Anglican Bishop opposes 'discrimination law' exceptions

An Anglican bishop, John McIntyre, has written a feature Opinion article for The Age, criticising the churches who wanted to retain exceptions to Victoria's equal opportunity law and promoting equal opportunity laws.

On one point we agree with him - albeit for very different reasons. We don't really like these 'exceptions'.

However, unlike Mr McIntyre, we don't like the equal opportunity laws themselves.
And we don't like the 'compromise' proposed by some Christian groups and apparently endorsed by the Catholic Church - where churches and religious organisations would have to JUSTIFY why they need to employ Christians in all positions in their organisation (see Mr Hulls' media release.)

But that's not where Bishop McIntyre ended!
He contended that Christians should treat everyone equally, using the Good Samaritan story to illustrate the idea of helping our neighbour. But he went on to use the story to state that churches and religious organisations should thus not discriminate at all and to be happy to employ anyone!

He confuses the ideas of inherent characteristics such as race and sex with lifestyle characteristics such as homosexuality or de facto relationships.

This is taking the story of the Good Samaritan out of context. The Bible tells us to love our neighbour, but it doesn't tell us to love what our neighbour does.

Whilst Jesus used it to show how we should love others, it wasn't about him taking on a non-believer as a disciple! Or endorsing someone's ongoing sin.

There is a huge difference between helping someone and having them represent your organisation or teach your children in a Christian school!

But wait a minute...
John McIntyre is 'chairman of the 'Victorian Council of Christian Education'.
Surely he doesn't think that 'Christian Education' could be taught by a Hindu, a pagan or an atheist? Or does he?
If he doesn't, then he isn't applying what he's writing. If he does . . .?

Back to Mr Hulls and the Labor Party
When the Labor Party employs a Liberal Party member as their election campaign director perhaps we'll know they are serious about 'not discriminating'!

Read the article - and comment about it at The Age... click here.

Commentary on the bishop's article

Bill Muehlenberg wrote a column on Culture Watch opposing his view:
More Fuzzy Thinking from our Church leaders
Bill Muehlenberg, Culture Watch, 29/9/2009.

Kevin Donnelly, a former teacher and now education consultant, refutes the proposal put by the bishop and contends that Christian schools do need to discriminate on who they employ to ensure that employees follow the beliefs of the school.
Read his article on national Times (The Age):
Why the Bishop is wrong on faith and rights
Kevin Donnelly, The Age - National Times, 30 September 2009.

Letter to the editor:
The Age printed four letters in response to the article by the bishop. Three supported him - including Anglican woman Muriel Porter.
At least they printed Peter's letter - at spot number 3, after two in favour!
Read the letters - Peter's begins with the heading Samaritan tale is for sinners.