ࡱ> %` bjbj"x"x <.@@ TTTTTTTT[[[8[\TޙL6\L\L\L\L\]]]]______$*hhTa]]aaTTL\L\HugugugaTL\TL\]uga]ugug@TTyL\*\ $[bU8]0ޙAc pyy\TՖ]^ugf_`]]]ae]]]ޙaaaaTTT6[TTT6[TTTTTTTTT Assembly of Confessing Congregations in the Uniting Church in Australia FREEDOM OF RELIGION AND BELIEF IN THE 21ST CENTURY PROJECT To The President and Commissioners 鱨վ Freedom of Religion and Belief in the 21st Century Project c/o  HYPERLINK "mailto:frb@humanrights.gov.au" frb@humanrights.gov.au. A Submission from the Social Responsibility Commission of the Assembly of Confessing Congregations within the Uniting Church in Australia. 1. In order to secure freedom of religion in Australia it is important that the AHRC draw the attention of all Governments to the United Nations Framework for freedom of thought, conscience and religion. The Universal Declaration of Human Rights of the General assembly of the United Nations (Dec 10, 1948) states in Article 18, "Everyone has the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion; this right includes freedom to change his religion or belief, and freedom, either alone or in community with others and in public or private, to manifest his religion or belief in teaching, practice, worship and observance." The United Nations Framework represented by the Universal Declaration on Human Rights, the International Covenants on Civil and Political Rights and Economic, Social and Cultural Rights together with the Siracusa Principles and the Religion Declaration, are not of themselves or as a matter of right, part of the domestic law of Australia. As part of the body of international law, however, such documents should be regarded as defining Australia's obligations in respect of freedom of religion. 2. If the Commonwealth Government should consider legislating for freedom of thought, conscience and religion, then such a law should: comply with International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights Articles 18(1), 18(2), 18(3), 18(4), 20, 25 and 27 with the limitations of Article 18(3) strictly defined according to the Siracusa Principles (United Nations, Economic and Social Council, U.N. Sub-Commission on Prevention of Discrimination and Protection of Minorities, Siracusa Principles on the Limitation and Derogation of Provisions in the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, Annex, UN Doc E/CN.4/1984/4 (1984)). 3. There are grounds for concern about some of the motives which appear to have led to this review of freedom of religion. The Review does not appear to be the result of public concern given the revelation in Senate Estimates by the Race Discrimination Commissioner that there have been a "very minimal" number of complaints from the public concerning threats to freedom of religion in Australia. Yet some of the questions asked in the Review's discussion paper seem to imply that there ought to be greater limitation on religious expression and answers from the Sex Discrimination Commissioner in Senate Estimates seem to point to an intention to remove or narrow exemptions that are perceived to limit gender equality, but which, in fact, guarantee freedom of religious expression. 