SOUTH AFRICA: DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE RECEIVED WELL OVER 150 000 CONCERNS WITH REGARD TO PROPOSED PEPUDA AMENDMENT BILL; ALLEGED NEWS

THE PROPOSED PEPUDA AMENDMENT BILL HAS POSED THE CONCERN THAT, IF ACCEPTED, IT MAY ADVERSELY AFFECT RELIGIOUS FREEDOM WITHIN SOUTH AFRICA. [1] 

PEPUDA

Pepuda is an acronym for the Promotion of Equality and Prevention of Unfair Discrimination Act. It was passed into law in 2000: Alleged News. [1] 

WELL OVER 150 000 OBJECTIONS

Invitations were extended to the public to write to the Department of Justice (DOJ) to voice concerns. The deadline for these submissions was the 30th June 2021. [2] The Department of Justice received well over 150 000 submissions and comments; Alleged News. [3] 

Under the heading "Deputy Minister promises to look at making PEPUDA Amendment Bill "clearer" on the issue of religious autonomy", Executive Director of FOR SA Michael Swain stated on 30 July 2021, "The power of constructive engagement in the democratic law-making process by both individuals and religious organisations, was clearly and substantively demonstrated in the unprecedented response to the PEPUDA Amendment Bill. While FOR SA fully supports Government's efforts to promote equality and to prevent unfair discrimination, our legal analysis of this Bill made it clear that it would have devastating and negative consequences for all people and organisations of faith." 

Executive Director Swain stated that people made individual submissions on the Bill. The result was that well over 150,000 submissions and comments were received by the Department of Justice, the vast majority of which requested the Bill to be scrapped in its entirety; Alleged News. [3] 

Executive Director Swain further stated, "Thanks to this exceptional level of public support for religious freedom rights, FOR SA requested (and was granted) an opportunity to attend a virtual meeting with the Deputy Minister of Justice, John Jeffery MP, on 7 July 2021. This was a constructive and fruitful engagement during which FOR SA and various senior religious leaders, representing a cross-spectrum of denominations, churches and faith groups, were able to relay to the Deputy Minister - with reference to faith-specific examples - their serious concerns regarding the Bill, and its potentially negative impact on their organisations and faith adherents. FOR SA appealed to the Deputy Minister to reconsider the Bill in its entirety, because we do not believe that it will pass constitutional muster and it is evidently not acceptable to a major sector of the faith community of South Africa," Alleged News. [3]

In response, the Deputy Minister stated that "it is not the intention of Government to regulate or to interfere with religious institutions, what they believe and how they put it forward", but that this was nonetheless something that the Department could "look at making clearer" in the Bill; Alleged News. [3] In this regard, the Deputy  Minister referred to FOR SA's previous interaction with the Department in relation to the so-called Hate Speech Bill, which initially had the potential to criminalise the preaching, teaching and expression of the tenets of many faiths; Alleged News. [3]

Again - and as a consequence of significant opposition and the active engagement of the religious community - this resulted in the inclusion of a "religious exemption clause" in the Bill; Alleged News. [3]

Recommendation for clause

FOR SA subsequently wrote (at his invitation) to the Deputy Minister to summarise the key issues discussed at the above-mentioned meeting, and to highlight FOR SAs recommendation in FOR SA's submission on the Bill - that similar to the existing prohibitions of unfair discrimination on grounds of race and gender (in sections 7 and 8 of the existing Act respectively) - a clause to specifically prohibit unfair discrimination on grounds of conscience, religion and belief be included in the next draft of the Bill; Alleged News. [3] 

[1] South Africa: Religious Freedom potentially affected by Pepuda Amendment Bill

http://lumierecharity.blogspot.com/2021/06/south-africa-religious-freedom.html

[2] Joy! Magazine. August 2021. Pepuda Amendment Bill; Alleged News. Page 74

[3] Deputy Minister promises to look at making PEPUDA Amendment Bill "clearer" on the issue of religious autonomy, Alleged News

https://forsa.org.za/deputy-minister-promises-to-look-at-making-pepuda-amendment-bill-clearer-on-the-issue-of-religious-autonomy/

