Baptists oppose offshore and mandatory detention

MEDIA RELEASE
For immediate release
29 November 2011
Baptists oppose offshore and mandatory detention

The National Council of Australian Baptist Ministries has urged the federal government to process claims for refugee status within 90 days, and called on churches to oppose mandatory detention of asylum seekers and refugees.

The National Chair of Australian Baptist Ministries, Rev Dr John Beasy, announced the policy which was adopted at a National Council meeting held in Melbourne on November 23.

In the wide-ranging statement, ABM urged the Gillard government to place all child asylum seekers in appropriate community care while their claims for refugee status were assessed, and to cease the practice of sending unaccompanied minors to third countries.

The statement called on all Australians to oppose xenophobia and discrimination on the basis of race, ethnicity, culture and religion, and challenged Australian politicians to demonstrate their moral convictions and to exercise non-partisan leadership in debates on immigration and refugee policy.

The new policy also called on the federal government to increase Australia's refugee intake over the next five years.

The ABM National Council encouraged its more than 900 member churches to oppose both offshore and mandatory detention of asylum seekers and refugees, to extend hospitality to asylum seekers and refugees, and to freely share with those in need.

Media contact Rod Benson 0412 421 678



Rev Rod Benson

Ethicist & Public Theologian

Tinsley Institute (Morling College)

M 120 Herring Rd, Macquarie Park NSW 2113 P 02 9878 0201 F 02 9878 2175 M 0412 421 678 E rodb@morling.edu.au W http://www.morling.nsw.edu.au/tinsley_institute/public_theology/

The toll rises: Christians need to find their voice.

The toll rises: Christians need to find their voice.

As Christians, we need to stand up for the widow, the orphan, the displaced, the refugee. We have embraced those affected by floods in our own land, but there are people in Pakistan and Solomon Islands (just two places from personal knowledge) living in tents after floods or tsunami. We also have refugees on our doorstep who need our care, and they are suffering mental anguish and breakdown in sub-human mandatory detention centres. The following from Ian Rintoul of the Refugee Action Coalition in Australia highlights the severity of the situation. I believe Christ would have us do something to at least advocate for these people by lobbying our local members.


Steve B.
======


DARWIN TURNS TOXIC AS SELF-HARM/ATTEMPTED SUICIDE TOLL KEEPS RISING.
TIME TO END MANDATORY DETENTION

Two serious self harm/suicide attempts in one day have rocked the
Darwin detention centre.

On Monday, 17 October, two Kurdish asylum seekers both in their early
20s attempted suicide in the space of five hours, between 12.30 and
5.00pm. Both are believed to be have been in detention around 20
months. Both are believed to have been rejected and are now waiting
for a Federal Magistrates Court hearing.

The two incidents follow another hanging attempt only three days ago.
The welfare of the two men is not known. But asylum seekers inside the
detention had grave fears for both the men, one of whom was rushed to
hospital with severe bleeding.

“It is only a matter of time before there is a catastrophe in the
Darwin detention centre,” said Ian Rintoul, spokesperson for the
Refugee Action Coalition, “Only a week ago there were another three
incidents and that is only what we know about.

“The despair in the Darwin detention centre has turned toxic. There is
no duty of care – only damage control. Serco and the immigration
department are incapable of providing a safe environment for anyone.
Asylum seekers are finding it impossible to cope with an environment
in which self-harm and attempted suicide is a daily occurrence.

“The Minister has admitted that he has the power to use bridging visas
to get asylum seekers out of detention. There is no excuse for waiting
any longer. Darwin is desperate for a solution.

“Mandatory detention is not a deterrent. It is a form of systematic
abuse. Refugee advocates have been calling for human rights observers
to be placed in the detention centres for months. The need for some
independent oversight is obvious and even more obvious, is the need to
close the hell-holes.”

For more information contact Refugee Action Coalition, Ian Rintoul 0417 275 713

Opportunity to learn more about refugees and make friends in these circles...

Urgent - Your online vote is needed - Herald Sun: 60% have voted YES to gay marriage(25.8.11)

To vote, click on the "Do you support gay marriage?" link below.  Takes less than 30 seconds.

