Sophie Aitken Interview – ABC Melbourne

June 3, 2011

/ by PaulG

Sophie Aitken discusses her recent success at the Victorian Equal Opportunity and Human Rights Commission. Sophie and two other parents will now have their case brought to the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal – VCAT.

The case focuses on discrimination against non theistic and members of faiths other than Christianity. Or more correctly, the brand of literal biblical evangelism pushed onto children by ACCESS Ministries as part of their aim to convert children they believe “desperately need Christ in their lives”.

As part of their “God given open door” to make “disciples” from the “greatest mission field in Australia”, ACCESS Ministries have been told by their C.E. Evonne Paddison, “Without Jesus, our students are lost… let’s go for it”.

Sophie is chatting to Sally Warhaft on the 774 morning programme on May 20th, 2011.

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Paul Tonson (UCA)

March 4, 2012 at 10:14 pm

As indicated on this site last year, I have taken a positive interest in the FIRIS campaign.
I appreciate the aim to provide non-discdriminatory, non-privileged education in the area of religion. I am willing to provide a public church platform for the voice of FIRIS.
Like a range of other active Christians, I am dismayed that ACCESS no longer seems to represent the breadth of theological viewpoint across the churches.
I also appreciate the FIRE in this site. However, may I draw attention to one misunderstanding perpetuated on this site in the following quote, which should be corrected!:
“The current policy is designed to favor ACCESS Ministry, and only ACCESS Ministry.”
It is true that by default, ACCESS ministries is in fact privileged in most schools. However, there is a long standing Jewish organization parallel to ACCESS that under the same legislation gains access to Jewish students in state schools. A range of other religions also make use of the legislated opportunity to enter schools. They do not want to lose this access. As the dominant religion in Australia, I believe we Christians should relinquish the privileged status we have. But for the sake of the other smaller religions, I am not in favour of totally abolishing the current system.