Tag: Jewish

Clarifying the authority of the ECAJ « mikeybear

Clarifying the authority of the ECAJ « mikeybear.

ECAJ submission to the Senate Committee on the Exposure Draft of Human Rights and Anti-Discrimination Bill 2012

The Executive Council of Australian Jewry submitted a response to the Senate Committee inquiry on the Exposure Draft of Human Rights and Anti-Discrimination Bill 2012.

All submissions to this Senate inquiry are online here.  The submission by the ECAJ is available on the Senate site (#242) and the ECAJ site.

The following paragraph on page 6 of the submission (emphasis added) is of particular relevance:

Whilst there are good, evidence-based policy reasons to have legislation in place which prohibits conduct that offends, insults, humiliates or intimidates others because of other attributes, especially sexual orientation and gender identity, we believe that this should take the form of anti-vilification, not anti-discrimination, legislation and such legislation should include the same objective element as applies when the protected attribute is race. If, as we believe is the case, the Commonwealth lacks the constitutional power to enact anti-vilification legislation to protect attributes other than race, then it should be left to the States and Territories to do so, and the focus of government should be to achieve uniformity in such legislation across Australia.

 

Jewish Bar Association backs IL marriage equality | Windy City Times

Jewish Bar Association backs IL marriage equality | Windy City Times.

Decalogue Board of Managers Votes to Support Gay Marriage in Illinois
November 28 in Chicago, Il


Resolution Regarding HB5170 (The Religious Freedom and Marriage Fairness Act)

 
WHEREAS, the Decalogue Board of Managers affirmatively declared HB5170 proposing the Religious Freedom and Marriage Fairness Act (introduced in the 97th General Assembly of the State of Illinois) to be of interest to the Society and referred HB5170 to the Decalogue Legislative Committee for review;
 
WHEREAS, the Decalogue Legislative Committee has now reported to the Board that:
 
(a) The Illinois Religious Freedom Protection and Civil Union Act (750 ILCS 75/1 et seq.), effective June 1, 2011, made it the law of the State of Illinois that parties to a Civil Union (including same-sex couples) are entitled to the same legal obligations, responsibilities, protections, and benefits as are afforded or recognized by the law of Illinois to spouses (whether they derive from statute, administrative rule, policy, common law, or any other source of civil or criminal law); however, the Illinois Religious Freedom Protection and Civil Union Act did not permit same-sex couples to be a party to a civil marriage in Illinois;
 
(b) On its face, the purpose of HB5170 is to now provide both “same-sex couples and different-sex couples and their children equal access to the status, benefits, protections, rights, and responsibilities of civil marriage”;
 
(c) On its face, HB5170 relates only to civil marriage in Illinois and does not, in any manner or to any degree, redefine the definition of “marriage” under Jewish (biblical) law or under the religious laws/prescriptions of any other religious denomination, Indian Nation or Tribe or Native Group; and
 
(d) On its face, HB5170 will not be implemented in any manner or to any degree to require or otherwise compel rabbis and/or ministers of any other religious denomination, Indian Nation or Tribe or Native Group to solemnize and/or otherwise compel them to give a religious wedding to people that they do not want to give a religious wedding to. Rather, HB5170 specifically states that “any religious denomination, Indian Nation or Tribe or Native Group is free to choose which marriages it will solemnize;” 
 
WHEREAS, it is the power of the State of Illinois to establish civil statutes; 
 
WHEREAS, all civil statues enacted in the State of Illinois must conform to the First Amendment to the United States Constitution and Article I, Section 3 of the Illinois Constitution, guaranteeing religious liberty and promoting the strict separation of church and state; and
 
WHEREAS, Decalogue’s core purposes have always included participating in social action, promoting human rights, and maintaining vigilance against public and private practices which are discriminatory and oppressive;
NOW THEREFORE, the Decalogue Board of Managers now hereby resolves, by majority vote, that:
 
Decalogue fundamentally believes in respect for others; condemns all types of discrimination; supports any legislation that seeks to promote freedom, equality, and justice for all; and believes that HB5170, if passed (subject to the recommended changes enumerated below), would ensure that all Illinois couples and their children have equal access to the status, benefits, protections, rights, and responsibilities of civil marriage, as created pursuant to civil statute. Decalogue’s President and/or his designee may take such steps as the President, in his discretion, believes are necessary to disseminate Decalogue’s position (e.g., to Illinois legislators, bar associations, etc.) in furtherance hereof. 
 
Further, Decalogue recommends that the Illinois Legislature take up modifications to HB5170 to review and make any necessary amendments to §212(a) of the Act (750 ILCS 5/212(a)) to avoid prohibiting now-permitted marriages through the creation of new prohibited marriages by reason of consanguinity.

Major Jewish body gives support to proposed anti-discrimination laws | Gay News Network

Major Jewish body gives support to proposed anti-discrimination laws | Gay News Network.

“Same Sex Marriage in America: What Does Orthodox Judaism Say?” by Rabbi 
Shmuel Herzfeld of Ohev Sholom (D.C.)

“Same Sex Marriage in America: What Does Orthodox Judaism Say?” by Rabbi 
Shmuel Herzfeld of Ohev Sholom (D.C.).

Note: By Aleph Melbourne posting this article, it is not an endorsement of the views held by the author.