FOR SA Newsletter - August 2021; Alleged News

https://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=for+sa+youtube&cvid=cd460c15eda14ed0966c70bf00d3e607&aqs=edge..69i57j0l7j69i60.3175j0j1&pglt=43&PC=HCTS&ru=%2fsearch%3fq%3dfor%2bsa%2byoutube%26cvid%3dcd460c15eda14ed0966c70bf00d3e607%26aqs%3dedge..69i57j0l7j69i60.3175j0j1%26pglt%3d43%26FORM%3dANNTA1%26PC%3dHCTS&view=detail&mmscn=vwrc&mid=45255B30AB28FAEA5DEF45255B30AB28FAEA5DEF&FORM=WRVORC

With thanks to Joy! magazine, FOR SA, youtube and forsa.org.za

WARNING: NOT SUITABLE FOR CHILDREN. UK LORDS CALL FOR CHINA TO STOP MANIKINS OF CORPSES BEING EXHIBITED; ALLEGED NEWS

 

                                   Shocking 'Bodies Exhibition' Documentary [Bodies Revealed]

UK: HORRIFIED BY EVIDENCE OF THE GRIM TRAFFIC IN PRISONERS' BODY PARTS, LORD PHILIP HUNT HOPES HIS  "ORGAN TOURISM AND CADAVERS ON DISPLAY BILL" WILL CLOSE ALL REMAINING AVENUES FOR UK CITIZENS TO TRAVEL TO COUNTRIES SUCH AS CHINA FOR ORGAN TRANSPLANTATION, AND BAN "THE DREADFUL TRAVELLING CIRCUS OF BODY EXHIBITIONS, WHICH SOURCES DECEASED BODIES FROM CHINA," ALLEGED NEWS. [1] The "Organ Tourism and Cadavers on Display Bill [HL]" can be accessed at link [2]. The United Kingdom has called for a stop of anatomic exhibitions of "real bodies" - reportedly of Chinese prisoners; Alleged News. [3] 

Manikins of corpses

Real-life manikins of human corpses are exhibited throughout the world: they come from China, and reportedly may be connected to organ harvesting; Alleged News. [3] Macabre, money-making exhibitions parading the corpses of anonymous Chinese prisoners must stop, say UK Lords, who have urged the government to call a halt to its alleged complicity in China's organ harvesting trade once and for all; Alleged News. [1]

Lord Hunt appalled

Sickened by the 2018 "Real Bodies" exhibition in Birmingham that paraded plastinated real-life manikins of deceased human beings, Lord Hunt was appalled to discover that the bodies were "unclaimed bodies" with no identity documents or consent, sourced from Dalian Hoffen Biotech in Dalian, China; Alleged News. [1] 

Final insult

The exhibition, with its use of "real human specimens..." was a tasteless "carnival of horrors" according to Lord David Alton, who described it as "a final sneering insult to the victims". [1]

Sydney Australia

Similar exhibitions have also attracted controversy; Alleged News. [1] In Sydney, Australia, Imagine Exhibitions ran an exhibition, the Real Bodies-The Exhibition; which also featured plasticised human bodies; Alleged News. [4] This provoked an open letter signed by lawyers, academics, ethicists and human rights advocates who urged the Australian government to close down the exhibition; Alleged News. [4] 

The authors of the letter reportedly stated;

"Real Bodies - The Exhibition is a for-profit business which tours the world exhibiting flayed, plastinated human corpses fashioned into grotesque postures along with plastinated specimens of various human organs.  

"Doctors, ethicists, lawyers and human rights advocates at ETAC have substantial concerns about the provenance of the bodies used in this exhibition. Allegedly, the exhibits are sourced from the unclaimed corpses of people who have died in hospital, procured by the Public Security Bureau, however it is not possible the bodies were 'unclaimed', as according to regulations and autopsy rules issued by China's Ministry of Health on February 22, 1979, bodies can only be declared 'unclaimed' after 30 days. Of note, the plastination process, which involves the use of silicon, epoxy, and other polymer mixtures to replace the fluid in the human body, must occur within 48 hours of death. Therefore, it is not possible to plastinate a corpse that is 30 days old.

