Dr Nalliah caused controversy last year when claiming the Black...

Dr Nalliah caused controversy last year when claiming the Black Saturday bushfires in Victoria, which caused 173 deaths, represented divine retribution for the state's pro-abortion laws.


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Religious Right's attack on PM

A MELBOURNE preacher has savaged Julia Gillard as being unfit to be Prime Minister because, if elected, she would live out of wedlock.

In the first public attack on the Prime Minister over her self-proclaimed atheism, Danny Nalliah, head of the Catch the Fire Ministries, has described Ms Gillard as unfit for her office because she is "anti-God, pro-abortion" and bereft of Christian values.

Warning that Ms Gillard would "destroy our Judeo-Christian heritage" Dr Nalliah, in a statement released yesterday, also accused Ms Gillard of being a liar and a leftist.

"On the other hand, Mr Tony Abbott is openly Christian, pro-life and has very good moral values," Dr Nalliah wrote. "The choice is clear as to who we should vote for and save Australian from the leftist, socialist agenda."

Dr Nalliah's organisation sends preachers to churches across the nation and across denominations from 60 bases Australia-wide. It is among a group of Pentecostal-style organisations drawing followers from more traditional Christian churches. When Peter Costello was treasurer in the Howard government, he spoke at one of the organisation's rallies.

Dr Nalliah caused controversy last year when claiming the Black Saturday bushfires in Victoria, which caused 173 deaths, represented divine retribution for the state's pro-abortion laws.

His new attack targets Ms Gillard's June 29 declaration that she does not believe in God and is not willing to go through "religious rituals" for the sake of appearances.

At the time Ms Gillard made the comments, the Australian Christian Lobby warned that her views could alienate some Christians but said it respected her honesty and was hopeful she would maintain the polices of predecessor Kevin Rudd.

But in evidence of the religious Right's distaste for atheism, Dr Nalliah dismissed Ms Gillard as a role model.

"I am ashamed to say that my PM is living together with a man and could be moving into The Lodge with him shortly," Dr Nalliah wrote.

"It is a shame that our PM does not deem marriage and wedlock important enough in her own life.

"As an atheist the PM's values go against the majority of Christians and what she stands for is an insult to the belief system of the bulk of this country and therefore (she) shouldn't have the right to stay on as PM."

Dr Nalliah also wrote that Ms Gillard had "backstabbed" Mr Rudd: "How could we vote for a PM who lied even 48 hours before she kicked out Kevin Rudd?"

Ms Gillard refused to comment on the attack yesterday.


http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/nation/religious-rights-attack-on-pm/story-e6frg6nf-1225890946024