Submission to the “Freedom Of Religion And Belief In The 21st Century” project initiated by the Australian Human Rights Commission (AU/FGOV/SUB-01-B)
Submitted by:
Reverend James Aaron Long
[redacted]
Tamworth NSW 2340
[redacted]
Email: james.long@operamail.com
On behalf of:
Claire de Lune Society of Wicca
Tamworth NSW 2340
(All correspondence to submitter's address)
Details:
Founded in September 2007, the Claire de Lune Society is a Wiccan church aimed at providing a place for Wiccans and interested persons in the Tamworth and surrounding areas to gather in unified worship and practice of the Craft. We are a highly inclusive group who gladly welcomes people of all faiths, backgrounds, races and sexual preferences/identities to attend our services.
What are areas of concern regarding the freedom to practice and express faith and beliefs, within your faith community and other such communities?
The vilification of our faith by evangelical Christian organizations, the possibility of criminal acts committed against the Society and it's members by evangelical Christians motivated by religious hatred, ignorance or fear, and the distortion of facts regarding our faith by sensationalist media outlets (though this has not yet occurred).
Have new issues emerged since this report was published in 1998 relating to expression of faith?
There has been n increase in evangelical Christian targeting of practitioners of witchcraft in religious contexts. Secularist organizations have also become a concern, since their goals in some ways resemble those of Christian extremists: they would have religious people's rights stripped down to a bare minimum.
Is
there adequate protection against discrimination based on religion
or belief, and protection of ability to discriminate in particular
contexts?
Not in regards to provision of aid by
faith-based charitable organizations. Anecdotal evidence points to
refusal of aid to homosexuals by the Salvation Army and the
unfavourable tretment afforded to nonbelievers by the St. Vincent de
Paul Society.
How
are federal and state and territory governments managing incitement
to religious hatred, and the question of control and responsibility?
The NSW state government has failed to pass
anti-vilification laws protecting minority faiths due to the heavy
influence of extremist political Christian entities, notably among
them the Christian Democratic Party under Rev. the Hon. Fred Nile.
This is made evident through a close examination of both previous
and current legislative trends.
How well have the recommendations of Article 18: Freedom of Religion and Belief been implemented by the various state and federal governments?
Laws discriminating against Wiccans and other Neo-Pagan groups have been repealed, allowing the use of a full range of ritual tools in public. This has greatly benefitted our practices and the growth of our faith.
How should the Australian Government protect freedom of religion and belief?
By ensuring not only that anti-vilification laws are passed at the national level, but that those laws are clearly and concisely written so as to minimize reliance upon judicial discretion.
When considering the separation of religion and state, are there any issues that presently concern you?
The
presence of politically extremist Christians in the Liberal,
Christian Democratic, Family First and other parties who consider
human rights to be entirely secondary to their own Biblical agendas.
The Islamist factions attempting to establish a separate caliphate in Australia which will allow Sharia law to supercede secular law.
Public funding of church-run hospitals, adoption agencies and other services that openly practice discrimination and religious imperialism on the grounds of “conscientious objection”.
Do religious or faith-based groups have undue influence over government and/or does the government have undue influence over religious or faith based groups?
Christian extremists have had undue influence over state and federal government operations for some time.
Would a legislated national Charter of Rights add to these freedoms of religion and belief?
Only if protections for minority faiths and the non-religious, protection for those requiring disaster/destitution aid and protection from political extremism were codified into the Charter.
6. a) What are the roles, rights and responsibilities of religious, spiritual and civil society (including secular) organisations in implementing the commitment to freedom of religion and belief?
By ensuring that one's religious and political ideologies are not a barrier to receiving destitution/disaster aid, medical care or other services that would otherwise not be provided. They must also take care to prevent inciting hatred towards other groups, even those whose very existence is taboo within their faith.
b) How should this be managed?
Through anti-discrimination legislation passed at the federal level.
7. How can these organisations model a cooperative approach in responding to issues of freedom of religion and belief?
By learning to accept systems of belief and worship existing outside their paradigm and refraining to attempt relegating those who practice them to the status of second-class citizens.
8. How well established and comprehensive is the commitment to interfaith understanding and inclusion in Australia at present and where should it go from here?
It is very poor – at present there are only mechanisms in place for resolving issues with majority religions and further investigation into political Christian extremism is greatly warranted.
How should we understand the changing role and face of religion, nationally and internationally?
By focussing more on non-Abrahamic religion and the manner in which it's practitioners are treated, not only by other faiths, but by society.
What are some consequences of the emergence of faith-based services as major government service delivery agencies?
Practitioners of minority faiths and same-sex couples are at times discriminated against and at worst, actively persecuted.
How should government accommodate the needs of faith groups in addressing issues such as religion and education, faith schools, the building of places of worship, religious holy days, religious symbols and religious dress practices?
By providing a measure of equality for minority groups and homosexuals.
Is current legislation on burial practice and autopsy practice adequate? Are any other of your religious practices inhibited by law, procedural practice or policy (i.e. education or health)?
