Australia: Faith Leaders Say Proposed School Law Reform Endangers Religious Freedom
by Karen Faulkner, Worthy News Correspondent
(Worthy News) – Leaders of more than twenty Christian, Muslim, and Jewish organizations in Australia have sent a joint letter to Prime Minister Anthony Albanese warning him that religious freedoms are in danger of unwarranted restriction following the publication on Thursday of the Australian Law Reform Commission’s (ALRC) report on faith-based schools, Christian Today reports.
The much anticipated ALRC report recommends that Australia’s Sex Discrimination Act be amended to make it illegal for faith-based schools to expel or fire LGBTI+ students and staff based on their sexual orientation or gender identity.
The faith organizations’ letter asserted that the ALRC recommendations would “prevent the overwhelming majority of faith-based schools from preferring persons who share and authentically live out their faith” and possibly “extinguish their distinct and authentic character,” Christian Today reports.
In a statement the Australian Christian Schools Alliance described the report as “a direct attack on faith and freedom of belief in Australia” and asserted that “Christian education as we know it will cease to exist.” AACS Executive Officer Vanessa Chen said: “If these ALRC recommendations are adopted, it means the government can tell Christian schools who we can employ, what we can believe and teach.”
PM Albanese, who leads Australia’s Labor party, responded to the letter in a statement saying the recommendations would only be enacted if there was bipartisan support for this course of action.
‘I think Australians don’t want to see the culture wars and the division out there. I want this to be an opportunity for unity going forward, and that’s why we’ve provided the legislation to the opposition,” Albanese said.
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