The Sydney Morning Herald Digital Edition: Government needs to stop the bankrolling of religion
Ok, SOR students, think this one through!
This article is from the June 23 issue of The Sydney Morning Herald Digital Edition. To subscribe for $4.50 a week, visit http://smh.com.au/digitaledition.
According to the 2011 census ‘‘ No Religion’ ’ had the biggest jump: 18.7 per cent in 2006 to 22.3 per cent in 2011 – toppling Anglican to be the second largest religious grouping. Meanwhile, first-placed Catholicism dropped from 25.8 per cent to 25.3 per cent, meaning ‘‘ no religion’ ’ will most likely be No.1 in one or two census cycles.
Perhaps this is rapture related, but the ‘‘ All Christian’ ’ has dropped from 63.9 per cent to 61.1 per cent. Still the majority, but for how long?
Why then, pray tell, are politicians falling over themselves to protect the unconstitutional, almost 100 per cent Christian chaplaincy program so unrepresentative of Australia’s religious affiliation (‘‘ Federal funding threat’’ , June 21)? Why is the federal government spending two thirds of its funding on the one third of kids in the religious education system. And why is the state increasing private funding more than public?
The government needs to stop bankrolling religion. We simply can’t fund them all. Public education should be the priority for all levels of government.
Why is there such fear in our politicians about standing up for the public, free and secular education system that our society owes most for its success?
Nathan Lee Surry Hills
Copyright © 2012 The Sydney Morning Herald
