ACL 26th September 2013

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26 September 2013

ACL concerned new classification rules for video games not being applied

Back our chappies in High Court Challenge II

Lawyer Christopher Brohier on the Political Spot about ACT gay marriage bill

Religious liberty analyst Elizabeth Kendal on Political Spot about church attack in Pakistan

Collective Shout’s Melinda Liszewski on the Political Spot about France’s new law banning beauty pageants for children

March for the Babies – Saturday 12th October

Position vacant: Development Manager

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

For the diary – a selection of upcoming events

Staying in touch with ACL

Now is not the time to give up on marriage.

Changing the definition of marriage in Australia is not inevitable. But marriage is certainly under enormous pressure.

This pressure can be relieved if leaders and ordinary people speak up. And pray.

Nine people in the 17-member ACT Legislative Assembly will next month pass a bill redefining marriage. It will affect the entire nation.

Because marriage is a Commonwealth responsibility, not that of a Territory, the Prime Minister Tony Abbott is seeking legal advice.

An option Mr Abbott has is to introduce a bill into the Federal Parliament to overturn the ACT’s usurping of federal responsibility.

If Labor members in the Senate exercise the right the ALP has given them to a conscience vote, there is no reason an override bill would not pass and marriage be preserved.

In the meantime, the most effective thing we can do is write to Mr Abbott and ask him to take strong action to preserve the definition of marriage and to preserve the Commonwealth’s role in marriage.

It is not in Australia’s interests to have a hodgepodge of marriage laws.

It is not in the interests of children to be removed from their biological parent to satisfy the desires of others – no matter how heartfelt.

It is not in the interest of civil society for government to create vulnerabilities for religious freedom and freedom of speech – certain outcomes of any legislated change to the definition of marriage.

Please contact Mr Abbott today. A short e-mail or better still a letter from you respectfully asking him to overturn the ACT legislation and to preserve marriage would be influential at this time.

God bless,

Lyle Shelton

ACL Managing Director

ACL concerned new classification rules for video games not being applied

The Australian Christian Lobby is concerned at reports that new classification rules for video games are not being applied. ACL’s Managing Director Lyle Shelton said reports from South Australian Attorney-General Jay Rau that 13 games released in Australia this year had been given a MA15+ rating when they had higher age classification ratings overseas would be concerning to parents.

Back our chappies in High Court Challenge II

Scripture Union Queensland has again been called to appear before the High Court this month to defend the national school chaplaincy program. This is the second attempt by a Toowoomba resident to prevent funding for the National School Chaplaincy and Student Welfare Program.

Lawyer Christopher Brohier on the Political Spot about ACT gay marriage bill

Christopher Brohier is a lawyer from the group Lawyers for the Preservation of the Definition of Marriage. In this interview with the ACL’s Katherine Spackman he talks about the ACT bill introduced in the territory recently to have ‘gay marriage’.