Source document: https://docs-lawep.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/1697641527390.pdf (Australia)
Committee Secretary Joint Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade PO Box 6021 Parliament House Canberra ACT 2600 Phone: +61 2 6277 2313 Fax: +61 2 6277 2221 religionorbelief@aph.gov.au We are writing to express our concern at the steady erosion of freedom of religion and belief, especially resulting from anti-discrimination, equal opportunity and other laws.
We have grave concerns about the enormous erosion of religious freedoms in the event that so called Same Sex Marriage is approved in Australia.

We have aligned our comments with the Committee’s Terms of Reference.

Terms of Reference The Committee shall examine the status of the freedom of religion or belief (as recognised in Article 18 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights) around the world, including in Australia.

The Committee shall have particular regard to: 1.


The enjoyment of freedom of religion or belief globally, the nature and extent of violations and abuses of this right and the causes of those violations or abuses; 2.

Action taken by governments, international organisations, national human rights institutions, and non-government organisations to protect the freedom of religion or belief, promote religious tolerance, and prevent violations or abuses of this right; 3.
The relationship between the freedom of religion or belief and other human rights, and the implications of constraints on the freedom of religion or belief for the enjoyment of other universal human rights; 4.

Australian efforts, including those of Federal, State and Territory governments and non-government organisations, to protect and promote the freedom of religion or belief in Australia and around the world, including in the Indo-Pacific region.
Terms of Reference 1 Freedom of religion and belief is a fundamental human right in all civilised, democratic countries.

Whilst Australia would claim to meet this international objective, in reality the fundamental rights of Australian citizens to exercise their freedom of religion and belief has been progressively eroded.

Australia is not alone amongst “progressive” western democracies in eroding these rights.
Two examples are given below: o In the USA, the UK, and Canada ordinary people have lost their jobs, had their businesses sued, lost their livelihoods, and even faced jail time for simply disagreeing with same-sex “marriage” e.g.
in Portland Oregon USA, crippling punitive fines totalling USD 136,000 ($A183,000) were imposed upon a baker who refused to bake a cake to celebrate a same sex union o True freedom of religion and belief should allow parents to be able to determine what their children are taught in school regarding sexuality, sex and gender, but recently a Canadian court overruled a parent’s right to determine what their children are taught in school regarding sexuality, sex and gender.
Around the world where marriage has been redefined we see governments and courts impose concerning agendas that restrict freedoms and rights for people, including interpretations designed to make homosexuality “the new norm”.

Terms of Reference 2 Actions taken by governments in Australia, especially State and Territory governments, already have eroded freedom of religion and belief.
For example, certain states and the ACT have introduced exclusion Inquiry into the status of the human right to freedom of religion or beliefSubmission 363 zones around abortion clinics, even preventing people who wish to do no more than pray quietly; in fact, court cases have resulted.

Hobart Catholic Archbishop Porteous was charged before an equal opportunity commission for simply teaching a Christian view of marriage.
Whilst “Same Sex Marriage” is not yet law, nevertheless comments have been sought by a separate Senate Committee on the “Exposure Draft of the Marriage Amendment (Same-Sex Marriage) Bill”.
In proposing to amend the Marriage Act 1961 as the vehicle to introduce Same Sex Unions, the Commonwealth Government fails to acknowledge the fundamental societal change proposed, including eroding the rights of Christians for whom marriage always was, and always should be, a unique relationship between one man and one woman, open to the procreation of children.
The proposed changes contravene Section 116 of the Australian Constitution that provides for the “free exercise of any religion” (for all Australians).

Terms of Reference 3 Whilst we acknowledge the need for anti-discrimination and equal opportunity legislation, such legislation should never impede on freedom of religion and belief, of both individuals and organisations.
Thus Catholic Schools and organisations should be free to employ only those persons who support and practice Catholic beliefs, likewise for Islamic schools, Greek Orthodox etc.

Regrettably, in many cases the anti-discrimination and equal opportunity laws seem to have over-ridden freedom of rights and beliefs.
Specifically in relation to the muted Same-Sex Marriage Bill, we raise some areas of concern:  Would a Christian landlord (who believes that sex should be only between a man and wife of the opposite gender) and thus does not wish to rent accommodation to two avowed practising homosexuals, be obliged to do so ?

 Would bakers, wedding reception venues etc.

be obliged to provide services to two people of the same gender in a so called Same Sex Marriage ?
 Would Christian book shops be obliged to employ overtly practising homosexual s or stock homosexual literature ?

The Christian Church has a duty to reach out pastorally to homosexual people but cannot compromise its principles, which are based on the Holy Bible.

Every person on earth is bound by the Natural Law, which stands for all human kind.
Terms of Reference 4 As discussed above under Terms of Reference 2, actions taken by governments in Australia, especially State and Territory governments, far from promoting the freedom of religion and belief, have actually eroded freedom of religion and belief.

This erosion is continuing.

We call upon the Joint Standing Committee to acknowledge this reality and to endeavour to take steps to arrest this erosion of fundamental religious rights.
We thank the Committee for the opportunity to comment on this Inquiry.

Sincerely Alan Tyson Helen Tyson Inquiry into the status of the human right to freedom of religion or beliefSubmission 363