An ‘Australian Christian Values Checklist‘ has been published by a number of Religious Right groups in order to assist prospective voters at the NSW state election to be held on 24 March 2007.

The introduction to this checklist claims that:

In the 2001 census, 68% [of] Australians identified themselves as Christians. This summary of the positions of major parties on issues of concern to Christians is provided as a service to the Christian community.

This statement disingenuously implies that 68% of Australians support an extensive Religious Right political program involving, for example, a crackdown on abortion, prohibition of embryonic stem-cell research and voluntary euthanasia, and the introduction of a draconian censorship system. As you can see, the only parties who allegedly support a majority of these positions are the National Party (by a whisker) and Fred Nile’s Christian Democratic Party, which promotes all 27 listed policies.

(more…)

Filed in: Christian Right, Family Values, Politics, Stem Cell Research

Christian Right opponents of embryonic stem cell research regularly tell us that it’s entirely pointless. It hasn’t yet produced any cures, it’s immoral and unethical, adult stem cells are the way to go etc. But let’s look at a specific condition, namely diabetes:

Having already discovered the method for coaxing mouse embryonic stem cells to become insulin-secreting pancreas cells, Professor Alan Trounson says his team at Monash University will be among the first to apply for a new licence to try the technique in humans.

The ultimate aim is to combine a patient’s DNA with a donated egg and then grow the specialised cells - known as islets - in the laboratory. Those cells could then be injected into the vein that drains into the liver, where they would carry out their normal function of secreting insulin in response to blood-sugar levels.

So why the need for embryonic cloning in this instance?

(more…)

Filed in: Christian Right, Stem Cell Research

Could it be that moderate Coalition MPs are finally starting to see the Christian Right for what it is? The RU 486 ‘abortion pill’ vote earlier this year stripped conservative Catholic Health Minister Tony Abbott of his power to keep the drug out of Australia. Now Prime Minister John Howard has decided to allow a conscience vote on therapeutic cloning in the teeth of opposition from evangelical Protestants like Tasmanian Senator Guy Barnett.

(more…)

Filed in: Abortion, Christian Right, Politics, Stem Cell Research

Back in 1968, Melbourne journalist Keith Dunstan published a wonderful book called Wowsers (i.e. obsessive puritans). Evangelicals claim that the word ‘wowser’ is merely an acronym for the slogan ‘We only want social evils remedied/removed’, but this is false - see Dunstan’s first chapter for a more accurate etymology.

In his book, Dunstan examined all the major concerns of nineteenth- and early twentieth-century wowsers. There were the old perennials like ‘the Demon Drink’, tobacco-smoking, prostitution, pornography and gambling, but there were a number of other ‘Evils’ against which puritan divines fulminated and waged war. Among these were ‘the Evil of the Desecration of the Sabbath’, ‘the Theatre Evil and the Evil of Dancing’, ‘the Evil of Bathing’ and ‘the Evil of Cremation’.

(more…)

Filed in: Abortion, Christian Right, Family Values, Stem Cell Research, Voluntary Euthanasia