FABC News
On 10 November, the signatures on the COP22 Interfaith Statement will be delivered at handover event and the COP22 President has been invited to receive it. In addition to eminent faith leaders signing the Statement, we are also inviting all people of faith and goodwill to sign to show their support to our Statement. Add your voice to show your support of this important statement.More information can be found at www.interfaithstatement2016.org
17 October 2016
His Excellency Mr Chirachai Punkrasin
Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary
Royal Thai Embassy
111 Empire circuit
Yarralumla ACT 2600
Dear Ambassador,
Please accept the sincere and heartfelt condolences on the passing of King Bhumibol from all member groups and members of The Federation of Buddhist Councils of Australia.
His Majesty King Bhumibol was a great leader of Thailand and the Thai people for seven decades, and used his compassion and wisdom and great leadership skills combined with Buddhist principles to guide the Nation through many challenges. He will surely be deeply missed.
We fellow Buddhists from all traditions in Australia, have deep faith that these guiding principles of Buddha’s teachings will endure and continue to light the way of the future for His Majesty’s successor.
As you know, there are strong links between people of all faiths in both our countries, but especially within the Buddhist communities, and ethnic Thai communities living in Australia, where exist many long and deep ties which will continue always.
May the memory of the excellent qualities of His Majesty warm our hearts into the future.
Yours faithfully,
(signed)
Cecilia Mitra (LLB Singapore, LLM UWA)
President
Federation of Australian Buddhist Councils Inc.
e:
w: www.buddhistcouncil.org.au
The FABC does not support the Proposed Plebiscite on SSM.
The Federal Parliament already has the Constitutional mandate to legalise SSM as per the 2013 High Court Decision of The Commonwealth of Australia v The Australian Capital Territory [2013] HCA 55. Hence a plebiscite is not necessary.
The FABC’s position is that marriage between two consenting adults is a basic human right.
The FABC is of the view that holding a plebiscite on SSM will bring more pain and suffering to the LGBTI community based on a similar experience in the Republic of Ireland. Holding a plebiscite on SSM would be providing a platform for the incitement of more discrimination against the LGBTI community.
For the reasons stated above, it would be according to the teachings of the Buddha that such a plebiscite would be unethical.