Australian Christian Lobby

[[File:Lyle Shelton (Australia) Australian Christian Lobby.png|thumb|right|165px|Former managing director Lyle Shelton in 2013]]
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The '''Australian Christian Lobby''' is a right-wing [[Christian]] company based in Canberra, [[Australia]]. Led by Martin Iles, it was founded in 1995 by John Gagliardi, and is effectively Australia's answer to organizations such as the [[American Family Association]].<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20161120165043/http://newsstore.fairfax.com.au/apps/viewDocument.ac?docID=news951102_0032_5322 Jodie Brough, (2 November 1995), 'Family values' group to target MPs, ''Sydney Morning Herald'', p. 6]</ref> 

==Their focus==
Despite their home page professing to "...desire a compassionate, just and moral society..."<ref>[http://www.acl.org.au/ Their homepage.]</ref> the ACL's primary function appears to involve opposing anti-[[discrimination]] laws<ref>[http://www.smh.com.au/federal-politics/political-news/christian-lobby-seeks-antidiscrimination-override-for-plebiscite-campaign-20160215-gmu4kd.html Judith Ireland (16 February 2016), Christian lobby seeks anti-discrimination 'override' for plebiscite campaign, ''Sydney Morning Herald'']</ref> and [[marriage equality]]. 

In 2012 a survey of all of their press releases within a six-month period revealed that [[LGBT]] issues comprised their most written-about subject by a long shot, accounting for a total of 122 press releases, compared to only 25 for the second-most written about issue ([[human trafficking]] and [[prostitution]]), with few to none on a plethora of issues that you might think Christians would care about - a small handful of which includes [[immigration | asylum seekers]], Christian leadership, [[drug]]s/[[alcohol]], [[education]], foreign aid, [[human rights]], [[poverty]], and the [[Bible]](!)<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20170105020708/https://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/queensland/christian-lobby-analysis-reveals-strong-gay-focus-20120608-2017g.html Bridie Jabour (9 June 2012), Christian Lobby analysis reveals strong gay focus, ''Brisbane Times'']</ref>

Another year-long survey of releases between 2015 and 2016 revealed that nothing had changed:<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20160503120127/http://www.thestirrer.com.au/brisbane-vigil-against-h8/ Doug Pollard (24 April 2016), Brisbane Vigil Against H8, ''The Stirrer'']</ref> LGBT issues remained by far the most-written-about topic for the ACL, with asylum seekers and foreign aid receiving very little attention, despite that particular period of time coinciding with the height of the refugee crisis on [[Nauru]] and Manus Island<ref>{{wpa | Manus Island}} </ref> in [[Papua New Guinea]].<ref>[https://politicsmeanspolitics.com/the-australian-christian-lobby-1550c90ab937?gi=1f5096a287a5 Dr. Stuart Edser (5 August 2017), The Australian Christian Lobby, ''Medium'']</ref> 

Oh, and the ACL has also compared [[gay rights]] (along with the anti-bullying {{wpl|Safe_Schools_Coalition_Australia |Safe Schools}} program) to the [[Holocaust]] and to the [[Godwin's law| rise of Nazi Germany]].<ref>[http://www.smh.com.au/federal-politics/federal-election-2016/australian-christian-lobby-likens-gay-marriage-and-safe-schools-to-unthinkable-nazi-atrocities-20160531-gp8ff2.html Michael Koziol (31 May 2016), Australian Christian Lobby likens gay marriage and Safe Schools to 'unthinkable' Nazi atrocities, ''Sydney Morning Herald'']</ref> Charming. 

The fact that the ACL considers opposing LGBT rights far more important than, you know, actually promoting [[Jesus]] or helping marginalized people in society, calls into question the use of the word "Christian" in their name, especially since this stance puts them out of touch with a significant majority of Christians in Australia.<ref>[https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2017/jul/21/most-christians-in-australia-support-marriage-equality-and-want-a-free-vote Gareth Hutchens (21 July 2017), Most Christians in Australia support marriage equality and want a free vote, ''The Guardian'']</ref> The company's preoccupation with LGBT issues makes it ''almost'' tempting to bring up [[Haggard's Law]], but that may be something for the future.

Following Australia's legalization of [[same-sex marriage]] after a government-mandated postal survey<ref> {{wpa | Australian Marriage Law Postal Survey}} </ref> in 2017, former managing director Lyle Shelton announced in February 2018 his departure from the ACL to join the {{wpl|Australian_Conservatives| Australian Conservatives}} (a political party). To the surprise of exactly no-one, his entry into politics appears to be motivated by his annoyance that gays and lesbians can now marry the person they love.<ref>
Compare:
[https://web.archive.org/web/20180206021840/https://www.skynews.com.au/details/_5726218840001 Australian Conservatives aspire to outlaw gay marriage]: "Australian Conservatives spokesperson Lyle Shelton has confirmed to Sky News that it is an aspiration for the party to restore the marriage law to its original meaning." 
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==References==
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[[Category:Australian political movements]]
[[Category:Fundamentalist Christian organizations]]
[[Category:Hate groups]]
[[Category:Homophobia]]

Categories: Australian political movements, Fundamentalist Christian organizations, Hate groups, Homophobia