Society

ACL questions NSW Greens’ commitment to freedom of religion

The Australian Christian Lobby’s NSW Director, David Hutt, today questioned the NSW Greens’ commitment to religious freedom following an extraordinary attack on Church leaders in parliament last night by Greens MLC, John Kaye.

During a speech on the NSW Government’s trial ethics classes, Mr Kaye launched a blistering attack on the Christian Church, the Jewish Board of Deputies and the Islamic Council. He accused them of running an “oligopoly” and singled out the Christian Church, accusing it of “[branch] stacking, lying and selfishness.”

His comments came following media reports the Anglican Church was encouraging Christians to participate in local P&C debates about the trial ethics classes. He accused the Anglican Church’s Youthworks department of having “taken a leaf out of the worst behaved Labor Party branch stackers.”

“John Kaye’s comments are extraordinary and really call into question the NSW Greens’ commitment to freedom of religion in this state,” said Mr Hutt.

“People of religious faith have every right to participate in community forums and the NSW Greens should in no way at all be discouraging this.”

Mr Hutt said he expected the debate surrounding the Government’s trial ethics classes would continue for some months.

“Debate is healthy in a democracy. I don’t see why the Greens are so opposed to other people bringing their legitimate opinions to bear.”

Mr Hutt said he will be writing to John Kaye asking him to explain his extraordinary outburst and to clarify the NSW Greens’ position on religious freedom.

The full text of John Kaye’s speech can be found at: http://www.parliament.nsw.gov.au/Prod/parlment/hanstrans.nsf/V3ByKey/LC20100609 (scroll down to the adjournment debate on page 96).

“Kaye’s remarks come hard on the Victorian Greens’ attempts to have the Government there remove the right of religious organisations, including Christian schools, to employ people who share their faith.

“Both instances make it pretty clear that the Greens are simply anti-faith,” Mr Hutt said.

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