4. If the Commonwealth Government should consider legislating for freedom of thought, conscience and religion, then such a law should provide all religious organisations, including faith based schools and other organisations with a faith based mission or purpose, the freedom of positive selection, i.e., the right to advertise for and select staff, whether teaching, professional or otherwise, who will own the beliefs, values and codes of conduct of that faith based school, organisation or community. 5. If the Commonwealth Government should consider legislating for freedom of thought, conscience and religion, then such a law should guarantee freedom of conscience in the provision of goods and services. It should be unlawful to discriminate against a person or engage in disciplinary action, if that person refuses to provide a service or to perform other work that violates his or her conscience, or is inconsistent with his or her religious beliefs. The same freedom of conscience should extend to faith based organisations. Yours respectfully, Brian Edgar MTh, PhD. Minister of the Word of the Uniting Church in Australia, Convenor of the Social Responsibility Commission of the Assembly of Confessing Congregations, Professor of Theological Studies, Asbury Theological Seminary. Ron Clough BSc, AACS. Company Director; Member of the Social Responsibility Commission of the Assembly of Confessing Congregations; Member of World Evangelical Alliance Religious Liberty Commission. Ian Hickingbotham BSc, BD, DMin. Member of the Social Responsibility Commission of the Assembly of Confessing Congregations. Minister: North Ringwood Uniting Church. Margaret Macmillan BA, BEd, MA. Member of the Uniting Church in Australia, Member of the Social Responsibility Commission of the Assembly of Confessing Congregations. Member, Executive Board of ACCESS Ministries. Nell Muirden MBBS, FAChPM, DTM&H. Member of the Uniting Church in Australia, Member of the Social Responsibility Commission of the Assembly of Confessing Congregations, Former head of Pain Control/Palliative Care Unit, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, former Senior Fellow with Melbourne University - St Vincent's Hospital Centre for Palliative Care. Presented on behalf of the Social Responsibility Commission of the Assembly of Confessing Congregations within the Uniting Church in Australia. We acknowledge the work of the Victorian Ad Hoc Interfaith Committee in providing material concerning the Review. The Assembly of Confessing Congregations Inc. ABN 73 794 518 715 is a reform movement of congregations and individuals within the UCA stressing catholic, reformed and evangelical faith. * Confessing the Lord Jesus Christ * Proclaiming the Truth * Renewing the Church      6 7 8 N O S < = V W ! A B AB\]|}!