Letters

Threat to schools (letter)

Richard Congram

Contents - Feb 2003 - Buy a copy now Editorial: Higher costs force up the price of 'AD2000' - Peter Westmore Vocations: Sydney seminary growth based on orthodoxy, fidelity - Fr Julian Porteous Confronting today's persecution of the Catholic Church - Bishop Luc Matthys News: The Church Around the World - AD2000 Events: Europe's most influential Catholic lay association coming to Melbourne - Anthony Cappello John Paul II Institute for Marriage and Family, Melbourne: a progress report - AD2000 Report Liturgy: The sacrifice of the Mass: the Eucharistic words of Christ - Msgr Peter J. Elliott 'Healing the family tree': New Age under the guise of religion (Part One) - Fr Peter Joseph Catholic learning in the liberal arts - Karl Schmude Brisbane Thomas More Centre: putting faith into action - Sidney Rofe Perth Rosary Tape authors' successful US visit - Colleen McGuiness-Howard Letters: Thomas Groome (letter) - Bishop Kevin Manning Letters: Eamonn Keane responds (letter) Letters: Teaching the truth (letter) - Dennis MacDonald Letters: Infallible teaching (letter) - George Simpson Letters: Threat to schools (letter) - Richard Congram Letters: Women's Commission (letter) - June See Letters: Media distortions (letter) - Nell & Rinion Aslikar Letters: Brisbane Synod (letter) - Neville Davis Letters: Catholic medical practice (letter) - Dr Tim Coyle Books: How To Win The Culture War, by Peter Kreeft - Bill Muehlenberg (reviewer) Books: The Catholic School In An Age Of Dissent, by Leonard A. Kennedy CSB - Michael Gilchrist (reviewer) Books: New year reading from AD Books Reflection: Lectio Divina: a way to deepen our prayer life and spirituality - Fr Andrew Wise

Anti-Discrimination law in Queensland prior to 29 November 2002 allowed all church schools to hire and fire staff at their discretion except on grounds of race or impairment. Thus, for example, a nominally Catholic pro-abortionist could have been refused employment on the grounds that his or her beliefs were anathema to Church teaching.

Following recent amendments to the law, that is no longer the case. If our hypothetical job-seeker is the only applicant and has appropriate academic credentials and experience it seems that the school is obliged to employ the individual or risk the wrath and punishment of the Anti-Discrimination Tribunal.

When the Amendment Bill was introduced without warning on 6 November 2002, Church authorities reacted predictably and correctly. Archbishop Bathersby attacked the amendments as a threat to Catholic education on marriage and sexual morality.

A coalition of representatives of the Catholic Church and other churches opposed the amendments and pressed the Government for acceptable changes.

This campaign achieved only a couple of minor concessions and the minutely altered amendments became law. Amazingly, the Catholic Education Commission was satisfied with an outcome which means that teachers who deviate from the Catholic norm are acceptable in our schools as long as they "don't mention the War" between the hours of nine and three.

The new law effectively prevents the Church from protecting its children in its own institutions from the influence of people whose beliefs or lifestyles it condemns.

Ironically, the rot could have been stopped, even at the eleventh hour, had the bishops given the Premier the ultimatum they would close every Catholic school in Queensland unless the offending amendments were dropped. The only reason for the existence of Catholic schools is to impart the faith and doctrine of the Church to its children. Without that essential capacity they are superfluous, for their pupils can learn the three Rs just as well or badly in State schools at far less cost to their parents.

It is still not too late, for civil laws can be repealed as well as enacted. One cannot reason or negotiate successfully with completely dedicated ideologues. Only dedication and resolve greater than theirs will stop them. It remains to be seen whether the bishops and people of the Catholic Church have the necessary will.

RICHARD CONGRAM
Holland Park, Qld

Reprinted from AD2000 Vol 16 No 1 (February 2003), p. 16