There seems to be a regular stream of items to do with religion and politics today, so I’m going to segmentise them. Here goes…

Queensland: The mainline Queensland Council of Churches is urging Anna Bligh’s ALP Queensland state government to ban hitting kids.News of church involvement in the debate came as a group of prominent psychologists put their names to a letter sent to Queensland’s 89 parliamentarians calling for the repeal of Section 280 of the Criminal Code, which allows parents, guardians or teachers to use “reasonable” force when disciplining a child.

Signatories include Professor Matt Sanders, who runs the Triple P parenting program fame, and Professor Bob Montgomery, President of the Australian Psychological Society.
Concerned Psychologists for Children’s Rights spokesman John Reddington also said it was planned to hold a meeting with Queensland State MPs.

Anglican Archbishop Phillip Aspinall also opposes hitting children. Archbishop Aspinall has said Section 280 of the Queensland Criminal Code should be changed so it can operate only as a defence to common assaults. This would still allow light smacking that did not result in injury.

Catholic Archbishop John Bathersby’s perspective is unknown, although Queensland Uniting Church Moderator the Rev Bruce Johnson said Ms Bligh was “very interested” in the churches’ perspective, although his church hadn’t formulated its own as yet.
Source: Margaret Wenham: “Smacking Ban Supported by Church Leaders” Courier-Mail: 20.11.08: www.news.com.au/couriermail/story/0,23739,24682569-3102,00.html

United Kingdom: The neofascist British National Party is in turmoil after details were leaked about a party membership list. As Britain’s anti-discrimination laws don’t protect one against sacking on the basis on political opinion, the list members are reportedly scared that they will face vigilante retribution. If they haven’t previously engaged in organised racist violence or harrassment or intimidation of ethnic minorities, lesbians or gay men, that is abhorrent. However, if they occupy sensitive public positions, then such is not the case. Already, one police officer has been removed from his position, as has a BBC RadioSports broadcaster. According to the BBC, some BNP activists are teachers, doctors, other police officers and government employees.

I have published the list below out of public interest. I do not condone harrassment of these individuals, but I believe that it is in the public interest that they should not be allowed into New Zealand, whether as visitors or future migrants to our country.

Source: “BNP activists details published” BBC News: 18.11.08: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/7736405.stm

Details: http://www.bnpmemberslist.co.uk

Canada: In the Globe and Mail, there’s talk about getting providing medical maintenance of heroin to users in the Vancouver Downtown Eastside area, and experts have welcomed the move. Whether the fiercely prohibitionist Harper administration and its Health Minister, Tony Clements, will welcome the move, is a moot point. Note: Cited source Margaret Wente appears to be conservative on this issue.

Source: Margaret Wente: “Up Next- Free Heroin for Addicts” Globe and Mail: 20.11.08: www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20081120.wcowent20/BNStory/specialComment