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Testing time for School Chaplains as court case starts

5:26pm Tuesday, 9th August 2011

Suzanne Schokman

Canberra, 9 August 2011 - Federal funding for the school chaplaincy program hangs in the balance, as Toowomba man, Ronald Williams, takes his challenge before the High Court over the next three days.

Williams charges that the Federal government has no power under the Constitution to fund school chaplains. He further opposes current School Chaplaincy employment guidelines, which he claims impose a “religious test” on employing “an officer of the Commonwealth”.

Williams is challenging the program's legitimacy on two grounds: religious freedom, and the Commonwealth's funding power.

Scripture Union Qld is one of four defendants, the other three being the Commonwealth and two Federal Departments.

Tim Mander, CEO of SU Qld, the nation’s largest employing authority for chaplains, was in Canberra today. He said that the day’s proceedings held no surprises, with the technicalities of the legal arguments proceeding as anticipated.

What has made an impact on him in recent days, however, has been the large outpouring of public support for the chaplaincy program. 70,000 people have now signed statements of support for chaplains.

“Even this week, I've received correspondence from school principals who don't want to lose their chaplain because they know that chaplains benefit the wellbeing of their school communities."

A parent who made contact with SU QLD this week said, "We are not religious... yet my children both really appreciate having the Chaplains there. They are people who listen without judgement and, more importantly, they do it all with an open mind and no pressure.

. "The feedback we're getting from the wider community demonstrates that chaplains are there to serve the whole school community and are doing so appropriately," Mander said.

Scripture Union QLD says this challenge may also affect other federal funding programs, like a current road scheme across various states, and so the case is being watched widely by various parties.

The hearing finishes Thursday with a decision expected later this year.

Asked if he expects to win, Mander replied,” We’ve done everything in our power, and worked hard, and we’re very hopeful. Whatever the outcome, though, we encourage the Federal government to look at the public support, and find some way to fund the program”.