Following is a report about a startling speech by Bill Clinton in April 1997 that was seen on Australian TV. As you will see, we think it merits further investigation.

In June 1997, Ken McLeod of Rockhapton wrote me a letter that said "During Anzac Weekend (26th April, 1997) we spent time at Mackay (SDA church) where the folk were talking about a news reoprt by President Bill Clinton. He said he plans to initiate legislation in 1998 to make Sunday the national family day to bring Americans together. He also mentioned Jews and Seventh-day Adaventists with other minority groups who might oppose the idea. This was seen on American NBC and American ABC."

Ken wrote that he had contacted the Religious Liberty Director, Ray Coombes, who had been unable to confirm anything following correspondence with the General Conference in America. Other attemps to obtain footage of TV report had been unsuccessful.

I have since rung and interviewed the people who saw Bill Clinton giving this speech. One was an SDA Church Elder from Walkerston in Nth QLD, Eddie Kelly who saw it on ABC around 9:30pm on a Tuesday night, either the 8th or the 15th of April, Alison Scuderi, from Bucasia saw it on the NBC, around the same time, also her mother, and a non-SDA friend of hers who regularly videoed the American news broadcasts, had videoed the report, watched it, and taped over it by the time Alison mentioned it to her

New reports continue to come in that confirm the same details. Lynn Heywood of Emerald saw it on early morning CNN World news on channel 9, her daughter was with her at the time. Lynn was so startled by it, she rang her husband at work, her two daughters, her mother in Dubbo, and her sister in Adelaide. She remembered Clinton standing behind a podium, with a flower arrangementin front of the podium, with other men of high position around him. She also rang Pr Tsoni her local SDA pastor.

Four other people (SDA's) in other parts of Australia, say too, that they were made aware of this speech through the media. All these people say that Bill Clinton called for Sunday to be made an American Family Day, and said that Jews and Seventh-day Adventists would oppose it. Other partly corroborated details that have emerged are; that Clinton said that the idea of Sunday as a National Family Day was to bring Americans together, and to make America a religious nation. Also, that he said he would like all Americans to attend church on the Sunday before Christmas this year, and that he would like everyone to keep going next year. Also, that he would like to see legislation in place next year.

We stress that we have had difficulty in gaining access to the TV foreign news reports. The Rockhampton SDA minister has been e-mailing the White house, but has had no success in getting through

And yes, National Family Day is a Sunday. They have chosen a particular date, Sunday, Oct 26, as "the first official, Family Day", for this year, they say because it was on the date that the Dutch explorer first landed on the shores of Australia, back in 1616. However, what are they going to do next year, 1998 when Oct.26 falls on Monday, and then on Oct.26,1999, when it falls on Tuesday etc., because the co-ordinator told me they intend to keep it going. Will the emphasis be on the date Oct.26 or on the Sunday.

I have spoken at some length with the coordinator who told me that while some/ most of the churches are behind it, one church is not, (she did not name it) who she expected, will eventually catch on and see it as a great idea, worthy of support. One of the activities she mentioned on the phone to me as being suitable for National Family Day was going to church. It certainly is a very strange coincidence, and although the coordinator maintains that the idea was her own, why was it launched in Australia close to the alleged speech by Bill Clinton, why is it called "National Family Day" not an Australian Family Day, why was the Prime Minister at the lauch and why is it on Sunday? It is either an uncanny coincidence or it is part of a bigger agenda that those involved little about.

This is a confirmation that the idea of Sunday as a National Family Day is not imaginary, but a fact and reality. It is being promoted with wonderful innocency, and sounds like a terrific idea. However, what principles are behind the idea, where did it come from, where does this idea intend to go, and where will it take us? It is of extreme intrest considering the reports of Bill Clinton's televised speech to make Sunday a National Family Day. One of the activities that they are promoting to raise money and to encourage the spirit of the day, is for families to buy candles to light for every family member who they wish were there. The candle is the central symbol in the National Family Day logo, that looks like a mixture of the International Year of the Family logo and the Amnesty International logo.

When we read the current ideas of those who are seeking to promote Sunday as a day of rest, the link is very clear. Bradley Googins, Ph.D. of Boston University says; "We must articulate a vision of life which values family time, reflective time and communities built on caring and mutual support. Only by framing the Sunday closing laws in this manner do we have a chance for insuring a basic quality of life for our families and communities." (The Massachusetts Coucil of Churches Boston Jan.1993 papers, Sunday Closing Laws revisited."A Biblical, Ethical and Sociological Study of a Common Day of Rest.") Clearly they seek to emphasise Sunday as a suitalble day for family time, to gain their Sunday Closing laws.

Return to National Sunday Law