(Australia) Religious leaders reserve the right to call homosexuality a sin

[Heddi]

http://www.theaustralian.com.au/national-affairs/religious-leaders-reserve-the-right-to-call-homosexuality-a-sin/news-story/7cb99e1bbc4af12af58ccdd8b21627f2

Religious leaders have expressed concern over Labor’s plans to extend­ the reach of litigation based on section 18C of the Racial Discrimination Act, with key Islam­ic leaders saying it could stifle­ religious expression and a leading Jewish body warning that the changes had yet to be justified.

Islamic Council of Queensland spokesman Ali Kadri said while he supported extensions of section 18C to protect people from ­“hatred, vilification and bigotry”, Labor’s proposal would smother the right of faith leaders to express their opinions on issues such as same-sex marriage.

“We share the concern of other religious groups that misinterpretation of such laws can trample upon religious freedom to criticise sexual preferences,” he said.

“Homosexuality is considered a sin in Islam, however, it is also a sin to humiliate and insult people who belong to the LGBTQI ­community.”

Mr Kadri said all religions in a free democratic society should have the right to practise their faith without fear of litigation.

“To say homosexuality is a sin within Islam, or any religion, is expressin­g an opinion, and that should not be considered illegal,” he said. “These proposed changes should be clarified.”

...
In our religious texts, whether it is Christian, Muslim or Jewish, homosexuality is not part of our religious teachings,” Dr Hady said. “We won’t be accepting the proposal by the Labor Party if it include­s homosexuals in the Racial­ Discrimination Act.”

Dr Hady said he had discussions with other faith leaders and while “there are some religious leaders who support same-sex marriage”, the majority did not.

[Lordquinton]

1. Their texts also include racial discrimination

So why aren't they arguing that point?

[Ron Obvious]

2. This atheist agrees with their right to freedom of speech

Obviously I'm opposed to direct calls to violence, but I don't believe the state should have the ability to censor or criminalise the content of anybody's expression. That includes Holocaust denial which, shorn of its emotional context, is merely factually incorrect history.

I try not to let my loathing of religion and its bigotry cloud my judgement on this.