Dan
2013-06-09 06:22:28 UTC
http://skep.li/1bjjJxt
Real churches denounce cult of anti-vaccine
JANE HANSEN THE SUNDAY TELEGRAPH JUNE 09, 2013 12:00AM
EVERY genuine religion in Australia wants parents to vaccinate their
children, from Islam and Judaism to Christian denominations including
Seventh Day Adventists and Jehovah's Witnesses.
Anti-vaccine activists have created a sham 'Church of Conscious Living'
to exploit a loophole in federal and State vaccination laws, which allow
parents to claim childcare rebates and access daycare centres if they
have a religious objection.
But an investigation by The Sunday Telegraph reveals every real faith
believes vaccinations are necessary to eliminate deadly diseases such as
whooping cough.
The exemption is "a scam," according to NSW opposition health spokesman
Andrew McDonald, while federal Opposition Leader Tony Abbott has pledged
to restrict vaccine exemptions to "clear religious reasons" and genuine
medical conditions.
FROM THE HOMEPAGE
Sydney's Angry Mile erupts at midnight
I'm filthy over Origin ban
But the federal government is refusing to close the loophole, which
undermines its own pro-vaccination policies.
Under pressure from the No Jab, No Play campaign run by The Sunday
Telegraph and The Daily Telegraph, the NSW government has introduced
legislation restricting child-care centres to children who have a
complete vaccination record or a GP-approved exemption for "personal,
philosophical, religious or medical" objections.
The formula matches the Commonwealth's Medicare Immunisation Exemption
Conscientious Objection Form, which allows parents to get 50 per cent
childcare rebate with the same objections.
NSW Health Minister Jillian Skinner acknowledged parents could get
around the new law, but said: "To have done other than adopt that
(Commonwealth) form would have created a two-tiered system where a
parent could theoretically claim a tax rebate but be unable to enrol
their children.".
The Church of Conscious Living, which is being touted by the
controversial anti-vaccine group the Australian Vaccination Network, was
created as an anti-vaccine front by activists Jane Leonforte and Adriano
Regano in Queensland in 2008.
Ms Leonforte told The Sunday Telegraph that the church was legitimate
and had 200 members, but they have never had to use the church to get
the exemption.
Heads of the Catholic, Anglican, and Uniting churches have confirmed
they have no objection to vaccination. Rabbi Jeremy Lawrence said the
Jewish faith holds no objections and nor does the Islamic faith
according to the Grand Mufti, Ibrahim Abu Mohamed.
The Jehovah's Witnesses' position statement reads: "We have no objection
to vaccines in general. Some vaccines contain minor blood fractions, and
use of these is a matter of personal choice."
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is pro-vaccination, as
are the Seventh Day Adventists, spokespeople for both churches said.
The Church of Christ has no objection, nor does Scientology or Christian
Scientists, who were previously objectors in the US.
State opposition health spokesman Dr Andrew McDonald said the religious
exemption was a "scam". "The Medicare religious exemption will need to
be re-examined in the future depending on the numbers using it over
time," he said.
A spokesman for federal Health Minister Tanya Plibersek said any vaccine
refuser had to prove they had discussed their objections with an
immunisation provider.
Federal opposition health spokesman Peter Dutton said an Abbott
government would crack down on exemptions. "The Coalition would support
any necessary changes to exemption provisions if there is evidence they
are being misused," Mr Dutton said.
The Sunday Telegraph and Daily Telegraph are campaigning to end reckless
scaremongering over vaccination and lift slipping rates. NSW has
introduced a law limiting daycare centres to kids with a complete
vaccine record - or an exemption on religious or philosophical grounds.
The federal government has so far refused to act on our demand that the
50 per cent childcare rebate be restricted to fully vaccinated children.
Real churches denounce cult of anti-vaccine
JANE HANSEN THE SUNDAY TELEGRAPH JUNE 09, 2013 12:00AM
EVERY genuine religion in Australia wants parents to vaccinate their
children, from Islam and Judaism to Christian denominations including
Seventh Day Adventists and Jehovah's Witnesses.
Anti-vaccine activists have created a sham 'Church of Conscious Living'
to exploit a loophole in federal and State vaccination laws, which allow
parents to claim childcare rebates and access daycare centres if they
have a religious objection.
But an investigation by The Sunday Telegraph reveals every real faith
believes vaccinations are necessary to eliminate deadly diseases such as
whooping cough.
The exemption is "a scam," according to NSW opposition health spokesman
Andrew McDonald, while federal Opposition Leader Tony Abbott has pledged
to restrict vaccine exemptions to "clear religious reasons" and genuine
medical conditions.
FROM THE HOMEPAGE
Sydney's Angry Mile erupts at midnight
I'm filthy over Origin ban
But the federal government is refusing to close the loophole, which
undermines its own pro-vaccination policies.
Under pressure from the No Jab, No Play campaign run by The Sunday
Telegraph and The Daily Telegraph, the NSW government has introduced
legislation restricting child-care centres to children who have a
complete vaccination record or a GP-approved exemption for "personal,
philosophical, religious or medical" objections.
The formula matches the Commonwealth's Medicare Immunisation Exemption
Conscientious Objection Form, which allows parents to get 50 per cent
childcare rebate with the same objections.
NSW Health Minister Jillian Skinner acknowledged parents could get
around the new law, but said: "To have done other than adopt that
(Commonwealth) form would have created a two-tiered system where a
parent could theoretically claim a tax rebate but be unable to enrol
their children.".
The Church of Conscious Living, which is being touted by the
controversial anti-vaccine group the Australian Vaccination Network, was
created as an anti-vaccine front by activists Jane Leonforte and Adriano
Regano in Queensland in 2008.
Ms Leonforte told The Sunday Telegraph that the church was legitimate
and had 200 members, but they have never had to use the church to get
the exemption.
Heads of the Catholic, Anglican, and Uniting churches have confirmed
they have no objection to vaccination. Rabbi Jeremy Lawrence said the
Jewish faith holds no objections and nor does the Islamic faith
according to the Grand Mufti, Ibrahim Abu Mohamed.
The Jehovah's Witnesses' position statement reads: "We have no objection
to vaccines in general. Some vaccines contain minor blood fractions, and
use of these is a matter of personal choice."
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is pro-vaccination, as
are the Seventh Day Adventists, spokespeople for both churches said.
The Church of Christ has no objection, nor does Scientology or Christian
Scientists, who were previously objectors in the US.
State opposition health spokesman Dr Andrew McDonald said the religious
exemption was a "scam". "The Medicare religious exemption will need to
be re-examined in the future depending on the numbers using it over
time," he said.
A spokesman for federal Health Minister Tanya Plibersek said any vaccine
refuser had to prove they had discussed their objections with an
immunisation provider.
Federal opposition health spokesman Peter Dutton said an Abbott
government would crack down on exemptions. "The Coalition would support
any necessary changes to exemption provisions if there is evidence they
are being misused," Mr Dutton said.
The Sunday Telegraph and Daily Telegraph are campaigning to end reckless
scaremongering over vaccination and lift slipping rates. NSW has
introduced a law limiting daycare centres to kids with a complete
vaccine record - or an exemption on religious or philosophical grounds.
The federal government has so far refused to act on our demand that the
50 per cent childcare rebate be restricted to fully vaccinated children.