http://www.thepunch.com.au/author-bios/father-paul-kelly/ Paul Kelly is parish priest of St Mary’s Catholic Parish in Maryborough, Queensland. LLB (hons); BEcon; BTh, Grad DipMin. en Copyright 2012 The Punch penberthyd@newsltd.com.au penberthyd@newsltd.com.au Sat, 26 May 2012 20:00:40 +0000 Sat, 26 May 2012 20:00:40 +0000 Politics, opinion, world news, sports news, latest news, views, Barack Obama, Kevin Rudd, Julia Gillard, Nathan Rees, Malcolm Turnbull, Peter Garrett, Barnaby Joyce, Australian, federal politics, opinion polls, election, The Punch, thepunch, punch ExpressionEngine 1.6.7 http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss 15 http://www.thepunch.com.au/images/punch-logo-rss.png http://www.thepunch.com.au/ 144 70 Politics, political opinion, world news, sports news and the latest news and views updated live, daily on The Punch - Australia's best conversation. Search The Punch keywords http://www.thepunch.com.au/search/ http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/an-archaic-defence-that-belongs-in-the-dark-ages/ In July 2008 I was shocked when I received a call from the police telling me that my parish church of Saint Mary’s, in Maryborough, Queensland, was a crime scene. A man was found dead by parishioners as they arrived for a morning communion liturgy. It was devastating and shocking. I and my parishioners followed the case closely. Very soon, two suspects were caught. Our church security cameras caught the events of the terrible bashing. I was appalled when it was claimed that an alleged homosexual advance was a reason given for the man being bashed and left lying overnight in the church grounds. I was likewise appalled when I found that an alleged or perceived homosexual advance (of even the most minor gesture or touch) can be used as a partial defence in a murder case in Queensland (and also to an extent in NSW). What reason could justify a bashing that leads to someone’s death? feedback@thepunch.com.au (Father Paul Kelly) Article http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/an-archaic-defence-that-belongs-in-the-dark-ages/#comments http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/an-archaic-defence-that-belongs-in-the-dark-ages/#item7504 Tue, 10 Jan 2012 19:55:54 +0000 Father Paul Kelly | Author bios | The Punch