Appendix 3:

The political history of the Crown of the United Kingdom and the history of the Christian Church were so intertwined as to be virtually inseparable, so neither one is complete without the other.

Magna Carta in its Historical Context:

This document was imposed first on the tyrant King John, marking an agreement between him and his subjects concerning the limits and responsibilities of Government and the legal God-given rights of free citizens.

The Archbishop of Canterbury, Stephen Langton, was the hero of Magna Carta, achieving measures against King John that were calculated to ensure that, not only would no-one of that day suffer again, but also no other generation in future would ever have to suffer oppression, persecution, and loss of God-given rights, at the hands of dictatorial rulers.  Magna Carta was worded so as to restrain, not only monarchs, but also politicians, bureaucrats and others who might decide to usurp power beyond their Constitutional authority.

After John died in 1216, Magna Carta was renewed in turn by his son, and his grandson after him, and by all succeeding rulers thereafter down to our present Queen who agreed to uphold it in 1953.  Whenever monarchs and parliamentarians broke their Oaths to God regarding Magna Carta, the people suffered.  It is an article of Christian religious belief:

"When the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice;  but when the wicked rule, the people mourn.  (Proverbs 29.2)

Australia's positiion will worsen so long as freedom of religion is denied to Christianity.  We had no part in writing Magna Carta, but those who did, wrote it on our behalf and for our benefit, and therefore we should not let our inherited rights be removed by today's all-too-powerful political/judicial elite.

The Petition of Right in its Historical Context

In 1628 King Charles signed this Petition, admitting his subjects had the right not to be oppressed or unlawfully imprisoned.  Charles granted this Petition and it became law.  It has been regarded ever since as one of the most important laws of the land.

The Bill of Rights in its Historical Context:

In 1689, William of Orange had to sign the Declaration of Rights to enable him to become William III.  This was his promise to respect the liberties of his subjects.

"Upon which their said Majesties did accept the Crown and Royal Dignity of the Kingdoms of England, France and Ireland and the Dominions thereunto belonging according to the Resolution and Desire of the Lords and Commons contained in the said Declaration."

The new Parliament turned this Declaration into the law known as the Bill of Rights, which has to be agreed to by every monarch before taking the throne, repeatedly confirming the nation's belief that Almighty God rules in the affairs of men.

*And the said Lords Spiritual and Temporal and Commons seriously considering how it hath pleased Almighty God in His marvellous Providence and merciful Goodness to this Nation to provide and preserve their said Majesties' Royal Persons most happily to reign over us upon the Throne of their Ancestors for which they render unto Him from the bottom of their hearts their humblest Thanks and Praises . . .  "

The right of a citizen to petition Parliament - the House of Representatives - and to be heard, is the basis for a democratic government of the people, by the people, and for the people.  Due process of law demands it because without this right, democracy is not preserved and tyranny exists.

Possession of power presents temptations to abuse it; and the disparity between the respective powers of the State and the citizen is immense. That abuse of power, sanctioned by our Government and Parliament through legislation, is being used every day in the courts throughout the land against the people. It is, therefore, a matter of equality before the law and a fairness issue that needs to be addressed.