Interesting item from the Australian Broadcasting Corporation,
Christian group banned from schools
A Christian group has been banned from ACT schools while allegations about its practices are investigated by the Education Department.
Focus on the Family has been accused of vilifying homosexuality, and preaching religion to students without parental consent.
A spokesman for Education Minister Andrew Barr says the government launched the investigation after a complaint made by a parent at a Canberra high school.
The spokesman says the group had also run programs in five other schools, although no other complaints have been made.
The Australian Christian Lobby has attacked the investigation saying there is a place for a values-based program in schools, which covers issues like marriage and abstinence, as well as the dangers of pornography.
It is not known how long the investigation will take.
"If the professed convert distinctly and deliberately declares that he knows the Lord's will but does not mean to attend to it, you are not to pamper his presumption, but it is your duty to assure him that he is not saved. Do not suppose that the Gospel is magnified or God glorified by going to the worldlings and telling them that they may be saved at this moment by simply accepting Christ as their Savior, while they are wedded to their idols, and their hearts are still in love with sin. If I do so I tell them a lie, pervert the Gospel , insult Christ, and turn the grace of God into lasciviousness."
Ha!
That’s laughable:::>
“…has been accused of vilifying homosexuality…”.
I say, if you are going to be banned from a body of creatures being taught, such as this school system and you profess Biblical ties, why not be banned for vilifying the whole totally depraved being?:::>
1Co 6:9 Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who practice homosexuality,
1Co 6:10 nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God.
My guess is there will be many many vilified homosexual forgiven sinners/Saints in Heaven sitting down at dinner time and dining with God in the presence of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob while these that focus on the family’s particulars, pun intended, are gasping for a drop of water?
Good on the Aussies.
Let’s hope they send FotF packing.
The more the ACL says it’s isn’t interested in promotion of fundamentalist theocracy the more they prove they are. Hopefully more parents will step forward and the ACL will get another well deserved public thrashing
As for FotF’ s bait and switch behavior, Australians are capable of calling it for what it is.
Again, good on them.
LET THE GAMES BEGIN, all they need is some lions in that arena…..it wont stop there.
This article is sketchy, so im not totally understanding what occurred. Also, im not sure of the laws in Australia concerning the separation of Church and State. Are they the same as in the US and if so, if these are public schools, then is it crossing the line?
I was hoping someone might have more info. LOL
Its no secret i don’t agree with religion being taught in public schools. That is something which parents should be doing at home, and children should be receiving in Churches.
The same can be said “if” (big if, for im not clear on this story yet) religious organizations come into public schools: even if they claim to be Christian organizations.
The reason why, is the same reason i gave in a post a couple months back:
First time ever, public schools required to teach Bible classes
What i said then was:
Also, take into consideration that if one religious organization (even one which is Christian) is permitted, then that opens the door for other types of religious groups to come in and talk to your or my children as well. (in my case, grandchildren)
Do you see the problems this could cause?
On a strictly personal note, im not at all familiar with the FOF organization in Australia. But knowing the US branch, no, i would not want their representatives explaining the bible and culture issues to my grandchildren. Here the group is more a political activism org.
Education in Australia
Australia has complusory education to the age of 16.
While 2/3rd’s of students are enrolled in public schools, there are private and religious private schools, which similar to the US charge.
About 14% of private schools are not religious.
Pre-school (day care, pre-kindergarten isn’t mandatory or regulated)
There is primary – grades 1-7, scondary with streams of eduction. Secondary is grades 7-12.
Different territories such as Northern have middle school, grades 7-9. Grade 13 is offered in 3 territories as prep for university.There is an ongoing issue with the Australian Eduction Union and Labour Party about private school fees.
There is a home school program.
‘Christian group banned from schools’
makes a good headline (as you can see by the react PJ) in the US.
Religion in Australia Education
FotF set up in Australis in 1993. It’s not a membership based group, and is well known for ‘thumping the tub’ for it’s association and networkin with the Family party, the Salt Shakers, Australian Christian Lobby etc.
While FotF attempts to soft peddle it’s ideology, (bait and switch) most of the money generated comes from selling US Focus literature and is known in Australia as a US religious right group.
As it has in Canada, NZ and the UK, the FotF attempted ‘soft’ approach such as ‘drug education’ isn’t well received by citizens, traditional Christians or mainstream political organizations.
FotF has pumped a lot of quite US money into it’s ‘international associate’ branches.
FotF Australia is headquartered in Victoria.
The Australia Christian Lobby is in Canberra, has been around since 1995 and got thumped for it’s support of censorship (also supported by FotF) and appears to have moved politically from far right to right.
The issue in the headline is FotF’s ”No Apologies Impact” seminar, which the ACL says was approved by the NSW Department of Education.
The NSW Dept of Education says no, as part of their Performance for Schools program FotF “No Apologies Impact” was not approved.
This happened a month ago and ire has spread to other territories.This seminar/performance art also made news in May.
Religious ed in public schools is opt-in in ACT, don’t know about the other regions.
Again it is classic FotF attempting a bait and switch, Focus tried to sneak this into the schools as performance art for the Personal Development/Health/Physical Education curriculum.
Australians are ticked.
There are 900 schools in NSW Focus potentially had access to and payment of $450 per ‘seminar’. Parents complained loud and early.
Hence the Ministry of Education (federal) stepping in.
As far as I know this issue involves public schools and no parental permission.
*ACT refers to Australia Central Territory
Thanks Bene..
I’m also glad you cleared this up;
When posting the story i did a search and still wasn’t sure what it stood for.
Ok, i think i have a clearer picture.
After reading your comment, i found this:
The ACT Government has banned Focus on the Family from the ACT school system while it investigates allegations that the group has vilified homosexuals in the “No Apologies Impact” seminar that it has presented in some public schools.
Focus on the Family has been accused of demonising homosexuality, painting it in the same light as bestiality and giving religious education in public schools without parental permission.
The Canberra Times reports allegations that the seminar included claims that sex was bad, painted homosexuality in a similar light to bestiality and warned students they could become gay by watching gay pornography.
Students were also allegedly warned they could become attracted to animals by watching animal pornography, that if a couple had sex it was the boy’s fault and that girls should not provoke boys by putting their hair up and wearing make-up.
The NSW Education Department had accredited the seminar through its Performance in Schools program—which is not intended for religious education—but has now suspended the entire program and shut down its website.
The former website said that the purpose of Performance in Schools was:
developing children’s appreciation, enjoyment and participation in the arts in all its forms as part of their education. It acknowledges that only professional performers and practitioners practising their craft at a high level of educational and artistic competence can provide students with opportunities to experience live performances and presentations. To ensure the artistic and educational integrity of these performances and to meet its charter to protect the young people in its care, the Department of Education and Training strongly recommends that all schools accept only those performances that have been authorised to perform in schools and colleges through the Performances For Schools program.
It seems that the “No Apologies Impact Seminar” got under the artistic and educational radar.
Focus on the Family advertises it as “Teaching young people to make healthy choices about sex and relationships . . . This seminar will give young people the opportunity to consider the truth about life, love and sex. . . . Topics include (but are not limited to) pornography, the influence of the media, the consequences of pre-marital sex and how far is too far.”
So what’s wrong with teaching young people moral and ethical behaviour? Nothing. But it would seem that Focus on the Family’s approach has been neither ethical nor moral.
more here: http://nottoomuch.com/pivot/entry.php?id=1849
Nice catch there PJ!
I agree, the approach is neither ethical or moral.
Good on the Aussies.