News - Latest News - Archive August - September 2007

September 2007

24 September 2007 – UK : Sexual Orientation and Religious Liberty – UPDATE
- sexual orientation, harassment and religious liberty in the UK.Elizabeth Kendal, of the World Evangelical Alliance Religious Liberty Commission (WEA RLC) has provided a special update on the UK Sexual Orientation Regulations, in particular on the judicial review of the laws and the decision in the case where a bishop was found to have broken the law by refusing to give a homosexual man a job as a youth officer.
Elizabeth reports that the "SORs became law on 1 January 2007 in Northern Ireland and similar SORs became law in England, Wales and Scotland on 30 April. The Christian Institute secured the right to a judicial review of Northern Ireland's SORs, and this was heard in the High Court in Belfast, Northern Ireland, over five days in June.
"The High Court was asked to consider whether Northern Ireland's Sexual Orientation Regulations unduly interfere with religious liberty contrary to the Human Rights Act. It was acknowledged at the time that the outcome could serve as a precedent for challenging the law.
Click here to read this important update on the laws.

24 September 2007 – AAMI tells Channel 10 not to run ads on Californication' list! An AAMI ad was shown on Ch 10 in Toowoomba last Monday without their knowledge. They have asked Channel 10 not to show the ad in the program again! Well done!

21 September 2007 – Two more for 'Californication' list!
The Department of Employment and Workplace Relations and Bunnings are the latest two organisations to withdraw advertising from 'Californication'. That makes 31 companies!

20 September 2007 – New study on abortion released
Australians are both pro-choice and anti-abortion, according to a private study published in the country. The research, conducted from 2004 to 2006 by the Sexton Marketing Group, shows that 87% of Australians would like to both reduce the rate of abortion, but also retain the right of women to legal access to abortion.
Some 73% say outright that the rate of abortion is too high.
The study was published in "Common Ground?: Seeking an Australian Consensus on Abortion and Sex Education," edited by Father John Fleming, president of the Campion College in Sydney, and Nicholas Tonti-Filippini, senior lecturer at the John Paul II Institute for Marriage and Family.
Book available from St Pauls Publications, NSW at $29.95.
Click here for ordering details.
Media Reports:
Cooling-off period urged for abortions
The Australian, Jill Rowbotham | September 15, 2007
"WOMEN seeking abortions should undergo a compulsory cooling-off period before proceeding, according to 74 per cent of respondents to a new survey.
And more than half thought doctors should show the stage of fetal development to patients using models, pictures or ultrasound before a decision is made.

Support for abortion cooling-off period
Cath News, 15 Sept 2007

20 September 2007 – FIVE more advertisers withdraw
Five more advertisers withdraw from Californication and don't want their ads shown in the program: Baby Love Nappies, Johnson & Johnson (ads for Benadryl and Listerine) and Hardie Grant Books (publisher of Antarctica by Jason Kimberley).
Also CE Office Concepts and Clark Rubber. A TOTAL of 29 companies!
Click here for full details.

19 September 2007 – National Marriage Summit
Twenty speakers as well as representatives of many groups from across Australia met in Parliament House Canberra on Tuesday 18 September for the National Summit on Marriage, Family and Fatherhood.
The Marriage Manifesto was launched with proposals for government to promote and support marriage.
In the afternoon the speakers focused on gender and homosexuality and a booklet '21 Reasons why gender matters' was launched. This great resource is available from our office for $3 ($5 posted).
Prime Minister John Howard attended the Summit toward the end of the day and affirmed his support for marriage as between a man and a woman.
An open letter calling on the government to legislate to prevent states registering other forms of relationships (hetereosexual and homosexual) was presented to the Summit. It also called on the Labor Party to drop their support for such registers.
Click here for our media release. Peter and I attended the Summit and were speakers.
Media Reports:
The Australian printed an article which is not online. It is referred to in this article in the homosexual press:
Australian politicians back Christians over gay marriage
Pink News UK, 19 Sept 2007.

Australian PM Called to Amend Marriage Law
Christian Today (Aust), 20 Sept 2007.

14 September 2007 – Telstra joins the list!
Telstra and Panasonic are the latest companies to decide not to have their advertisements played during Channel 10's 'Californication' program. Thank you!

13 September 2007 – Hybrid embryos - UK gives approval
Researchers in the UK will be allowed to create 'animal-human hybrids' as the next alarming development in embryo stem cell research.
Read the article and VOTE in the poll...
The poll question is:
Should hybrid embryos be used for research?
Please vote NO! The vote is on the right hand side of the article...

