An evangelical church pastor, who blamed the Victorian bushfire tragedy on the state’s abortion laws, has been given the “Ernie Award” for “sexist comments”. (ABC News, 1/10/2009)

The Ernie Award is presented annually by a self-appointed group of women, answerable to nobody. The media like them, however, because they are anti-Christian.

The media dis-like Pastor Nalliah, having the impression that he is a Christian — debatable, considering his group doesn’t celebrate the traditional centuries-old Christian Sacraments, doing, instead, their own thing since setting themselves up in 1997.

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The media don’t mention that Mr Nalliah’s group didn’t only comment on the fires — they also did practical work helping bushfire victims, providing four trucks to help to distribute relief items in cooperation with the Salvation Army.

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Nor will the media mention the vital question: “May Mr Nalliah, in fact, be right?”  That question would involve logical thought — something our media doesn’t generally encourage.

Why do we consider the bushfires a “tragedy”?  Is it because human life has an intrinsic value and sacredness? Who says the lives of little, unborn, defenceless (aborted) babies have no intrinsic value?

Everyone knows that an arsonist starting a fire which kills people does something bad. What about a government passing laws to facilitate killing human beings?

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Even Mr Nalliah, doubtful value as he may be in many regards, cannot get everything wrong every time he speaks.

His remarks about the fires and abortion — tactless and ill-timed as they may have been –raise issues that we should seek the fortitude to face.