Can Christians fully practice their beliefs today?

  • Thread starter Thread starter Rozellelily
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As far as the medical establishment goes, I have no problem with doctors being able to opt out of procedures or medications that violate their beliefs…as long as it is made clear to patients. The problem also arises when there is no alternative choice in the town or city.

This has become an issue with pharmacists refusing to fill Rxs and no other pharmacists are available…this has happened on several occasions and is trying to be addressed by forcing pharmacies to have an alternate pharmacist available. It can be a life threatening issue.

I don’t want to see anyone forced to go against their conscience, however I don’t want to be forced into situations that aren’t against my beliefs, either! It’s a problem for everyone.
 
Any employer that does that nowadays is asking to be ruined. Lawyers will be lined up with paperwork in hand ready to file civil lawsuits.
 
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I don’t think all Drs should be forced to provide all services, but I do think it’s fair that they be upfront about it if it’s something one would normally expect from a Dr of that type. If I wanted an RX for birth control and paid to see an OB/GYN only to be told I had to go elsewhere, which my insurance won’t pay, I’d be angry.

On the other hand I don’t think most OB/GYNs provide abortions at their regular office, so being referred out for a surgical procedure wouldn’t be unexpected.

As far as the footballer being fired. Personally I don’t think people should be fired from a private organization for expressing an opinion on their personal social media. Perhaps this will help some folks understand why we need laws to protect people from wrongful firing

For decades people of certain faiths or sexual preference were fired for those reasons because an employer didn’t agree with it. People argued that they shouldn’t have to be exposed to"those people" or need to be around beliefs they dusagreed with. Now the tide is turning and we are hearing cries of"unfair" from folks who previously thought they shouldn’t need to tolerate other lifestyles.

We need human rights period. As soon as we start naming groups people are judging who they feel merits fair treatment. The rules should be the same across the board, end of story. If you properly fulfill the duties of your job the other stuff shouldn’t matter.
 
Calliope said:
On the other hand I don’t think most OB/GYNs provide abortions at their regular office, so being referred out for a surgical procedure wouldn’t be unexpected.
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Most pro lifers would consider referring out cooperation and even that would violate their consciences.
 
I was born in Australia and I agree with you, Rozellelily. I think that it is the official teaching of the Church that active gays are committing a sin and are supposed to repent. Not long ago, these orthodox Christian views were not seen as controversial but PC has gone crazy in this country, unfortunately. Apparently, Folau made this post in answer to a question and he made it out of love because he wants to help people. He has actually done a lot for gay players and, no doubt, believes in ‘loving the sin, not the sinner’.
I think that it is a matter of freedom of speech and religion. Look at the way in which Archbishop Porteous was treated in Tasmania. He was almost taken to court about a booklet outlining Catholic beliefs on marriage! Izzy was quoting the Bible -not inciting violence, etc. I don’t even agree that it was homophobic - it is active homosexuality that the post refers to! Footballers have been guilty of all kinds of immorality and crimes here, yet they get back on the field. Izzy cites a Bible passage and is banned for life even if he wins his case! I think that it is absolutely unfair and, indeed, persecution. This is what we can look forward to, apparently, as Christians.
 
It is completely different. IN this case, the gay person would be sacked for his or her sexuality. In Folau’s case, he is expressing his Christian Faith so it is, arguably, a restriction of his freedom of speech, and, most certainly, discrimination against his religious freedom, if he loses his job.
 
As they should be sued. Firing an employee for what happens in the privacy of his own home when it is not violating any law is discrimination at its most obvious. One persons religious expression does not trump another persons right to liberty and happiness.
 
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Respectful Freedom of expression without repercussions-financial or political etc.Regardless of whether it’s in agreement or not of the social,political or religious culture of the day or if someone finds it offensive.
Drawing the line at direct insults or threats.

Others still should have the right to disagree (respectfully) of course.

For example I come from a migrant family background so if someone says they believe migrants shouldn’t be welcomed to AU,I might feel disappointed or hurt,but I believe they are entitled to free speech.
I don’t think that a person in public position though should use direct slurs such as “bunch of wogs” or "gays are “********” etc.

For example here there have been issues in Universities banning opinions which some find offensive such as anti feminist,not support of gay marriage or even political factors/influence such as a lecturer “offending” Chinese student with his opinion that Taiwan and Hong Kong are separate entities (we have a lot of Chinese students here which equals revenue).

I have heard censoring it’s even worse in Universities in USA.
 
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It is currently being debated here about whether Christian schools should be allowed to sack gay teachers or not.
There is a federal election this month and if the Labor party wins they have stated they will make it illegal.

Isnt it a bit different with the football though as it isn’t exactly a religious or pro gay institution.
Maybe it would be fair to sack him if he was on a committee as a Gay Mardi Gras organizer,or gay issues magazine editor etc, but since it’s just football it seems to me a bit wrong to force all the team to have the same opinion (on any matter really).

