ࡱ> |~{%` 0K)bjbj"x"x <0@@ !*TTTTTTTTVVV8V V TVVWWWHXHXHX$hxhÌTYHXHXYYÌTTWWH،[[[YTWTW[Y[[#@TTWV 4ZVZc80ZppnTHX>X,[X$XHXHXHXÌÌ%[^HXHXHXYYYYTTTJVDTTTJVTTTTTTTTT I respectfully submit to the HREOC re its proposed changes to the present Religious Freedom Act:- AREA 1, Question 1I have discussed freedom of religious expression with people of many different faith backgrounds, and monitored media reports for many years. Australia must be the most liberal country in the world in this regard, I have concluded. No change is necessary to the current act. It may be objected that Muslims have been vilified for practising their faith in recent years. But such persecution has a political cause rather than a sectarian one. No change to the current act could prevent it therefore; it could only only encourage the perception that dangerous ethnic groups are being treated like victims of religious hatred. In a secular democracy it is right that individuals are free to hate religion, or particular faiths, if they choose. But consideration for the common good should prevail; many Australians have strongly-held religious views that should not be subjected to public mockery. Thus the laws against blasphemy should not be repealed, in the interests of social harmony. In other Western nations freedoms of religious expression such as prayer in the workplace, or the wearing of headscarves by Muslim schoolgirls, have been outlawed. As soon as courts are given sufficient power to decide what expressions of faith are appropriate, they impose a secularism on traditional faiths that infringes upon their rights to uphold their traditions. Thus it would be wrong to provide more interpretative room to the courts via the proposed legislation. AREA 1, Question 5the present Religious Freedom Act has been ignored by the Victorian Parliaments recent Abortion Law Reform Act, which requires health practitioners employed in hospitals to assist with abortions in an emergency. It specifically denies the practitioner the right to conscientious objection in this situation. Nothing in the proposed changes to the RFA will require the Victorian government to remedy this injustice; in fact they will further confuse the issue of religious freedom by recognizing atheists as believers. Thus a Victorian atheist who objects to abortion would be forced to assist a hospital to provide an abortion, while a Christian school could be prosecuted for rejecting an applicant for a principals position who was an avowed atheist. AREA 2, Question 1the Constitution clearly provides for a proper separation of political and religious authority; the current act is an adequate reflection of the founding fathers intentions. As they would say, it it aint broke, dont fix it. AREA 2, Question 4Australia has less reason to fear interference by religious groups with its government than almost any other nation, as the Commonwealth was independent of them from its foundation. In fact there has never been such a group which could promote its interests in a way unacceptable to most Australians. But religious groups are being increasingly interfered with by the courts, with the aim of limiting their freedom of religious expression. The proposed changes to the FRA will only exacerbate this problem by giving courts more power of interference. AREA 2, Question 5a Charter of Rights only has influence to the extent that it reflects a national constitution. All the provisions of the original American Bill of Rights are enshrined in our constitution; adding a Charter of Religious Rights would thus be unnecessary, and even mischievous for the abovementioned reasons. AREA 2, Question 6no secular organizations are required to assist with freedom of religious expression here; we have enough of it already. Calls for such groups are likely to result in atheistic campaigns against religion disguised as the promotion of religious tolerance. AREA 2, Question 7such cooperation is completely impracticable; a pro-euthanasia group could claim to represent believers and claim the status of a religious group, for example. It could then require genuine faith-groups to welcome it as an ecumenical partner. AREA 3, Question 2faith groups already have their needs served in these matters, generally speaking. Some improvements could be: teaching state school students about the beliefs, traditions and ethics of faith-groups; ensuring planning and building standards applied to places of worship are as strict as those for buildings generally; protecting the right of citizens and employees to have leave for religious purposes within the normal provisions of industrial awards and agreements; and protecting the rights of all faith groups to display their symbols everywhere, and wear their religious dress everywhere. AREA 3, Question 3the practice of my faith as a Catholic has been inhibited by the Victorian governments Abortion Law Reform Bill. I have private health insurance so I can choose a doctor in hospital who refuses to perform or refer for abortions. But these doctors will now be required by law to perform them in an emergency. Would the proposed changes to the FRA force the repeal of this bills anti-conscientious objection provisions? AREA 5, Question 4--equality of gender is a nebulous concept that means different things to different people. I believe Christian churches consider men and women were created equal and have the same dignity. AREA 5, Question 5I consider the right to define gender equality to be an essential part of the free practice of religion; every faith has a gender-equilibrium which is respected as integral to it. The proposed changes to the FRA would lead to judges imposing an alien, extreme feminist definition of gender equality on religious groups. AREA 5, Question 8in a democracy members of religious groups should be encouraged to express their views, especially in matters relating to the practice of their faith. AREA 6, Question 4the number of media-employees who hold religious beliefs is very low, and is disproportionate to the community. Media owners should be encouraged to employ more people with such beliefs, and to make more effort to reflect them sympathetically as a matter of fairness. AREA 6, Question 6the ready availability of child pornography on the internet requires more strenuous efforts to filter its contents on the part of authorities. Religious vilification is a minor problem in Australia and is adequately dealt with by existing laws. New laws on this subject will probably lead to religious leaders speaking out on issues that affect the practice of their faith being prosecutedas in the case of ministers who have preached against homosexuality overseas. AREA 7, Question 6discussing the ethics of sexual behaviour is part of every faith tradition; freedom of expression in this regard should be encouraged. AREA 7, Question 8yes, such exclusion can be a natural extension of a religious groups freedom of expression. AREA 7, Question 10a)--some New Age practices are common means of depriving insecure people of their money and physical and mental wellbeing. The government should vigorously discourage fortune-telling and sorcery by means of information campaigns to raise awareness of the dangers involved. I think blasphemy in the media and arts is of concern to many Australians; even those not personally offended by it see it as a cause of falling social standards. If any change is needed to the current blasphemy laws it is that denigrating any religion should be illegal. AREA 7, Question 10b)--the current provisions controlling fortune-telling, sorcery and enchantment should be maintained despite the HREOC recommendations to the contrary. Practitioners of such deception should not be entitled to government assistance. 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