"Rather than being sourced from unclaimed bodies, as the exhibitors claim, there is credible evidence that these are the bodies of executed prisoners and prisoners of conscience from China," Alleged News. [4]

Citing ethical concerns, France and Israel as well as Hawaii and Seattle, banned similar exhibitions in the past; Alleged News. [4] A French judge shut down the exhibition, Our Body: A Corps Ouvert, featuring 17 Chinese bodies in various positions, some skinless or with muscles flayed; Alleged News. [4] 

The Paris judge said legally, the proper place for corpses was "in a cemetery", and displaying corpses for commercial profit showed a lack of respect for the dead; Alleged News. [4] In 2012, another similar exhibition of dead Chinese was also closed down by court order in Tel Aviv; Alleged News. [4]

Organ Trade

Evidence of CCP complicity in the organ trade was presented by the China Tribunal in 2019; Alleged News. [1] Lord Hunt has pressed for tightening up the law, citing the testimony of Sayragul Sauytbay during the recent Uyghur Tribunal in London, who had discovered medical files detailing Uyghur detainees' blood types and results of liver tests while she was working at a Uyghur detention camp; Alleged News. [1]

Crematorium

At the same Tribunal, Ethan Gutmann, senior research Fellow at the Victims of Communism Memorial Foundation, presented his December 2020 report, in which he described the human organ "fast lanes" in the Urumqi and Kashgar airports and the construction of a vast crematorium near one of the camps in particular; Alleged News. [1]

Human Tissue Act 2004

Lord Hunt's Bill would amend the Human Tissue Act 2004, in order to ensure that appropriate consent had been given by organ donors for transplantation activities carried out abroad and for the public display of imported cadavers; Alleged News. [1]

Call for reform

Lord Alton explained how after one of the "Real Bodies" exhibitions, he had written to The Times with Professor Jo Martin, President of the Royal College of Pathologists, and 55 others, in order to demand reform of legislation; Alleged News. [1] "Lord Hunt's Bill now seeks to do precisely that and he is to be warmly commended, he said; Alleged News. [1]

Lord Alton pressed for further action to identify the origins and ethnic identity of the people who were being paraded; Alleged News. [1] "The law did not require the Coroner to determine how the corpses exhibited in Birmingham had died. It should," he maintained; Alleged News. [1]

Woman in advanced pregnancy

Baroness Finlay detailed emails which revealed how some bodies were supplied for plastination in China after key organs had been removed, "suggesting their bodies are the remains from a despicable trade in genocide, organ harvesting and commercial transplantation in China," she said; Alleged News. [1] "These bodies on display included a woman in advanced pregnancy. Did she give fully informed consent when dying in pregnancy? The evidence of proper consent processes should be open to international scrutiny. It is not," the Baroness said; Alleged News. [1]

Unborn children

The exhibition at Birmingham reportedly displayed a pregnant woman complete with her unborn baby in the womb, as well as foetuses from 10 weeks to 32 weeks gestation; Alleged News. [5]

Denial of basic human rights

Lord MacKenzie expressed his "mounting despair" over the arrests, gang rapes, sterilizations and use as organ banks on an industrial scale of China's minorities such as Falun Gong and the Uyghurs, Alleged News. [1] "It is also clear that we are complicit in this denial of basic human rights in providing a ready market for the high demand for organs forcibly taken, in many cases from living prisoners," he said; Alleged News. [1]

 

Lord MacKenzie went on to say, "At last, I am delighted that this House can put its money where its mouth is and is taking legislative action by means of this Bill to make it illegal to be complicit in such organ harvesting and transplant trafficking," adding "we have a moral duty - and also, hopefully, a legal duty - to do something about it," Alleged News. [1]

Prevention of organ tourism

Lord MacKenzie hoped that the UK would join Spain, Italy, Taiwan, Israel, Belgium, Norway, and South Korea, who have already taken legislative action to prevent organ tourism by their citizens to China, Alleged News. [1]

Plastination technique

Plastination is a process designed to preserve the body, Alleged News. [6] The first step in plastination is fixation, in which formaldehyde or other preservation solutions are pumped through the arteries in order to kill bacteria, and to prevent decomposition of the tissues; Alleged News. [6] Then dissection (cutting of the body) starts: skin, fatty and connective tissues are removed; Alleged News. [6] Step 2 is removal of body fat and water from the human corpse, Alleged News. [6] Water and soluble fats are dissolved from the body in a bath of acetone; Alleged News. [6] 

The third step is forced impregnation, where the human corpse is placed in a bath of liquid polymer, such as silicone rubber, polyester or epoxy resin; Alleged News. [6] 

The fourth step is positioning: after vacuum impregnation, the corpse is flexible and can be moved into different positions with the help of wires, needles, clamps and foam blocks; Alleged News. [6] 

The fifth and final step is curing (hardening) of the corpse; Alleged News. [6] Depending on the polymer used, this is done with gas, light or heat; Alleged News. [6] 

Gravitas - did China harvest organs of its own citizens?

