On a national curriculum...

Submitted by Kevin 

From The Age 

Curriculum head warns against axing religion
By Michael Bachelard
May 29, 2011 

The soon-to-be-introduced national curriculum may not include a religious education subject. Photo: Reuters 

THE man in charge of Australia's national curriculum insists there is no problem with the way religious instruction is taught in Victoria, and warns that any moves to axe religion classes could drive parents out of the public system and into private schools.

Professor Barry McGaw, the chairman of the national curriculum authority, told The Sunday Age: ''I don't see anything wrong with a special religious instruction that operates precisely on [the current] grounds. If we deny any place to religion in public education and wish to make it entirely [secular], we are actually basing it on a particular world view.

''And the problem with that is that religious parents might opt out of the public school system, and that would not be a good thing.''
 

Full story:   http://www.theage.com.au/national/education/curriculum-head-warns-against-axing-religion-20110528-1f9py.html 

More from ACCESS Ministries

From The Age

Access Ministries unfairly blamed over classes: bishop
By Jewel Topsfield 
May 27, 2011

Access Ministries chairman Bishop Stephen Hale. Photo: Wayne Taylor

THE group that teaches Christian education in government primary schools says it is up to the Education Department to address the concerns of parents whose children opt out of the classes.

Access Ministries chairman Stephen Hale said the group had been unfairly blamed for controversial aspects of the special religious instruction program, such as children who opt out being forced to sit in the corridor or at the back of the classroom.

Full story:   http://www.theage.com.au/national/education/access-ministries-unfairly-blamed-over-classes-bishop-20110526-1f6b8.html

Thoughts of an Anglican priest

From Fr Craig's blog "Humane Catholic"

Some further reflections on Access 

Wednesday, May 25, 2011
 
It’s an interesting experience; being a temporary minor media personality. The sermon immediately below in this blog was picked up by The Sunday Age, a Melbourne-based broadsheet, and turned into an article with the rather disarming title “Priest urges end to ‘forced’ religious education”. I had been contacted by Jill Stark from The Sunday Age, who had read my sermon, and having realized that she had some pretty basic facts incorrect, I decided that it was better to speak to her than not. As always, what comes out in print is never exactly what you would have written yourself . . .

Full blog post:   http://humanecatholic.blogspot.com/2011/05/some-further-reflections-on-access.html

Note that Fr Craig's article does not distinguish between RE/RI/SRE/SRI and the NSCP.

Professor of Law weighs in on NSCP

Submitted by Graham

From The Sydney Morning Herald

Chaplaincy challenge reveals legal failure 
By Prof George Williams, UNSW
May 24, 2011

The national school chaplaincy program will soon come under a new line of attack. Despite the Gillard government's $222 million expansion of the program in the budget, the scheme may yet be struck down as unconstitutional by the High Court, which this month gave the go-ahead for a challenge to be heard in August.

Australia's constitution does not separate church and state. The closest it comes is in section 116, which says the Commonwealth cannot make any law for ''establishing any religion'', ''imposing any religious observance'' or ''prohibiting the free exercise of any religion''.

That section also says ''no religious test shall be required as a qualification for any office or public trust under the Commonwealth''. A Queensland parent, Ron Williams, is relying on this in mounting his challenge. He argues the program is invalid because it sets a religious test for anyone who wishes to be a Commonwealth-funded chaplain.

Full Story:   http://www.smh.com.au/opinion/politics/chaplaincy-challenge-reveals-legal-failure-20110523-1f0qe.html

Teachers vote against religious classes

From The Age

Teacher union calls for end to religious classes
By Michael Bachelard
May 15, 2011
 
Victoria's teachers' union is calling for an end to religious education in state schools, increasing pressure on the Baillieu government over the controversial program.

The Victorian branch, representing 46,000 state school teachers, passed a resolution at its Friday council meeting calling for Special Religious Instruction during school hours to be scrapped.

Its resolution stated that public education must remain ''free and secular''. 

Full Story:   http://www.theage.com.au/victoria/teacher-union-calls-for-end-to-religious-classes-20110514-1enkw.html 

My thoughts: Firstly, I'll just remind readers that, whilst the current NSCP news circus is mentioned in the article, this issue is separate to the NSCP. Secondly, I'm not sure I completely agree with this motion that SRI/SRE/RI/RE classes (or whatever the different states want to call them) should be halted. Re-assessed and re-configured ? Definitely... but not ended completely. I do feel, however, that this instruction should be in a historial context, and that only comparative religion should be taught. Ideally, no single religion should be given preference or promoted above another by the instructors, and there certainly shouldn't be any proselytising to students.

