What Is Gleanings?

At Christianity Today, we’re constantly tracking important developments in the church and the world. Often we use our network of reporters around the world (and for that, visit our main site). But we also monitor other news outlets, bloggers, newsmakers’ social media feeds, and countless other information streams. Gleanings compiles the most urgent and interesting items we’ve found, explains why you need to know about them, and gives you the background you need to understand them. It’s our snapshot of what God is doing in the world, hour by hour.

Free Newsletters

« Decline in Giving to Religious Groups Borders on Trend | Main | Was First U.S. Missionary Black Not White? SBC Dodges Answer »

June 20, 2012

Australian Court Invalidates School Chaplains Championed By Atheist Head of State

Atheist prime minister has defended program for years; top court says it violates not religious freedom, but spending authority.

Jeremy Weber

A controversial Australian government program that stocks public schools with mostly Christian chaplains has long weathered political opposition and court challenges, thanks to an ironic supporter: the island nation's atheist prime minister, Julia Gillard.

But today Australia's highest appeals court invalidated the program, finding that, while it doesn't violate church-state separation, it does exceed the government's spending authority because it lacks legislation.

However, the Australian government says it will continue to fund the chaplains, either by passing legislation or by funding it at the state level.

CT reported on Gillard's counter-intuitive defense of the chaplain program in 2010.

posted by Jeremy Weber | Comments (0)

Share thisShare this post

Post a comment:

Verification (needed to reduce spam):