Once upon a time governments operated circumspectly, engaging in simple things like keeping the roads in good shape and collecting the garbage. Increasingly however Western governments are becoming coercive utopians, pushing the agendas of radical minority groups.
The Victorian Labor government is certainly competing with others to become one of the most fascist and draconian governments around, cracking down on the majority of its citizens in order to cater to the activist groups. For example, it has recently told us that Christmas carols have to go, and it wants baby killing to go on unhindered. See here: https://billmuehlenberg.com/2015/11/27/victoria-anti-god-and-anti-life/
Let me first offer how one newspaper report runs with this very worrying push:
The state government will attempt to crack down on so-called gay conversion therapy through a new public watchdog with the power to investigate people purporting to “cure” or suppress homosexuality….
[The Victorian government] has vowed to take a zero-tolerance approach on anyone attempting to treat homosexuality as a disorder that can be fixed through medical or therapeutic means. Legislation will be introduced into parliament later this year to establish a new watchdog – the Health Complaints Commissioner – with the power to investigate and sanction anyone claiming they can treat homosexuality.
While registered practitioners can already be investigated by authorities, the legislation will close a loophole that currently exists regarding unregistered practitioners making unproven claims that they can convert gay people.
“If they are found to be making false claims and to be acting in a manner that puts people’s physical, mental or psychological health, safety or welfare at risk, the Commissioner will be able to ban them from providing such services,” said Health Minister Jill Hennessy.
“We have zero tolerance for any person purporting to be able to ‘convert’ gay people through medical or therapeutic means. Any attempts to make people feel uncomfortable with their own sexuality is completely unacceptable.”
News of the government’s plans come a week after The Sunday Age reported on the growing push behind the scenes to combat the “ex-gay movement”, which essentially views homosexuality as a sin and remains an insidious part of evangelical church culture in Australia.
Part of the problem, however, is that the size and prevalence of the movement remains unclear, and it is not entirely known to what extent conversion therapy is still being used, either through religious organisations attempting to “pray away the gay” or less formal structures.
In Canberra, Greens senator Robert Simms will move a motion when federal parliament resumes next month, calling on the Turnbull government to investigate potential reforms and urging the states and territories to implement laws banning conversion practices.
Meanwhile, in Victoria, state Greens MP Sam Hibbins has called for a parliamentary inquiry to uncover the extent of the problem and assist in preventing it.
Other states are moving in the same direction, with a nation-wide crackdown looming:
Last April, COAG’s health council also agreed to the terms of a National Code of Conduct for health care workers, which is designed to keep a tighter check on unregistered health practitioners. Gay conversion therapy is expected to fall under the code.
For anyone able to get beyond the double speak here, the implications of all this should be utterly shocking. This of course will not be limited to a few specialist groups helping homosexuals, but will extend to anyone and everyone who even seeks to interact or converse with homosexuals.
Notice how “evangelical churches” were already specifically mentioned in the report above. This is a direct assault on not only Christians, but on all religious and cultural groups which may have any unease about the homosexual lifestyle. And the totalitarian implications of all this should be lost on none of us.
While ex-homosexual groups will certainly be targeted, this is an open-ended assault on all groups and individuals who may seek to help and even pray for homosexuals. If a church has a counselling centre or a pastoral care team, and a homosexual comes in, seeking help for his unwanted attractions, they too will easily fall under such legislation.
If a home Bible study group or a parachurch ministry even offers up prayer for such individuals seeking assistance, they too will undoubtedly fall under this Big Brother legislation. Indeed, simply consider the frightening things being said here.
Consider the phrase “unregistered health practitioners”. Just who and what groups might this apply to? As mentioned, will a group of concerned Christian street preachers who are asked for prayer by a homosexual be arrested if they do pray for such a person?
If a church service has a healing or deliverance ministry underway, and a person with unwanted homosexual attractions comes forward for prayer, will the entire church be shut down by the authorities for violating these new gaystapo laws?
This is utterly shocking stuff, and every person valuing freedom and religious liberty should be completely incensed by these moves. We all must speak out at how tiny minority groups are getting leftist governments and the heavy hand of the law on their side to persecute and oppress anyone with contrary viewpoints.
This is all-out war on the churches and on Christian conscience, as well as all other faith and cultural traditions which affirm the norm of heterosexuality. Just where will all this end? How many concerned Christians will end up in prison? How many parachurch groups will be forcibly shut down?
How many churches, and even entire denominations, will be dragged to the courts by all this pro-homosexual, anti-Christian bigotry? Of course those churches that never rock the boat, that never engage in anything controversial, and that simply tell people what they want to hear will have nothing to worry about.
But any church, ministry, or believer who is committed to Jesus Christ and the Word of God will be under direct frontal assault here. Be afraid – be very afraid. The homosexual Big Brother is coming to get you.
http://www.theage.com.au/victoria/zero-tolerance-andrews-to-crack-down-on-gay-conversion-therapy-20160123-gmcimw.html#ixzz3y8ghdNJv
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