Church groups set to get 'limited discrimination'

[davo]

http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au...-26103,00.html

THE Victorian government is expected to announce today that religious groups will be allowed to discriminate against gays and single mothers in a controversial compromise reached on workers' rights.
Attorney-General Rob Hulls has approved of a plan to let church-run organisations refuse employment to anyone they believe undermines their beliefs, according to The Sunday Age.
The newspaper says the plan will allow church groups to discriminate on grounds of sex, sexual orientation, marital status and parental status, but in return these groups will cease being able to discriminate on the basis of race, age, disability, political beliefs, breastfeeding and physical features.
The expected changes to Victoria's equal opportunity laws come several weeks before a report by a state parliament committee into the issue is due to be released.
The changes have angered critics, but church leaders applauded the decision. Melbourne Catholic Archbishop Denis Hart told the paper the move strikes "a fair and correct balance".
Under the new plans, a church group will have to prove why someone must meet certain religious beliefs if that person is refused employment.
But the onus will remain on the victim to make an official complaint before any action is taken.

[Praxis]

I just posted this over at RDF berfore logging in here! Great minds think alike and all that, Davo

This is unbelievable. As I have said in my RDF post, since when is one's sexuality part of a job interview discussion? Or religious belief/lack thereof, for that matter?

In the past, it has been illegal to be asked such things in a job interview, in order to avoid the very thing Rob Hulls has now apparently given the green light to - blatant discrimination.

I'm finding it very hard to understand what possible good can come from something like this.

I hope the people of Victoria speak up against this nasty little piece of law.

[davo]

Oh for sure, things will be set in motion.

[deesl4e]

Originally Posted by davo

http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au...-26103,00.html

Sounds like a great advertisment for atheism if you ask me.

[Sir Patrick Crocodile]

What if an atheist goes in posing as a Christian now? All you have to do is act super dumb and believe whatever is in the Bible now.

Originally Posted by deesl4e

Sounds like a great advertisment for atheism if you ask me.

I must admit that I would love to see what is on your mind.

[davo]

I wonder if this works both ways, if you have a lack of belief, you are allowed to discriminate on the grounds someone believes in fairies. (I think not)

Would these religious groups think that was fair?

[Sir Patrick Crocodile]

Maybe they should have a Reality Island but then they would have almost copied this forum idea...

Originally Posted by Super religious moderator

OMG LOL Gnyagghhh you're going to Reality Island gnyagghhh because I'm evil and you are gnyaggghhhh close-minded gnyagghhhyagghhh I mean like OMGWTFBBQ

[robertkd]

Well an employer should be able to discriminate on the grounds of religious belief, as this can and does cause tensions in the workplace and destabilise the workplace. It also allows people to be exposed to certain types of harassment,....

PS Remember it all starts with "limited harassment"

[Sir Patrick Crocodile]

I strongly agree with that.

[davo]

Originally Posted by robertkd

Well an employer should be able to discriminate on the grounds of religious belief,

define religious belief. What is a religious belief that is acceptable? Ones by a cult that has enough members to be accepted under the term religion?

Does religious belief allow atheists to therefore not employ religious based on 'limiting harassment?'

Originally Posted by robertkd

as this can and does cause tensions in the workplace and destabilise the workplace.

then there's a problem with the workplace.

Originally Posted by robertkd

It also allows people to be exposed to certain types of harassment,....

PS Remember it all starts with "limited harassment"

Shouldn't harassment in the workplace be the issue? not the bigots that are doing it, given the rights too under law, above and beyond other groups?

Why should these cults have these laws to reinforce their bigotry?