'Human-animal' embryo green light
BBC, 5 Sept 2007
"Regulators have agreed in principle to allow human-animal embryos to be created and used for research. But scientists wanting to use hybrids will still need to make individual applications, the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority said. …”

13 September 2007 – More 'Californication' advertisers withdraw
Three more companies have been added to the list of companies telling Channel 10 they don't want their ads on the program...
Arnotts, whose ads for Tim Tams and Campbell's V8 Juice were shown, have told Channel 10 they will not be advertising on the program. Queensland companies Gladstone Marine Centre and Cooper Mackenzie Marketing have also said they won't have their ads on 'Californication'. Stay tuned for more reports! Check out our Campaign page - click here .

Meanwhile some companies have said they are happy to have their ads on the program: these include Ford and Shiels Jewellers. Next week we will give you a full list of these companies.

12 September 2007 – 'Californication' advertisers
Nineteen companies have now said they don't want Channel 10 to show their ads during the TV series 'Californication'.
Thanks to all who have contacted the advertisers using the lists sent by email!
Click here for our campaign page.

6 September 2007 – Contacting 'Californication' advertisers
Last week we asked you to write to Holden and Holeproof whose ads were on the first episode of 'Californication' in Melbourne.
Good news! The media has reported that their ads have been WITHDRAWN!
Today we have sent out by email a full list of advertisers in Melbourne, Adelaide and Perth and some from Sydney. Click here for our campaign page for full details.
Even the Daily Telegraph phoned companies to see what they thought - most were unaware their ads appeared and some were NOT happy!!!

Advertisers withdraw after Californication chastised
Daily Telegraph, 6 Sept 2007
Holden and Holeproof withdraw ads from Californication. Other companies contacted by the DT are NOT happy!

Ads pulled on Ten's risque new show
The Australian, Nicola Berkovic | September 05, 2007
"NERVOUS advertisers have distanced themselves from the Ten Network's risque new hit series Californication, which has prompted religious groups to threaten a boycott of companies sponsoring the show. Holden and Holeproof, which had advertisements placed by the network during the first episode screened last Monday, said they would ask Ten not to use their ads on the program again...."

Advertisers shocked by 'Californication'
Nine, 6 Sept 2007.
"Advertisers for a children's movie are among several companies shocked their commercials have appeared during Network 10's raunchy sitcom Californication...."

5 September 2007 – 'Californication' continues...
Catholics and others in Sydney have held candlelight vigils outside Channel 10 in Sydney while the show is being broadcast.

Some Christian groups have called for a boycott of advertisers.
However, we have asked people to write politely to advertisers and ask them if they are aware their ads are on the program - we know from past campaigns that many companies don't know their ads are on the program - and they often willingly tell the Channel they are NOT happy their ads appeared!
Channel 10 says it has not affected them - no advertisers have withdrawn...
However we know that one company (Spotlight) whose ads were shown during the program in South Australia have said they will not have their ads shown during the show.
Thank you to all of you who acted on this!
Click here for our campaign page...

Media Articles:
Calls for boycott of vomit-laden 'Californication'
Nine MSN. Tuesday Sep 4 2007.

Californication 'OK with advertisers'
The Australian, 5/9/2007.

4 September 2007 - Marriage in Iowa, USA
An Iowa County Court judge, Robert Hanson, struck down Iowa's law banning same-sex marriages on 30 August. He declared that the 1998 Defense of Marriage Act was unconstitutional because it “violated the constitutional rights of due process and equal protection” of homosexual couples. He ordered the county recorder in Des Moines, Iowa to issue marriage licenses to homosexual couples. [Des Moines Register, AP , 31/8/2007]

The following morning homosexual couples queued for marriage licences. An hour and a half later, when about 20 licences had been issued, the judge stayed his ruling! The County plans to appeal against the decision to the Iowa Supreme court.
The case arose when six homosexual couples sued the state after being refused marriage licences in 2005.

The judge also concluded that it was in the interests of children that their parents were ‘married’ so he said the state should make ‘marriage’ available to all types of ‘family units’.
The problem is that the research shows it is in children's best interests to be in a family made up of their biological mother and father who are married – it is not just the ‘marriage’ that counts.

August 2007

29 August 2007 – 'Californication' - sleaze on TV
The name says it all - the focus on this four part 'comedy/drama' currently being screened by Channel 10 is sex. The program, which began on Monday night, is all about sex - and pornography!

The Herald Sun reported "The first episode of the racy comedy featured four sex scenes -- one involving violence and statutory rape -- copious nudity, teenage drug use and constant foul language in its 32 minutes."

