26/11 Culture Watch Newsletter | Justice Michael Kirby was emboldened to not only call himself an Anglican Christian today, but he attacked Bishops Jensen and Pell in Sydney for not embracing his - and others - homosexual lifestyle:

Not to be outdone, an Australian academic has come out with a gay and lesbian study bible! I kid you not. What next? A fornication study bible? Fortunately Christian bookstores such as Koorong will not be selling it:

.... write to Koorong, thanking them for their resolute stand against this ludicrous hijacking of Scripture:

CHRISTIAN LOBBY CONGRATULATES NEW RUDD GOVERNMENT

24/11 Australian Christian Lobby | The Australian Christian Lobby (ACL) today congratulated Kevin Rudd and his ALP team on their election victory and said they looked forward to working with the new Government on many issues of interest to Christians.

“Labor’s win has given the party a clear mandate to govern. We hope that the injection of new talent the election brings to all sides of politics will be good for the country,” ACL Managing Director Jim Wallace said today.

The Nation has voted for change. . .

It may well be change for change’s sake but the majority of people have spoken and we will only see if it was change for the better as this new Labor government puts its’ hand to the wheel and starts to implement its’ policies.Our concerns, as expressed by all the red crosses on the Christian Values Checklist, by our many emails over recent weeks and by the insightful article by Richard Eason in our November Journal, will be confirmed, or allayed, by what the Rudd government now does.

ACL RELEASES EXAMINATION OF GREENS’ POLICIES ON CHRISTIAN ISSUES

24/11 Australian Christian Lobby | In the absence of answers to its election questionnaire from the Australian Greens, the Australian Christian Lobby (ACL) has today moved to provide Christians with a better understanding of the party’s policies on issues of concern to Christians.

ACL Managing Director Jim Wallace today said the lobby has put a brief examination of the Greens’ policies and voting record on conscience issues on the ACL website and would also email the information to its supporters.

Australian Christian Lobby call for Review as Pioneer Abandons Human Embryo Cloning

Australian governments should review their controversial cloning laws in the light of a decision by the scientist who created ‘Dolly the sheep’ to abandon human embryonic cloning.

“If Professor Ian Wilmut, who is the pioneer of cloning and who has been given the UK licence to clone human embryos, has walked away from this in favour of a better scientific method then surely our Federal and State Governments should be re-examining this issue,” ACL Managing Director Jim Wallace said today.



"Dolly" cloner Wilmut finally gets it

Dr. David Stevens, CEO of the 15,000-member Christian Medical Association, today said that Dolly the sheep cloner Ian Wilmut's decision to back off human cloning and instead pursue ethical adult stem cell research validates what adult stem cell research advocates have been saying for years.

Dr. Stevens said, "We're heartened to hear that Ian Wilmut has finally come to realize that human cloning is not a viable path to curing patients, and that adult stem cells are the key to real hope and help for patients. Pro-life advocates for years have been pointing out many of the practical problems that finally led Mr. Wilmut to just say 'no' to human cloning as a source for embryonic stem cells.

Things That Make me Think

Quotes highlighted in Gordon Moye's November "A Christian in Politics" Newsletter.

1.     In 1999, Sweden passed legislation that criminalised the buying of sex and decriminalised the selling of sex, a law based on the fundamental belief that prostitution is a form of male violence against women and the exploiters/buyers need to be punished, and the victims/prostitutes need to be helped.  The impact has been staggering.  Sweden's law enforcement has found that the legislation has benefited it in dealing with all sex crimes, enabling it to virtually wipe out the organised-crime element that plagues other countries.  The number of foreign women now being trafficked into Sweden for sex is nil. 

Peter Garrett Classic Quote: Once we get in we'll just change it all"

Peter Garrett gaffe undermines Labor - Courier Mail - November 2, 2007

Labor environment spokesman Peter Garrett might well have meant as a joke his "once we get in we'll just change it all" comment to radio shock jock Steve Price yesterday, but it could prove to be far from a laughing matter for Opposition Leader Kevin Rudd .... Mr Garrett late yesterday went into full-on damage control after Price aired his comments, and Treasurer Peter Costello seized on them as proof that Labor's carefully crafted strategy to adopt the most electorally friendly Coalition policies was a fraud.

