Notes: Wednesday, September 1, 2010

"MPs to debate same-sex adoption bill"

In today's Herald:

Debate on Clover Moore's same-sex adoption bill has been rushed forward to begin today, as supporters and critics ramped up their lobbying ahead of a conscience vote in the NSW Legislative Assembly which could take place this week.

[...] Ms Moore, the independent MP for Sydney, will reintroduce the bill today - one day earlier than initially planned - to include an amendment that allows faith-based adoption agencies to refuse to provide services to gay and lesbian couples without breaching anti-discrimination laws.

[... The Hon. David Clarke M.L.C.] accused the Premier, Kristina Keneally, who supports the bill, of allowing Ms Moore ''the fast track to get this through in the dying days of this Parliament before the next election''.
[http://www.smh.com.au/nsw/mps-to-debate-samesex-adoption-bill-20100831-14fn1.html?skin=text-only]

See also today's Tele:

At a rally against the Bill yesterday, Liberal Party powerbroker David Clarke and Christian Democrat Fred Nile warned abortions would increase if gay couples were allowed to adopt.

"Any mother putting up her baby for adoption would never imagine that their babywould be brought up by two male homosexuals or two female lesbians," Mr Nile said.

[...] Ms Keneally's former leadership rival Frank Sartor is trying to amend the Bill to ensure people who offer children for adoption will not face legal action under anti-discrimination laws if they refuse to let a gay couple adopt their child. ...
[http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/news/nsw-act/split-over-gay-adoption-widens/story-e6freuzi-1225912518855]

Some opinions on the merits and demerits of compulsory voting

http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/opinion/self-serving-pollies-to-blame-for-forced-vote/story-fn558imw-1225912525711

"Tasmania recognises same-sex marriages"

Brought to my attention by Arabella at CathPews: Body of the A.B.C. article:

The Tasmanian Parliament has approved laws recognising same-sex marriages and civil unions registered in other states or countries.

Only three of the 25 Lower House MPs voted against the amendment to the Relationships Act - Liberal members Rene Hidding, Michael Ferguson and Jacqui Petrusma.

Attorney-General Lara Giddings says the changes will remove discrimination for same-sex couples in registered relationships.

"This is really a small step, but a significant and important step for those people who have registered or been through a civil union process elsewhere around the world and want us to recognise that relationship as indeed being in existence," she said.
[http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2010/08/31/2998900.htm?section=justin]

"Prelate laments Italy’s population decline"

http://angelqueen.org/forum/viewtopic.php?t=33480

The AQ article contains a sad projection:

[Italy's] population is expected to decline by nearly 10% in the next four decades.

Msgr. Finn and Mr. Shea on the death penalty

http://www.ncregister.com/blog/this-will-bring-out-a-lot-of-diy-bishops?utm_source=NCRegister.com&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=b2fb596caa-RSS_DAILY_EMAIL

See also
http://angelqueen.org/forum/viewtopic.php?t=33471

If I had time I'd do a full-length rebuttal of that piece, but unfortunately I don't.

Reginaldvs Cantvar
Feast of St. Giles, Abbot, and of the Twelve Holy Brothers, Martyrs, A.D. 2010

On the Adoption Amendment (Same Sex Couples) Bill 2010

http://www.parliament.nsw.gov.au/Prod/parlment/hanstrans.nsf/V3ByKey/LA20100624

Here's what Cr. Clover Moore M.P. had to say when she moved "That this bill be now agreed to in principle":

My Adoption Amendment (Same Sex Couples) Bill will make same-sex couples legally eligible to adopt. It will provide for the introduction of a second-parent adoption provision similar to the existing step-parent adoption provision, and allow same-sex couples to be assessed for adoption as a couple. Importantly, under the bill, adoption laws would treat families headed by same-sex couples in the same way as families headed by heterosexual couples. Same-sex couples in Western Australia and the Australian Capital Territory already have these rights. Specifically, the bill changes the definitions for "couple" and "spouse" provided in the Adoption Act from "a man and a woman who are married or who have a de facto relationship" to "persons who are de facto partners, whether they are of the same or opposite sex".

So it's what the recent Inquiry into adoption by same-sex couples recently recommended but which the Government declined to pursue. Saturday's edition of the Herald and yesterday's edition of The Punch each carried opinion pieces, both of them rubbish, in favour of the move, and as far as I know none of Sydney's mainstream media have run any articles against the move, though it was pleasing to see a good number of comments against it in the combox at that piece at The Punch. If I had more time I'd write a post refuting the arguments of Cr. Moore, Ms Pryor, and Mr. Raj, but I don't, so refer to the contents of this blog's "G.L.B.T." tag, and in particular the end of this post, for the case against adoption by same-sex couples. (In an nutshell, though: It is to be rejected for the good--chiefly the complementary influence of parents of both sexes--of which it deprives children and for the evil--chiefly the bad moral example, the scandal, which the lifestyle of two people living in open defiance of the natural law inflicts on the children in their care--in which it immerses the children involved.)

Meanwhile, New South Wales's "devout Catholic" Premier, The Hon. Kristina Keneally M.P., has the following to say on the matter:

"My religious views do not play a part in the legislation that I as a leader of the Labor Party bring before the government," she said.

"If I look at the gospel message it is one of acceptance, it is one of love ... Jesus sat with the sinners and the saints and he was not a man of judgment but rather a man of love".
[http://news.smh.com.au/breaking-news-national/keneally-says-religion-wont-impact-bill-20100628-ze83.html]

But even that wasn't politically correct enough!

NSW Premier Kristina Keneally under fire over religious parable

AAP June 28, 2010 3:31PM

NSW Premier Kristina Keneally says she didn't mean to compare homosexuals to "sinners" in a religious parable.

The devout Catholic was answering questions about the same-sex adoption Bill, introduced to Parliament last week by independent MP and Sydney Lord Mayor Clover Moore.

Today, she reaffirmed her "in principle" support for the bill and said she would allow Labor MPs a conscience vote.

When asked to reconcile her progressive view on adoption with her religious background, she replied: "Jesus sat with the sinners and the saints and he was not a man of judgment but rather a man of love".

The Premier was later forced to clarify her position, saying her choice of words was not a direct comparison between "sinners" and same-sex couples.

"That's not all what I meant to say," she said.

"My point is this - is that Jesus loved all. He loved all and he accepted all. And for me that is the strongest message that comes out of the gospel." [...]
[http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/news/breaking-news/nsw-premier-kristina-keneally-under-fire-over-religious-parable/story-e6freuyi-1225885280698
See also
http://www.smh.com.au/nsw/come-in-sinners-keneallys-gay-slip-20100628-zf9d.html?skin=text-only]

Reginaldvs Cantvar

Feast of Ss. Peter and Paul, Apostles, A.D. 2010

Facts and figures: on the Sodomites’ Parade

http://www.smh.com.au/opinion/letters/book-reform-fels-reading-from-the-same-old-page-20090217-8a7c.html?page=-1

I’m going to start posting at this blog some interesting facts and figures that I see in the media, not necessarily with any additional comment from me (though you, my readers, are always welcome to comment), so don’t be surprised if you see me posting quotations, links or whatever without further explanation. Today I read the following letter to The Sydney Morning Herald:

Mardi Gras money

Brad Ruting (Letters, February 13) says this is the first year any government has provided funding to the Mardi Gras. The City of Sydney has been a financial supporter of Mardi Gras for 10 years. Our current sponsorship is worth $120,000 in cash and $120,000 in kind a year.

Clover Moore, MP Lord Mayor, City of Sydney

Reginaldvs Cantvar
Feast of St. Simeon, Bishop, Martyr, A.D. 2009