Created in God's Image

In other words, a recently dead human person has solution pumped through his or her body, the skin is stripped away, body fat and water is melted away. The dead person is then treated to appear as a plastic form.

After that, the dead human - who was created in the Image and Likeness of God - is stretched and moved into various positions. The body is fixed into position with wires, sharp needles, clamps and foam blocks. Finally the corpse is hardened by gas, light or heat.

Sale of tickets

After completion of plastination process, the corpses are then placed on public display within exhibition. Money exchanges hands so spectators can view the plastinated deceased. Those who buy tickets often do not realize the process which has led to the deceased being exhibited.

Corporal Work of Mercy: Burial of the dead

We must treat the human body with respect because God made it in His Image (Genesis 1:27). Our bodies are the temple of the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 6:19), and we are called to take care of and honor God's temple. Thus each human body should be treated with respect and holy dignity. 

Historically, the Church has shown great reverence and compassion for those in the final stages of life. One of the great Corporal Works of Mercy is to bury the dead and care for the grieving. The Church shows deep respect for the dignity of the human body. [7]

As a temple of the Holy Spirit and the fact that the human body will be resurrected into life everlasting as declared by Jesus, the Son of God (John 11:25), the final disposition of a person is a sacred matter. 

Burial or entombment of the deceased person's body or cremated remains bears testimony that those who have gone before us are treated with reverence as members of the Communion of the Saints. [7]

PLASTINATION IS DESECRATION

DISRESPECT OF THE DEAD 

IS MORALLY WRONG!

[1] UK Lords call for China to Stop Real-Life Manikins of Deceased Human Beings being Exhibited, Alleged News

https://mychristiandaily.com/uk-lords-call-for-china-to-stop-real-life-manikins-of-deceased-human-beings-being-exhibited/

[2] Organ Tourism and Cadavers on Display Bill [HL]

https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/bills/lbill/2019-2019/0023/20023.pdf

[3] UK: Stop Anatomic Exhibitions of "Real Bodies" - of Chinese prisoners: Alleged News

https://bitterwinter.org/uk-stop-anatomic-exhibitions-of-real-bodies-of-chinese-prisoners/

[4] Gruesome exhibition puts dead bodies of adults and the unborn on display in public; Alleged News

https://www.lifesitenews.com/news/gruesome-exhibition-puts-dead-bodies-of-adults-and-the-unborn-on-display-in/

[5] Petition: Stop the real bodies exhibition NEC Birmingham, Alleged News

https://www.change.org/p/nec-birmingham-stop-the-real-bodies-exhibition-nec-birmingham

[6] Plastination technique, Alleged News

https://bodyworlds.com/plastination/plastination-technique/

[7] The Corporal Work of Mercy: Burying the Dead

https://www.dopccfh.org/Content/Media/CatholicCemeteriesAndFuneralHomes/pdf/4th-6thGrade.pdf

Dr Damon Noto - House Hearing on Organ Harvesting, Alleged News

https://lumierecharity.blogspot.com/2020/10/dr-damon-noto-house-hearing-on-organ.html

Help stop forced organ harvesting in China; Alleged News. Why not sign the petition?

https://lumierecharity.blogspot.com/2020/10/help-stop-forced-organ-harvesting-in.html

References youtube, mychristiandaily.com, publications.parliament.uk, bitterwinter.org, lifesitenews.com, change.org, bodyworlds.com and dopccfh.org.

A CANDLE HAS BEEN LIT IN REMEMBRANCE OF SOUTH AFRICA

 

A Candle has been lit by Lumiere 

in remembrance of South Africa,

Our thoughts are with all who are suffering,

for all who have lost their lives;

for their families, colleagues and friends.

