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Some sad news from our Pastafarian friends down under –
The CoFSM Australia has been denied again in its goal for formal recognition by the state. (The legal designation they’re aiming for is the same idea as a religious non-profit organization in the US.)
The original application had been denied some time ago and then appealed to an administrative tribunal, where CoFSM Australia leader Tanya Watkins argued the merits of the Church. I am certain Tanya did an amazing job, but unfortunately the tribunal ruled against us. Among other things, they found that our writings are offensive, and that the purpose of the writings are to mock other religions. The tribunal lady does not think we are funny, and religion is serious business and not to be made fun of, is how I read her statement.
In the ruling, Ms McEvoy noted that while various “Pastafarian texts” are set out in traditional religious forms, they “contain some surprising articulations”, such as references to the books of the Bible as the “Old Testicle” and “New Testicle”
I do not accept the applicant’s explanation of the use of these expressions (and numerous other similar expressions, many expressed in racist and sexist terms, referencing texts or practices of other religions) as examples of humour, and for the purpose of generating curiosity.”
Ms McEvoy said she was satisfied that the “Pastafarian texts present a hoax religion”.
It is my view that the Pastafarian texts can only be read as parody or satire, namely, an imitation of work made for comic effect. In my view, its purpose is to satirise or mock established religions, and it does so without discrimination,” she wrote.
excerpt from abc.net.au news article
It is disappointing, but not surprising. These fights are happening all over the world and it’s obvious where there is some co-mingling of State and Religion even in places that proclaim to have seperation.
The tele-evangelists with their private jets who are conning the poor with prosperity gospel, those are legitimate organizations? OK. It’s hard to respect the opinion of state authorities who have for years failed to protect the public from abuses of the religious organizations they’ve deemed legitimate.
The truth is that every time an “official” ruling is made against our Church it illustrates how absurd the whole idea is of the state defining what is a legitimate religious organization. Every ruling against the Church of FSM shines light on the biases and the record of the authorities who are making these rulings.
But it will be fine. The Church will continue to grow without formal recognition.
We all owe a big thanks to Tanya Watkins who has been leading these battles in Australia for years. She is incredibly organized and I do not know where she gets the energy to do all that she does. Everyone should read the article on abc.net.au about this latest battle with the tribunal – Tanya has some good quotes in there, and also there’s a very fetching photo, below. Thank you Tanya.
Here’s the ABC article: read here
