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‘MAKE IT COUNT 2007’
CHRISTIANS WELCOME INITIATIVES
TO SAFEGUARD FAMILIES
The
Australian Christian Lobby
(ACL) today welcomed initiatives
from Australia’s two major
political parties to help
safeguard families.
Speaking at last night’s ‘Federal
election 2007: Make it Count’
event organised by the ACL,
both Prime Minister John Howard
and Opposition Leader Kevin
Rudd made announcements which
will benefit families.
Mr
Howard last night announced
plans to upgrade protection
for families from Internet
pornography, violence and
sexual predators. This includes
free Internet filters, increased
resources for Federal Police
to expand checks on Internet
chat rooms to detect criminal
behaviour, and a partnering
with companies to provide
the option of a filtered Internet
service for those who prefer
this.
“We
welcome the Government’s move
to protect families in this
way and their implicit acknowledgement
of the harm which pornography
causes,” ACL Managing Director
Jim Wallace said today.
“Pornography
exploits women, damages marriages
and can contribute to sexual
abuse. In due course we hope
to see the Federal, State
and Territory Governments
take a combined national approach
to protecting the Australian
population from this serious
problem.”
Mr
Rudd told last night’s gathering
that a Labor Government would
have a family impact statement
prepared for every submission
to Cabinet. They would also
assist Christian refugees
fleeing Iraq by initiating
a multilateral conference
on how to deal with the needs
of refugee communities in
Syria, Jordan and beyond.
“We
welcome this commitment to
family impact statements and
also to assisting Christians
being persecuted in Iraq.
There are many Christian minorities
experiencing severe persecution
in a range of countries and
it would be good to see this
approach also extended to
other areas of the world,”
Mr Wallace said.
Last
night around 80-100,000 people
from 880 churches gathered
at 702 venues to watch a live
web-cast of Prime Minister
John Howard and Opposition
Leader Kevin Rudd addressing
church leaders and answering
questions.
Mr
Wallace said the ACL appreciated
the strong support shown for
the event by a wide range
of denominations and churches
located across the breadth
of Australia.
“This
was a landmark event for the
Christian constituency and
its success is a testament
to the commitment of Christians
right across Australia to
being a positive influence
on our government and community.”
"I
urge, then, first of all,
that requests, prayers, intercession
and thanksgiving be made for
everyone- for kings and all
those in authority, that we
may live peaceful and quiet
lives in all godliness and
holiness. 3 This is good,
and pleases God our Savior,
4 who wants all men to be
saved and to come to a knowledge
of the truth." (1 Tim 2:1-4)
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