Curiously, one might also be prompted to ask who would best be chosen from our community to fulfil such a role. I understand that, in a recent survey in the US, atheists were determined to be the most knowledgeable in the community with regard to the various religions. Would this make them best suited to perform such a role ? Perhaps, but folks of faith might feel uncomfortable at the suggestion. Why might this be ? A lack of trust, it seems. Another US survey from a few years ago identifies atheists as the least trusted persons in their communities. 

You couldn't make it up. 

As the previous blog post testifies, fear of folks with differing opinions or world views than one's own is often more powerful than reason.

Excuse me, your bigotry is showing...

From ABC News

Gays and Christians clash in street rally
15 May, 2011

Police have been forced to intervene during a clash between the gay and lesbian community and a group of street preachers in Adelaide. 

The violence broke out during a rally to mark International Day Against Homophobia and Transphobia on Saturday.

The protest began peacefully with 150 members of the gay and lesbian community gathering to stage a mass wedding, calling for equal rights for gay marriage.

But when members of the Christian Street Church crashed the rally, tension escalated.

Full story:   http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2011/05/14/3216987.htm 

Carr Revs Up

from ABC News

Carr urges Gillard to scrap chaplain funding
By Michael Edwards
Updated Sat May 14, 2011 11:57am AEST
 

Former New South Wales premier Bob Carr has called on the Prime Minister to cancel funding for the schools chaplaincy program.

A religious group which provides chaplains to Victorian schools has been accused of trying to convert students during religious classes.

Its chief executive has been recorded telling a group of evangelical Anglicans to make the most of the school access and "go and make disciples" of students.

Access Ministries has denied the allegations, but the claims have sparked debate about whether the Federal Government has a role in funding religious education.

Mr Carr is well known for his interest in political and constitutional matters and is a firm believer in the principle of the separation of church and state.

Full Story: http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2011/05/14/3216888.htm 


Audio:  http://mpegmedia.abc.net.au/news/audio/am/201105/20110514-am04-school-chaplains.mp3

ABC's Background Briefing

Submitted by Graham

from ABC Radio National

Church and state
By Hagar Cohen
10 April 2011 

Concerns were raised when federal funding for chaplains in schools was introduced. Now some parents have evidence evangelism has seeped into the secular public school system. Others are staunch supporters. The controversy is now headed for the High Court. Photograph by Andrew Turner.

This program contains reports on various instances of complaints against the NSCP, and I highly recommend listening to the entire program (49 minutes).

Site and comments: http://www.abc.net.au/rn/backgroundbriefing/stories/2011/3183516.htm

Download Audio (22.5Mb.. Right click, Save As): http://mpegmedia.abc.net.au/rn/podcast/2011/04/bbg_20110410.mp3

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Submitted by Gary - lead-up story

from ABC News 

Chaplains accused of pushing religion in schools

By Hagar Cohen for Background Briefing
Updated Fri Apr 8, 2011 10:54am AEST

Some parents say they have evidence the federally-funded National School Chaplaincy program is being used to push religion to public school students.

The controversy is now headed for the High Court, and there is also a Federal Government review and an ombudsman's investigation.

In 2007 the Howard government introduced federal funding for chaplains to work in schools, with the proviso they were not to evangelise or proselytise.

But the New South Wales Parents and Citizens Association says there is evidence chaplains are proselytising in public schools and students are being encouraged to join religious activities and prayer meetings.

Council of State School Organisations NSW president Helen Walton says her association is receiving more and more information about proselytising incidences.

Full story:   http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2011/04/08/3185850.htm

Access Ministries responds

From The Age

We are not out to convert children in schools: bishop 
By Jewel Topsfield 
May 14, 2011

The chairman of a Christian group that provides religious education classes in Victorian government schools has insisted its volunteers do not try to convert children, despite the group's chief executive having told a conference that ''we need to go and make disciples''.

Bishop Stephen Hale said there was no evidence Access Ministries breached federal and state guidelines that prohibit proselytising in government schools.

''This controversy has been running for about five weeks - you would have thought if we were breaching the guidelines there would have been a litany of complaints and in fact there haven't been any,'' Bishop Hale told the ABC.
 

Full story:   http://www.theage.com.au/national/we-are-not-out-to-convert-children-in-schools-bishop-20110513-1emhd.html

ABC Radio interview with Waleed Aly:   http://media.theage.com.au/news/national-times/access-ministries-bishop-dismisses-speech-2360451.html

The Age - Cartoonist Comment

Hmmm...

Seen atop The Age's letters page (13MAY11). 

http://www.theage.com.au/national/letters/tony-abbott-distorts-menzies-real-meaning-20110513-1emao.html

Heat in a Victorian Winter

Submitted by Ralph

from The Age

School religion classes probed
By Jewel Topsfield
May 13, 2011

THE Christian group that provides religious education and chaplains in Victorian government schools will be investigated after its chief executive told a conference: ''We need to go and make disciples.''

