MEDIA RELEASE
The Australian Christian Lobby today welcomed a return to commonsense by political leaders who are pushing back against politically correct attempts to secularise Christmas.
“The Minister for Human Services and Social Inclusion, Tanya Plibersek, is to be commended for overruling a bureaucratic order to ban nativity scenes in Centrelink and Medicare offices,” ACL Managing Director Jim Wallace said today.
“Aggressive secularists and atheists have gone too far in trying to expunge Christianity from Australian life and the idea that nativity scenes should be banned strikes at the very meaning of Christmas.
“We should not allow political correctness to deny our cultural and religious heritage. Whether people are believers or not, the story of the Christ child is one from which people in western civilisation have drawn strength and inspiration for millennia.”
Mr Wallace also commended new Victorian Premier Ted Baillieu for restoring nativity scenes and carol singing to Christmas celebrations in Victorian schools.
“It would be a shame if the message and lessons of the Christ child were lost from Christmas and it is great to see political leadership to strengthen their place in our society. We are better as a community for the influence of Christ in Christmas,” Mr Wallace said.
ends
Well, it is a christian feast day after all. Otherwise it would not be known as Christmas – it would be ‘end of year’ holiday or something or other. The historical significance shouldn’t get lost.
Thanks for all ACL do to keep Christianity as our Heritage in Australia.
I am thrilled and would want to also commend Minister Tanya Pilersek for stopping the banning of Nativity Scenes in Medicare and centrelink offices, also THRILLED THAT THE NEW PREMIER OF VICTORIA MR. BAILLIEU HAS STARTED TO TURN THE TIDE IN VICTORIA BY ALLOWING nativity scenes and Carol Singing in schools again.Many thanks
I am encouraged that this year our Kin Kora shopping centre in Gladstone, Qld. has the Nativity Scene displayed in a prominent position in the store protected by a glass case, instead of tucked away in one of the side entrances. Also our Woolworth’s supermarket in Boyne Island, where I buy my weekly groceries is playing Christmas carols – admittedly a rather jazzed up version almost unrecognisable as the original – but the words are still the same. Also some modern Christmas “hit” songs, which I dislike (but them I’m OLD!!)
It is such good news to hear that two prominent members of governement are backing our Christian Heritage. Our local super market has a Nativity scene and there were carols being played there today. Fantastic!