SOUTH AFRICA: RELIGIOUS FREEDOM POTENTIALLY AFFECTED BY PEPUDA AMENDMENT BILL

SOUTH AFRICA: RELIGIOUS FREEDOM POTENTIALLY AFFECTED BY PEPUDA AMENDMENT    BILL.

The proposed Pepuda Amendment Bill has posed the concern that, if accepted, it may adversely affect religious freedom within South Africa. 

PEPUDA

Pepuda is an acronym for the Promotion of Equality and Prevention of Unfair Discrimination Act. It was passed into law in 2000; Alleged News.

FREEDOM OF RELIGION SOUTH AFRICA

Freedom of religion for South Africa (FOR SA), a non-profit legal advocacy organisation dedicated to upholding the rights to religious freedom conferred by the South African Constitution, [1] states that "the Department of Justice has released the Promotion of Equality and Prevention of Unfair Discrimination Amendment Bill (the Amendment Bill) for public comment; Alleged News. [2] 

From a religious freedom point of view, FOR SA states,

Section 1(1)(ix) of the existing Act defines 'equality' as:

"the full and equal enjoyment of rights and freedom as contemplated in the Constitution and includes de jure [i.e. legal] equality, and also equality in terms of outcomes".

Clause 1(b) of Amendment Bill proposes a broadening of this definition to also include, amongst other things:

"equal rights and access to resources, opportunities, benefits and advantages."

While this may sound like a good thing, this proposed amendment in fact goes much further than the substantive equality, or equality of outcome, that our Constitution has in mind.

To give a practical example in the context of religious freedom, it means that all persons will have an equal right to become a member of a church or other religious institution, to serve as a leader in the church, or to be employed by the church. The fact that that person's own religious convictions and beliefs may go directly against the religious convictions and beliefs of the church or religious institution, would be completely irrelevant.

This effectively cancels religious organisations' right to institutional autonomy (section 15 of the Constitution, read with sections 18 and 31). This includes their right to determine their own doctrines and to regulate their own internal affairs, free from interference . . ."  [3]

FOR SA states, "The Amendment Bill seeks to address weaknesses in the Promotion of Equality and Prevention of Unfair Discrimination Act, 4 of 2000 (PEPUDA or 'the Equality Act'). However, in the process it:

- significantly broadens the definitions of 'discrimination' and 'equality' found in the Act;

- seeks to extend the scope of the prohibition of unfair discrimination; and

- provides for 'joint and several liability'. This means that employers will be liable for the discriminatory actions of their employees, even if the employer did not know about it and even if the employee did not act intentionally," Alleged News. [2] 

FOR SA states that the Pepuda Amendment Bill has "implications for our religious rights in South Africa" and "calls upon every individual and every denomination, church and other faith organisation, to make your voices heard on this Bill by making a submission to the Department of Justice before Friday, 30 June 2021. (Although the deadline for submissions on the Bill was on 12 May 2021 already, the Department has indicated to FOR SA that it would accept submissions until 30 June 2021)," Alleged News. [3] 

AFRICAN CHRISTIAN DEMOCRATIC PARTY

From a religious freedom point of view, the African Christian Democratic Party (ACDP)  has called on South Africans to oppose the Pepuda Amendment Bill; Alleged News. [4]

NEDERLANDSE GEREFORMEERDE KERK

The Nederlandse Gereformeerde Kerk (NGK) (Dutch Reformed Church) stated that "Pepuda 'bedreig demokrasie, vryheid' - NGK" (Pepuda threatens democracy, freedom - NGK); Alleged News. [5]

A statement with regard to the PEPUDA 2021 Amendment Bill was issued by Dr Gustav Claasen, general secretary of the NG Church, on 15 June 2021, from which the following was drawn:

"Section 9 of the Constitution already recognises the existence of indirect unfair discrimination. PEPUDA already makes provision for the prohibition of unfair indirect discrimination, but the Amendment Bill adds the ... prohibition of unintentional discrimination," Alleged News. [5]

"According to some legal experts the bill may have major consequences, including:

- the definition of 'equality' has been broadened to include equal rights and access to resources, opportunities, benefits, and advantages.

- the draft legislation departs from the fault requirement found throughout South African law by creating liability for unintentional acts or omissions which cause prejudice to or undermine the dignity of a person . . . 

