Australia: Catholic archbishop fears loss of “privileges” thanks to atheist PM
Mon 2 Aug 2010 15:25 • Around the web,atheism,politics,religion
Catholic Archbishop Barry Hickey has weighed into the Federal election, questioning whether Prime Minister Julia Gillard’s atheism is a threat to the privileges afforded to churches.
“While there is no indication that the present Prime Minister will undermine the special privileges that churches enjoy, some wonder what the future will bring. This may well influence their votes,” Archbishop Hickey said.
“Many Christians are concerned that someone who does not believe in God may not endorse the Christian traditions of respect for human life, for the sanctity of marriage and the independence of Churches, church schools and church social welfare agencies.”
Churches enjoy a tax-free status and church schools receive billions of dollars in Federal funding.
You do not need to be religious to have respect for human life and support human rights. Churches encourage discrimination between those who are members of their club and those who aren’t, and abuse their members’ gullibility for the enrichment and protection of their institution. There is absolutely no reason for Churches to be afforded special privileges at the expense of the rest of the population. On the contrary, there is every reason to take away their special privileges and force them to be completely self-supporting. If Churches want to be a club, with their own rules, and discriminate between who is entitled to salvation and who isn’t, then they should pay for the privilege themselves.