Gay equality and abortion laws ‘a threat’ to religious freedom, argues Family Council of WA – The West Australian

Laws on abortion, euthanasia and gay equality are increasingly undermining religious freedom, a family values group has warned.

The Family Council of WA, representing the Salvation Army and a dozen other action groups, has raised major concerns about proposed laws it claims are a direct threat to basic rights.

In its submission to a Federal inquiry into freedom of religion, the council cites proposed changes to abortion laws in Victoria and Tasmania that would force medical practitioners opposed to abortion to make referrals to doctors prepared to carry out the procedure.

It also raises concerns about WA Premier Mark McGowans support of the controversial Safe Schools anti-bullying program, claiming the scheme pressures students into accepting homosexuality as normal.

The concept of freedom of religion and belief, of individuals and organisations, has been the basis of Western civilisation for centuries, the submission says.

These rights are increasingly threatened, even eliminated, by relentless governmental legislative action.

The council argues that governments allowing and encouraging Safe Schools Coalition materials in their schools are blatantly in breach of provisions in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.

It also suggests proposed legislation dealing with physician-assisted suicide clearly contravenes freedom of religion and belief because it lacks an option for doctors to abstain from ending the life of a terminally ill patient on the basis that they have a conscientious objection.

In its submission, Public Health Association of Australia says discussion of the right to freedom of religion must acknowledge the tensions that exist between religion and the rights of women, female children and people of diverse gender and sexuality.

The right to freedom of religion may be limited, the association says. It is recommended that discrimination against women, female children and people who are not heteronormative in sexuality or gender be prohibited even where that discrimination is grounded in religious belief.

The inquiry has also heard from gay marriage opponents worried Christian-run businesses may be prosecuted or sued for refusing to provide services for same-sex weddings.

Former High Court judge Michael Kirby last year backed Mr McGowan in taking over funding of the Safe Schools initiative, arguing schools have a legal responsibility to ensure gay students were protected from bullying.

Making the pre-election pledge, Mr McGowan said the policy was designed to right an historical wrong.

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Gay equality and abortion laws 'a threat' to religious freedom, argues Family Council of WA - The West Australian