-  it (the bill) will make persons vicariously liable for contraventions of the act performed by their workers, employees, or agents . . .

- a series of hefty obligations will be placed on non-governmental organisations, traditional leaders and institutions, community organisations, religious organisations and the executive will be empowered to create codes to regulate these sectors . . .

- The Amendment Bill will also empower ministers to prescribe regulations and 'codes of practice' for all manner of civil society formations, including non-governmental organisations and private businesses . . .  Alleged News. [5]

Democratic Alliance Party

The Democratic Alliance (DA) states that it "strongly objects to the Promotion of Equality and Prevention of Unfair Discrimination Amendment Bill (PEPUDA) which seeks to amend the Promotion of Equality and Prevention of Unfair Discrimination Act, 2000. We have been invited to make comments on this Bill by 30 June 2021, and will use this as an opportunity to object to the Bill.

After an in-depth study of the Bill, the DA has the following fundamental problems with it.

- Expanded definition and removal of requirement of intent

The DA is concerned that the amendments to the definition of 'discrimination' and the removal of 'intent' will have unforeseen far-reaching consequences whereby individuals might break the law either without knowing they have done so, or without ever intending to do so. The current definition of 'discrimination' in PEPUDA is simply too broad and will overwhelm South Africa's already overburdened justice system

- Vicarious liability

The introduction of vicarious liability in clause 2 will put an unreasonable responsibility on employers to police the actions of their employees, even during non-working hours. Employers should not be unreasonably held liable for the discriminating behaviour of their employees. In a country where the numbers of unemployment grows daily, government should not be introducing legislation that will discourage employment in any way or form.

- Obligations placed on private institutions

Clause 9 of PEPUDA gives government the power to prescribe how NGOs, community-based organisations, and traditional organisations promote equality in their dealings with other organisations and in their public activities. . .The DA will vehemently oppose this Bill at every opportunity and encourages all South Africans to do the same when the opportunity for public participation arrives," Alleged News. [6]

RELIGIOUS FREEDOM

South Africans are people of faith who have deep respect for the holy faiths which acknowledge Reality higher than humanity. There is strong pushback in South Africa for religious freedom, on the grounds of the basic rights with regard to religion contained in the South African Constitution. 

To this end, comments are being submitted to The Department of Justice in South Africa by concerned parties. 

Chapter 2 of the Constitution of South Africa, the Bill of Rights, contains a number of provisions dealing with religious freedom; Alleged News. [7]  Section 15 states that everyone has the right to freedom of conscience, religion, thought, belief and opinion; Alleged News. [7]

PROTECTION OF CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS

FOR SA has teamed up with the "dear SA" platform to make submission to the Department of Justice in South Africa. 

WHY NOT SUBMIT A COMMENT

BY 30 JUNE 2021?

Comments for submission on the Pepuda Amendment Bill can be  made at the following link

https://forsa.org.za/

or by email submission 

https://forsa.org.za/pepuda-amendment-bill-draft-submissions-for-individuals-and-organisations-can-be-found-here/

by no later than 30 June 2021 

(the deadline for submissions).

DEMOCRACY IS THE RIGHT TO

RELIGIOUS FREEDOM!

[1] FORSA/For Faith and Freedom; Alleged News

https://forsa.org.za/

[2] Alert! Proposed Amendments to the Equality Act: Call to Action! Alleged News

https://forsa.org.za/alert-proposed-amendments-to-the-equality-act-call-to-action/

[3] Pepuda Amendment Bill - Overbroad definitions remove any possible defence against a claim of unfair discrimination: Alleged News

https://forsa.org.za/pepuda-amendment-bill-overbroad-definitions-remove-any-possible-defence-against-a-claim-of-unfair-discrimination/

[4] ACDP Oppose PEPUDA Amendment Bill; Alleged News

https://www.acdp.org.za/pepuda/

[5] PEPUDA 'bedreig demokrasie, vryheid' - NGK; Alleged News

(PEPUDA 'threatens democracy, freedom' - NGK; Alleged News)

https://kerkbode.christians.co.za/2021/06/15/pepuda-bedreig-demokrasie-vryheid-ngk/

[6] DA to submit objections to PEPUDA Bill; Alleged News

https://www.da.org.za/2021/06/da-to-submit-objections-to-pepuda-bill

[7] Freedom of religion in South Africa; Alleged News

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Freedom_of_religion_in_South_Africa

With thanks to forsa.org.za, acdp.org.za, kerkbode.christians.co.za, da.org.za and wikipedia.org

SOUTH AFRICA: RELIGIOUS MARRIAGE OFFICERS POTENTIALLY AFFECTED BY GREEN PAPER ON MARRIAGES

SOUTH AFRICA: RELIGIOUS MARRIAGE OFFICERS POTENTIALLY AFFECTED BY GREEN PAPER ON MARRIAGES.

