Summarized by Kent Larsen
Churches united against new brothel laws
Brisbane Australia Courier-Mail 22Jun99 L1
hurches united against new brothel laws
The LDS Church has joined religious leaders from seven other religions to
oppose a plan to legalize brothels in the state of Queensland, Australia.
The proposed plan would allow brothels in industrial areas subject to
strict health conditions and controls. However, the eight churches issued a
join statement which condemned the plan.
In the statement, the Churches claimed that legalized prostitution would
harm society. "Prostitution brings an increase in sexual activity outside
marriage and consequently an increase in family breakdown. It produces an
inevitable escalation in the transmission of sexual diseases and it debases
all those involved." The letter also warned that legalized prostitution
would increase crime. "The evidence is clear that legalisation leads to a
proliferation of prostitution, not its control or containment."
The statement was organized by the Family Council of Queensland and its
vice-president, Alan Baker. He says this is the first time that these eight
churches have worked together in Queensland.
At the same time, a group called Self-Health For Queensland Workers In The
Sex Industry (SQWISI) indicated that it was also disappointed in the
proposal because it would open the industry to corruption and exploitation
and drive it underground. "Sex workers want to work legally but they (the
Government) are making it exceptionally hard," said SQWISI president
Jeffrey McLaren.
|