Freedom of Religion and Belief in the 21st Century
The Australian Government has instituted an inquiry in the issue of Freedom of Religion and Belief in the 21st Century.
In partnership with the respective state churches, the Church and Nation Committee has submitted its views on behalf of the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church of Australia. The full submission may be viewed in .pdf format by clicking on the link at the bottom of this box but the thrust of the Committee's submission is in support of the following rights:

People should be free to believe or not believe in a religion as they choose.
People should be free to meet together as a community of believers.
People should be free to share their beliefs with others not of the samefaith
People who hold a particular religion should be free to advise the public and lobby community leaders about its views on moral, ethical and social issues
People should be free to decline to support or engage in acts to which believers hold a conscientious objection

In addition the submission advises caution in the passing of any acts of Parliament which restrict those rights even though they may seem to be well-intentioned.

The submission goes on to express concern at the attitude of some religious groups which are seeking to place themselves an advantageous position in the community at the expense of the rights of others.

PDF FILE: GAA PCA Submission

Alcohol Marketing and Advertising
Presbyterians have always advocated temperance in the use of alcoholic beverages although many advocate and practise total abstinence.
There has emerged within the wider community a great deal of concern at the negative and often tragic effects of the abuse of alcohol on the community. These include deaths on the road, broken homes, traumatised families, ruined careers and the financial costs to society.

Of particular concern is number of young people being lured into alcoholic abuse, together with the marketing practices that target them.

The Church and Nation Committee has prepared a submission to the inquiry on alcoholic abuse being conducted by the Community Affairs Ministry of Federal Parliament.

Euthanasia
The issue of the legalisation of euthanasia is back on the agenda, with the bill sponsored by Senator Bob Brown seeking to allow euthanasia in Australian Commonwealth Territories. The Presbyterian Church believes that all human life is sacred from conception until death and therefore euthanasia, defined as the deliberate shortening of life (as opposed to the decision not to sustain life by artificial means) is morally wrong.

The Church and Nation Committee has written to the Prime Minister, the Leader of the Opposition and other party leaders making our position on the issue clear.

Climate Change
      Global warming is very much in the news and the Church and Nation Committee of the General Assembly of Australia has received a fairly detailed paper on the subject from Rev. David Palmer, Convener of the Victorian Church and Nation Committee and Minister at Cheltenham in the Presbytery of Flinders in the south-east of Melbourne. Prior to training for Presbyterian ministry, David was manager of a R&D establishment in the UK for one of the businesses of Imperial Chemical Industries PLC. In addition to his ministerial qualifications he has a  BE and MBA to his name.

His paper, 31 A4 pages in length, is expected to be received in its present form by the General Assembly of Australia, meeting in Sydney in September this year.

Activities of State Committees,

The issues currently under the ongoing scrutiny of the respective State Committees as at March 2008 include

NSW
A set of study papers comparing Islam with Christianity.
The Abuse of Alcohol and Alcohol Advertising
Civil Unions and Relationships Register
Legalised brothels


   Website:   www.churchandnation.pcnsw.org.au

Victoria
Decriminalisation of Abortion
Extending IVF treatment to single women and Lesbians
Proposals for Homosexual adoptions
Euthanasia
Support for Marriage
Entertainment/Media Industry Standards
Exemptions Review of the Victorian Equal Opportunity legislation under Victoria Charter of Rights legislation
Multiculturalism
Responding to the new Atheist
The Challenge of Islam
Climate Change
Bioethics

  Website:   www.pcvic.org.au

Queensland

 Website:     www.pcq.org.au

South Australia  
       
Website:     www.pcsa.org.au

Tasmania
  Website: