Good reasoned debate is always a pleasure in the often chaotic world of politics. We came across such an opportunity today with a thoughtful submission by OZFreethinker – Why Rudd should let the Brethren slide.

When OzFreeThinker first read of the way the Letter to Kevin Rudd was treated, he states:

Now, on first thought, I was outraged but thinking a little more I offer the contention that Rudd got it right. While Australia does not have a constitution that explicitly states the church and state must be separated, going after the Brethren with governmental powers could be seen as an attack on religious freedom. And this is the correct view. The Brethren, no matter how despicable of a cult they are, should have their religious freedom. Rudd, by asking for any wrong doing by the Brethren to be directed to the police or other authorities, has made the right decision.

And then he added:

It seems that if there are instances of electoral and financial improprieties on behalf of the Brethren then they should be dealt with by the proper authorities. The federal government’s role should not be to show favour to the Brethren by allowing them access to the corridors of power nor target them as part of a (though understandable to be honest) campaign against them.

Here we must add our voice.

There is a powerful lobby group in Australia called the Australian Christian Lobby – whose members hail from a number of Christian and Evangelical churches. There is also another lobby group whose name is remarkably similar – The Christian Lobby Group.

The Christian Lobby group is not exactly what it seems. The Exclusive Brethren already have access to the “corridors of power” in Australia. Considerable access.

And here they are …

Members of the Christian Lobby Group have been issued passes as follows:

(a) J.K. Anderson previously held a lobbyist pass which expired on 29 November 2006. The application
was sponsored by the Hon. Dr Brendan Nelson MP and Mr Michael Ferguson MP;

(b) R.J. Arkcoll previously held a lobbyist pass which expired on 10 May 2007. The application
was sponsored by Mr Alby Schultz MP and Mr Michael Ferguson MP;

(c) K.C. Arnot previously held a lobbyist pass which expired on 12 May 2007. The application
was sponsored by Ms Louise Markus MP and Mr Michael Ferguson MP;

(d) S.C. Hales has a valid lobbyist pass which was sponsored by Mr Michael Ferguson MP and
the Hon. Dr Brendan Nelson MP;

(e) C.W. John has a valid lobbyist pass which was sponsored by the Hon. Danna Vale, MP and Mr
Michael Ferguson MP;

(f) W.A. Joyce has a valid lobbyist pass which was sponsored by the Hon. Alexander Downer MP
and Dr Andrew Southcott MP;

(g) E. Micklethwaite has a valid lobbyist pass which was sponsored by Senator Guy Barnett and
the Hon. John Anderson MP;

(h) B.S. Pridham has a valid lobbyist pass which was sponsored by the Hon. Danna Vale MP and
Mr Michael Ferguson MP;

(i) K. G. Seeley has a valid lobbyist pass which was sponsored by Dr Andrew Southcott MP and
the Hon. Alexander Downer MP;

(j) L. Shelton has a valid lobbyist pass which was sponsored by Senator Barnaby Joyce and Senator
Ron Boswell;

(k) G.M. Stevens previously held a lobbyist pass which expired on 2 December 2006. The application
was sponsored by Mr Tony Smith MP and Ms Fran Bailey MP;

(l) D.W. Stewart has a valid lobbyist pass which was sponsored by the Hon. Alan Cadman MP
and Mr Michael Ferguson MP;

(m) J.J. Wallace has a valid lobbyist pass which was sponsored by the Hon. Danna Vale MP and
Hon. John Anderson MP;

(n) R.S. Williams previously held a lobbyist pass which expired on 22 September 2006. The application
was sponsored by the Hon. Anthony Abbott MP and the Hon. Gary Nairn MP; and

(o) D.J. Yates has a valid lobbyist pass which was sponsored by Senator Guy Barnett and Mr
Kerry Bartlett MP.

Source – Australian Hansard

Although we appreciate reasoned argument, we cannot accept that this disproportionate access to the Australian corridors of power is either reasonable or healthy given the damage this “extremist sect and cult” have caused in thousands of lives.

By all means let them worship in their barred and gated windowless Meeting Rooms, but behind the facade there are children being separated from parents and in their new Exclusive Brethren School campuses, a whole new generation of Exclusive Brethren being formed. One of the most vital priorities of a repressive regime is to control information. The Exclusive Brethren run and operate their own schools, subsidized by the Australian, USA, Canadian and UK tax payers, and then deny their graduates access to university education.

That is wrong – and it has very little to do with religion and a very great deal to do with power. When life-restricting power is wielded over the impressionable young, isn’t that called Abuse?