Left: Attorney-General and Minister of Justice, A.J. Nicholson. Right: Head of the Christian Lawyers' Fellowship, Shirley Richards. - FILE PHOTOS
PARLIAMENT YESTERDAY received submissions from a church group, which demanded a last-minute hearing from the Joint Select Committee of Parliament considering the Charter of Rights Bill.
But the expected discussion would not take place today as planned.
Acting Clerk of the House of Parliament, Heather Cooke, said the discussions have been rescheduled, but did not give a new date.
The House is expected to discuss the Estimates of Expenditure today.
During the February 10 sitting of the Joint Select Committee, chairman, Senator A.J. Nicholson, said amendments to the Constitution would not sanction same-sex marriage or any act of homosexuality.
But church leaders and the Lawyers' Christian Fellowship took issue with what they claimed was the vague wording of sections of the charter, particularly the clause in Section 13 that speaks to the "respect for private and family life, (and) privacy for home".
OPENING THE WAY
They said it could be interpreted as opening the way for legalising homosexual acts and abortion, as well as forcing a ban on prayer in schools.
Initially, Senator Nicholson refused to hear from the groups, saying it would drag out a process that started in 1991. But he eventually conceded and agreed to hear submissions from the groups.
