Though I don't know anyone in the closed or open Brethren I can't for the life of me see why Mr Howard should not meet with them. If he was meeting with the homosexual lobby or the pro abortion lobby no one would raise an eyebrow. The unions have funded sections of the Labour party for years (often secretly). If someone believes enough in someone to help out their election campaign then so what. I suspect the Greens are funded by some very weird people who support their policies. Does that mean Mr Brown should not meet with them? Even most Howard loathers can't be serious about this one!

I have known many exclusive brethren and I was raised among what is commonly known as open brethren. The term open or exclusive refers to whom may attends their meetings.

I belong to a Political Party of which many open brethren make regular legal donations. They are concerned at the decline in respect for ethics and the lack of morality in our society. I would suggest the exclusive brethren feel exactly the same. They being citizens of Australia are governed by Australian laws and have equal rights to contact a Government who makes those laws. They have done nothing illegal in making contact with Prime Minister Howard. It is merely the dirt rakers wishing to find a mud hole to sully Mr Howard's reputation. (By the way I am not a member of the Liberal Party)

If Mr Howard visited a brothel and kept it secret to several years similar to Mr Rudd then I'm sure the brethren would not be visiting him. I recognise several posters frequent brothels without conscience but when Mr Howard has the financial support of the Christian right they squeal some form of injustice.

The real concern here is the fact that the ALP was not given the same funding - if they had been you would not have heard a word from the ALP about this issue.
All political parties get funding from a wide variety of sources and some of it is bound to be suspect.
While it may, in theory, no longer be possible to demand that someone belong to a union the reality is different. Once a member some of your dues are going to go to the ALP no matter what your own voting intentions. That, to me, is far worse than funding a political party of your choice...not that I want to fund any political party.
It could be worse, much worse. The EB could be funding drug running or some other criminal activity. They could be demanding the death penalty or that everyone always wore Mao tunics or...well, you get the picture.
In my dealings with the Brethren I have found them to be reserved but not unpleasant and when I had occasion to assist one her son was courteous enough to seek me out and thank me personally. There are plenty of other people who would not have bothered.

BOAZ ~ We all know we're talking about the 'exclusive'. That's why the references to the exclusive brethren in the articles and news items...brudda.

who are we to dare to judge anyone! if these people have done any wrong they will be judged by the supreme judge!a lot of people judge in total ignorance of facts,let those who are without sin throw the first stone!!because as a christian i am taught to respect all faiths, people who belong to the E B and are sinners will be punished!

Get ready Irish, stand by Boaz David, I am about to throw a crimson big rock at both of you.
May as well include the fool who thinks I hate Howard, ready?
THEY ARE A SECT! nothing less, three wives? crimson hell BD! one family was broken up because dad refused to give his book keeping over to the church!
David! is it not true such groups are infecting Christianity? weakening it by association?
And final, that statement from the gutter about us who oppose John Howard hating him!
Do you truly believe your own rants?
Sitting one meter above my head is a framed letter from him to me.
It thanks me for my support, states it understands I vote Labor but tells me of his understanding why I would write a letter of congratulations in 2004 to him.
Hate?
wake up to your self like Australia I do not like or trust him I hate no man, but will never respect you.