You have probably heard of the kerfuffle this week over the letter signed by the heads of 34 Sydney Anglican schools, calling on our Federal Parliament to enact a positive right to religious freedom. This has been the subject of grossly misleading media reporting, which is the cause of the significant hurt that has ensued.
The Archbishop has repeatedly stated that Anglican Schools are not seeking the right to expel students or sack teachers for being gay. This very clear statement has been completely left out of most newspaper articles and social media fulminations. What our schools are seeking is a positive right to employ staff who are committed to the Christian ethos of these schools (as distinct from the current unsatisfactory exemption from anti-discrimination legislation).
Could I urge you generally not to jump to any conclusions about our Diocese based on mainstream media. You can get a more direct view from sydneyanglicans.net, which, incidentally, this week also featured a photo of our very own Angus Gilchrist and others in the ringing chamber at St Andrew’s, as part of an article about the ringing of bells across Sydney to mark the Centenary of the Armistice. Our church services today will reflect on that very significant event, and on God’s gift of peace.
Thank you to everyone who worked so hard for yesterday’s Fair. I will bring a more detailed report next week.