Not even the Nine Network's revelation that its star Richard Wilkins overheard the Garrett-Price exchange and was convinced it was just a joke could take the spotlight off the former rocker ... Mr Rudd did not comment on the gaffe before he boarded a plane in Perth to fly to Darwin. Labor's scheme of photocopying Coalition policy is a deliberate campaign strategy which has worked before, according to a political commentator.

Dr Paul Reynolds, reader in politics from the University of Queensland, said the strategy was in itself a copy of Prime Minister John Howard's game plan of imitating Paul Keating in 1996.

For Full Article: http://www.news.com.au/couriermail/story/0,23739,22694127-953,00.html

LAUNCH OF PUBLIC POLICY MAGAZINE TO BROADEN DEBATE ON KEY ELECTION ISSUES

23/11 Australian Christian Lobby | A new public policy magazine launched today explores the influence of moral and social justice values on the Federal election campaign, while also debating the principles and future initiatives associated with some key election issues.

From the leader of Australia’s largest union and the Director of Economics at the Australian Chamber of Commerce arguing whether WorkChoices causes or addresses disadvantage, to unravelling the moral complexities of the ‘War on Terror’, the magazine aims to inform and challenge both present and future policy development.

Entitled Debate, the magazine is a joint initiative of the Australian Christian Lobby and Fine Line Design & Publishing. It is a quarterly, refereed publication targeted at Federal and State politicians, as well as bureaucrats, academics, and educational institutions.

Western world, brace yourselffor the anger of the under-parented

Fusion Australia | A recent Government policy shift that infers children over six don’t need a parent in the home caring for them, has surprisingly gone unnoticed. 

“Western world, brace yourself for the anger of the under-parented,” said Mr Mal Garvin, well known broadcaster and Founding President of Fusion Australia, a home-grown youth and community organisation of 47 year of experience working with troubled youth.

“Anybody involved in the psychological development of adolescents knows they need ongoing parental connection through these critical formative years as they navigate their way into healthy adulthood” said Mr Garvin. 

Research has shown that unattended 13 year olds are twice as likely to find themselves drifting into substance abuse, petty crime and early signs of depressive illness. 

“We stand firmly with the Anglican Archbishop of Melbourne’s concerns about the risk to our young people caused by an inattentive older generation.” “The recent coercive legislation forcing mothers and primary care givers to take up work when their children turn six, not only breaks the tradition of family endowment and parenting payment that have been around for the past 30 years to help raise families, but also robs them of the opportunity to choose particularly struggling single parents.”

One can’t help but wonder if the real driver behind this policy is poor manpower planning by both sides of politics driving women and primary care givers into the workforce to fill the current gaps.”

“While its good to have more money for child care, one fears the advent of “kid-kennels” and an inclination to the failed soviet social policy of sending children to pre-school centres while mothers were sent off to work.”

One can’t help but wonder if the real driver behind this policy is poor manpower planning by both sides of politics driving women and primary care givers into the workforce to fill the current gaps.”

“While its good to have more money for child care, one fears the advent of “kid-kennels” and an inclination to the failed soviet social policy of sending children to pre-school centres while mothers were sent off to work.”

NAB offer Scholarship to study 'Sharia compliant finance'

The National Australia Bank has just awarded a $25,000 per year scholarship.

They say "A special feature of the Scholarship will be to encourage the development of Shariah compliant financial products and services".

It is named after the mufti, Sheik Fehmi.

The NAB says "Membership of the NAB Sheikh Fehmi El-Imam Scholarship Board is comprised of senior NAB executives and respected members of the Islamic community."

MarriageWorks: October 2007 Edition Online Now

We are pleased to invite you, your spouse, family and friends to enjoy our October 2007 online edition of MarriageWorks magazine.  This edition includes:

-- Debt: Not to be taken lightly by Phil McGilvray
-- Grand-Daughters by Dr Gordon Moyes
-- Are You Drifting Apart? by Dr Louis McBurney
-- Mixed Marriage in a Multifaith World by Graham Roberts
-- What it takes to be a Man by Alan Bailey
-- Sex: Hot and Holy by Linda Munoz-Scott
-- Rene by Rene Thompson
and, of course, our regular editorial.  Please help us promote the new online edition by forwarding it to family and friends or promoting it through your church bulleting or website.  Subscription to receive all articles is free. 

