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The Forum > Article Comments > Thought police might knock on anyone's door > Comments

Thought police might knock on anyone's door : Comments

By Chris Ashton, published 18/5/2016

The idea that any religious institution should only disseminate its beliefs with caveats and qualifications strikes at the heart of freedom of religion, expression, and association.

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I think religion is just superstition and very sad.
I also think we are mostly either one gender or the other with some problems in between. Science is proved in this.
Just because you really, sincerely and truly believe something does not make it so.
Some of Delaney's mates are now claiming to be "Wolves" and "foxes" and are being listened to rather than being given physciatric assistance.
All backed by our taxpaying dollars. Lets tax the churches and the new beliefs or at least do not allow them "Not for profit" status.
Posted by JBowyer, Wednesday, 18 May 2016 4:28:37 PM
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Interesting comment on the notion of freedom of religion and freedom of expression! Unfortunately there seems to be little respect given to the "freedom of others" to be different! Almost on a daily basis we have negative comments directed at Islamic beliefs even when practised in a benign and moderate way. Very few would leap to their defence.

Now, in our polarised and secularised society, any religious view that threatens the views of the most vocal minority is excoriated and vilified. It seems that we forget the rights of ALL individuals to freedom of conscience and freedom of dissent and expression in our democratic society.

Catholics do have their traditional moral and doctrinal beliefs that they are entitled to hold without fear or favour. You do not have to agree with them - that is your "privilege" within a multicultural, democratic society, but you also do not have the right to legally forbid the Catholic Church expressing, teaching and vigorously defending its beliefs. To do that would turn Australia into an unjust, autocratic, and dictatorial regime which is the total antipathy of all forms of freedoms that we now enjoy and cherish.
Posted by Yuri, Wednesday, 18 May 2016 5:37:45 PM
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Yuri, I doubt anyone is 'forbidding' the Catholic Church fro expressing their religious views etc.

However, the Catholic Church (and other religions) have long felt the need to push for laws and policies that affect far more people than their own faithful, to uphold their religious 'values'.
Examples of this include abortion, euthanasia, homosexuality, same sex marriage, religion in our schools etc.

The bulk of the population of Australia would accept same sex marriage, but minority(religious) parties like Family First and fundamentalist right-wing men in politics are not allowing it.
That is not a democracy...that is a theocracy....how frightening!
Posted by Suseonline, Wednesday, 18 May 2016 9:00:05 PM
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So if your opinion is that your opinion is not an opinion, Chris's opinion is that you shouldn't have to tell anyone that it is?

My opinion differs. If you can support your claims with factual evidence then obviously you will do so -- why wouldn't you? But if you can't, that should be made clear, particularly to children and others who have yet to learn critical thinking skills.
Posted by Jon J, Thursday, 19 May 2016 6:14:08 AM
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Suse,
These fundamentalist right wingers are a tiny faction with next to no influence, there's no debate over same sex marriage because the fundamentalist Leftists won't permit it and use violence, blockades and terrorism to enforce their point of view. There's no reliable information on the views of Australians on the matter and the lead up to the plebiscite will be totally dominated by pro change groups funded by the Unions and leftist philanthropists like Apple, Google, Facebook and George Soros.
Here's the point though, if you don't want churches involved in politics then stop funding them through massive subsidies and contracts for social services and refugee resettlement.
Posted by Jay Of Melbourne, Thursday, 19 May 2016 8:47:51 AM
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Hi Suse

The church has views on how society should be, not just on how Christians should be. Some of those are views I think you might agree with, such as advocating more humane treatment of asylum seekers.

The church has the right to express its views. It does not have the right to impose them. If the church had any authority to force its views on society then we would be living in a theocracy, but it doesn’t. Even a deeply Catholic country like Ireland can vote for, and implement, same-sex marriage in opposition to the church's position. If we have a plebiscite in Australia, I hope we do the same, regardless of what the church might argue
Posted by Rhian, Thursday, 19 May 2016 11:28:07 AM
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