ACTION is needed - to contact the TV Channel, the advertisers and newspapers.
Click here for a full report and ACTION suggestions.

Media Reports:

Californication shocks TV viewers
Article from: Herald Sun, Nikki Protyniak and Darren Devlyn, August 29, 2007
This includes a FORUM where you can make comments.

How low can we go?
Andrew Bolt, Herald Sun, 29 August 2007.
[WARNING: This article contains graphic language of a sexual nature]
Add your comments as well...

The Premier's official media release says "Mr Brumby said the Government would ask the Commission for advice on removing abortion offences from the Crimes Act and clarifying under what circumstances abortion was legal. . . The Commission would be asked for advice on drafting laws that reflect existing Victorian abortion practices following the 1969 Menhennit ruling, which explained the circumstances in which a termination may be lawful."
The media statement said "The VLRC will be asked to report by March 2008."
It concluded "Following receipt and consideration of the report, the Government will put before the Parliament a Bill to modernise Victorian abortion law. This will be the subject of a conscience vote for all Government MPs."
So it looks like the GOVERNMENT has already made up its mind - it is not a question for them of IF abortion should be legalised but HOW!

15 August 2007 – Climate Change 'dissenters'
Climate change is in the news again...
This time four Coalition MPs released a dissenting paper for an Inquiry conducted by the House of Representatives Standing Committee on Science and Innovation.

The report was on the science and technology of geosequestration.
The dissenting paper is a good summary of many of the scientists and arguments against the notion that either 'global warming' is occurring or, if it is, that it is caused by humans!
This dissent was led by Dr Dennis Jensen MLA who is a former CSIRO nuclear physicist. He was supported by Danna Vale, Jackie Kelly and Dave Tollner.

About the Committee
List of the Reports and Inquiries done by the Committee, click here .

The actual report - 'Between a Rock and a Hard Place'
Click here for the full Report as a whole or by chapters.
The thorough 18 page Dissenting report is included as a separate chapter -
or click here.

Media comment:
Abuse heats up debate
Article from Herald Sun, Andrew Bolt, August 15, 2007

MPs query human link to warming
The Age, 15 August 2007.

15 August 2007 – 'Get Real' - sexual commodification
"Women’s Forum Australia brings you “Get Real!” - a major event on an issue critical to the health and wellbeing of women.

Get Real! will examine issues around female body image, the sexualising of girls and the commodification of the bodies of girls and young women in advertising, marketing and popular culture. The event will include the launch of WFA’s new research paper, “Faking it: The Female Image in Women’s Magazines”, by Selena Ewing.Get Real will be held at Melbourne Town Hall on 18 August."
7pm for 7.30pm start
Price $20 full price; $15 student / concession
For details visit WFA AND CLICK ON ‘Get Real’ to register.

15 August 2007 – Abortion in Victoria
The proposed bill to decriminalise abortion has been postponed. It is now scheduled to be debated on 21 August, possibly in the afternoon. We understand it has been listed as 'government business' - even though it is a private member's bill!

It is important that everyone contact their Legislative Council member today!
Click here for our campaign page for all the information you need to take action.

13 August 2007 – Democrat Senator says 'Too many Christians in Politics'!
Victorian Democrats Senator Lyn Allison says that Christians are over-represented in parliament.

Perhaps the Democrats are still smarting over the 40,000 responses they received to their online survey in 2006 of how people viewed religion and politics...

By the way, we are still waiting to see the results of that survey!
Read the article . . .
'Too many Christians' in parliament
The Australian, August 10, 2007.

10 August 2007 – 'Make it Count' - John Howard and Kevin Rudd speak
PM John Howard and Opposition Leader Kevin Rudd addressed around 200 church and para church leaders at the National Press Club last night in an event oganised by the Australian Christian Lobby.

Approximately 700 churches had the event live by webcast.
Each spoke for 30 minutes and then answered questions for 30 minutes. They addressed matters of interest to Christians: John Howard pre-empted the questions on foreign aid and welfare by addressing these in his speech. Kevin Rudd had two difficult questions where his answers did not impress - he affirmed the ALP's endorsement of relationship registers for homosexual and heterosexual couples, and was vague about the introduction of racial and religious vilification laws at a federal level.
In fact these give us real concern about Mr Rudd and his Party.

Videos of the speeches and questions can be downloaded from the Australian Christian Lobby website.
Click here for the 'Make it Count' page on the ACL website - it includes videos and transcripts of the speeches and the Question/Answer sessions.

Media report:

Howard pitch for family vote with internet filter
The Age, August 10, 2007.

Kevin Rudd - faith and politics
To read more about Mr Rudd's previous statements about faith and politics, read our article by clicking here.

