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The Forum > Article Comments > When freedom of religion becomes bullying > Comments

When freedom of religion becomes bullying : Comments

By Dan Haesler, published 3/5/2012

The federal government could be complicit in the institutionalised bullying of GLBT children and adults across Australia.

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" The problems for so-called "Christian" schools has been the horrendous level of child sex abuse it has almost routinely covered up, with the offenders simply "FORGIVEN" and moved to another school district, often time and again? Where they then re-offend again and again?"

Rhrosty at his emotive, exaggerating best: " horrendous level of child sex abuse", " almost routinely covered up", " offenders simply "FORGIVEN"".

It is acknowledged that there have been instances of this sexual abuse and administrative failure in immediately dealing with the offenders. The offenders concerned duly have been brought to justice. More appropriate policies for dealing promptly with complaints have since been implemented.

Although the offenders accounted for a very small percentage of staff, and the incidence of sexual abuse in Christian schools is no higher than in public schools, media bias results in far more prominence being given to such cases when Christian schools are involved. Sexual abuse cases in public schools receive little media coverage.
Posted by Raycom, Thursday, 3 May 2012 12:55:32 PM
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As a matter of record, Paedophiles offending in public schools; once outed, were routinely reported, convicted and even served time, whereas, the situation applying to Christian schools, were routine cover ups or offending preachers and teachers relocated, sometimes abroad, where they were then able to re-offend with virtual impunity?
Those defending the indefendable and all too often common outcome, are it seems, routinely dismissive?
Almost as if the thousands of shattered lives, and the suicides, were of little moment or consequence, in comparison to the public outing of offenders, criminal liability and adequate compensation? Even just one shattered life or one suicide is one too many! Rhrosty.
Posted by Rhrosty, Thursday, 3 May 2012 1:19:44 PM
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Secular dogma has led to suicide among teenagers, drug usage, sexual immorality, perversion, family breakup, a flood of porn. Now they want to stick their nose into telling those who teach and model some decent values to their kids. They must hate the fact that parents are voting with their feet and money. I would go to jail before allowing the homosexual lobby access to my kids. They should be learning from what is working rather than imposing their failed dogma and lack of morality on Christian churches. Tackle the Islamic faith and stop being gutless cowards.
Posted by runner, Thursday, 3 May 2012 1:49:48 PM
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Cohenite: "The day I see one of these minority groups take on Islam I'll take them seriously. Until then they are just cowards and hypocrites."

I think you can rest assured that if Islam ever acquires, or even looks like acquiring, the control of the Australian political process that has long been enjoyed by Christian religions, those who maintain the good fight against religious domination will include Islam among their targets.

Would it be expecting too much to ask you to withdraw your "cowards and hypocrites" hyperbole?
Posted by GlenC, Thursday, 3 May 2012 1:54:47 PM
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I support gay equality and would be far happier if the churches did too, not only in recruitment policies but also in allowing openly gay priests and supporting and conducting gay marriages. The questions Dan addresses to the advocates of discrimination are important ones – how can discriminating against gays and excluding them from the community be consistent with the Christian message of love and inclusion?

But .. I think Dan’s article mixes up two questions – are Christian organisations right to discriminate against gays? And, should they have the right to impose conditions on people they employ based on their beliefs? I’d answer a firm "no" to the first question, but the second is more complex.

This second question is about what to do when two sets of rights are in conflict – the right of religious schools to select staff who reflect the values and beliefs the schools are established to promote, against the right of teachers who do not accept or live by those values and beliefs to work in religious schools. The author say people should be free to practice their religion “So long as that in doing so, it does not impinge on anyone else's rights or wellbeing.” Religious schools will doubtless argue that having gay teachers impinges on their rights and their students’ rights to be taught by appropriate role models who reflect the values of the institutions where they teach.

Both parties have rights; the question is whose rights should prevail in the instance of a conflict, and by what criteria should we judge. The article begs these questions by simply assuming the answers.
Posted by Rhian, Thursday, 3 May 2012 3:02:36 PM
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Good article. Churches should be able to discriminate against whoever they like, but schools that receive public money should not. My taxes go to pay the wages of teachers at these schools. However, as an atheist I would not qualify for a job in one, regardless of how good or well qualified a teacher I might be.
Could you imagine a situation where a school refused to hire a teacher on the basis that they were a Christian? There would be a public out cry and rightfully so.
Either everyone should be able to act on their conscience and discriminate against those peoples whose life styles or belief systems they disagree with, or no-one should. This hypocrisy must end.
Posted by Rhys Jones, Thursday, 3 May 2012 3:07:39 PM
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