I’m not sure if it’s good for private enterprises to exert their influence this way.
Isn’t it in a sense like social control?

Another example is Qantas airline who’s CEO is gay/strongly campaigned for gay marriage banning religious leaders from their lounge.
Interestingly,Qantas is a major sponsor of the Wallabies,the team the footballer in question plays on,so I wonder if this has something to do with then wanting to sack him?

www.starobserver.com.au

Gay dads thank Qantas for marriage equality support - Star Observer

Qantas’ Chief Executive Alan Joyce was among 30 prominent executives who recently signed a letter calling on PM Malcolm Turnbull to legalise same-sex marriage.
www.starobserver.com.au www.starobserver.com.au

https://www.theaustralian.com.au/na...e/news-story/1eb55e2826ab580f8d69107367736032
 
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I agree with most of what you wrote except it’s not really fair to think that all Christian people were in favour of people-gay or different religion etc-being discriminated in past.

In Australia,as far as I’m aware,doctors with a faith belief conscientious objective by law are required to give a patient seeking an abortion referrals to other doctors who will do it.
Some are ok with this but others aren’t and feel it makes them complicit-using the analogy that if a patient wanted a referral to another doctor who would perform genital mutilation on their child they couldn’t in good conscience give the referral.
 
I wonder if Qantas (and it’s CEO) being a big financial supporter of the Wallabies had a lot to do with it?
It’s a bit ironic because Qantas in the past has made some posts themselves that some people thought was controversial or offensive.
Like you mentioned,how many footballers have we heard of scandals in the news -multiple players sharing a woman around sexually,involved in woman beating,players using and even dealing cocaine etc-and yet they can keep playing but it’s the quoting of a bible passage that the execs find above all else so offensive??!
 
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TBH I am afraid to enter a Christian church at all for any reason anymore. I live in France not far from where a Priest was murdered while saying mass for the parishoners and some nuns. He was attacked by muslim young men. Also, with the many muslim terrorist attacks here in France and from seeing what happened in Sri Lanka on the news I may never go to mass again in my lifetime.

So, yes, one can not practice the Christian faith without knowing they risk their lives and with that risk if we are killed we will be giving terrible pain and tragedy to our families whom we love if we become martyred whether by a bomb or a knifing in Church.

edited for clarity
 
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0Scarlett_nidiyilii said:
People in my own parish were celebrating the legalization of a gay marriage on their Facebook pages
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Yes. I find that very true at a Catholic college nearby. Although it is a Roman Catholic Jesuit college, they post pictures in their college magazine to celebrate the marriages of SS couples, both male male and female female. When i asked about that, I was told that the best thing for me to do would be not to read the magazine and I was advised not to be judgmental.
 
That’s very concerning.Is the French government doing anything about it?
 
AlNg said:
When i asked about that, I was told that the best thing for me to do would be not to read the magazine and I was advised not to be judgmental.
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LOL don’t read the magazine.

Isn’t “don’t look at that, don’t question that” one the hallmarks of dysfunctional families? Pretending not to see?
 
The French Police do as much as they can. They work with the USA anti terrorism spies to try to anticipate the attacks but somehow the Muslims always get through. I don’t want to walk along a scenic esplanade near the water anymore for fear of a lorrie truck mowing us down. Same in Britain, who would let their children attend a concert anymore with all the suicide bombings that happened there. Taking a tram is like putting your life on the line. I feel sorry for people who have to use public transport to get to work. But now they are attacking churches. I guess they know that if they blow up churches during mass they stand to kill more christians than anywhere else.
 
I didn’t say anything about Christians being the people in favor of previous discrimination, let alone it being all Christians. That is something your mind assumed I meant.

There were and are many people who are not Christian or religious in any way who seek to discriminate against others.
 
The code of conduct for Rugby Australia can be found here:

https://www.rugbyau.com/about/codes and policies/integrity/code of conduct

From my understanding, Folau was arguably in breech of the following codes:

1.3. Treat everyone equally, fairly and with dignity regardless of gender or gender identity, sexual
orientation, ethnicity, cultural or religious background, age or disability. Any form of bullying,
harassment or discrimination has no place in Rugby.

1.6. Do not make any public comment that is critical of the performance of a match official, player,
team official, coach or employee/officer/volunteer of any club or a Union; or on any matter that
is, or is likely to be, the subject of an investigation or disciplinary process; or otherwise make
any public comment that would likely be detrimental to the best interests, image and welfare of
the Game, a team, a club, a competition or Union.

1.7. Use Social Media appropriately. By all means share your positive experiences of Rugby but do
not use Social Media as a means to breach any of the expectations and requirements of you as
a player contained in this Code or in any Union, club or competition rules and regulations

1.8. Do not otherwise act in a way that may adversely affect or reflect on, or bring you, your team,
club, Rugby Body or Rugby into disrepute or discredit. If you commit a criminal offence, this is
likely to adversely reflect on you and your team, club, Rugby Body and Rugby
 
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