Greenwash Political Action Party and Urban Grassroots Movement for the Green Party

Friday, August 18, 2006

Christian Kerr's idiotic defense of the Exclusive Brethren

This is an edited version of something I wrote from crikey, published August 17th in response to an article from Christian Kerr (which appears at the bottom of this post).

Christian Kerr’s latest lazy attack on Bob Brown marks a new low even by his standards. To accuse Bob Brown of bigotry because he sought an inquiry into the activities of a secretive cult with links to the Liberal Party, the Bush administration, the New Zealand National party and the Canadian conservatives, is not only ridiculous but nasty.

Let's set out the facts:
- A religious sect operates in Australia that secretly pours thousands of dollars into campaigns to help Liberal and National Parties.
- This sect has a notorious history of excommunications, emotional abuse and family break-ups.
- It is 40 000 strong homophobic operation which oppresses women and children.
- The sect benefits from public funds.
- It is being aided and abetted by the party of Government in Australia.
- This world wide controversial cult has taken up headquarters in Australia with the its 'Elect Vessel’ Bruce Hales based in Sydney.
- The group operates under the radar with no public scrutiny so Bob Brown moves for a Senate inquiry.

A little research would reveal a lot. Start with Radio National’s Background Briefing – the first big media expose on the organisation. David Marr’s piece from the SMH is illuminating. Or perhaps a flick through of the ex-Brethren website might help. Or a viewing of Today Tonight’s recent family horror stories or the JJJ Hack program’s investigations. Or a copy of the most recent Sunday Tasmanian would be good. London to a brickhasKerr hasn’t seen or read any of them. In fact Crikey’s own Margaretta Pos was one of the first to report the Brethren's whacky activities, along with the Tasmanian Times, during this year’s Tasmanian election.

Just a tiny bit of homework would go along way. Try speaking to just one of numerous the ex-Brethren members from all over Australia. Hearing their stories of intimidation, trauma, and devastating family break up might have prevented Mr Kerr from swallowing Howard Minister Eric Abetz’s line with barley a gulp.

To suggest that someone is a bigot because they want an inquiry into some of the above is plain stupid. It is also a revolting slur that reveals more about Mr Kerr than anything else.

The role of the Exclusive Brethren in politics, along with the devastating personal effects of its cult like operations, are topics that need more scrutiny, not less.

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The following is from the crikey email on August 16, 2006

Bob Brown smites the infidel

Christian Kerr writes:

Bob Brown is a bigot who doesn't know his home state's constitution.

The Greens leader's motion for an inquisition into the Exclusive Brethren sect was overwhelmingly defeated in the Senate last night, 59 votes to four. Labor and the Democrats joined Government senators and Family First's Steve Fielding in opposing the unprecedented move against freedom of religion.

The Exclusive Brethren placed several newspaper advertisements during the Tasmanian election campaign earlier this year.As Brown's fellow Tasmanian, Liberal Eric Abetz, pointed out, the Brethren is a lawful religious minority. Their only sin is that they ventured into politics, he said. When the leader of a political party starts scapegoating religious minorities, the alarm bells of history should be ringing loud and clear.

But Brown doesn't know his history. He seems unaware of the provisions of Tasmania's 1934 Constitution Act. Tasmania has specific guarantees of religious freedom. Brown postures as a defender of freedom. He might like to look at Section 46:

Part V General Provisions 46. Religious freedom (1) Freedom of conscience and the free profession and practice of religion are, subject to public order and morality, guaranteed to every citizen. (2) No person shall be subject to any disability, or be required to take any oath on account of his religion or religious belief and no religious test shall be imposed in respect of the appointment to or holding of any public office.

posted by Ben Oquist # 9:04 AM 0 comments