Editors --- "Sit down Girlie': Girlie takes a pew" [2004] AltLawJl 12; (2004) 29(1) Alternative Law Journal 52

• 'SIT DOWN GIRLIE'
• Girlie takes a pew
• The Internet and Belgians
• Baffling theology
• Stretching the truth
• Cause for alarm?
• No thanks George!
• Your Grace, Daddy Dearest
• Dressing down
• Rights fights never end

'SIT DOWN GIRLIE'
Girlie takes a pew

The Internet and Belgians

The Internet can be such a wonderful source of unverified amusement. A recent item claims the Pentagon has released a league table of security risks. Apparently communists now rank last on a list of 238 threats to national security. 'Communists may now safely be ignored', Secretary of Defense William Cohen said. The Red Menace has been surpassed by militia groups, religious extremists, eco terrorists, cyber criminals, Hollywood producers, and angry drivers.' Other groups deemed more threatening than Communists included: rap-metal bands, town planners, escaped zoo animals and Belgians. Belgians?

Baffling theology

After reading some comments made by Belgian clergy Girlie has begun to see why the Pentagon may have identified Belgians as a security risk Belgian Cardinal Gustaaf Joos does approve of that corner stone of democracy, the 'one person one vote' principle saying, 'I find it strange that a snot-nosed

18 year old has the same vote as a father of seven. One has no responsibilities whatsoever, the other provides tomorrow's citizens.' This is the first time a senior Catholic cleric has publicly expressed such extreme views which are sympathetic to right wing Catholic groups who want to abandon the 'one person one vote' principle. The Cardinal has also expressed contempt for avant garde new laws passed by Belgium's government on gay marriages, euthanasia and abortion.

He believes most gays and lesbians are not genuinely homosexual but are mere sexual perverts. 'I am prepared to sign here in my blood that of all those who say they are lesbian or gay, at most five to I 0 per cent are effectively lesbian or gay. All the rest are sexual perverts,' he said. Girlie finds the Cardinal's theology perplexing. Does he mean it's okay to be actively lesbian or gay so long as one is not a sexual pervert? Further the Cardinal has said true homosexuals would not be poncing around the streets in flamboyant clothes. Now this is a bit rich coming from a clergy person in a Church where the men have always got to wear the most outrageous dresses. Anyone who recalls Fellini's brilliant clergy fashion show at the end of Roma will know what exactly what Girlie means.

Stretching the truth

Another senior Belgian Cardinal (who has been tipped to be next Pope) has hinted that the use of condoms may protect life and not be sinful after all. According to Barney Zwartz (The Age, 14 January 2004), Cardinal Godfried (no the name's not a joke) Daneels told an interviewer that an HIV-infected person might be justified in using a condom to protect life. By contrast, the Vatican last year announced that the virus can pass through condoms. According to the Vicar-General of the Archdiocese of Melbourne, artificial contraception should never be used but it might be okay to use a condom to prevent spread of disease so long as it's not done for contraception.

Cause for alarm?

And, be alert, the two finalists in the women's section of the Australian Open were Belgians!

No thanks George!

Sarah Henderson, a lawyer writing for the Herald Sun ( 14 January 2004) was once asked to join a committee to advise Cardinal George Pell. She refused because of her disagreement with so many teachings of the Church including banning of abortion, contraception, sex outside marriage and homosexuality Pell's father's cousin, Monica Hingston is a lesbian and an ex-nun who has been in a relationship with another ex-nun for 19 years. Monica has written to Pell describing her anguish at the declarations of the Vatican that those who live in homosexual relationships are 'seriously depraved'. Her letter included:

All I ask is that you consider what you are actually saying to thousands like us; that you actually hear and reflect on what we tell you of our life experience, that we are people who live ethical, highly principled, moral lives, an asset to any society striving to engender loving committed relationships among its citizens. I look forward to hearing from you.

Pell ignored the letter until media pressure forced him to make a statement, which was to the effect that he regretted the path his relative had chosen.

Your Grace, Daddy Dearest

Archbishop Tutu ordained his daughter Mpho in January 2004. Mpho was ordained as an Anglican priest in Alexandria, Virginia. She said, 'It was an awesome moment. It would have been an awesome moment regardless of who was the celebrant, but it was something particularly special, particularly wonderful, to have my father there presiding at my ordinance'.

Dressing down

In Madrid a man was released after a judge found his wife was too well dressed in court during the trial of her husband to be a victim of domestic violence. Judge Francisco Javier Pauli Collado said the woman's 'physical appearance during the three­ day hearing, not only made up but also dressed differently each day, with rings, fancy bracelets and earrings and large glasses ... does not coincide with the image of a woman who has suffered months of aggression'.

Rights fights never end

Meanwhile Erica Jong has warned that one day young women in the United States are going to wake up from watching reality television to find they have lost their right to both abortion and contraception. She points to George Bush's 'partial birth' anti abortion laws and the contempt for women shown by right wing Christian groups in the States.

ISA DYKE and KATH O'LICK are Feminist Lawyers.