News archive... Jan - Feb 2007
February 2007
28 February - NSW election on 24 March -
Christian Values Checklist published
With the NSW election being held soon, it is important that we know what the policies of the political parties are - as well as the personal views of your individual candidates.
We recommend that you speak to your candidates, find out if they are a Christian and ask them their views on a range of topics.
In the election, voters elect ONE Member in the Legislative Assembly and have to select from ALL candidates in the Legislative Council. Click here for more information.
Votes in the Upper House are important - your vote is not wasted if you vote for a candidate in a smaller party and they don't get elected. Your vote will pass to the next person in your preferences.
A Christian Values Checklist has been prepared covering a range of moral and ethical issues.
Click here for our NSW election page AND the Checklist.
27 February - 'Ten Reasons why the Jesus Tomb Claim is bogus'
Biblical scholars have disputed a claim by a filmmaker who has made a documentary saying that Jesus may have been a father whose body was buried a long way from Jerusalem. The film claims that Jesus married Mary Magdalene and fathered a son named Judah. It will be screened on Discovery Channel in the USA this weekend.
Many Biblical and archaeological scholars have prepared a report titled
'Ten Reasons why the Jesus Tomb Claim is bogus" showing why the claim is false!
Click here to read the TEN REASONS!
The report in The Australian mentions that Biblical scholars have rejected the claim: Experts dispute Jesus tomb film
The Australian, February 27, 2007
26 February - Peaceful Pill Handbook banned!
Good news! The Office of Film and Literature Classification has decided to ban Philip Nitschke's book on suicide methods called The Peaceful Pill Handbook.
They have 'refused classification' for the handbook, because it instructs people how to manufacture barbiturates which is a crime. The handbook was initially rated 'R' for sale to those over 18. An appeal against the classification of this book was made by the Right to Life Association (New South Wales) to the Classification Review Board.
Congratulations to them and their legal representatives for their representation to OFLC.
Now that the appeal has been upheld and the book has been classified 'RC' (Refused Classification) the book has to be removed from sale immediately!
MEDIA RELEASE from the Office of Film and Literature Classification
24 February 2007
The Peaceful Pill Handbook Refused Classification upon review .
23 February - William Wilberforce and the abolition of slavery
Two hundred years ago today, on 23 February 1807, the slave trade was abolished in the
British Empire.
William Wilberforce was a Christian MP who, along with others including John Newton - the former slave trader who wrote Amazing Grace, worked for many years to abolish slavery. The 'Act for the Abolition of the Slave Trade' was passed by the House of Lords on 4 February 1807 and by the Commons on 23 February 1807. The Bill received Royal Assent on 25 March 1807.
William Wilberforce continued to fight for many years to see the owning of slaves banned as well - this happened in 1833 just after his death (the Bill passed its final reading just three days before his death and was passed the following month).
We will be printing a feature article in our March journal (posted next week) on William Wilberforce and his battle to abolish slavery, written by historian and theologian Dr Murray Adamthwaite.
Click here for our page on William Wilberforce – articles, information about the upcoming film Amazing Grace and much more!
21 February - Melbourne City Council relationships register
Melbourne City Council is taking public submissions on their proposed Relationships Declaration Program.
Please ask them not to establish this register for same sex and heterosexual relationships.
Click here to make your comments to the Melbourne City Council.
Click here for our web page on the proposed register and ideas of what to say!
Government report on terrorism
The new federal government publication Protecting Australia Against Terrorism 2006 provides a comprehensive overview of Australia ’s domestic and international counter-terrorism strategy, policy and arrangements .
Click here to read this official report.
The report explains the steps the Australian Government has taken to protect Australians and Australian interests against the threat of terrorism and outlines the government’s partnership with state, territory and local governments as well as the private sector in developing the nation-wide counter-terrorism capability.
5 February 2007 - Statistics on child abuse inAustralia
The latest Report on child abuse inAustralia has just been released by theAustralian Institute of Health and Welfare - a federal government agency.
