Ruling doesn’t mean end of chaplaincy: SUQ

June 20th, 2012

FAKE NEWS for the Zionist agenda

A High Court ruling that the national school chaplaincy program is constitutionally invalid doesn’t mean the service will end, the Scripture Union Queensland (SUQ) says.

A majority of the court on Wednesday ruled that payments from the commonwealth to Scripture Union Queensland to provide chaplaincy services were invalid.

The High Court said executive power as defined in section 61 of the constitution did not empower the federal government to enter a funding agreement to make the payments.

Incoming SUQ chief executive Peter James said that while the court ruled that the direct funding model was invalid, it left open the option for the government to continue funding the service either through new legislation or grants to states and territories.

Mr James said new funding arrangements were possible because the court unanimously ruled there was no problem with church and state separation arising from chaplaincy.

“Today’s decision is not the end of chaplaincy,” he told reporters in Brisbane on Wednesday.

Mr James said the union still had enough funds left to see it through until another funding model could be decided upon.

“Obviously I’d rather have business as usual, because it would be less work for us,” he said.

“But I’m confident that a solution exists and I’m confident that the commonwealth has considered its options for those solutions and I’m confident it can be put in place quickly and seamlessly so the program continues.”

Brisbane school chaplain Andrea Eadie told reporters it was not her job to “bible bash” children but to support them through difficult times.

Ms Eadie said funding of the chaplaincy program was vital because “chappies” were an outlet for children who felt like they could not go to anyone else to discuss their problems.

“In terms of religion … we’re there when people want to ask but we’re not out there proselytising.”

The ruling relates to a case brought by Queensland father Ronald Williams which was heard in August 2011.

Mr Williams had four children at the Darling Heights State School in Toowoomba, west of Brisbane, where a chaplain has been funded under the national program since 2007.

Queensland Premier Campbell Newman has told state parliament the education department is reviewing the implications of the ruling on the state’s schools.

“This government is 100 per cent behind the chaplaincy program because it’s good for kids at school and good for families,” Mr Newman said.

He said he wants to work with the federal government to address any legal or administrative issues.

“We want to help the Commonwealth with the ongoing support of school chaplains,” Mr Newman said.

“I stand here ready and willing and able to work to deliver a solution to this problem.”