This is urgent friends - the Greens have mustered a counter to the current gay marriage issue - see the  Salt Shakers article below.

We need to act

 

 PLEASE READ THIS AND TAKE APPROPRIATE ACTION

MPs report on marriage 'opinions' + web vote

The media are reporting on the Good News and bad news from yesterday's MPs 'reporting' on constituents opinions re possible changes to the 'Marriage Act. in Federal Parliament.

The Herald Suns heading says "Greens push for same-sex unions fails to win support" (live link)

"Most MPs who took part in the debate said their electorate did not support gay marriage, while just six said that their electorate supported change."

But they decided to have a vote on it so PLEASE VOTE NO

VOTE - Herald Sun  "Do you support gay marriage? (live link)

We are losing badly - I suspect this vote has been hijacked - but we must try to turn it around.

The ABC reports "Of the 30 MPs who took part in the debate, only five said that they would like same sex couples to be allowed to marry, and one other reported community support for a change to the Marriage Act.
But there was significant support for relationships to be legally recognised in some way, perhaps through a system of civil unions."

Action We must repeatedly show MPs and Senators the evidence - COMPROMISE FAILS.

As we reported yesterday - ANY GROUND GIVEN (legal recognition) will reinforce the perception that same-sex relationships are 'natural' and 'normal' AND WILL advance their cause towards marriage.

NO COUNTRY that has given same-sex 'marriage' has ever gone straight to first base - they have 'progressed' through incremental steps to reach their goal.

We must keep showing how ANY compromise WILL eventually lead to defeat.

Same-sex relationships are bad for society, bad for the individual, and VERY bad for children who get caught up in them - either by personally experimenting with such relationships or by being raised two parents of the same gender.

We must try to protect children - not simply placate selfish adults.

Peter Stokes
Executive Officer
Salt Shakers
p: (03) 9800 2855
m: 0413 084 145
w: www.saltshakers.org.au

"Katter is a loose cannon" says banker

I was talking to a local banker a few days ago, and as we talked about the nation, he stated that Bob Katter is a "loose cannon" and he thinks he is detrimental to Australian politics.

I quietly asked him if he had gained this opinion from the media, or if he had actually actually looked at Katter's Australian Party web site, in particular the Issues Page. He said "no". I challenged him to consider the issues raised on this page.

I challenge you also dear reader. Please do not just listen to the short snippets carefully extracted from long conversations and placed in another context by media with a barrow to push. If you want to be a thinking person, intelligent enough to form your own opinion, please look at the issues on the web site.

People have very short memories. Don't you remember when the numbers were tight between Liberal and Labor last federal election, that Bob looked like a sane man with some good things to say? That was certainly the way the media portrayed him then. Nothing has changed with Bob. The media has just changed its stance because of the barrow it is pushing for its masters.

You may find Bob Katter is not the lunatic the media has started to paint him as. Please, look; think for yourself. Feel free to comment AFTER you have looked :)

Steve B

ps. I am not trying to tell you to support Bob. I am merely trying to stop demonisation of a man with a conscience. If you are a Christian, look and think, line up the issues against your core beliefs.

ACL Marriage Petition: Thankyou and status from Jim Wallace

Dear Steve,

It's been a busy week at the office finalising the petition that you signed. I wanted to personally thank you for making a stand. However, it's important to realise that the agenda for same-sex marriage isn't over and this is just round one.

I have recorded a short video message for you, which you can view by clicking the image below.

An important message from Jim Wallace - click here to view

God bless,
ACL

Jim Wallace, AM
Managing Director,
Australian Christian Lobby

52,000 Australians sign Senate marriage petition

Posted by Katherine Spackman, PR Officer on August 24th, 2011

ACL's MD Jim Wallace hands the petition to Senator Ron Boswell and Senator Helen Polley

