An election-eve email urged Pentecostal church members to vote for Scott Morrison and against Labor and the Greens because they represent anti-Christian rhetoric.
Conservative Party leader Cory Bernardi says he can understand why the email was sent because it’s not only our religious freedoms that are under attack from the Left of politics which is why he’ll be re-introducing his Protected Freedoms Act this year.
The ABC reports, Pastor Ashley Evans of the Influencers Church in South Australia sent the email, warning that a vote for Labor or the Greens was “the next step in the assault against the Church, Christianity, and Christians in Australia”.
“A vote for Labor and the Greens and anyone who represents anti-Christian rhetoric, policy positions or beliefs (these positions have been made in public forums), will undermine our nation, will cripple church schools’ ability to teach faith in the way they do today, and threaten to silence Christians from sharing their faith with others,” he wrote.
“The next steps after this will be to deem the Bible as hate speech.”
By way of example, he cited the controversy surrounding rugby union star Israel Folau, whose contract was terminated for code of conduct breaches relating to social media posts, including one proclaiming hell awaited “drunks, homosexuals, adulterers, liars”.
“As followers of Christ, this election comes down to a simple proposition of whether you and I believe in freedom of religion and our ability to practice it as we have done for generations,” Pastor Evans wrote.
Senator Bernardi told David Bevan on ABC Radio Adelaide this morning there is nothing wrong with Pastor Evans’ email.
