Christian Values?

The Australian Christian Values Checklist has been produced by the usual Christian right suspects for the past few elections. This election’s one wants all polices assessed by “family impact” statements. Presuming these would look for options that reduce the divorce rates and promote stable long lasting marriages. A recent study found that American states with affordable abortions and same sex marriages (among other things) have the lowest divorce rates. Indeed Massachusetts, the first state to solemnized same-sex marriages, has the lowest divorce rate in the United States. Yet the Checklist favours political parties that would remove Medicare funding for abortion and opposed legislative changes to permit same sex marriages. The family impact statement for the Australian Christian Values Checklist would consist of one word – FAILED!