The Church and State Australia (CSA) ministry founder, Dave Pellowe, faces a complaint put before the Queensland Human Rights Commission accusing him of racism and vilification.
Pellowe is being ‘forced’ into a legal battle after he replaced the Welcome to Country message with Psalm 24:1.
Church & State conferences, led by Pellowe, open with the ode to God’s ownership of the land instead of the now common Welcome to Country message.
Explaining reasons for the allegations, Pellowe said:
‘I quote Psalm 24:1 which contradicts the claims of Aboriginal religion that the spiritual entity it calls “Country” requires deceased ancestors to permit someone’s arrival or travel through it.’
If that’s racist, he asked, isn’t criticising Christian beliefs racism too?
The complaint also found fault with Dave’s 30-minute presentation.
Pellowe allegedly failed to fall-in-line with and give ‘voice and visibility’ to events such as ‘Invasion Day’.
He said he ‘felt it best to stick to the facts pertinent to the point of Christian involvement in the coming [Queensland] election’.
Pellow was accused of ‘lacking sensitivity towards Aboriginal people’s feelings, and for giving an unflattering assessment of Aboriginal religion’.
They were apparently offended by his reasoned, Christian, theological critique of what he described as Aboriginal Animism and its ‘fruit: division and rebellion’.
Surely, Pellowe asserted, ‘These are not novel criticisms…’
Defending that critique, and his right to criticise another religion, the CSA boss wrote in his defence:
‘I factually described traditional [Animist] Aboriginal beliefs demonstrated in Welcome to/Acknowledgement of Country rituals, smoking ceremonies, mandated reverence for “sacred sites”, the Aboriginal flag, and the Aboriginal tent “embassy”.
‘At no point did I make any remarks about anyone present, about anyone personally, or any group of people.’
Pellowe then reminded his accusers of ABS figures, which state that 54 per cent of Indigenous Australians say they are Christians.
Acknowledging the Gospel-centric mission of Church & State, he recounted that ‘humility and a heart before God is the only thing that can save Australian politics, parliaments, politicians, and voters’.
Only Jesus saves.
This Truth, he continued, ‘…cannot be suppressed by our silence in the face of pagan – false religions – which demand to be honoured, and affirmed.’
He said, ‘For the love of my Indigenous neighbours I will never stop preaching the unadulterated Word of God and religion of Jesus Christ.’
The complaints misrepresent his meaning, Pellowe concluded.
At no point did he ‘set upon, verbally attack’ the offended party, or ‘whip up the crowd’.
Dig deep. This is bigger than just you or me. Supporting the defence of Religious Freedom https://t.co/3TfLhQRdUS
— Dave Pellowe (@DavePellowe) August 13, 2024
He’s asking for prayer, as well as donations to help Human Rights Law Alliance (HRLA) combat an increasing level of lawfare targeting Christians.
HRLA are representing Pellowe, pro-bono.
In order to help them defend Dave, and freedom of speech, donations can be made through a GiveSendGo campaign here.
