ACL says Gillard abandoning Christian constituency

SMH: The Australian Christian Lobby (ACL) says the prime minister's decision to pull out of a speaking engagement to the group's supporters will be seen as an "abandonment of the Christian constituency".

Prime Minister Julia Gillard on Thursday withdrew from speaking at the ACL conference in Canberra on October 5 and 6, citing "offensive" comments about homosexuality made by its leader Jim Wallace, who compared smoking to same-sex marriage.

Ms Gillard, an atheist, was due to address the conference on religious freedom in a secular democracy and said the organisation was entitled to its views.

"To compare the health effects of smoking cigarettes with the many struggles gay and lesbian Australians endure in contemporary society is heartless and wrong," Ms Gillard said in a statement on Thursday.

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When is "bearing burdens" just another insurance plan?

When is a Christian ministry designed to "bear one another's burdens" really an insurance plan subject to corporate law? That's the question being considered in the US where an organisation Medi-Share is defending its operation in the state of Kentucky.

According to AP, Medi-Share members affirm a statement of Christian beliefs and pledge to follow a code that includes no tobacco or illegal drugs, no sex outside of marriage, and no abuse of alcohol or legal medications. 

Every month, members pay a fixed "share" to cover the medical expenses of members in need. The cost usually is less than private insurance. The organisation says it helps Christians pay medical bills based on a Bible verse that urges people to "carry each other's burdens." 

However the Kentucky Department of Insurance says that Medi-Share is an insurance plan and should be subject to the same, tighter regulation as that of secular insurance plans.

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Clubs NSW employs chaplains to patrol pokies

A trial of Salvation army uniformed chaplains patrolling poker machine areas is to begin in the NSW Central Coast Mingara Recreation Club.

The memorandum of understanding between Clubs NSW and the Salvos allows for a chaplain to walk around gaming rooms up to four days a week, being paid $20,000 annually for 15-hours work each week, which includes counselling and home visits as required.

Other arrangements between clubs and churches worth up to $1 million include clubs in north western NSW paying a levy to Anglicare for its counselling services.

Salvation Army Major Paul Moulds, well known for his work with homeless youth through Oasis, said many porblem gamblers already poured out their hearts to Salvation Army officers during their relgular visitors to pubs and clubs.

Not every one is happy though with Independent Andrew Wilkie saying enlisting chaplains was no more than "tinkering around the edges" in addressing problem gambling.

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Inmates help care for sick, dying prisoners

Health Focus

A prisoner serving as a palliative aide says he spends his time with the patients talking, studying the Bible, writing letters, playing chess, watching television and making sandwiches and coffee.

“From a moral and a kindness issue, the idea of being very sick in a corrections environment, being terminally ill in a corrections environment and dying in a corrections environment has got to be a very difficult situation,” said Dr. Carl Koenigsmann, deputy commissioner and chief medical officer of the state Department of Corrections and Community Supervision in the US. Read more:


Inmates help care for sick, dying prisoners

'We are all Egyptians, both Muslims and Christians': Mursi

Newly elected Egyptian President Mohammad Mursi has promised to lead on behalf of all Egyptians and called for "unification" in his nation so that together they could "reap the fruit of our sacrifice".

President Mursi said he would advocate for social justice, freedom and mutual respect and sought to placate Egypt's Christian minority who are concerned they will be discriminated against under the new leadership.

"We are all Egyptians, both Muslims and Christians, with great civilisations and that is how we will remain. We will fight all those who will try to interfere with our unity, we will have to show the world we will have a revolution of development, peace, and dignity for all Egyptians," President Mursi said.

He has resigned his membership of the Muslim Brotherhood. More at the World Today.

'Nagging prophets' prepare to gather again

At Voices for Justice 2010 gathering, then Prime Minister Kevin Rudd referred to Micah Challenge supporters as “nagging prophets" for our persistent effort lobbying politicians to care about global poverty, and he urged us to continue.

Voices for Justice is your opportunity to raise your voice to influence government policy for the benefit of the world’s poorest people.

Join together with hundreds of Christians from all over the country as we pray, worship, learn and speak out for a world of justice and compassion.

This year’s event, September 15-18, will be the last Voices for Justice before the next federal election and will be the launch of our ‘Finish the Race’ campaign. Now is the time to act.

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The Magic of Reality by Richard Dawkins – preaching to converted?

The Guardian newspaper reviews Richard Dawkin's child-friendly science book The Magic of Reality and warns that it fails to acknowledge science and religion are often seeking to answer different questions.
Guardian.co.uk - The Magic of Reality by Richard Dawkins – review

Christians gather to discuss marriage

A Christian panel of experts will answer the big questions facing Australian contemporary society when it comes to marriage in a live discussion in front of a national webcast audience next Tuesday, June 26.

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