP and to the Premier. They ask that people pray that Lara Giddings will be removed from the Tasmanian Parliament and that the majority of MPs will oppose her social agenda. For MP contact details: http://www.saltshakers.org.au/take-action/campaigns

The Barnabas Fund has launched the Proclaim Freedom Petition to raise the profile of persecuited Christians around the world. It aims to press governments to take greater action to protect the estimated 200 million Christians living under the shadow of persecution, discrimination and disadvantage. The petition closes at the end of 2012. For more and to sign petition addressed to the Australian Parliament click here.

According to a study by the Triangle Center on Terrorism and Homeland Security released Feb 8, 2012 concerns that there will be a potential wave of homegrown violent extremism in the US has not materialised over the past 2 years. In 2011, 20 muslim-amercians committed or were arrested for terrorist crimes, down from 49 in 2009. Of the 14000 homicides recorded in 2011 none were committed by a Muslim extremist.

For report click here.

Open Doors recently released its annual World Watch List. For the 10th year North Korea has been ranked number one where an estimated 50,000-70,000 Christians are in labour camps. There are an estimated 400,000 believers living secretly in this country. For list click here

Action: Open Doors asks people to pray for North Korea, to support finanicially work that is being done in the country. To provide support click here.

Opendoors reports that Sudanese Christians are living beneath a blanket of fear since South Sudan seceded in July 2011. Sudan has moved up in Open Doors World Watch ranking to 16 from 35. Members of the Sudanese Church of Christ were detained on Dec 23. OpenDoors asks people to pray that church leaders will have wisdom and grace to respond to increasing opposition and that God will give strength to the Open Doors teams working in the country.

A new masters course designed for Christians who work in media is now available through Tabor College Victoria. Fee help is available for the 3-year part-time program, which involves six units: Doing Theology in Vocational Content, Media, Technology and Community, Worldview, Ethics and Media in Proce, Framing and Shaping Worldviews, Politics, Power and the Media, Spiritual Formation. For more info see www.tabor.vic.edu.au/study/ma/structure or contact Art Wouters on awouters@tabor.vic.edu.au or ph. 03 9790 9200, or 0432 675 690.

In his latest email alert, Bill Muehlenberg, from CultureWatch suggests that if you read just one book on abortion you need to read this ‘incredible testimony of Carol Everett, former bit time abortionist.’ For more on her and her book and story read this and watch this.