Good morning all!

You all are probably aware of the current situation at Churchie or Brisbane Gramma.

I have written to Ach Bishop Aspinall strongly objecting to the Churches position on the up coming formal banning gay couples.

He can be reached at: [address removed] and I would encourage members who object to the church’s position to send an email of complaint.

My Email sent this morning follows:

Dear Archbishop Phillip Aspinall

I am incensed by The Anglican Church’s attitude and what is clear discrimination against a minority on the basis of sexual preference. As a parent who has two boys at Anglican Schools in Brisbane, I have no objection to same sex partners being present at school formals. This is just homophobia and discrimination cleverly justified by calling it another name like standards. Just remember that yours is the same organisation that not to long ago was sheltering paedophiles and forcing the victims through the courts to obtain compensation, fighting them all the way.

I was further disturbed to hear a parent at my sons school say this morning “I send my children to an Anglican School so they did not have to associate with people (gay) like that”. I think this statement reveals the real motivation and is closer than you would like to the real issue. These schools are there to provide a service to the community for a fee and not to provide a comfortable environment for xenophobe’s or elitists trying to maintain religious privilege.

It is important to understand that this school is a registered corporation, enjoys the privilege of tax free status and as such is bound by the law like any other corporation or institution. The Anglican Church is not above the law just because they feel they have a religious warrant based on hateful Bronze Age texts provided by some fictitious vindictive sky god who would like these people stoned to death!

This is another example of why the separation of church and state is so vital. The Commissioner said the position you have taken is not lawful and that should be the end of the matter, yet you still arrogantly defend the schools position. Most parents I know sent their children to these schools because the state system is underfunded and failing not for religious indoctrination. They make many sacrifices in order to give their children the best possible start in life.

I admire any 16 year old that has the courage to be open and honest about their sexuality rather than adopt a false persona for the benefit of the homophobic Christ-psychotics. They are after all born that way. They are not diseased or mentally ill. It is a natural way of being for about 5% to 10% of the community.

Maybe its time that Separation of Church and state was enshrined in our constitution. Maybe you should also loose your tax free status if they refuse to comply with the law and or community standards!

Regards

Stephen Pearce

I've updated this meeting. For more details, see the full listing: http://atheists.meetup.com/501/calendar/7501792/

When: Monday, April 14, 2008 at 7:30 PM

Where: Community Meeting Room
City Library Brisbane Square - 266 George Street
Brisbane


If the changes affect your plans to attend, please take a moment to update your RSVP. (You can RSVP 'No' or 'Maybe' as well as 'Yes'.)

You can always get in touch with me through the 'Contact Organizer' feature on the Meetup.com website: http://atheists.meetup.com/501/suggestion/




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