Do We Have Religious Freedom in Australia?

The Tasmanian anti-discrimination tribunal has asserted that Catholic Archbishop, Julian Porteous, does have a case to answer in regards to the complaint made by a LGBT activist for his Diocese distributing the booklet, Don’t Mess with Marriage. The booklet, disseminated to the parents with children at Catholic schools, is alleged to be deaming to LGBT people. This leaves me concerned and confused as to what this means for religious freedom in Australia if a Catholic bishop if hauled before the courts for teaching Catholic beliefs to Catholics. Also, Australia is due to have a plebiscite about SSM in the future and how can a debate take place if one side of the debate is prosecuted simply for turning up to the debate the topic!

I have written a piece called Do We Have Religious Freedom? that has just appeared at On-line Opinion. Where I voice my concerns.

I conclude:

Let me add that I strongly believe in the right to be free from discrimination for everyone irrespective of race, gender, ethnicity, religion, and sexual orientation. I also believe, with no contradiction in my mind, in tolerance, diversity, freedom of speech, and freedom of religion. I like to think that religious communities and LGBT communities can co-exist, even if they disagree. The question is whether progressive activists believe the same. Hauling a Catholic bishop before the courts to answer for being Catholic would suggest that some do not.

Recently the Australian Human Rights commissioner, Tim Wilson, held a round table discussion with various religious and secular groups to engage on various issues like these. The results of their consultation can be viewed here.