‘It’s our turn’: Inside the Christian Right conference plotting a political takeover

Michael Koziol - March 7, 2021

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Craig Kelly was lauded as a hero, a federal MP likened his colleagues to nappies and people joked about needing a World War to distract from gender identity debates.

But the main lesson from the “Church and State” conference last weekend in Brisbane was how conservative Christian activists are attempting to grow their numbers and influence within the Coalition, and believe opposition to transgender rights will be key to their political success.

Several prominent Christian Right figures spoke of the need to be more explicit in their political activism, especially in the Liberals and Nationals, in the face of what they called an “existential” threat to the practise of Christianity.

Liberal National MP George Christensen said it was “simple maths” that getting more Christians into the Coalition would change its centre of gravity. “Politics is all about numbers,” he said. “The more people that you have in that broad church that are from the conservative Christian wing the more it’s going to lean in that direction.”

Conference convener Dave Pellowe, who once appeared in an infamous selfie with members of the neo-fascist Proud Boys group, implored the audience to join political parties. “When you add a bag of salt to a cup of water, it’s going to taste salty. It’s just a numbers game,” he said. “It’s not branch stacking, it’s participation. It’s what they’ve been doing with the Frankfurt School and the infiltration of the institutions for 50 years. It’s just turning up. And it’s our turn to turn up.”

Mr Christensen also advocated Christians take a “smarter” approach to debate by self-censoring some of their agenda until they were in power. “We have got to pick the battles that we can win on in the public arena in order to get elected and be in government, and then prosecute the other battles while you’re in government,” he said.

The Dawson MP said politics was driven by volunteers and donations, and so people should be clear when donating to a politician that they expect the MP to “hold true” to their Christian values.

“There’s a transactional tension that keeps people honest,” he said. “Politicians are like nappies - they need changing every so often and for the same reason. So when the politician reaches that reason threshold, you might want to suggest to them their welcome has run out, you’re no longer going to donate, you’re no longer going to volunteer.”

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Martyn Iles, the head of the Australian Christian Lobby, referenced his organisation’s campaign against Victoria’s recent ban on “conversion” therapy - or practices that attempt to change or suppress someone’s sexuality or gender identity - which he said yielded 13,000 calls to MPs.

“All of a sudden I’m actually seeing people rising up more and more and more,” he said. “Give this a couple of years and we’ll be able to put such a shockwave through any Parliament in the country they won’t even know what hit them. And we’re almost at that point.”

Mr Iles called upon Christians to be more politically visible, claiming this had worked for LGBTQI activists.

“[If] you meet someone from that movement, you know very quickly,” he said. “You also find them in hospitality, the arts and entertainment, in public facing positions where they’re visible all the time … retail, clothing shops and this kind of thing. They’re very, very muscular in saying ‘we’re proud of who we are and you my employer need to affirm my pride’.”

Mr Iles said Christians tended to “hide in plain sight”. “The more we are seen for who we really are, the more powerful our influence is actually going to be,” he said.

The ACL director also spoke at length about what he called “the transgender thing”, describing it as the weakest part of the LGBTQI rights movement because it was “where the lie is most fragile”.

In prepared remarks, he said governments had “given up [their] God-given duty” to “punish those who do evil and reward those who do good”, and implied that behaviour viewed by the church as sinful should be outlawed.

“[Governments should] say ‘that’s wrong, it’s out’, and ‘that’s right, it’s in’,” Mr Iles said. “What’s happening is the opposite. What they’re saying is, ‘that’s wrong, it’s in, that’s right, it’s out’.”

In a later panel discussion, Mr Iles joked that his father often said “we need a good war” to sort this out and “there’s a little bit of truth in that”, because society would not be so concerned about climate change or gender identity if we were at war with China.

Mr Pellowe then interjected: “We’re not advocating violence or revolution … today.” Mr Iles added: “Not yet, that’s down the line.”

In another conference session, Cardinal George Pell urged the audience “not to co-operate” with attempts to change “Christian language patterns” about gender, motherhood and fatherhood.

“Politely, stubbornly, persistently refuse to be silenced and refuse to give ground,” he instructed.

The Australian Christian Lobby did not respond to requests for further comment. Mr Pellowe said he had “nothing to add” and suggested buying the conference videos when available later this month.

https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/it-s-our-turn-inside-the-christian-right-conference-plotting-a-political-takeover-20210303-p577fv.html

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The Australian #ChurchAndState Summit 2021 is just for you

Church And State

16 Feb 2021

An incredible line of of speakers on practical and relevant topics to encourage and empower ordinary people to take their place as salt and light in the public square. Watch every session live or later online at https://ChurchAndState.com.au/cas21

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9wR1n37OwYQ

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Cardinal George Pell is a keynote speaker at the Australian #ChurchAndState Summit in 2021

Church And State

6 Feb 2021

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b-qsTEelNCw

Pentagon may keep National Guard at Capitol

JESSICA MALCOLM - MARCH 6, 2021

The US government is considering extending the stay of National Guard troops brought in to beef up security at the US Capitol after the assault by Donald Trump supporters.

Officials told reporters that the time frame in question was “the next couple of months” but did not confirm what kind of threat the period might correspond to.

“We are in receipt of a formal request from the Capitol Police for continued National Guard assistance at the Capitol complex,” Defence Department spokesman John Kirby said.

Acting Capitol Police Chief Yogananda Pittman last month reported threats from extremist groups to try to keep President Joe Biden from delivering his State of the Union speech.

The Capitol has been under tight security since January 6, when an angry mob of Trump supporters stormed the US Capitol, following a speech by the then president who urged them to stop politicians from certifying Biden’s election win.

More than 270 people are now being prosecuted for their participation in the attack.

Several hundred of them stormed the building, causing chaos and bloodshed.

Five people, including a Capitol policeman, died.

Since then, barriers have been erected to protect the area surrounding the Capitol and some 5000 National Guard soldiers remain mobilised in support of the police, but their mission is due to end on March 12.

Asked about the seriousness of the threat against the Capitol, while rumours of potential trouble last Thursday did not materialise, the spokesman for the Capitol stressed that “things have changed since January 6,” Kirby said.

While the House of Representatives opted to cancel its session on Thursday, the Senate carried on with business as usual, as troops kept watch along the razor-wire perimeter fence encircling the grounds.

Officials had warned that just two months after a deadly storming of the Capitol by Trump supporters, militia groups and QAnon followers had discussed a fresh attack on the legislature on or about March 4.

Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin “believes that our politicians absolutely deserve a safe and secure environment in which to work. And so we have to look at the capabilities there, on the Capitol complex, and ask ourselves if there are capabilities we can add that the Capitol Police don’t have right now,” Kirby said.

https://www.theaustralian.com.au/world/pentagon-may-keep-national-guard-at-capitol/news-story/fe38710ad991b5f18c7fb8cd98ac1f13