7 August 2007 – Intelligent design
Professor Tom Woodward has been visiting Australia over the past three weeks lecturing on 'Intelligent Design'. The ID movement maintains there is 'irreducible complexity' of design in a single cell and strongly challenged the theory of Darwinian evolution.
We have really enjoyed the last two nights when he has spoken in Melbourne. Today he speaks in Launceston and then goes to Hobart.
Professor Woodward's latest book is Darwin Strikes Back, a history of the ID movement. He documents the latest developments, the counter-attack by evolutionists and the responses from ID proponents. Visit his website www.apologetics.org

To see what complex activities occur in a single cell, view the animation called "Inner life of the cell" on the Harvard website! There is 3 minute preview (set to music) to download or you can watch the longer version which has a commentary.

3 August 2007 – Suing is increasing!
There has been an increase in the number of people SUING for compensation... or defamation. . . or ....
1. 'Stolen Generation'
An aboriginal man has just been awarded $525,000 from the South Australian Supreme Court because he was taken from his family as a young child. Already Victorians are gearing up to make similar legal claims. Click here .

2. Keysar Trad defamed by radio station
Keysar Trad - former interpreter for Sheik Al Hilali - has sued 2GB because of comments made by journalist Jason Morrison on air following the Cronulla riots.
A jury has found the broadcaster guilty of defamation. The court will hear any defences from Harbour Radio and assess financial damages at a date to be fixed. Click here .

3. Iktimal Hage Ali
A Member of the former Muslim Community Reference Group, Iktimal was named NSW Young Australian of the Year - but handed back her title after it was revealed she was arrested and questioned over a cocaine racket. She is is suing the State of NSW and some members of the Middle East Crime Squad for wrongful arrest and false imprisonment, seeking up to $750,000 for the trauma of her arrest . All this even though the Daily Telegraph notes she was not charged (by police using their discretion) because she said the cocaine she obtained was for personal use and not for sale! Click here.

4. Implanon
A couple in a de facto relationship in the ACT are suing the manufacturers of the contraceptive device Implanon. They claim that a child - now 4 years old - was born because the device was not inserted properly. They are claiming for trauma and for the cost of bringing up the child! Click here.

1 August 2007 – The abortion risk for WOMEN . . .
Charles Francis writes eloquently on the risks that abortion poses for women...
Abortion risk to women
Charles Francis, Herald Sun, July 31, 2007.

Click here for our campaign page on the proposal to decriminalise abortion in Victoria.

1 August 2007 – UK Bishop found guilty of 'discrimination'
The Anglican Bishop of Hereford in the UK has been found guilty of discrimination under the UK's new Sexual Orientation Regulations (SORs).
We reported on this case on 5 April (Latest News). Christian groups in the UK were concerned about the impact of these new laws when the government passed them earlier in the year.
A Tribunal has now ruled in the case, saying that since the man who was applying for a job as a youth officer was single on the day of the interview and said he would remain single this should be accepted, even though he had ended a long-tem homosexual relationship just weeks before applying for the Hereford job!
The UK Lawyers Christian Fellowship said "The judgment in this case shows that where the issue at hand is homosexuality, the Church can legitimately refuse to employ a practising homosexual lay person but it may be difficult for Anglican churches if that person gives a verbal assurance that they will remain single throughout the duration of the post, however strongly the evidence indicates to the contrary."

The Tribunal is still to decide possible compensation payouts. Click here.
Read the initial report from the UK Lawyers Christian Fellowship. Click here.
Click here to read their 'Further Analysis'.

1 August 2007 – Premier Brumby sets his agenda
John Brumby, Victoria's new Premier, has set out some of his planned agenda.

The article speaks about his view on the current proposed bill to decriminalise abortion:
"Mr Brumby confirmed he would allow a conscience vote for Labor MPs on decriminalising abortion. He said Labor MP Candy Broad's private member's bill, now before Parliament and described by senior ministers as too radical, would "certainly" not be passed. But a group of caucus members were working on a compromise bill that could win majority support in Parliament."
Brumby sets his 'decisive' agenda
The Age, Paul Austin, State Political Editor, August 1, 2007.

One question we could ask... Were there other reasons for the sudden departure of both of them? An Inquiry into the issuing of gaming licences by the government was about to begin the following week. Mr Bracks had been asked to appear before the Inquiry, but the Legislative Assembly had declined the request. Reports today say that Mr Bracks is actually more likely to be be called to testify before the Inquiry now he is a private citizen...
Bracks may testify at gaming inquiry
The Age, August 1, 2007.