All you need to do is register by going to www.mwmagazine.com.au

Christians Oppose Homosexual Law Changes

22/11 Christian Democratic Party | The Rev Fred Nile MLC, Leader of the Christian Democratic Party and former Director of the Festival of Light, has rejected the Australian Christian Lobby’s ‘in-principle support’ for the 58 Recommendations of the Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission’s Report.

“The peak Christian organisations and Churches in Australia, oppose the 58 recommendations in support of same-sex homosexual couples.

”We believe the adoption of these 58 recommendations will open the door to legal, same-sex marriage and same-sex child adoptions.

“Christian Biblical moral ethics clearly teaches that homosexual sexual relations are unnatural and not to be endorsed by the Government, Christians or the Church”. 

“The Australian newspaper report (12/11/07) claims ‘John Howard appears to be the last man standing on the issue of same-sex law reform’.  This is not true as there are many men standing with John Howard” said Rev Fred Nile MLC.

“The above report is also to be condemned for its attempt to abolish the terms ‘parent’, ‘mother’, and ‘father’” said Rev Fred Nile.   

Christian Democratic Party - Media Release - November 2007

New website and research results launched

22/11 Australian Christian Lobby | On Monday 29th October at 11 am the ACL officially launched a new website www.australiavotes.org which will be a useful resource for Christians looking to make a wise and informed vote at the upcoming Federal election.

The website contains responses from six political parties to 25 issues ranging from homelessness and refugees to family life and film classification.

It also includes other useful election information and resources.

The media launch will be held in the boardroom of the National Press Club and we will also be releasing the results of specially commissioned research from the 2006 National Church Life Survey on the issues Christians care about most. Please start clicking on the new website from Monday and look out for more details about these initiatives next week!

28 Days of Prayer Leading into the Federal Election

Power of Prayer.

“Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving, let your requests by known unto God” (Phil 4:6)

• Pray for Prime Minister John Howard as he faces a hectic Federal Election campaign
• Pray for Kevin Rudd, Leader of the Opposition, as he faces the pressures of a Federal Election campaign
• Pray for pastor Paul Green as he stands for the Senate in NSW for Australia’s only Christian political party, the Christian Democratic Party (CDP)
• Pray for the CDP Senate Candidates in each State – QLD Linda Brice, VIC Ewen McDonald, WA Gerard Goiran, NSW Paul Green!
• Pray for all the Christian Candidates standing for election in all political parties, Liberal, National, ALP candidates and especially Christian Democratic Party - House of Representative Candidates

Women Are Worth More

The Prostitution Amendment Bill 2007 seeks to legalise and regulate brothels. Brothel owners will be able to apply for a certificate to run a ‘sexual service business’ and to employ ‘sex workers.’ They will have to comply with certain regulations governing matters such as advertising, employment of over 18s only, the provision of free condoms and health information to clients and staff, and will face fines or imprisonment if they breach the terms of their certificate. People are banned from engaging in commercial sex if they have a prescribed infection, and this is punishable by fines for a first offence and imprisonment for subsequent offences.

External link to the Make A Stand Website for more information -

http://www.makeastand.org.au/home/index.stw

Summit Australia 13-19 January 2008

The International Conference in Victoria, Australia, will challenge you to examine your thinking, and renew your mind - to learn what the Bible says about important areas of ministry like Politics, Economics, Law, Psychology, Sociology, etc.

It will help you establish a solid foundation of biblical truth, equip you to champion the Christian faith, and empower you with ability to take positive and effective action in our world today

This is the fourth year SUMMIT have been in Australia to run these schools with Australian co-speakers.
SUMMIT has been running Biblical Worldview Schools in the US since 1962.

David Noebel, author of  ‘Understanding the Times’ and ‘The Battle for Truth", one of 4 international keynote speakers.
If you have a Koorong Bookshop near you, you can pick up a few brochures from them. (Vic, NSW, SA, Tasmania)
If you want more than  5, then contact us and we will post them out to you. Please let us know how many you require.

Website: http://www.summit.org/conference/international/australia/

Email address: summitaustralia@optusnet.com.au

SUMMIT is being hosted in Melbourne by Salt Shakers and CultureWatch.