ҭߍ҃҃҃҃҃҃҃҃҃҃҃҃҃҃҃҃҃҃҃h}OJQJ^J h}5CJOJQJ\^JaJh}h}0J$OJQJ^J'jh}h}OJQJU^J!jh}h}OJQJU^Jh}h}OJQJ^Jh}h}5OJQJ\^J h}5CJOJQJ\^JaJ3%HIh Q R S ABA 7$8$H$gd}$7$8$H$a$gd}!"bc%&Z[MNOP78LM"#yz689: h}h*h}h}OJQJ^Jh}OJQJ^JWLM"#>aygdmLgd} 7$8$H$gd} h}h*hixjhixU gd}:&P 1h:pqBP. A!"#n$n% DyK frb@humanrights.gov.auyK Tmailto:frb@humanrights.gov.auyX;H,]ą'cxxxp0  0 P@P *Normal  CJOJQJ_HaJmH sH tH P@P ' Heading 1$$ & Fh@&5CJ\aJL@L ' Heading 2  & F@&6B*\aJphL@!L ' Heading 3  & F@&5B*CJ\phB@1B ' Heading 4  & F@& 6\]N@N mL Heading 5$$@&B*OJQJph$?`T@T mL Heading 6$$@&6B*OJQJ]ph$?`T@T mL Heading 7$$@&6B*OJQJ]ph@@@V@V mL Heading 8$$@&B*CJOJQJaJph@@@\ @\ mL Heading 9 $$@&6B*CJOJQJ]aJph@@@DA@D Default Paragraph FontRi@R 0 Table Normal4 l4a (k@( 0No List dOd 'Heading 1 Char Char&5CJOJQJ\_HaJmH sH tH nOn 'Heading 2 Char Char/56B*CJOJQJ_HaJmH phsH tH dOd 'Heading 3 Char Char&6CJOJQJ\_HaJmH sH tH bO!b 'Heading 4 Char Char#CJOJQJ]_HaJmH sH tH *W@1* ] Strong5\XAX mL Char Char7)B*CJOJQJ_HaJmH ph$?`sH tH ^Q^ mL Char Char6/6B*CJOJQJ]_HaJmH ph$?`sH tH ^a^ mL Char Char5/6B*CJOJQJ]_HaJmH ph@@@sH tH PqP mL Char Char4!B*OJQJ_HmH ph@@@sH tH VV  mL Char Char3'6B*OJQJ]_HmH ph@@@sH tH F@F ]Header$ B#a$CJ>> ] Char Char2CJOJQJaJB @B ]0Footer$ B#a$CJ>> ]0 Char Char1CJOJQJaJT@T'pTOC 30^`06PJ^JmHnHuBB 4]0Placeholder Text B*phFG@F _List Continue 4lx^l<m@<TY1 / 1.1 / 1.1.1 F F@F 'pTOC 1! d# 0^`05D@D 'pTOC 2"0^`056V@V*pTOC 4%# d# 0^`0 mHnHu6U@A6 ~U$0 Hyperlink >*B*phJJ ^]rp TOC Heading%5CJmH sH tH D+@bD 'op Endnote Text &CJaJDOqD &op Char CharOJQJ_HmH sH tH J*@J LEndnote ReferenceCJH*OJQJ0l@0TY 1 / a / i) F @n@@TYArticle / Section* F DT@D TY Block Text+x]^2B@2 TY Body Text,x<P@< TY Body Text 2 -dx>Q@> TY Body Text 3.xCJaJPM@P TYBody Text First Indent /`HC@H TYBody Text Indent0x^TN@T TYBody Text First Indent 2 1`RR@"R TYBody Text Indent 22dx^TS@2T TYBody Text Indent 33x^CJaJ2?@B2 TYClosing 4^$L@$ TYDate5<[@b< TYE-mail Signature6.X@q. TYEmphasis6]h$@h Envelope Address)8@ &+D/^@ ^JF%@F TYEnvelope Return9 CJ^JaJL&@L LFootnote ReferenceCJH*OJQJF@F op Footnote Text ;CJaJ0_@0 TY HTML Acronym:`@: TY HTML Address=6]0a@0 TY HTML Cite6]>b@> TY HTML CodeCJOJQJ^JaJ<c@< TYHTML Definition6]Fd@F TY HTML KeyboardCJOJQJ^JaJRe@"R TYHTML PreformattedBCJOJQJ^JaJ:f@1: TY HTML Sample OJQJ^JJg@AJ TYHTML TypewriterCJOJQJ^JaJ8h@Q8 TY HTML Variable6].(@a. TY Line Number4/@r4 TYListG^`82@8 TYList 2H6^6`83@8 TYList 3IQ^Q`84@8 TYList 4Jl^l`85@8 TYList 5K^`::LStyle NumberedL F>6@> TY List Bullet 2 M & F>7@> TY List Bullet 3 N & F>8@> TY List Bullet 4 O & F>9@> TY List Bullet 5 P & FBD@B TY List ContinueQx^FE@"F TYList Continue 2R6x^6FF@2F TYList Continue 3SQx^QFH@BF TYList Continue 5Tx^:1@R: TY List Number U & F>:@b> TY List Number 2 V & F >;@r> TY List Number 3 W & F ><@> TY List Number 4 X & F>=@> TY List Number 5 Y & FI@ TYMessage HeadergZn$d%d&d'd-DM NOPQ^n`^J<^@< TY Normal (Web)[OJQJ>@> TY Normal Indent \^4O@4 TY Note Heading].)