The important debate re school chaplaincy (and Special Religious Education) in Australian schools is being waged on many fronts. Confusing the issues are political expediency and opportunism, unclear definitions, and a range of alleged apparent motivations across the religious sector. State specific situations, such as the “Ethics alternative” showdown in NSW and the administrative issuesContinue reading “Clarifying the School Chaplaincy case before the High Court”
Tag Archives: school chaplaincy
Church State solution still simmers on the side-lines
This came across my screen a few days ago and I think it’s one of the more cogent opinion pieces I’ve seen in the media as the High Court hearing on government funding for National School Chaplaincy Program approaches. Hurdle in church-state juggle – Opinion – Editorial – General – The Canberra Times. Next month,Continue reading “Church State solution still simmers on the side-lines”
Teach, don’t preach: how to do religion in schools – ABC Religion & Ethics – Opinion
I’ve made my own arguments along similar lines. Ronald Noone, chaplain at Melbourne Grammar, adds some interesting points that, in my view, have potential to de-polarise the debate and de-wedge the issue. Teach, don’t preach: how to do religion in schools – ABC Religion & Ethics – Opinion.
School chaplaincy – sacred or secular?
The wedge drives even deeper as the school chaplaincy debate continues. This morning’s Eureka Street article and the array of comments is illustrative. There was a time when “religious” and “secular” were complimentary terms, rather than opposed. Some of the rub off of this was seen in a letter in this morning’s West where anContinue reading “School chaplaincy – sacred or secular?”
No government funds, please: we’re Christians! – ABC Religion & Ethics – Blog
Storm in a teacup or point of no return? As an advocate for chaplaincy and stakeholder with my state provider (which, by the way, was formative in crafting the guidelines that made the whole thing workable before and after the complication of government funding), I find sense in the view expressed here: No government funds,Continue reading “No government funds, please: we’re Christians! – ABC Religion & Ethics – Blog”
Funding school chaplaincy
Australia’s National School Chaplaincy Program is under review and the public is invited to respond to a discussion paper through submissions that are due no later than March 18th. As I predicted when government subsidies for chaplains in schools was announced by the Howard government in 2006, religious organisations would need to prepare for a roughContinue reading “Funding school chaplaincy”
Wondering Pilgrim 