The remarks appear to breach guidelines governing school religious programs, which ban trying to convert students to any one religion.

The federal and state governments said last night they would investigate Access Ministries after a recording of the speech by Evonne Paddison was brought to their attention.
Advertisement: Story continues below

Despite repeatedly denying that Access Ministries tried to convert students, the recording reveals Dr Paddison told the 2008 conference that ''without Jesus, our students are lost''.

''In Australia, we have a God-given open door to children and young people with the Gospel, our federal and state governments allow us to take the Christian faith into our schools and share it. We need to go and make disciples,'' she told the Evangelical Fellowship in the Anglican Communion national conference in Melbourne. ''What really matters is seizing the God-given opportunity we have to reach kids in schools.''

Both governments have strongly backed the religion in schools programs.

Full Story:   http://www.theage.com.au/national/school-religion-classes-probed-20110512-1ekr9.html

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Submitted by Gary - background, previous story, same organisation

School chaplain body says it has 'mission'
By Michael Bachelard
April 24, 2011
 

The Christian organisation that provides chaplains and religious instruction teachers in state schools has advertised its services as a ''mission'' in an area of Melbourne with a large Muslim population.

An Access Ministries advertising feature shows a Christian chaplain at multicultural Glenroy Primary School talking to two Muslim children wearing hijabs. The headline is: ''Your Community Our Mission''.

In the accompanying article, published last year, Access Ministries' chief executive Evonne Paddison wrote that: ''My prayer is that each child in Victoria, with your help will experience the transforming love of God and his son Jesus.''

Full story:   http://www.theage.com.au/victoria/school-chaplain-body-says-it-has-mission-20110423-1ds9a.html

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Submitted by Gary - ABC hot to trot on this story..

from ABC News

Chaplains investigated over student 'disciples'

By James Bennett
Updated Fri May 13, 2011 8:57am AEST

The religious organisation that provides chaplains to Victorian schools appears to have breached federal guidelines that forbid it from trying to convert children.

Access Ministries provides chaplains to 280 Victorian schools and 96 per cent of special religious education classes.

The group received extra funding in this week's federal budget.

The national school chaplaincy code of conduct, which every chaplain must sign, stipulates they should not take advantage of their privileged position to try to convert children to their religious belief or denomination.

But on its website, the boss of Access Ministries outlines a strategy to "make students disciples."
 
Full story:   http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2011/05/13/3215690.htm

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Submitted by Gary - The next salvo, just a few hours later..

from ABC News 

Disciple claim sparks call for chaplain funding freeze

By Monique Ross
Updated Fri May 13, 2011 2:35pm AEST
 

A prominent author and ethicist has called for an immediate freeze to school chaplain funding amid allegations a religious organisation is trying to make disciples of Victorian students.

Access Ministries, which received a funding boost in the federal budget, provides chaplains to 280 Victorian schools on the proviso it does not push religion onto students.

The organisation was today accused of breaching those guidelines after the ABC found a 2008 speech in which its head said chaplains "have a God-given open door to children" and "need to go and make disciples".

Access Ministries denies the claims, saying there have been no complaints it has breached any guidelines.

But Australian humanist of the year Leslie Cannold says the funding for school chaplains should be halted while the allegations are investigated.

"In the face of these persistent revelations that these organisations that provide chaplaincy services are taking advantage of the fact that children are away from their parents to try to convert them to Christianity, an immediate freeze on all the funds that are going to these organisations [is needed]," she said.

Full story:   http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2011/05/13/3216156.htm 

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Submitted by Gary - But wait, there's more...

from ABC Radio's PM program 

Investigation ordered into religious educator 

By Liz Hobday
Friday, May 13, 2011  6:14pm

ASHLEY HALL: The debate over religion in government schools is intensifying, with the head of a Christian group hitting out at claims it tries to convert students during religious education classes.

The group, Access Ministries, provides chaplains and special religious instructors to Victorian schools. Its chief executive has been recorded telling a group of evangelical Anglicans to make the most of the school access to "go and make disciples".


Full audio report:    http://mpegmedia.abc.net.au/news/audio/pm/201105/20110513-02-schools-religion.mp3

Transcript:   http://www.abc.net.au/pm/content/2011/s3216526.htm

Throwing good money after bad ?

From ABC News

Chaplain budget boost no blessing, say critics

By Monique Ross
Updated Thu May 12, 2011 11:17am AEST

School chaplains and religious groups have welcomed $222 million in extra funding to the National School Chaplaincy Program, but not everyone is pleased with the budget boost.

In 2007 the Howard government introduced federal funding for chaplains to work in schools, with the proviso they were not to push religion onto students.

But critics of the program say chaplains have no place in public schools, and there is evidence they are encouraging vulnerable students to join religious activities and prayer meetings.
 