The report is calledChild Protection Australia 2005 - 2006
The statistics show the various types of abuse - physical, emotional and sexual abuse and neglect, across all states and territories for the year 2005 - 2006.
The instance of reported and substantiated abuse is increasing - partly due to new legislation in some states and higher awareness of the issue.
The Report finds - see Family type P 30 -that a child is proportionately LEAST likely to be abused if living with their biological INTACT family of mum and dad. Lone parent (mother, followed by father) families have the highest risk factor for abuse.
Click here for the full report.
January 2007
30 January 2007 - Reality TV Review
The Australian Communications and Media Authority is conducting a review of'Reality TV', to see if it is meeting community standards and the complaint and monitoring systems are adequate. This has mainly arisen because of concerns about distasteful events broadcast on Big Brother.
Click here for details of the review...
Clickhere for the Discussion Paper.
Submissions close 1 Feb 2007.
27 January 2007 - Successful Australia Day Prayer meeting
The United Prayer Meeting held in Festival Hall, Melbourne, on Australia Day, was a great time of prayer and praise for our nation. More than 4,500 people attended, from a wide spectrum of Christian denominations, despite negative media reporting during the previous week.
Pastor Danny Nalliah and Catch the Fire Ministries co-ordinated the event.
Clickhere for our media release.
Media reports:
Leader's words catch the fire
The Age, January 27, 2007.
Kevin Rudd dodges the fire
Herald Sun, January 27, 2007.
25 January 2007 - Australia Day Prayer meeting tomorrow
A United Prayer Meeting for our nation will be held in Melbourne tomorrow 26 January, Australia Day, from10.30am to 12.30pm. The prayer meeting has been organised by Catch the Fire Ministries and Pastor Danny Nalliah. Formal endorsements by more than 15 Church leaders are included on the poster for the event.
Venue: Festival Hall, 300 Dudley St, West Melbourne (Melway 2E G2)
Bring your Australian flag if you have one!
Plenty of time after the event for lunch, BBQs and picnics!
Click here for full details - and poster.
Media coverage has been intense - because the Prime Minister sent a message on DVD to be played at the meeting. Articles will be added later...
22 January 2007 - Ready for another busy year!
We have just returned from the Summit Biblical Worldview Conference in Canberra . Another great time of learning and understanding about our Christian worldview and also other worldviews such as Marxism, Secular Humanism, New Age, Postmodernism, Islam etc.
Next year the Summit Conference will be in Melbourne from 13-19 January 2008 . It will be hosted by Salt Shakers and Resistance Thinking.
The venue will be Deakin University in Burwood .
Reserve the date NOW and plan to attend!
Find out more aboutSummit Ministries. Clickhere .
5 January 2007 - Pregnancy Counselling hotline
The federal government has announced thatMcKesson, an independent health company, has been awarded the tender to run the 'Pregnancy Counselling hotline' which aims to give women non-directive advice if they are pregnant and wanting help.
While some of the media - theHerald Sun - reported the situation comprehensively,The Age reported SOME of the information. They announced the tender and that two Catholic organisations had been appointed to be part of a working party to advise the operators - Centacare and Caroline Chisholm Society. The rest ofThe Age's article focused on people complaining about the inclusion of 'pro-life' groups!
The Age neglected to mention that Family Planning Western Australia had won the contract to develop a training package for counsellors!!!
Minister for Health Tony Abbott's media release gives ALL the information.
Clickhere .
Herald Sun article:
Abbott announces counselling service
Herald Sun, January 02, 2007.
The original Age article:
Abbott in pregnancy advice row
The Age,January 3, 2007.
I wrote to The Age pointing out their omission of the information about Family Planning - and they included it in an article the following day!
Help-line furore widens
The Age, January 4, 2007.
1 January 2007 - Happy New Year!
The end of a busy year and the start of a new one. Time to reflect on the past, prepare for the future and live in the present!Many people have celebrated Christmas without thinking about the real reason for celebrating - the birth of Jesus.
Pray that, as we begin the new year, we will focus on God and what He wants us to do in following Him! |
News