A Bigoted Politician, an Angry Journalist and a Confused Church
by David Robertson, AP Australia:
The repercussions of the Andrew Thorburn case are playing out.
Dan Andrews continues to stir up the mob – and advise the Church on what our theology should be. When asked by a journalist whether ‘conservative religious figures’ could take a public role he said “They might want to have a think about whether to be bit more kind-hearted, a bit more inclusive, aren’t we all God’s children. Seriously, seriously, there is no place for bigotry. There is no place for stigmatising people”. Mr Andrews thus stigmatises everyone who disagrees with him – including his own archbishop – as unkind, exclusive bigots.
And he’s not the only one. Numerous commentators have joined in the pile on. Apparently, it’s open house on attacking Christians. For example, this interview from David Koch on Sunrise was a disgrace – ignorant, bigoted, sneering, mocking and bullying. Guy Mason did well to stay calm.
Another commentator who weighed in was Mike Carlton, author, journalist and broadcaster. He tweeted “I consistently failed Scripture at my Anglican private school, so I’d be glad if someone would show me where in the Bible that Jesus Christ came down hard on homosexuality and abortion. Anyone?”
When I offered to answer his question, he told me to ‘go for it’. So I did. And opened up a whole can of worms. My answer was published here.
In response – not a word from Mike. Although he continued to abuse and mock anyone else who dared to answer him. He boasted that no-one had answered his question. When I asked him what the problem was, he blocked me. He then tweeted this: “This ***** is complaining that I blocked him” (in case you are wondering how I saw it when I am blocked – someone kindly passed it on to me). I’m sure that the abuse and mockery continues on his timeline. He does after all have around 200,000 followers.
This is the Australia that we live in today. Senior journalists feel free to abuse and senior politicians join in. I myself have received a considerable amount of personal abuse and hate mail. I find it profoundly disturbing that someone can blaspheme and then write about me in public: “Who let this porridge wog into the country?” Another asked: “Looks to me that immigration should check this guy’s status and see if he’s overstayed his visa. After all he’s a Scot in Australia.” Incredible how racist threats are acceptable against some immigrants! It’s ironic how Dan Andrews and Mike Carlton complain about unkindness and bigotry and yet they encourage this.
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