Bishop John

France strikes a blow against religious freedom of expression. The nation that prides itself on liberty continues its slide into discrimination against those holding religious beliefs.

Under the guise of maintaining ‘French values’ the attack on Muslim women who wear the burqa is thinly veiled (sorry, I couldn’t resist it!). The burqa ban has been led by French President Sarkozy, see Burqas and religious freedom. 

On ABC Radio this morning I set out my reasons for opposing the banning of the wearing of burqas. See Belgium burqa ban is Bad.

France’s burqa ban is a bad day for religious freedom. And a bad day for peace making between communities.

France’s lower house of parliament has voted overwhelmingly to ban the wearing of face-covering veils in public spaces, as Europe toughens its approach to integrating Muslim immigrant communities.

The bill will now go to the Senate in September … critics argue that it breaches French and European human rights legislation.

The bill defines public space very broadly, including not just government buildings and public transport, but all streets, markets and thoroughfares, private businesses and entertainment venues.

Under the bill, it would be illegal for anyone to cover their faces in public places like streets, parks, public transport or shops.

Fines of 150 ($A215) will be imposed on those caught wearing the veil, after a six-month grace period to allow time to educate Muslim women about the ban.

Men who force their wives or daughters to cover themselves for religious reasons face stiffer penalties of up to 30,000 ($A43,000) and a one-year jail term.

Full article French Parliament approves burqa ban. Also ABC News French MPs vote to ban the burqa.

Unfortunately this leads to unhelpful calls for a Burqa ban in Australia: see poll results and article here. The passion around this issue is demonstrated by the fact that I closed the comments on this article due to an increasing intemperance.

Just returned from an excellent seminar exposing the dangers of pro-euthanasia legislation such as that proposed by Tasmania’s Attorney General, Lara Gidding.

Wesley J Smith gave a gracious and learned presentation at the Reception Hall, Parliament House, Hobart. I will write up some of my notes in a later blog article.

ABC NEWS today Euthanasia ‘bad medicine, worse policy’.

He says that in Belgium and the Netherlands legislation has been gradually eased to allow sick babies, people with mental illness and healthy spouses of terminally ill people to be euthanised.

Mr Smith says there can be no legislative roadblocks to restrict who would be eligible for assisted suicide.

“Once you accept the precepts of assisted suicide, that suffering is a just cause for helping someone to end their life, it’s not going to remain restricted,” he said.

“That’s the argument I think we should have as a society.”

He has marshalled much helpful info at International Task Force  and  see also his blog Secondhand Smoke

Tasmania’s current debacle on assisted suicide / euthanasia see Euthanasia priorities questioned 

ABC radio broadcast Tasmanian debate June, Euthanasia debate: Church questions priorities 

The Mercury newspaper Euthanasia: birth, death & life Editorial  

Tas euthanasia – wrong priority.

William Wilberforce’s guiding principles as a politician

1. The good seed of the gospel must be planted and allowed to grow not only in the human heart, but within the structures of society. Christian faith is personal and individualistic, but it is also social and communal. The cross is God‘s answer to the sin of the human heart and the evil of human society. Thanks to Mr Wilberforce, the age of atonement has also been the age of improvement and reform. The most religious age has been the most progressive. Mr Wilberforce was always keen to talk with individuals about their personal need for faith in Christ, but he was also committed to reforming systems: the system of the penal code, the prison system, the transportation system, the education system, and the economic system based on slavery. The good news, then, is not only for the salvation of the individual, but it is also for the preservation and transformation of society.

2. Public policy should be not only consistent with Christian values, but should be energised by spiritually-vital., gospel-centred Christianity. It is only real Christianity which makes a real difference. It is only by ‗an illuminated and lived faith‘ that God is rendered credible in the world, and it is only through vital faith that our public and social life can be built on the foundation of the public good and not the self-interest of the powerful. That is to say, Mr Wilberforce believed that the best of public values need religious faith and spiritual energy to vitalise them. You are clearly a people with a strong instinct for democracy, and democratic values look set to be esteemed by the colonists as among the values most to be prized. Well, Mr Wilberforce would insist that such values depend for their ‗vitality upon citizens with a sense of moral purpose and attachment to ultimate truths that democracy itself cannot supply‘.40 Every nation needs a community life characterised by morality with civility. It cannot happen without vital religious faith.

3. These two principles – that Christianity must be allowed to shape our social systems and national structures as well as our individual morality, and that vital religious faith is required if our cherished national values are to produce morality with civility – these two principles lead to this simple, practical conclusion. Shaping society is greatly facilitated when the initiative of parliamentarians is combined with the work of voluntary Christian associations, for that allows communal values to be energised by the vitality of lived faith. So, if you in the colonies come to esteem the separation of Church and State, make sure that you do not inoculate the political and public domains against the infection of faith.

Professor Stuat Piggin’s address was hosted by Senator Guy Barnett to celebrate the bicentenary of the abolition of the slave trade. See: William Wilberforce, the Clapham Cabinet and ‘Liberating the Captives’ in Australia.   

And an earlier post on this article: Wilberforce and Co. ‘Liberating the Captives‘.

The 6th week of my Prayer Pilgrimage around Tasmania is upon me which means only three weeks left of ‘pilgrimaging’ to go.

The progress map below shows where I have been so far as well as my visits coming up this week.

This week (starting Sunday 4 July) I will be visting Launceston Church Grammar School and the parishes of Southern Midlands, Launceston North, St Leonards and Furneaux Islands. I will also be on a Prayer Retreat, at the Maryknoll Retreat Centre, from Tuesday to Thursday with some Christians who have elected to join with me.

See Prayer Pilgrimage – week #3, Prayer Pilgrimage – week #4, Prayer Pilgrimage – week#5, and Prayer Pilgrimage Schedule.

Revd Robert Stanley writes,

Please continue to pray for Bishop John and Chris Sadler (his driver and prayer partner) as they travel around Tasmania serving God’s church. Please pray for safety in their travel, faithfulness in their service and the love of Jesus in their hearts. Please also pray for our state of Tasmania, that God will unlock her shackles and see people turn to Jesus during this time of dedication and commitment to prayer.

See also  Prayer Pilgrimage Purposes & Prayer-final text, Pilgrimage launch – Pentecost Sunday, Prayer Pilgrimage is underway – PTL!, Visiting the prisoner-visiting Jesus, Prayer fuel: our corporate culpability, Praying 4 the heartbeat of God, Praying 4 Parliamentary Leaders, Pilgrimage within a pilgrimage and Sistine Chapel inspires prayer.

‘Campaigning to Christians’ is a Eureka Street article which considers the effective participation of Christian groups in federal elections.

There are two questions for individual churches and agencies.

The first is how to intervene in the forthcoming election, if at all.

The second is, if they do intervene, what issues should they prioritise in order to engage with the mainstream contest while remaining true to their Christian principles?

Full article at Campaigning to Christians. 

For an example of Christians participating in politics see  Wilberforce and Co. ‘Liberating the Captives’.