Make it your Facebook 'cover photo'! Man + Woman = Marriage

A colleague has designed a graphic to support marriage being between a man and a woman. . .

(This is edited to suit the Facebook layout - the original is centred on the blue background).

Graham, who designed it, recently put it on a billboard in northern Tasmania - and a furore erupted with local activists criticising him and some spraying the sign with rainbow paint! " (Read media report) He says he's just promoting marriage as defined by the law in Australia!

We've made it our 'cover photo' on our Facebook page...

Make it your 'Cover photo' on Facebook to show you support marriage between a man and a woman!

Visit our facebook page - http://www.facebook.com/saltshakersau
Click on our cover photo - save the photo on your computer. Hold cursor over your existing cover photo and 'change cover' will appear - click on 'change cover' and then upload the saved image as YOUR cover photo.

THEN hold cursor over your existing cover photo and 'change cover' will appear - click on 'change cover' and then upload the saved image as YOUR cover photo.

Let's send this viral around the world to support heterosexual marriage - the way God designed it!

Like it, share it, make it your cover photo and encourage your friends to do the same!

Removal of indigenous children in the NT - Chief Minister

For many years we have reported in our monthly Journal about the rates of abuse of children in Australia. The Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW) collates the statistics from all states – for both allegations of abuse and substantiated abuse - and publishes a report on ‘Child Protection’. The AIHW documents various kinds of abuse – sexual abuse, physical abuse, emotional abuse and neglect.

The AIHW Child Protection reports can be found on the AIHW website – click here.

One of the things we have noted is the far higher rates of abuse of all kinds for aboriginal children. The ‘intervention’ in the Northern Territory was prompted by the abuse of children in aboriginal communities. It has often been seen as ‘politically incorrect’ to mention this abuse, in light of the federal government report on the so-called ‘Stolen Generations’.

Now the new Northern Territory Chief Minister, Adam Giles, himself an aboriginal man, has supported the removal of indigenous children from their homes when they are living in abusive situations. In fact, he has even called for such children to be adopted. The NT News reports he said “governments had failed Aboriginal children because of fears they would be accused of creating a new "Stolen Generation", but he would not be put off by such accusations.” He said, "There are situations in the Northern Territory where nobody has been prepared to support a permanent adoption of a child for fear of Stolen Generation."

In a situation when many people still talk of the so-called ‘Stolen Generations’ report as mistreatment of aboriginal children, this is a brave move. But then, as now, the authorities and the church missions of the day wanted the best for these children.

Read news reports about Mr Giles’ statements:

I will remove neglected kids, says Chief, NT News, 14/5/2013.

NT Chief Minister Adam Giles says fears over Stolen Generation are causing child neglect, Daily Telegraph, 14/5/2013.

ACTION needed on same-sex 'marriage'!

Action is still urgently needed on the same-sex 'marriage' issue.

We still need to contact the Coalition about having a firm policy opposing same-sex 'marriage' and opposing a conscience vote!

The Greens are NOT giving up - they are planning to bring their same-sex 'marriage' bill to a vote on June 6.

The Australian reported last week, "The [Greens] party's sole lower house MP and deputy leader, Adam Bandt, has told Fairfax Media he will seek to have his Marriage Equality Amendment Bill brought on for a vote in the House of Representatives on June 6."

They are hoping for a vote - or at least getting MPs to declare their position prior to the election! Greens Senator Sarah Hanson-Young has also talked about moving to get same-sex 'marriages' that are performed overseas legally recognised in Australia.

So ALL your MPs and Senators need a letter from you!

- Have you written your letter to Tony Abbott yet?

- Have you written to your local federal MP (if they are a Member of the Coalition?

- Have you written to your Liberal state Senators?

- Have you written to your Labor MP or Senators yet?

For those who have written, THANK YOU!

When you get a reply, follow it up!

If you DON'T get a REPLY, WRITE AGAIN!

For contact details for ALL federal MPs, click here.

'World Congress of Families' on next week in Sydney

The international World Congress of Families will be held in Sydney next week, with speakers and delegates attending from around the world. Welcome to everyone!

In case you missed it, homosexual activist and NSW MP Alex Greenwich offered a 'friendly welcome'. He has asked the NSW Tourism Minister to 'monitor the conference' to ensure that the speakers don't breach the state's anti-discrimination laws by their statements about homosexuality!

The Managing Director of the WCF put out a very forthright media release - read it here.

TWO issues - same-sex 'marriage' and RU486

This week in our 'Update' we're just reporting on TWO important matters. ..
- The continuing push for same-sex 'marriage'
- The proposed inclusion of abortion drug RU486 on the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme
There's a video to watch, a new webpage on RU486 and some SHORT emails to write on the RU486 issue...
 
Our Prayer Notes, distributed earlier this week, contain information and prayer points about a number of current issues in our nation and overseas - please refer to them...
 
1. The continuing push for same-sex 'marriage'
Yesterday we sent a response to recent calls for a 'referendum' on same-sex 'marriage'.
One of the important things to remember is that, in Australia, we have a constitutional Monarchy and a Westminster-style democracy where we elect political representatives. The system has checks and balances in the two-House system, the judiciary and the Governor-General as representative of the Crown.
Our system of government relies on the parliament to make the decisions. That's supposed to be according to God's word, as reflected in the coronation ceremony for the Queen. Of course, we have moved a long way from that ideal. But to go to a system where 'the people decide on issues' and the 'majority rule' would lead to a very different form of government.

Many of the problems we currently face, whether moral issues or economic management, stem from WHO we elect to govern us. We always say the same thing - that as Christians we need to elect Christians who will support Biblical Christian values - being pro-life, supporting marriage between a man and a woman and so on.

On the referendum question - The main lobbyist for same-sex 'marriage', Alex Greenwich - a homosexual and now an MP in the NSW Legislative Assembly - is opposing the referendum on the basis of a 'negative campaign'. He is saying that the right politicians need to be elected. Of course, he means people who SUPPORT same-sex 'marriage'!
Watch a revealing short (4 min) video clip of him explaining his position... click here.
[Video at top of the article.] The journalist also posted a longer interview - he gives Alex a lot of time to present his case. The journalist also interviews Fred Nile - and is quite dismissive of Fred when he makes comments. How are we going to get a 'fair debate' on this issue?
 
2. Proposed inclusion of abortion drug RU486 on the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme
This week, the Pharmaceutical Benefits Advisory Committee recommended to the Health Minister, and the federal government, that the abortion drug RU486 (and an associated drug) be added to the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme. This would mean concession holders could obtain the drug for UNDER $12!
AND TAXPAYERS would be subsidising the cost - it would otherwise cost more than $300.
The Health Minister is to make a decision on this in the next few weeks.
I've added a NEW page to our website giving an "OVERVIEW of RU486 in Australia"
The new page contains all the details - with links: from the vote in parliament, to the health risks and one death from RU486, to the current proposal for inclusion on the PBS.
Read it - click here.
 
ACTION:  Please write to Health Minister Tanya Plibersek, Prime Minister Julia Gillard and Opposition Leader Tony Abbott and ask them NOT to support the inclusion of RU486 on the PBS.

Health Minister Tanya Plibersek - Online form
Prime Minister Julia Gillard - Online form
Opposition Leader Tony Abbott - Email  This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it