An excellent quote, Neil. It puts me in mind of this one from Martin Luther King:

“I have traveled the length and breadth of Alabama, Mississippi and all the other southern states. On sweltering summer days and crisp autumn mornings I have looked at the South's beautiful churches with their lofty spires pointing heavenward. I have beheld the impressive outlines of her massive religious education buildings. Over and over I have found myself asking: "What kind of people worship here? Who is their God? Where were their voices when the lips of Governor Barnett dripped with words of interposition and nullification? Where were they when Governor Wallace gave a clarion call for defiance and hatred? Where were their voices of support when bruised and weary Negro men and women decided to rise from the dark dungeons of complacency to the bright hills of creative protest? Yes, these questions are still in my mind. In deep disappointment I have wept over the laxity of the church."

The church for which King weeps is the very same Baptist denomination to which Mr Wallace belongs. It appears that nothing has been learned from the past and Mr Wallace continues in the tradition of those who debase Christianity in order to shore up their own entrenched prejudices.

It seems Mr Wallace has created God in his own image.

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"Like the Prime Minister Julia Gillard, ACL does however believe that marriage between a man and a woman should not be re-defined."

Posted by Jim Wallace, Australian Christian Lobby, Thursday, 21 April 2011 12:06:27 PM

No need to appeal to authority, Jim.

No need to be paranoid "marriage between a man and a woman" will be re-defined.

No need to be concerned marriage between a couple of gays will affect separate marriage between any man and any woman.

No need to claim seeking gay marriage is to seek a political agenda.

No need "to imply that ACL wishes to discriminate against same-sex couples." It just does.

Your last sentence makes category errors.

"According to the booklet published by the Australian Government -
"Becoming an Australian Citizen" - the values are listed as follows:

1) Respect for the equal worth, dignity and freedom of the individual.

2) Freedom of speech.

3) Freedom of religion and secular government.

4) Freedom of association.

5) Support of parliamentary democracy and the rule of law.

6) Equality under the law.

7) Equality of men and women.

8) Equality of opportunity.

9) Peacefulness.

10) Tolerance, mutual respect and compassion for those in need"."

Posted by Lexi, Thursday, 21 April 2011 10:15:31 AM

Special pleading for, or appeals to, Christian or Judeo-Christian "values" negates most of these.

Mark Twain's comment highlights the fact that Christianity, rather than underpinning modern Western values, has usually fought tooth and nail to prevent the acceptance of those values.