In his 2015 Easter message, British Prime Minister David Cameron was not the least bit shy about identifying his countries religious foundation; “Yes we are a Nation that welcomes, embraces, and accepts all faiths and none”. He said “But we are still a Christian Country”.
What is the spine, the foundation that holds Australia together? What is our heritage? It is our Judeo-Christian values and it is these values that the secularists and others are wanting to smash. Their plea is that we would move as a nation from our roots. It is at this time, that our country has the choice to vote federally for CDP – Australia’s Christian Party.
The legal definition of marriage at Common Law was given by St James Wilde in Hyde V Hyde and Woodmansee (1866) – “Union for life of one man and one women to the exclusion of all others, as understood in Christendom”. Those who are opposed to our Judeo-Christian heritage know that the prime attack must be focused on family and marriage. This is the core place where values are expressed, and if they win there, they change the shape of the nation. I find it interesting that our ethnic churches really understand this, and I can’t keep up with the invitations to speak at such churches and gatherings of churches at this time.
However, it will not only be the family that will suffer, because as we have seen internationally where same sex marriage has been legislated, the Christian small businesses, wedding celebrants, schools and Christian tertiary institutions are persecuted and prosecuted if they fail to adhere to the new moral agenda. For example, a small bakery that is owned by Christians, rightly serve everyone who comes into the shop and do so with grace and a smile. However, yet reserve the right to determine whose wedding they cater for as that directly associates them with a couple and as a business endorsement. We know from the cases in America and elsewhere, that businesses that stand firm in this matter, find themselves before all sorts of tribunals and suffer financial retribution. It’s interesting to note that at least one denomination is suggesting that it will consider its Ministers withdrawing from doing marriages under the Act if this law is passed.
And this is not the only area that Australian’s need a conservative voice on. CDP will protect retiree’s and our superannuation by giving people certainty and leaving superannuation as it is. CDP will protect our local communities and opposes forced council amalgamations. CDP will protect our legal system and in particular women, by ensuring One Law for All (no Sharia law). CDP will advance the rights of tertiary Christian providers, ensuring they get the research and funding grants that secular providers get, as well as advocating HECS for their students. We will also ensure that Christian schools are allowed to employ teachers and staff who have their values, and are not discriminated against in funding. We will also protect schools and children from the Safe Schools Program. Although amended by the Federal Minister still left in the program, which is government funded, is a lesson which has a 17 year old female who identifies as a straight male, telling 11-14 year olds, that surgery should not be delayed for adolescents wanting to transition from one gender to another. This is just one lesson!
Why does a Christian Party stand for such matters? We do so, because we believe the Cross of Jesus calls us to be a servant of all people. The Cross calls us to serve our neighbor. Our neighbor includes the unborn, the elderly (who would clearly suffer under any euthanasia laws) as well as those seeking to simply live their lives and conduct their businesses according to Christian principles. We also serve those we differ on, whilst still standing on the platform that’s essential we maintain our Judeo-Christian values. You see it’s when we lose those values that all members of our community will discover their human dignity and worth is tarnished.
This election will not be easy. Harvard Law Professor, Mark Tushnet is calling out for progressives to stop being defensive. He claims “The culture wars are over; they lost, we won”. He rejects any cease fire but rather advocates “a scorched earth policy” on dealing with conservatives, he is recommending a hard line with no accommodation. He wants conservative Christian’s to be treated as “losers”.
The “battle lines are drawn” and it’s time for people of goodwill to acknowledge our heritage, its importance to Australia and vote 1 CDP.