Perth's Archbishop Barry Hickey believes children
should be allowed to recite the Lord's Prayer in State schools because
it is a part of Australian culture, reports The West Australian.
The city's Edgewater Primary
School last week suspended recital of the Lord's Prayer at assemblies
after some parents said it contravened the Education Act.
The Act says
schools should not promote one religious belief over others.
"I see no reason why State schools should ban it," Archbishop Hickey
said. "I think that if the majority of the children affirm some sort of
Christian affiliation, then it's perfectly legitimate to have that
prayer said in government schools."
"Most of the people still subscribe to Christian faith and if that's
the situation, then it's part of the culture and I don't think that
schools should ignore that part of the culture," he said.
Students with no belief could remain silent during the prayer.
Edgewater principal Julie Tombs said yesterday a group of parents had protested at the school's 25-year prayer tradition.
"The people who are objecting have no religious belief. They believe
they have a right to send their child to a public school which is truly
secular."
The school had sought clarification from the Education
Department and hoped to resolve the issue before the next assembly in
two weeks.