The proposed Green Paper on Marriages has posed the concern that, if accepted, it may adversely affect the consciences of religious ministers. 

Under the heading of 'Limitations of the Marriage Act', The Green Paper on Marriages states: 

"According to the the Marriage Act, a marriage officer who is a minister of religion or a person holding a responsible position in a religious denomination or organisation may refuse to solemnise a marriage that would not conform to the rites, formularies, tenets, doctrines or discipline of his religious denomination or organisation. This provision lends itself to discriminatory behaviour disguised as religious doctrine," (page 29) Alleged News. [1]

FREEDOM OF RELIGION SOUTH AFRICA

Freedom of Religion South Africa (FOR SA), a non-profit, legal advocacy organisation dedicated to upholding the rights to religious freedom conferred by the South African Constitution, [2] states that the purpose of this policy is to establish a policy foundation for regulating the marriages of all persons that reside in SA. [3]

The policy itself will be followed by a single Marriage Act, that will enable South Africans and residents of all sexual orientations, religious and cultural persuasions to conclude legal marriages that will accord with the principles of equality, non-discrimination, human dignity and unity in diversity, as encapsulated in the Constitution, Alleged News.  [3]

From a religious freedom point of view, FOR SA is concerned that the draft Marriage policy will potentially force religious marriage officers (of whatever faith) to solemnise marriages which are contrary to their, and/or their organisation's, religious convictions and beliefs; Alleged News. [3]

POLYANDRY

The draft Marriage policy proposes that polyandry (id est one woman marrying more than one man) be legally recognised as a form of marriage. (pp 48-49); Alleged News. [3]

RELIGIOUS FREEDOM

South Africans are people of faith who have deep respect for the holy faiths which acknowledge Reality higher than humanity. There is strong pushback in South Africa for the retention of the right of religious marriage officers to solemnise marriages that conform to the rites, formularies, tenets, doctrines or discipline of his or her religious denomination or organisation, on the grounds of the basic rights with regard to religion contained in the South African Constitution. 

To this end, comments are being submitted to the Director General of the Department of Home Affairs in South Africa by concerned parties. 

Chapter 2 of the Constitution of South Africa, the Bill of Rights, contains a number of provisions dealing with religious freedom; Alleged News. [4] Section 15 states that everyone has the right to freedom of conscience, religion, thought, belief and opinion; Alleged News. [4] 

PROTECTION OF CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS 

FOR SA has made a comprehensive submission to the Department of Home Affairs, arguing that the constitutional rights of religious marriage officers should be explicitly protected in any Marriage Act that will ultimately be adopted, and that they should have the right only to solemnise marriages that conform to their / their religious organisations' convictions and beliefs; Alleged News. [3]

This is in line with the position in other democracies around the world (including the United Kingdom, Australia, Canada and New Zealand), as well as countries on the African continent, which explicitly protect the religious freedom rights of religious marriage officers and the organisations to which they belong; Alleged News. [3]

WHY NOT SUBMIT A COMMENT 

BY 30 JUNE 2021?

FOR SA strongly encourages comments to be submitted on the draft Marriage policy. A template submission that FOR SA has prepared for organisations and individuals who want to make a submission respectively is available at 

https://forsa.org.za/religious-marriage-officers-to-potentially-solemnise-all-marriages/

Submissions can be emailed to the Director-General: Department of Home Affairs (For Attention: Mr Sihle Mthiyane, Chief Director: Policy and Strategic Management ) 

at marriagegreenpaper@dha.gov.za by no later than 30 June 2021 (the deadline for submissions). 

DEMOCRACY IS THE RIGHT TO

RELIGIOUS FREEDOM!

