Muristek
Despite a common ground on the religious discrimination bill “emerging,” the legislation isn’t something the government can “ram through,” according to Jesuit Priest Father Frank Brennan. “I think there’s now a clear understanding that it is not appropriate, even for the most fundamentalist religious group, to run a school that would discriminate adversely against gay students or transgender students,” Fr Brennan told Sky News Australia. “There is common ground to acknowledge, that yes, religious schools should be able to choose teachers … on the basis that they get the message, that they’re on board with the mission of the school.” Fr Brennan, who served on the government’s Religious Freedom Review panel, said it was now necessary for elected leaders to ensure “common sense amendments” are made. He further criticised the Morrison government for engaging in a “back door consultation process” aimed at getting more conservative religious groups on board. “Where they wanted a religious freedom act, rather than just a religious discrimination act. “Well, on the Ruddock committee, we always said … the most you can hope for is a lean, clean religious discrimination bill. “Our parliament should be able to do that.”
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