The Canberra-based Australian Christian Lobby (ACL) and Melbourne’s Salt Shakers (SS) ‘Christian ethics’ group are still at odds over their different approaches to the ACT Civil Unions legislation (for details, see Brian’s Blog, 2, 8 and 10 May 2006). ACL, probably the more moderate of the two groups, is trying to occupy the high moral ground: Christians may have ‘different methods of achieving a joint aim‘ but must always support one another ‘despite their differences of opinion‘. (ACL National Newsletter, June 2006, 1)

Grouchy old Peter Stokes of SS doesn’t want to play:

… [T]he last two months have not been easy for us because we have had to challenge the political position taken by the Australian Christian Lobby

… The ‘lesser of two evils’ [which is how SS characterises the ACL position] is never anything but evil, and as Christians we should never advocate for evil. (’Editorial’, Salt Shakers Journal, June 2006, 2)

Both ACL and SS claim to have marshalled substantial evangelical support for their respective stances. The two groups are also taking different positions on more minor issues such as support for the Gideons in their attempts to place Bibles in more hospital rooms (ACL opposes direct lobbying of hospitals while SS supports the idea - cf. ACL ibid., 2; SS ibid., 17). Peter Stokes seems unfamiliar with concepts like ‘give and take’ and ‘forgive and forget’, so the groups face the prospect of a permanent rift.

Filed in: Christian Right