you saw it here first
Stealing some of my best work (but absent the snarky commentary) is this article, including an explanation for some of the ommissions:
Social justice issues such as refugees are not canvassed. “We felt that if we put out what we think is a Christian perspective, we’d alienate half the Christian community,” Mr Stokes said
‘Cause right now they are unifying the christian community by suggesting that any christian who votes for the democrats or the greens is voting for an immoral party (they both scored zero on the values test).
September 23rd, 2004 at 1:23 pm
My reading of the bible has Jesus being a refugee so what planet is this person living in!
September 26th, 2004 at 9:35 pm
The new political activity of what one commentator calls “the free Enterprise Christians”is one of the more fascinating aspects of this election.Some 23 ministers,chaplains and pastors are standing for the House of reps(outweighing even lawyers!).Family First is a front for the Assemblies of God(it is suggested that all members of the executive of FF,except one, are AOG members.They have just advised all candidates not to discuss their religious affliations)
Only one aspect of the policies of the “Christian” parties expresses any concern for the poor or the brutalised and that isto overturn ratification of the International Criminal Court!!!No reference to increasing overseas aid,strengthening the United Nations,forgiving the debt of African countries etc etc- more than half of the “Christain values”check list (used by the parties as their policy base) have to do with sex.
Seems to me that Jesus spent more time talking about the poor and the powerless than about sex.
The other interesting aspect of the free enterprise Christians,or at least by some of their candidates,is their involvement,and some would say control of the national evangelistic campaign being run in Australia next year.Some of the senate candidates have been active in their attacks on the Australian Islamic community.
May be its only a coincidence that the major speaker of the campaign is one Franklin Graham(son of BillyG).He has led a continuing attack on Islam for the past 2 years in USA.So virulent has it been that the evangelical community in the States has been forced to dissociate themselves from his attacks.
Not good for Australia.
Hope you will continue to monitor developments
Alan