Religious Vilification gone mad!

Australian readers will recall the uproar over Victoria's Racial and Religious Vilification Act which was introduced in the recent Labor term in office. SA was all but about to introduce laws as strict as these but the goverment bailed to public and internal pressure and removed the more controversial clauses.

However, Victoria's legislation has prompted a new case, raised by the pro-life group, Endeavour Forum. The question arisies over whether telling Federal Health Minister Tony Abbott to keep his rosaries off a women's ovaries freedom of speech or religious vilification?

Mrs Babette Francis of Endeavour Forum claims T-shirts bearing the words "Mr Abbott, keep your rosaries off my ovaries" vilify Catholics and incite violence. The Greens Senator Kerry Nettle wore such a T-Shirt in Parliament at the time of the debate over RU486.

The YWCA, (yes, the one and same Christian organisation!) which makes the T-shirts, fought yesterday to have her legal action struck out, arguing it fails to meet the strict parameters of the Racial and Religious Vilification Act.

Read the full story from the Herald Sun here.