@. TY Page NumberDZ@D TY Plain Text_CJOJQJ^JaJ0K@0 TY Salutation`6@@6 TY Signature a^>J@"> TYSubtitleb$<@&a$^J@3 TYTable 3D effects 1m:Vcj#j#j#j#j.j.j.j. c55\5B* \`J phB* `J ph:@C: TYTable 3D effects 2:Vdj.@j#j9jj 4d5\5\x@Sx TYTable 3D effects 3:Vej.@j j j#j9jj44e:B*`Jph B*`Jph5\5\fr@cf TYTable Classic 1:Vf0  j#j#j#jj f9B*`Jph6]5\56\]s@s TYTable Classic 2#:Vg0  j% j#j0 jjj%  g:5\B*`JphB* `J ph5\Xt@X TYTable Classic 3:Vh0    jj0  j0  hQB* ph5B*\`JphB* `J ph56B*\]`Jphu@ TYTable Classic 4:Vi0  jj0 j0 jj iX5\B* `J ph56B*\]`JphB* `J ph5\Vv@V TYTable Colorful 1:Vj0    j% j% jj%  j<B*ph56\]56\]56\]Xw@X TYTable Colorful 2:Vk0 j% jj0  j k@56\]56B*\]`Jph56\]8x@8 TYTable Colorful 3:Vl0j;$ j0 j%  l5B*\`Jphy@ TYTable Columns 1 :Vm0    j j jjjj#jj4ml5\B*`Jph B*`Jph5\5\5\5\5\5\z@ TYTable Columns 2:Vnj j jjjj% jj4n5\B*`Jph B*`Jph5\5B*\`Jph5\B*`Jph5\5\{@ TYTable Columns 3:Vo0j j jjj#j% j4oh5\B*`Jph B*`Jph5\5\5\B*`Jph5\|@ TYTable Columns 4:Vpj j jjj% 4pLB*`Jph B*`Jph5\5\B*`Jphd}@d TYTable Columns 5:Vq0    j jjj#j#4qVB*`Jph B*`Jph5\5\5\56\]4@#4 TYTable Contemporary:Vr0j%@ j% j% 4r<@B*`JphB*`Jph5B*\`Jph@3 TY Table Elegant_:Vs0j s;B*`Jphn@Cn TY Table Grid7:Vt0t~@S TY Table Grid 1z:Vu0jj u6]6]"@c" TY Table Grid 2:Vv0jjj#j v,5\5\5\5\@s TY Table Grid 3:Vw0  jjj0  w5\5\B@B TY Table Grid 4:Vx0  jj0 j0  xB5B*\`Jph5B*\`JphB*`Jph @  TY Table Grid 5:Vy0    jjj# j y5\5\(@( TY Table Grid 6:Vz0    jj#j#j z(5\B*`Jph5\N@N TY Table Grid 7:V{0    jjj#j# j {25\5\5\5\5\$@$ TY Table Grid 8:V|0jjj%  |H5B*\`Jph5B*\`Jph5B*\`Jphz@z TY Table List 1:V}0  j%@ jj#j0 j4}M@B*`JphB*`Jph56B* \]`J ph5\t@t TY Table List 2:V~0 j%@ jj#j0 j4~G@B*`JphB*`Jph5B*\`Jph5\@ TY Table List 3:V0  j# j# j 05B* \`J ph6B* ]`J ph@ TY Table List 4w:V0    j0   5B*\`Jph@ TY Table List 5:V0jj#  5\5\ @#  TY Table List 6:V0j%@ j# j#  45\5\@3 TY Table List 7:V0  j%@ j% jjj# j0  4>@B*`Jph5\5\5\5\@C TY Table List 8:V0j%@ j% jjj#j0 4D@B*`Jph5\5\5\56\]@S TYTable Professionall:V0j%  5B*\`Jpho@c TYTable Simple 1:V0  j#j# vp@sv TYTable Simple 2:Vj#j# j#j# j#j#O5\5\5B*\`Jph5\5\5\q@ TYTable Simple 3l:V0    j%  5B*\`Jpht@t TYTable Subtle 1 :Vj0@ j# j# j0  j. jj45\5\t@t TYTable Subtle 2:V0j0  j0  j# j# jj5\5\p@p TY Table Theme7:V0@ TY Table Web 1h:V03j B*`Jph@ TY Table Web 2h:V03j B*`Jph@ TY Table Web 3h:V03j B*`JphN>@N TYTitle$<@&a$5CJ KH\^JaJ FV@ F TYFollowedHyperlink >*B* ph:0@ :  List Bullet & F" 'Contact detailsC$$ & 6m I %\d.1$7$8$H$CJOJQJ^J_H mH sH R1 R E Char Char9&6CJOJQJ\_HaJmH sH tH PA P E Char Char8#CJOJQJ]_HaJmH sH tH FQ F E Char CharOJQJ^J_HmH sH tH Ta T ;opFootnote Text CharOJQJ_HmH sH tH .%HIhQRSABA LM"#>ay0000000000000000000000000000000000000000000@0X00@0X00@0X00@0X00X00>ayZ00X000@0 ! 7NXT  # @ 0(  B S  ?H0(  9c :c l !;c  !c  !?c  !