Normally we’d have no problem with a state government allowing religious institutions to discriminate however they saw fit, because well, that’s their right, however ignominious. But when the Australian state Victoria granted religious groups the right to discriminate against gays, single women, and people of other faiths at their schools and hospitals — while not being allowed to discriminate based on race, age, or disability — well, that’s just not right.
It’s being called a “compromise” between the state and religious groups, but the only ones compromising are the three groups still not protected by discrimination laws. Christian churches that run schools, hospitals, and social service organizations can refuse to teach, treat, or help homos or Muslims. Oh, and hire women. That’s right: Institutions run by faith groups can get away with discriminating against gender and gender identity, along with marital and parental status.
Supposedly, Victoria’s Attorney General Rob Hulls approved of the change because it’ll allow religious groups to continue operating schools and hospitals without having to hire or help anyone who “undermines” their religious beliefs.
Beto
Stupid, stupid, stupid…
Mountainword
This calls for a boycott. There are other hospitals and schools. Do these churches really think they’ve got it like that?
Joey
Total fucking bullshit. Australia is so fucked up sometimes.
jason
Australia is tragic. It’s a very homophobic country.
ioni
Harch to say, but it would actually take one single death because of this for Australia to change its stance comletely. Seriously – one dead gay man because he was refused tretment because of who he is will change this.
Attmay
I say ban the goyim from the gay businesses.
Aaron
@jason:
In my opinion, I do not believe that Australia is “a very homophobic country.” I am thinking that you made an over-statement based on the emotionality of the issue. Coming from my experience of living in Sydney and Melbourne I could confidently say that, on average, Australians are a lot more gay-friendly than Americans. Most Australians are for gay marriage and other gay rights but most in their government are not and it is their government that makes most of the rules. They are a socialist country, you know 😉
Religious fundamentals all over the world are all the same when it comes to gay issues. None are more homophobic that the other.
With this story, its entirely funny that their rules of being able to SELECTIVELY treat “the needy” is completely anti-Christian. The hypocrisy burns…
sekaiichibankawaii
No rational government would allow people to be denied medical care based on the prejudices of an organization, but religion tends to make even the most rational governments behave like neanderthals.
Andrew
@Aaron: Australia is only 35% religious, but the State of Victoria is 78% religious.
Where you see a lot of religion, you see a lot of discrimination.
Thom
@Aaron:
Melbourne and Sydney are different than Australia. I could easily say the same in reverse by mentioning I have lived in San Francisco and New York.
Mark
Religion wins again. When will we actually understand who our real enemy is?
jarvisbearcub
Actually, this is great. When they run out of sick people and students, they’ll be shut and it will be their own fault.
robotlovesmonkey
umm… I’m sorry what ?? I cannot comprehend the reasoning behind this being ok.
I wonder if all the gay teachers I know currently teaching at catholic schools across the country will be given the sack.
David
Its sad that Victorian state government will allow discrimination based on sexuality and single mums.Im sure something will be worked out.But im shocked at how people can label Australia a homophobic country. Sure we have our homophobic ‘bits’ of the country and i can at least say that were WAY better off then the Americans.We have laws protecting us from discrimination(not religious organisation though), were allowed in the army,relationships registration , and we have a majority population that supports gay marriage thats growing.
David
@David: oops i mean ”its sad that the victorian state government allows religious organisation to discriminate people based on sexuality and single mums.”
Simone
I think that is disgraceful. As a heterosexual female who has both straight and gay friends I think the discrimination against gay people, single women and people of other religions is inexcusable. I grew up going to both an Anglican and Uniting church with my parents and the morals (which in theory can be good) that were preached go completely against what the churches are doing in relation to discriminating against these groups of people. Fundamentalists from any religion like to twist the bible (or any other religious book for a different religion) to suit their own purposes and maintain their level of power in the community. My gay friends love their partners just as much and in the same way as I love my heterosexual partner. As a result they should be able to marry for the same reasons I would marry.
The churches (of all religious denominations) either need to move into the 21st century or shut down. They are the root of, and are causing as much war/suffering/and intolerance than the other groups the government officially deem as ‘terrorists’.
Naghanenu
As a catholic Simone i find your comments offensive. What reason religious groups use to defend their turf..whether it offends us or not..it is their law given right.
Lets be careful with labels also…i do not think a religious group is bigoted if they use their teachings in the way they run their operations and i m sorry to say but Christianity teaches homosexuality is a sin…we all know this. As long as the bible continues to circulate and Xtianity exists…that is the way it is going to be.
It has nothing to do with the 21st century or whatever…technology advancement has nothing to do with people’s deep rooted faith and beliefs…we all need to accept this.
What can be done is to plead the case of tolerance and understanding and hopefully such stances would not be taken.
SuperCat
@Naghanenu:
Just because the law has given them said rights doesn’t make it any less of an injustice.
If these were private clubs and establishments I would totally agree they have a right to discriminate. However churches should not be running public institutions like schools and hospitals. And if they do such institutions should be open to everyone.
I mean such institutions are supposed to be helping the community. And yet now they are needlessly causing division.
Hospitals having the right to refuse treatment? That is just messed up. What about the hippocratic oath?
This is not right. No matter what someone believes or how they live their life should not affect their right to receive education and health care.
Ioan
This really puts the lie to the claim that they don’t hate GLBT people, doesn’t it? Disgusting! They “love” us, all right–they love us so much that they are willing to let us die when we need medical care.
Unfortunately, Ioni is right: it will take some GLBT person dying because he or she was refused medical care because they were GLBT for something to be done. And who knows if anything will be done even then?
This is the sort of thing that turns me more and more against Christianity with each passing day.