ACL 23rd May 2013

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23 May 2013

Rudd’s change on marriage sets up a new stolen generation

ACL welcomes defeat of NSW euthanasia bill

National Day of Prayer and Thanksgiving – this Saturday

Worldview thinker to tour Australia

ACL’s MD Lyle Shelton talks on the Political Spot about sports betting advertising

Mary-Louise Fowler on the Political Spot about World Congress of Families

ACL’s Nick Overton on the Political Spot about cuts to overseas aid in budget

Speeches at ACL Tasmania Conference 2013

Political Ideology Series

Peaceful demonstration in Vic for Pakistani Christians

In the media – a wrap up of the last week’s commentary

Staying in touch with ACL

It’s been another big week here at the ACL with requests for a comment on Kevin Rudd changing his position on marriage.

At various times throughout the week I felt that some of our arguments were beginning to cut through like the interview I did with ABC News Radio’s Marius Benson on Wednesday morning. Have a listen and let us know what you think. The interview goes for 5 minutes.

It was nonetheless disappointing that Senator Wong and the PM would not engage the actual argument about kids rights to a mum and a dad and instead resulted to name calling. They said nothing about whether redefining marriage would make it ok to rob a child of one of its biological parents because of same-sex couples using technology to produce babies.

It’s concerning that some people have lost the capacity to reason. This is all the more reason why we must not be silent in the debate about changing the definition of marriage and the harmful consequences of it.

Kevin Rudd’s hero Dietrich Bonhoeffer would be turning in his grave at the former Prime Minister’s capitulation this week on same-sex marriage.

As the German Confessing Church was being harassed by the state in the 1930s, it was Bonhoeffer who rhetorically asked “Who stands firm?”

Amid the ferocity of the debate on changing the definition of marriage, this question remains relevant to the Australian church.

God bless,

Lyle Shelton
Managing Director

Rudd’s change on marriage sets up a new stolen generation

The Prime Minister who rightly gave an apology to the stolen generation has sadly not thought through the fact that his new position on redefining marriage will create another. Australian Christian Lobby Managing Director Lyle Shelton said Kevin Rudd’s overnight change of mind on redefining marriage ignored the consequence of robbing children of their biological identity through same-sex surrogacy and other assisted reproductive technologies.

ACL welcomes defeat of NSW euthanasia bill

The Australian Christian Lobby (ACL) today welcomed the defeat of the NSW Greens’ euthanasia bill in the New South Wales Legislative Council. The bill was defeated 13 votes to 23. ACL NSW Director David Hutt said legalising euthanasia would put society’s most vulnerable people at risk.

National Day of Prayer and Thanksgiving – this Saturday

The focus of this year’s National Day of Thanksgiving on Saturday the 25th of May is local government and chaplains. It’s encouraged for Australians to thank local government – mayors, councillors, staff and workers. Consider the practical work that council workers do from waste disposal, recycling, parks and gardens. Take time to thank them this year for their work.

Worldview thinker to tour Australia

Prominent Christian worldview thinking and author Vishal Mangalwadi is touring Australia in August. Vishal previously spoke at ACL’s 2011 National Conference, where his message was well received. We strongly encourage you to attend an event in your region as he explores ‘Has Christianity done any good in our culture?’

ACL’s MD Lyle Shelton talks on the Political Spot about sports betting advertising

Lyle Shelton is the Managing Director of the Australian Christian Lobby. In this interview with the ACL’s Katherine Spackman he argues for live odds and betting advertising to be prohibited during a broadcast of a game on free to air and subscription television.