Should the Christian parliamentary prayer be dumped?

Media Release - October 2008

The speaker of the Federal Parliament, Harry Jenkins, has called for a debate on removing the Christian prayer and replacing it with something aboriginal. We must enter this debate.


What prayer opens Parliament?

The House of Representatives Prayers - From the Standing Orders: 38 Prayers

On taking the Chair at the beginning of each sitting, the Speaker shall read the following prayers:

Almighty God, we humbly beseech Thee to vouchsafe Thy blessing upon this Parliament. Direct and prosper our deliberations to the advancement of Thy glory, and the true welfare of the people of Australia.

Our Father, which art in Heaven: Hallowed be Thy Name. Thy Kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in Heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses, as we
forgive them that trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation; but deliver us from evil: For Thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever and ever. Amen.

Why has this been raised now?

This has arisen because in his maiden speech last week, Independent MP Rob Oakeshott, the new independent Member for Lyle, said he was surprised and disappointed federal Parliament had not adopted the practice of a daily acknowledgement about the traditional Aboriginal owners of the land.

"I ask you to revisit this question of a daily acknowledgement within this chamber for traditional owners, a simple, symbolic but respectful act that will assist in building a better Australia," Mr Oakeshott said to the Speaker.

What outcome – why does it matter?

If you thought the push for Australia to become a republic had nothing to do with removing God from our nation, it’s time to think again.

If you did not think the promotion of and deference to the aboriginal culture would take our nation into animism, then think again.

Ideas always have consequences, so the idea that our parliament starts EVERY day with a Christian prayer AND the Lord ’s Prayer has consequences.

Our forefathers put it there to remind our political leaders that they are answerable to a higher power and that they are responsible to that Power – to Almighty God.

Just because some do not believe it does not make it wrong or unnecessary.

Take away that reminder and they serve themselves and look for wisdom in other places.

Animism is the worship of a created thing or things - can it also be the worship of a culture?

If our Parliament was opened each day with a prayer or statement from any other religion or any other philosophy or culture then they would be acknowledging that ‘source’ as power and/or influence and bowing before it – paying homage to it.

Earlier this year a Hindu applied to open our parliament with readings from Hindu text/prayers.

His request was denied because standing orders dictate what will happen in parliament.

If those standing orders are changed to allow the acknowledgement of Aboriginal ‘ownership’ or an aboriginal recitation/ceremony they could soon be changed to allow ANY other religious or cultural recitation.

Action

We need to take a stand now and nip this in the bud very quickly.

Standing up on this issue now will indicate to MPs that it is not the will of the people to remove our Christian heritage and replace it with aboriginal spirituality and homage.
 
Write/email
Please tell them that you want to keep the Christian opening prayer and the underpinning of our reliance on Almighty God in our parliaments across Australia.

Remind them of our Christian heritage and that 67% of people chose to identify as ‘Christian’ at the last census.

Tell them that we need to maintain the values and wisdom of Christianity as directed through Gods Word. This is the only way to maintain the freedom we have had for over 200 years.  
 
Mr Harry Jenkins MP – Speaker – ALP Email: Harry.Jenkins.MP@aph.gov.au
PO Box 6022, House of Representatives, Parliament House, Canberra ACT 2600
Tel: (02) 6277 4000 Fax: (02) 6277 2050

Robert Oakeshott MP 
robertoakeshott@gmail.com
 
It is expected that the Attorneys-Generals will discuss this at their next meeting in November.

We need to contact the federal and state Attorney’s General click herefor our website page with names and email addresses.
 
Write to your own Federal MP and 12 senators – If you do not know who they are go to our web site and follow the links.

Go to the Saltshaker info page
 

Peter P Stokes
Co Founder & Executive Officer
Salt Shakers Inc
Ph: 03 9800 2855
Mb: 0413 084 145
www.saltshakers.org.au