@c , !Ac  !Bc , !Cc l !Dc  !Ec  !Fc , !Gc l !Hc  !Ic  !Jc , !Kc l !>>  A A ~~-     GGJ J ; =*urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags PlaceType=*urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags PlaceName8 *urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttagsCityB*urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttagscountry-region9*urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttagsplace 'U %!dg(/6< %'PS"m!33333333% & Z [ MNOP78LM"#yz68KKTTUU9:& & Z [ MNOP78LM"#yz68KKTU9:|0NY}Z6oX~XUWV1P2OVVN򆜯MUYT}~6V|7  90 `!# x) u1 14P/> EH&?  oF F J v"CN q;OoSCcFQtN}^`.^`.^`.^`. ^`OJQJo( ^`OJQJo( ^`OJQJo( ^`OJQJo(hh^h`. hh^h`OJQJo(h ^`hH.h ^`hH.h pLp^p`LhH.h @ @ ^@ `hH.h ^`hH.h L^`LhH.h ^`hH.h ^`hH.h PLP^P`LhH. hh^h`hH) ^`hH) 88^8`hH) ^`hH() ^`hH() pp^p`hH()   ^ `hH. @ @ ^@ `hH.   ^ `hH. hh^h`hH) ^`hH) 88^8`hH) ^`hH() ^`hH() pp^p`hH()   ^ `hH. @ @ ^@ `hH.   ^ `hH. ^`hH Article . ^`hH Section . P^`PhH() `p`^``phH() P^`PhH) P^`PhH) ^`hH) P^`PhH. 0p0^0`phH. SS^S`o(hH SS^S`o(hH.SS^S`56CJOJQJo(hH() SS^S`o(hH() ^`o(hH .... ^`o(hH ..... ^`o(hH ......  `^``o(hH.......  00^0`o(hH........ hh^h`hH) ^`hH) 88^8`hH) ^`hH() ^`hH() pp^p`hH()   ^ `hH. @ @ ^@ `hH.   ^ `hH. ^`hH. ^`hH. pp^p`hH. @ @ ^@ `hH. ^`hH. ^`hH. ^`hH. ^`hH. PP^P`hH. hh^h`hH) ^`hH) 88^8`hH) ^`hH() ^`hH() pp^p`hH()   ^ `hH. @ @ ^@ `hH.   ^ `hH. hh^h`hH) ^`hH) 88^8`hH) ^`hH() ^`hH() pp^p`hH()   ^ `hH. @ @ ^@ `hH.   ^ `hH. hh^h`hH) ^`hH) 88^8`hH) ^`hH() ^`hH() pp^p`hH()   ^ `hH. @ @ ^@ `hH.   ^ `hH.^`CJOJQJhH.h ^`hH.h pLp^p`LhH.h @ @ ^@ `hH.h ^`hH.h L^`LhH.h ^`hH.h ^`hH.h PLP^P`LhH. hh^h`hH. P^`PhH.. ^`hH... xp^`xhH....  ^`hH .....  X ^ `XhH ......  ^ `hH.......  8^`8hH........  `^``hH......... ^`hH. ^`hH. pp^p`hH. @ @ ^@ `hH. ^`hH. ^`hH. ^`hH. ^`hH. PP^P`hH.88^8`OJQJo(hH ^`hH. pp^p`hH. @ @ ^@ `hH. ^`hH. ^`hH. ^`hH. ^`hH. PP^P`hH.hh^h`^Jo(hH. ^`hH. pLp^p`LhH. @ @ ^@ `hH. ^`hH. L^`LhH. ^`hH. ^`hH. PLP^P`LhH.}|~"CN/>`!F Jx)}tN}x)0Q u1 oFEH&?9014|Q q;OȾQ SCcQ |7 SCc500CTt00S0Us0PS0Us0PRS0Us0P                                    lh        J"Uf-n>;F[>vK%r24@yL] ob$w#f*@gF]SEP(KP@5Q,RLUT\]4]/]E__iciCjkj6k^mnn9popwpiq^]rHu wTwAx}@}f~4d~ % $*W=ix`=_O<r/lSWGb_.zQzV/n@U; Ggo'4jv}&5w-.Sf-&yvG[q9Ox 'qmv\[Y0s/B?O</FO(TY]5~DmLnY.XLu@|#P@Unknown Gz Times New Roman5Symbol3& z ArialMTimesNewRoman,BoldCTimesNewRoman7K@CambriaG5  hMS Mincho-3 fg?5 z Courier NewCMArialMTArial"1h7׆@׆]2 (]2 (nx4d 2qHX }21Cassandra DawesCassandra Dawesp         *   )  L    Oh+'0|  8 D P\dlt1Cassandra Dawes normal.dotCassandra Dawes1Microsoft Office Word@^в@,V@]2՜.+,D՜.+,L hp  $鱨վ( ' 1 Title 8@ _PID_HLINKSAtbmailto:frb@humanrights.gov.au !"#$%&'()*+,-./0123456789:;<=>?@ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ[\]^_`abcdefghijklmnoqrstuvwyz{|}~Root Entry F$Data 1Table jWordDocument<.SummaryInformation(pDocumentSummaryInformation8xCompObjq  FMicrosoft Office Word Document MSWordDocWord.Document.89q