Sunday, August 14, 2011

Lord's Prayer should be allowed: bishop

Perth's Archbishop Barry Hickey believes children should be allowed to recite the Lord's Prayer in State schools because it is a part of Australian culture, reports The West Australian.

The city's Edgewater Primary School last week suspended recital of the Lord's Prayer at assemblies after some parents said it contravened the Education Act. 

The Act says schools should not promote one religious belief over others.

"I see no reason why State schools should ban it," Archbishop Hickey said. "I think that if the majority of the children affirm some sort of Christian affiliation, then it's perfectly legitimate to have that prayer said in government schools."

"Most of the people still subscribe to Christian faith and if that's the situation, then it's part of the culture and I don't think that schools should ignore that part of the culture," he said.

Students with no belief could remain silent during the prayer.

Edgewater principal Julie Tombs said yesterday a group of parents had protested at the school's 25-year prayer tradition.

"The people who are objecting have no religious belief. They believe they have a right to send their child to a public school which is truly secular." 

The school had sought clarification from the Education Department and hoped to resolve the issue before the next assembly in two weeks.