Full story:   http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2011/05/11/3214060.htm 

Simon Longstaff on the spot

Submitted by Ralph 

from Greg Callaghan in The Australian May 07, 2011 12:00AM

SIMON Longstaff, 52, ethicist, on religion, secularism, free speech and garage-sale bargains. 

• There are those who use the notion of “free speech” and “freedom of religion” to vilify minorities. When is it appropriate to put limits on free speech? 
• Can a society only be truly tolerant if it’s a secular one? After all, theocratic governments have never been known for their tolerance.
• Is it reasonable for religious institutions of whatever hue to demand – and receive – exemption from anti-discrimination legislation? For instance, the right not to employ gay people or non-believers?

These and other questions parried with his usual eloquence.


Full Story:   http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/features/questions-simon-longstaff/story-e6frg8h6-1226049959062

The "Real" Good News

Submitted by Max

Budget to crack down on charities loophole 

by Michelle Grattan
May 7, 2011
 
THE federal budget will close a tax loophole to prevent substantial revenue being lost through charities and other non-profit organisations running businesses unrelated to their altruistic work.

These businesses get the exemption from income tax that their parent bodies enjoy. The crackdown will mean they will pay income tax on the profits they retain in their commercial undertakings, rather than sending them back to altruistic work.
 

Full story:   http://www.theage.com.au/national/budget-to-crack-down-on-charities-loophole-20110506-1ec9w.html

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Submitted by Gary

Charities face profits being taxed in budget 

by Phillip Coorey, Peter Hartcher
May 7, 2011
 

THE federal budget will put a lid on the practice of so-called charities using their tax-free status to generate business income for no charitable purpose whatsoever.

In changes to be announced in the federal budget on Tuesday, not-for-profit organisations will have to pay tax on profits that are kept for commercial purposes and not redirected towards the organisation's altruistic purpose.
 
Full story :   http://www.smh.com.au/national/charities-face-profits-being-taxed-in-budget-20110506-1ec2u.html 

Lazy teachers, or the arrogance of preachers ?

Submitted by Ralph

Teacher Fury Over God Comic

by Jewel Topsfield
May 6, 2011
 

A COMIC strip that tells children who are bullied to pray, because teachers are too lazy and callous to help them unless God intervenes, was advertised as a ''resource'' by the group that teaches Christian education classes in primary schools.

The cartoon has enraged teachers, who claim they have been vilified by Christian education provider Access Ministries, and reignited debate over the controversial special religious instruction program.

Full story: http://www.theage.com.au/national/education/teacher-fury-over-god-comic-20110505-1ea5a.html

Panel Discussion at UQ

"Separation of church and state in Australia"
Thursday, 19 May from 6-7.30pm
Conference Room of the Duhig Library (UQ, St Lucia Campus)
Brisbane

Speakers: A representative of the Australian Secular Lobby, plus Professor Fred D'Agostino (UQ School of Philosophy), Professor Nick Aroney (UQ Law School) and hopefully a representative from the Australian Catholic University although that is yet to be confirmed.

They hope to canvas the opinion of the guest speakers on the questions of:

1. Is freedom of religion sufficiently protected in Australia?
2. Should religious organisations that discriminate on the basis of their religious beliefs receive funding from the government?
3. Should religious organisations receive tax-exempt status or should tax-exemption be limited to directly charitable purposes?

They also intend on having a brief question and answer session at the end of the panel discussion. So essentially, the first 45 minutes to an hour will be hearing from the panelists on these issues and the panelists will be able to respond to what the other panelists have said and the remaining time will be opened up so that people from the audience can ask questions of the panel.

New documentary film in US

This multiple award-winning documentary feature film is only just now being shown on PBS in the US. It will probably be some time before being shown here in Australia (if we're lucky enough to see it at all), but it looks to be an interesting study of this part of the history of church-state separation in that country.

Website: http://jayrosenstein.com/pages/lord.html 

Article written for the Secular Coalition of America:
http://www.secular.org/blogs/david-niose/new-pbs-doc-atheist-mom-goes-supreme-court-and-wins 

Kirby calls for religion re-think in schools

from ABC Goulburn Murray 


Former High Court judge Michael Kirby has called for a return to secularism in public education. 
By Emmie Blanks 

The Honourable Michael Kirby was in Thurgoona to give this year's Bob Meyenn lecture at Charles Sturt University.

As an Anglican who was schooled entirely in the public system, he said no-one should be excluded in public schools, and secularism defends the rights of everyone.
 
Full article: http://www.abc.net.au/local/stories/2011/04/29/3203741.htm


Direct link to interview: 
http://mpegmedia.abc.net.au/local/goulburnmurray/201104/r759005_6362684.mp3