August 24, 2011

52,000 Australians sign Senate marriage petition

In an extraordinary display of concern for the institution of marriage, more than 52,000 people, mainly from the Christian constituency across Australia, have signed a Senate petition to keep the current definition of marriage between a man and a woman, the Australian Christian Lobby’s Managing Director Jim Wallace said.
The campaign, man+wife4life on www.makeastand.org.au, will be the largest petition to be tabled in Senate in the life of the 43rd parliament.
As well as the petition, more than 20,000 people came to the website to send emails to politicians about the importance of marriage remaining between a man and a woman.
“This depth of support shows that Australians believe marriage between a man and a woman is important for the social makeup of society,” Mr Wallace said.
“Imagine this level of response multiplied across other faiths, which also support marriage between a man and a woman.
“Many people are concerned that children should be given the opportunity to be raised by a mother and father, where possible, and revising the marriage definition would remove that ideal.
“This petition shows that there is strong support amongst Christians for marriage to remain the same and debunks any poll suggesting otherwise,” he said.
ACL has previously dismissed a Galaxy Poll, commissioned by the Australian Marriage Equality, claiming 53 per cent of Christians supported gay marriage.
“Asking people what religion they belong in the poll is different than going to the Christian constituency directly, which we have done in the petition,” he said.

ACL: VERY URGENT HELP Marriage

Dear friends,

This is really serious now. Christians can't just stand by and let our nation slide into this abomination. Let's show our support for the kind of marriage YHWH sets out in the Holy Bible.

PLEASE read and vote.

Steve B

From: Joan Anderson <joanruthand@hotmail.com>
Date: 20 August 2011 20:58:43 AEST
To: John and Denise Hargreaves <john@hida.com.au>
Subject: FW: VERY URGENT HELP Marriage

 Just received Sat night. Forwarded urgently by Dr Joan

Hi All,

 

I may have already sent you something regarding this but if you have not yet done so PLEASE urgently respond.

 

This is an urgent, urgent, urgent matter concerning Marriage as we know and understand it and which requires attention by close of business this Monday.

 

Please have a read through Jim Wallace's email and please act as he asks.

 
We received this email today from Jim Wallace, Managing Director of the Australian Christian Lobby. We felt that it was important enough to send one to you to take action and pray about.

Dear Pastors,

I know that I pester you a lot on this issue of marriage, but it has reached another critical stage where it could be lost.
Until yesterday we were winning this politically, despite the media campaign, because we had won the battle of emails, letters and visits to local MPs and I thank you for your part in that. But GetUp, publicly stating it realised this, started a campaign that is generating a last minute flurry of letters, with one MP on our side registering 40 per day and saying it will be lost unless we act urgently. These are his words:
Just letting you know we are getting swamped with emails from the electorate in SUPPORT of gay marriage through a GetUp! e-mail campaign.
Since 5pm yesterday, I have had more than 40 emails in support of gay marriage and they keep coming through.
At this rate, by the time I give my speech next week, I will have almost more people tagged in support of gay marriage than not on my constituent management system which makes the case that harder to prosecute because it appears your electorate is for it.
I know that your troops are sending theirs in but can I say they are coming in at a snail's rate compared to the opposing camp.
Sorry to be a nuisance on this but I am firm on this and I can only wonder about some of my colleagues who are waverers and what they are thinking getting this massive reaction.
It is crucial that we respond to his call to action, as the Greens have manufactured all parliamentarians reporting back to the Parliament next week on the consultations they have been having and in addition to this effort, a poll has been manufactured that says that most Christians support gay marriage, which we all know is not true of those who actually are practising believers.
I don’t like to sound doomsdayish, but I know we have the numbers in the churches this Sunday to turn this around, but without a huge commitment this weekend I can see us loosing it which would be a disaster when politically we had been winning it.
If we care about marriage we must act to turn this around. Could I ask that your churches be exhorted to respond to this and to go to the www.makeastand.org.au website and access the campaign 'Man+Wife4Life' and send an email to their politician. This is made very easy to do there and they should also sign the petition at the same time as it will be tabled next Wednesday and it is once again important that it can at least match anything thrown up by the other side.
Clearly the time imperative here, (emails must be sent by end work next Monday) means we must have our churches send this out on their email lists or we will not act in time.
Clearly we also need to activate our prayer groups and chains on this.
Thank you and God bless,
JJA WALLACE AM
Managing Director