Respecting religious freedom has become more complex, Ti...

http://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2015/nov/04/resp...

Respecting religious freedom has become

more complex, Tim Wilson says
Human rights commissioner says ensuring peoples freedom to observe their faith is
vital, as is protecting religious freedom of those with or without belief
Australian Associated Press
Wednesday 4 November 2015 03.39GMT

The Coalition-appointed human rights commissioner, Tim Wilson, says the challenge
of respecting religious freedom is becoming more complex, but that preserving
religious freedom in a pluralistic multi-faith society is critical.
Speaking ahead of an inaugural round table on religious freedom in Sydney on
Thursday, Wilson said protecting religious freedom was critical to a broad crosssection of communities, including those of belief, those without a belief, and those
whose communities are aected by religious freedom.
The summit, which will opened by the attorney general, George Brandis, brings
together members of the Jewish, Muslim, Hindu, Catholic, Anglican, Bah, Russian
Orthodox and Buddhist faiths.
Representatives from the Seventh Day Adventists, the Rationalist Society, the
Humanist Society, the Atheist Foundation and the Church of Scientology will also
attend.
The challenge of respecting religious freedom in a pluralistic, multi-faith society is
becoming more complex, Wilson said. The purpose of the round table is to get
beyond past approaches and nd a way to ensure religious freedom of those with or
without belief is respected in a truly pluralist society.
The round table would discuss preserving religious freedom and strategies to support
religious inclusion and social cohesion.
But Wilson, citing a case at a West Australian school in which the gay parent of a
seven-year-old girl was told the pupil would no longer be allowed to attend the school
if she again mentioned her fathers sexuality, said taxpayer funding for religious
institutions needs to also be a part of the discussion.
He said the incident highlighted for people that while we accept there is an
important role for religious freedom, that you cant then mistreat students and deny
them access to education because of your ... religious views.
Its good that we have religious institutions providing schools in a more

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cost-eective way than sometimes the government can do, and if thats consistent
with peoples private faith, and thats what they wish, then so be it, Wilson said.
But we also have an expectation that schools will act in the best interests of children.
Theyll of course seek to foster their values but theres also a question about how far
they can do so before they seek to discriminate against others.
The West Australian girl has since been removed from the school by her father but the
case has sparked outrage and erce debate.
The issue of funding for religious institutions also has implications in terms of
curriculum.
Wilson said there must be a balance.
I have no issue with funding being tied to curriculum per se but there has to be
enough room within curriculum to make sure that people arent forced to act against
their conscience and that theres a preservation of religious liberty, he said.
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Topics
Tim Wilson
Religion
Human rights
George Brandis
Coalition
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