Australian Prime Minster Scott Morrison.
Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison finally admits to inviting Hillsong founder Brian Houston to the White House.
With the Prime Minister’s own acknowledgment of Brian Houston as his ‘mentor’, it’s important to ask some questions. In light of Scott Morrison’s latest admission, do we as Christians have the right to expect the Prime Minister, as a ‘self-proclaimed Christian’, to represent himself as not only a leader with integrity but as an ambassador for Christ?
“The righteous hates falsehood, but the wicked brings shame and disgrace.” Proverbs 13:5
Back in September, 2019 the Prime Minister made the following statement:
“Prime Minister Scott Morrison has deflected questions about whether he put forward Hillsong church leader Brian Houston to join him at a state visit in Washington DC, telling journalists it was “gossip” that did not warrant a comment. Mr Morrison declined to respond to a report in The Wall Street Journal that said the Trump administration rejected the idea of inviting Mr Houston, who was criticised by the royal commission into child sexual abuse.” (Source)
So after months of denial, the truth has finally come to light – but at what cost? Not only to the Prime Minster’s reputation as a ‘Christian’ but to that of Christ by bringing reproach upon the Gospel.
“There are six things that the Lord hates, seven that are an abomination to him: haughty eyes, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood, a heart that devises wicked plans, feet that make haste to run to evil, a false witness who breathes out lies, and one who sows discord among brothers.” Proverbs 6:16-19
“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation; that is, in Christ God was reconciling[b] the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation. Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.” 2 Corinthians 5:17-21
Scott Morrison admits asking for Hillsong founder Brian Houston invite to White House after months of dismissing issue as ‘gossip’.
ABC News Political reporters Matthew Doran and Stephanie Borys wrIte:
“After months of dismissing questions about the issue as rumour and gossip, the Prime Minister has conceded Hillsong founder Brian Houston’s name was put forward to attend a state dinner with United States President Donald Trump last year.
Key points:
The Wall Street Journal first reported the Prime Minister wanted the Hillsong founder invited to the White House
Scott Morrison has repeatedly dismissed questions on the issue as rumour and “gossip”
He has now conceded Mr Houston’s name was put forward, even though he was not given an invitation
The glamorous event at the White House last September was attended by Mr Morrison, his wife Jenny and a number of other Australian dignitaries.
The Wall Street Journal was first to report Scott Morrison wanted Mr Houston to be with him at some events during an official visit to the US, including the dinner.
“It’s all gossip,” he told reporters at the time.
On Tuesday, Mr Morrison said he had known Mr Houston for a “long time”, and argued Hillsong had a “very big network of churches all across the United States.”
For the first time, he confirmed to Sydney radio station 2GB that Australia had placed Mr Houston’s name on a suggested invite list. (CWC Editor’s note: Audio linked below)
“On that occasion, we put forward a number of names — that included Brian — but not everybody whose name was put forward was invited,” he said.
“People have chased this round and round for months.”
At the time, the Prime Minister’s office said invitations were issued at the discretion of the hosts, and Mr Houston did not attend any of the events.
The Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse criticised Mr Houston, arguing he had failed a victim of abuse by failing to report allegations of abuse against his father.
In early October last year, Mr Morrison refused to answer questions on the Wall Street Journal report on Sky News.
“There’s one un-published source,” he said.
“If people have an established source who’s prepared to put their names to things, well, that’s a different matter.”
Later that month, the Opposition questioned the Prime Minister on the issue during Question Time.
Mr Morrison was quick to turn the matter into an attack on New South Wales Labor, after allegations of improper donations were raised at the state anti-corruption commission.
“The invitations to the White House dinner were issued by the White House,” he told Parliament.
“I think the Australian people are more interested in who Jamie Clements was inviting to lunch and who he was inviting to dinner, on behalf of the New South Wales Labor Party, and how much cash was in the wine bag.”
In December, Mr Morrison was asked again in Parliament, and suggested Labor was engaging in “smears, accusations and even attacking people’s faith”.
When pushed on Tuesday on why he avoided questions about the reports for so long, Mr Morrison conceded he could have been more upfront.
“Look, at the time I could have answered the question differently,” he told the ABC’s 7.30 program.
“But honestly, at the end of the day, it was not a significant matter.”
Deputy Labor leader Richard Marles said Tuesday’s confirmation brought the Prime Minister’s integrity into question.
“Ultimately, the Prime Minister is not a straight shooter, that’s the only thing you can make from this,” he said.
“When he was asked about this a few months ago he said that this was just gossip, now he accepts that this is actually true.
“So back then, when he said it was just gossip, he wasn’t being straight with the Australian people.”
Source: ABC News, ‘Politics’, https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-03-03/morrison-admits-asking-for-hillsong-founder-invite-white-house/12022130?fbclid=IwAR1oZq9wYgTbE59v6wT3fW2BYUXtLFTbp9FZWzAgK79ZE4RwgN6WZSP6sfo. Published March 3, 2020. (Accessed March 3, 2020.)
2GB Radio host Ben Fordham.
BEN FORDHAM EXCLUSIVE | PM finally admits to inviting Hillsong founder to the White House:
“Prime Minister Scott Morrison has admitted he put forward a request for Hillsong founder Brian Houston to be invited to the White House dinner during his state visit.
It was reported Mr Morrison asked the White House if the pastor could accompany him to events during the official visit, but they rejected the request.
The Prime Minister and his department repeatedly refused to answer questions about the alleged invitation, claiming it’s “all gossip”, until now.
Mr Houston was under police investigation at the time, and still is, over his alleged failure to report his father’s sexual abuse of young boys.
The Prime Minister has finally admitted to Ben Fordham that the reports were not just “gossip”.
“We put forward a number of names, that included Brian. But, not everybody whose name was put forward was invited.
“People have chased this round and round for months… at the end of the day what’s important is the relationship we have with the United States, and it’s never been better.”
When asked if he knew Mr Houston was under police investigation at the time, the PM said, “they’re not things I follow closely”.”
Click PLAY below to hear the full interview:
Source: EXCLUSIVE | PM finally admits to inviting Hillsong founder to the White House, 2GB, https://www.2gb.com/exclusive-pm-finally-admits-to-inviting-hillsong-founder-to-the-white-house/, Premiered March 03, 2020. (Accessed March 3, 2020.)
In previous articles CWC has reported that Hillsong promotes a theology called ‘The Seven Spheres‘– which is why movements like Hillsong target successful businessmen, celebrities and influential figures in law/politics such as the Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison. It’s common knowledge that Brian Houston, the leading Apostle of Hillsong Church, is acknowledged as one of Scott Morrison’s mentors. (Source)
Related CWC articles:
Timeline & Source Material: Related to Frank Houston’s Pedophilia Coverup
An open letter to Prime Minister Scott Morrison.
Follow-up on my Open Letter to Scott Morrison P.M.
My third open letter to the Prime Minister.
Scott Morrison sharing a platform with a church leader still under investigation.
Email all comments and questions to c3churchwatch@hotmail.com
“Have I then become your enemy by telling you the truth?” Galatians 4:16
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