Put stop to funding private schools
The West Australian,
letters § wanews com au ,
Letter to The Editor, p 22, Monday, February 22, 2010
It is my understanding that Australia does not have an official religion. However, most people claim to be members of the Christian faith, with a significant proportion of these being Catholic.
In 1950, there was no government funding for private schools. There was, however, a significant movement seeking state aid for private schools.
The argument was largely that people had paid their taxes but because they chose to send their children to private schools they did not receive the financial assistance from the government they would have if they had used the government schools where the government met the main costs.
The counter argument was partly that the government paid for education in its schools. If people chose not to use them, then the costs were their responsibility. It was compared with public transport. The government provided bus services and if you chose to use your car then the costs were your concern.
The debate became more heated when the plight of local Catholic schools was described. Many were suffering financial hardship. The result was a strong push by members of the Catholic community and the move became unstoppable. Government financing of private schools came into existence.
Conservative governments supported the idea because it benefited those in the community who generally supported the conservatives. As the concept continued, conservatives saw it as way to privatise education by stealth: Fund private schools so that they could be seen as giving more to students and more parents would transfer their children to private schools. As a consequence less money was provided to government schools and the process snowballed.
Not surprisingly, Labor governments followed the lead set by the conservatives. The practice became entrenched.
However, it is time to ask: is this really what we want? Coming back to religion in Australia, in 1950 we had still maintained a reasonable separation of church and state. Now, in 2010, we have a situation where we are providing funds to religious groups to provide education. In doing so they also promote their religious dogma. Is that what we want? Does that maintain a reasonable separation of church and state?
Government funds should not be used for the teaching of religion. Next thing there will be a school for atheists and under the legislation, it would be entitled to government funding.
Is this what we want? Government funds should be used only for state education. If religious groups – or any other group, for that matter – wish to provide schools for their followers they should do so at their own cost.
It is not too late to unravel the mess.
David Carlson, retired college principal, Menora. #
The Record
(Perth, W. Australia,
R.C. weekly newspaper),
p 16, Wednesday, July 21, 2010
[Picture] Marija Pavlovic, Medjugorje seer
THE six alleged Medjugorje visionaries will testify before a Vatican commission, most likely in around October, and will be asked to reveal the "secrets" with which they say they have been entrusted, according to a report on the Petrus website.
In March, the Holy See Press Office had announced that the commission, led by Cardinal Camillo Ruini, the retired Vicar of the Rome Diocese, would assess the authenticity of the apparitions that have reportedly taken place in Bosnia-Herzegovina since 1981.
Please keep religion out of politics
The West Australian,
Letter to The Editor, p 24, Friday, July 30, 2010
Poor choice
In response to Archbishop Barry Hickey's doubts about [Prime Minister] Julia Gillard [Labor Party], may I say that Australians have a choice between an honest atheist leader of a tainted party and a bunch of hypocritical churchgoers who accepted known lies about Iraq and helped two other warmongering countries into an unncessary war?
The Liberals and Nationals have not yet apologised for the unnecessary deaths of Iraqis and foreigners, and Labor, instead of withdrawing soon after winning in 2007, goes on with the occupation.
Australia has not forcefully demanded that Guantanamo Bay be closed, and that the seizing and torturing of people around the world by the
CIA etc be stopped.
All three [sic] major parties are bereft of ordinary morals, as is shown by the tree-clearing ban for farmers, while outer suburban tree clearing goes on to make room for a fancied "skills shortage", including of chefs and hairdressers.
John C. Massam, Greenwood
Letters to the Editor, WA Newspapers, GPO Box N1027 Perth WA 6843. Fax 08 9482 3830. E-mail to: letters § wanews /./ com /./ au
ADVERTISEMENT (full page) in
The West Australian,
www.thewest.com.au ,
letters § wanews com au ,
by Christian groups, p 19, Tuesday, December 7, 2010
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Old Testament prophecy
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New Testament fulfilment
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Subject
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Micah 5:2
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Matthew 2:1-6
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The Messiah to be born in Bethlehem
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Isaiah 7:14
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Matthew 1:18-23; Luke 1:26-35
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Virgin birth of the Messiah
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Jeremiah 31:15
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Matthew 2:16-18
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Rachel weeping when God's Son born
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Isaiah 40:3-5
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Mark 1:1-8
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Jesus' fore-runner, a voice in the wilderness
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Isaiah 9:1-2
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Matthew 4:13-16
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Ministry to begin in Galilee
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Psalm 78:2
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Matthew 13:1-52
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Messiah to speak in parables
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Isaiah 53:4-5
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Matthew 8:16-17
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Healing ministry of God's servant
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Zechariah 9:9
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Matthew 21:1-9
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The coming ruler on a donkey
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Zechariah 13:7
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Matthew 26:31, 47-56
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Striking the coming shepherd; the sheep flee
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Zechariah 11:12-13
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Matthew 26:14-16, 27:1-10
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Thirty pieces of silver for a potter's field
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Isaiah 50:6
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Matthew 26:67; Mark 14:65;
Mark 15:19; Luke 22:63-64
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Beating and spitting on God's servant
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Psalm 22:7-8
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Luke 23:35-36
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Messiah mocked by a crowd
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Psalm 22:18
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Matthew 27:35; Mark 15:24;
Luke 23:34; John 19:23-24
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Casting lots for Jesus' clothes
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Psalm 34:19-20
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John 19:31-36
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Messiah to have no broken bones
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Psalm 69:21
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John 19:28-30
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The thirst of the suffering Messiah
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Zechariah 12:10
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John 19:33-37
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Looking on the pierced Messiah
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Jonah 1:17
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Matthew 12:39-40
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Messiah to be three days and nights in grave
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Psalm 16:8-11
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Acts 2:25-36, 13:35-39
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David's Son to be raised from the dead
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“Everything must be fulfilled that is written about me
in the Law of Moses, the Prophets and the Psalms,”
Jesus speaking Luke 24:44
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