[1] Green Paper on Marriages in South Africa; Alleged News

https://www.gov.za/sites/default/files/gcis_document/202105/44529gon398.pdf

[2] FORSA/ For Faith and Freedom; Alleged News

https://forsa.org.za/

[3] Religious Marriage Officers to Potentially Solemnise All Marriages; Alleged News

https://forsa.org.za/religious-marriage-officers-to-potentially-solemnise-all-marriages/

[4] Freedom of religion in South Africa; Alleged News

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Freedom_of_religion_in_South_Africa

With thanks to gov.za,  forsa.org.za and wikipedia

ABORTION PILL REVERSAL: IF YOU ARE REGRETTING YOUR BEGUN ABORTION, HERE IS HELP. ABORTION PILL REVERSAL NETWORK WORLDWIDE; ALLEGED NEWS

 

ABORTION PILL REVERSAL: IF YOU ARE REGRETTING YOUR BEGUN ABORTION, HERE IS HELP. ABORTION PILL REVERSAL NETWORK WORLDWIDE. 

Statistics show that more than 2,000 lives have been saved thanks to the Abortion Pill Rescue Network; Alleged News. [1] Abortion pill reversal is time-tested, FDA approved treatment, that’s been used for decades to treat women at risk for early pregnancy loss and preterm delivery. [1]

APR involves emergency, ongoing dosages of progesterone to counteract the effects of the first drug given in a chemical abortion – mifepristone. It’s effective and is saving lives every single day!

The Abortion Pill Rescue Network is a 24-hour hotline and a network of providers worldwide who offer reversal to women who have started a chemical abortion and are having regret. Women seeking reversal can call the APR Hotline to speak with a medical professional (877) 558-0333; live chat is available for clients on the website Home Page - Abortion Pill Reversal, or they can email at help@apr.life. No woman should ever be forced to complete an abortion she no longer desires.

If you or someone you know took the abortion pill and regret it, there may still be time. The Abortion Pill Rescue Network provides free and confidential care 24/7.
Call us at 877.558.0333 or go to AbortionPillReversal.com now. There may still be time to save your pregnancy.

A Last Chance to Choose Life

From the moment a woman takes the abortion pill, she has about 72 hours to change her mind and save her baby. The Abortion Pill Rescue Network, through Option Line's 24/7 contact center, answers more than 150 mission-critical calls a month from women who regret their abortion decision; Alleged News. [1]. Statistics show that more than 2,000 lives have been saved (and counting) through the abortion pill reversal protocol, Alleged News. [1]

Seeking a last chance to choose life for their little ones, women can reach out to the Abortion Pill Rescue Network and be connected with a local medical provider who starts the Abortion Pill Reversal Process.

Abortion Pill Use Grows, APR Saves Lives

Nearly half of abortions in the U.S. occur through the "abortion pill"; Alleged News. [1] No woman should ever feel forced to finish an abortion she regrets. Abortion Pill Rescue connects women who have taken the first dose of the Abortion Pill to a network of medical professionals trained to administer the Abortion Pill Reversal protocol.

The abortion pill comes in two parts and is approved for use up to 10 weeks of pregnancy; Alleged News. [1] The first chemical, mifepristone (or RU-486) is the first pill used in a chemical abortion and blocks the effects of progesterone, a hormone necessary for a pregnancy to thrive. [1] The second part, misoprostol, expels the baby. 

If a woman has regret after taking the first pill, the pregnancy may be saved by the Abortion Pill Rescue Network.

[1] HEARTBEAT INTERNATIONAL: SHARING ABORTION PILL REVERSAL IN YOUR COMMUNITY; ALLEGED NEWS

https://www.heartbeatinternational.org/our-work/apr/itemlist/tag/abortion%20pill%20reversal

With thanks to heartbeatinternational.org

WARNING: NOT SUITABLE FOR CHILDREN. GOVERNMENT-SPONSORED FETAL EXPERIMENTATION AT THE UNIVERSITY OF PITTSBURGH AND PLANNED PARENTHOOD; ALLEGED NEWS

 

WARNING: NOT SUITABLE FOR CHILDREN

Government-Sponsored Fetal Experimentation at the University of Pittsburgh

 and Planned Parenthood; Alleged News

With thanks to Youtube and The Center for Medical Progress