After the NSW government legalized the use of ceremonial blades in public, the current legal climate is optimal. However, this is not the same for all states and some occult practices are still illegal in Tasmania. This needs to change in order to avoid the continuation of state-endorsed discrimination.
1. a) Have the changes in federal and state laws affected any religious groups, and if so how?
The climate of paranoia following 9/11 has adversely affected the public image of Islamic communities to the extent that open violence and hatred against Muslims has occurred.
b) How should this be addressed?
By enabling the average person to recognize the difference between a Muslim and an Islamist.
2. How should the Government balance physical security and civil liberties?
By ensuring that security measures do not interfere with civil liberties or human rights. The indefinite detention of terror suspects in Guantanamo Bay Prison has severely marred Australia's human rights record and assured us a place in history as the nation who followed the United States into darkness. To quote Benjamin Franklin: “Those who trade liberty for security deserve neither.”
3. Consider and comment on
the relationship between law and religious or faith based
communities, and issues such as legal literacy, civil liberties,
dissemination of law to new immigrant communities, and the role and
conduct of judiciary, courts and police.
Many Wiccans
are not only well versed in the beliefs and practices of other
faiths, but also knowledgeable about the laws that most apply to
them, and therefore are able to capably defend themselves if a legal
issue pertaining to their faith (eg. children taken by ignorant
social workers, police who do not know about ceremonial blade
regulations) should arise.
a)
Is there religious radicalism and political extremism in Australia?
Yes.
b) If so, what are the
risks to Australia?
If Christian political extremism is not kept in check, more and more civil liberties – and eventually, human rights – will be curtailed. The proposed mandatory internet filter is an example of the disturbing pervasiveness of these practices within federal and state governments.
Can
you provide any examples of social exclusion in regard to religion?
How and why do issues of social exclusion develop?
Homosexuals
are the ones who suffer the most in this regard, due to the bigoted
and hateful practices of Christian organizations. This can –
and often does – reach down to the family level. The length of
time it has taken to repeal the majority of laws disciminating
against them and the current parliament's failure to grant same-sex
marriage rights owes much to Christian influence.
How have the new technologies affected the practice and dissemination of religious and faith communities?
The advent of the World Wide Web has been instrumental in making Wicca one of the fastest-growing religions in Australia.
Has new technology had an impact on your religion and/or your religious practice?
I found my faith online.
What issues are posed by new religions and spiritualities using new technologies?
The dissemination of Christian propaganda vilifying Wiccan belief and practice.
Is your freedom to express your religion or beliefs hindered or helped by current media policies and practices, considering reporting, professional knowledge, ownership, and right of reply?
It has been helped greatly: I was interviewed by the Northern Daily Leader in May 2008, and the general tone of the article was very positive, the information succinct and accurate.
What impact do the media have on the free practice of religion in Australia and the balanced portrayal of religious beliefs and practice?
I believe the media is much more willing to portray other faiths more accurately than it was ten or twenty years ago.
Are there religious or moral implications in the development of new technologies such as the internet and or mobile phones, especially in regard to religious vilification and hatred?
Hateful propaganda is distributed far more easily, especially via the Web.
Are there any issues in regard to participation in the faith community for people with disabilities?
Many chronically ill people of various faiths have expressed dissatisfaction with insensitive and ignorant attitudes in their faith communities.
How is diverse sexuality perceived within faith communities?
In Wicca, there are only four known sexual taboos: rape, incest, bestiality and paedophilia. Sexual diversity is strongly encouraged.
How can faith communities be inclusive of people of diverse sexualities?
By altering medically and psychologically harmful policies that preclude the use of prophylactics and birth control methods and advocate the officially disproven notion that homosexuality is a mental illness.
Should religious organisations (including religious schools, hospitals and other service delivery agencies) exclude people from employment because of their sexuality or their sex and gender identity?
If they wish to do so, then they must not receive government funding, as this will translate into state-endorsed discrimination.
Do you consider environmental concern to be an influence shaping spiritualities and value systems?
Wiccan practice and belief is tied directly to nature, and thus environmental concerns are paramount. Environmental issues have become so prominent that even some Christian groups have shed thair skepticism over climate change. Sadly, they are in the minority.
a) Are there religious groups, practices and beliefs that you think are of concern to Australians?
The Roman Catholic Church's anti-prophylactic policies are contributing to the spread of HIV/AIDS and accidental pregnancy.
The Church of Scientology's Flag Service Organization (a.k.a. “The Sea Org”) practices child abuse and slavery.
Campus Crusade for Christ and other organizations promoting the teaching of Intelligent Design and sexual abstinence in schools are promoting the degradation of scientific education.
The Church of Christ, Scientist and it's affiliates advocate denying children medical care (many children have died needlessly in the United States as a result of this).
Faith-based agencies providing government services often deny those services to those who violate the organizations' religious doctrines.
b) Should these be subjected to legislative control, and should they be eligible for government grants and assistance?
Legislative control is vital to ensure that those who practice child abuse and other criminal activities are not allowed to hide behind freedom of religion. These organizations should not receive government funding under any circumstances.
End of submission
