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CHRISTIAN
NEWS |
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CHRISTIAN
NEWS |
The Pink Agenda restriction lifted
Friday, 3 May 2002
Christian Liberty Books (CLB), publishers of The Pink Agenda, are pleased that the age restriction on The Pink Agenda has been lifted. CLB opposed the restriction, which was obviously biased and unfair, from the start. The Film and Publications Board (FPB) Review Board met this week on Tuesday, 30 April to consider the appeal lodged with the FPB.
In the appeal, CLB requested that the age restriction on the book be removed and that comments made by the FPB classification committee in their report (dated 30 January) on the book and its authors be retracted.
The Review Board said in its ruling released to the public today (dated 2 May 2002), that the writers have the freedom to express any view that cannot be conclusively proven to incite hatred or violence. The Board said, "This conclusion is grounded particularly in the Review Board's opinion that the publication could be deemed, if not a bona fide scientific document, then at the least a bona fide discussion, argument or opinion on either a matter pertaining to religion, belief or conscience or of public interest. As this is catered for in the Act, it behoves the Board to uphold this provision."
As regards the Review Board's decision to lift the restriction on the book from distribution to under 18s by the publishers, the report states "taking into account the nature of the publication, it would be difficult to prove that any harm would be caused to any person under the age of 18 who has access to it." The Board expressed agreement with CLB's argument that (in the Board's words), "It must be borne in mind that children are generally already exposed to issues of religion, sex, homosexuality, and the like, in an educational and/or discursive context." The report continues, "The dilemma that any imposition of an age restriction would pose is that we could very well end up with the converse demand that the homosexual community shall not present its case to any person under the age of 18." Co-author of The Pink Agenda, Christine Mc Cafferty says, "We are very excited about the ruling. In many ways we feel justified in that the Board has agreed that our book is not harmful to under-18s. We argued in our appeal that, through the sex education, children as young as nine are being confronted with positive messages about sodomy, bisexuality and so forth. In their early teens they are being faced with choices as regards their own lives and entering homosexuality. It would be wrong to deny them access to all the different views on homosexuality and the facts about it, including the medical problems associated with sodomy.
"Many homosexual activists, in attacks on us and the integrity of the book, have been parroting the words of the classification committee, which were excessively negative, unfair and blatantly biased against us, and now that has been retracted. We pray that this ruling with encourage greater tolerance toward the Christian view on homosexuality, and allow for greater debate. "Many thanks to all Africa Christian Action supporters for your continued prayers and support during this time. We at Africa Christian Action and Christian Liberty Books know that this is an answer to prayer."
For more information, please call Jeanine McGill or Christine Mc Cafferty on 021 689 4481. To order your copy of the book (R58 per copy), please contact Christian Liberty Books at 021 689 7478.
Monday 6th May
The programme Crux, aired yesterday (Sunday, 1.30 pm, SABC 1) gave excellent coverage to The Pink Agenda. At the end of the show, they asked viewers the question, "Should The Pink Agenda be freely available to children and adults?" People can call in on 086 222 2227 and give an answer to the question as well as make a comment on either the book, or homosexuality. The results of the question (how many yes's and how many no's) and some of the comments made will be aired next week same time (Sunday, 1.30 pm, SABC 1).
We would appreciate all the support we can get.
Roger Williamson of TRAILblazers, who was also on the panel in the Crux programme, has made a fantastic one hour video sharing his testimony called "Exposed: One man's story of God's healing power in his Masculine Gender". Africa Christian Action is selling the video for R80, including postage and packaging. Fax 021 685-5884 if you would like to order a copy of the video or of The Pink Agenda (R58).
Related:
22 Jan 2002 - Will The Pink Agenda be the first book banned in the New SA?
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