Bugsy.. I already read that bit on page 5.

I'm surprised you seem to be supporting discrimination and intolerance and also the unconstitutional nature of the State 'making laws' (if you accept the judgement of the US supreme court about this kind of thing..which I don't)

The argument goes "The weight, power and prestige of the State is added to 'prayers' at graduations...thus the impression is of a State sanctioned activity, thus unconstitutional"

But I don't have to 'know' what is appropriate for Universities, I just have to know what is discrimination and sectarianism. I also have only to know that my and your tax dollars have no business supporting sectarian religious interests at PUBLIC educational facilities.

This is especially dangerous and in reality illegal (discrimination on the basis of religious orientation) if people are denied access to a public building on such a basis.

I think the only thing this kind of scenario is awaiting is a test case such as a complaint to the EQUAL OPPORTUNITY commission.

Denial of opportunity to public facilities based on religious orientation is illegal.. plain and simple.

So, any facility on a public education institution which did so would be unlawful.

A university has no lawful business promising exclusive sectarian facilties to ANY religion.. be it Catholic protestant or other.

The Monash spiritual centre is used by ALL Church traditions which desire it. Good for them..good for all. After all..this is Australia.

Just another Boazy troll.

Amusing, though that he's calling for the removal of all those lovely Christian chapels at every university in the land.

To anybody with a brain: let's just let the idiots have a circle jerk on this one, without encouraging them?

Just one more CJ....

What I don't find surprising at all, is that Boazy doesn't understand the nature of universities or the student bodies that inhabit them. That Muslim students are mostly international students, that pay full fees (quite substantial ones in many cases), and are not supported by the state. That the universities most often want to have prayer facilities and accommodate the needs of these students to make it more attractive or them to come here, and that then we can can export our knowledge and education and who knows, maybe some friendship and values.

One last question, do you think that the Australian Catholic University accepts public money? Should they?

Gibo, you've said something I agree with, that is you're narrow. (Do you mean narrow minded?)

I thank God there were Born Again Christians that were willing to mix with me before I was converted. I would have never have come to know Jesus if they had have rejected me.

Gibo, leading people to Christ is not a simple proceedure, sometimes it takes quite a few months or even years. My former church (Former church, because I moved), witnessed to prostitutes that worked the Great Western Highway between Blacktown and Penrith. The Church would take tea and coffee and sandwiches and cakes to the girls, rather than preaching God's love, they showed it.

My best freinds Gibo, are generally not Christians, but nevertheless are very good people. They will come to Christ eventually through my actions more than through my words.

I now live on my own, but in the past due to financial necessity I've had to share houses with people, out of a total of 19 housemates the 3 worse were the three Christians. One was another single male who wanted to control my life, and the other two were a husband and wife couple. The husband was a complete religious nutter (and a hypocrite) and his wife an interferring busybody who meddled into my personal affairs and was a non stop talker during my favourite TV programs. The 16 non Christians I lived with never meddled with my personal life.

Jesus Christ was often critisised by the Pharisees for eating and drinking with the Gentiles (Non Jews) in his day. I find your attitude Gibo, is very much like that of the Pharisees.

I am a Progressive Christian, that is I take my faith seriously but I am not antagonistic to other religions (even those whose beliefs I oppose), nor am I antagonistic to the Gay and Lesbian community.

It seems to me that the entire story is not being told here. And that's not morally fair.

I googled, "RMIT Multi-Faith Centre," and one of the following items came up under the title - "On the RMIT Prayer Room Issue" :

http://austrolabe.com/2008/05/18/on-the-rmit-prayer-room-issue/

dated - 18th May 2008, and I quote:

"For decades, the RMIT campus had prayer rooms for Muslmi students, including separate rooms for males and females. In 2005 Muslim students pointed out that the existing rooms were two small and unsafe to use. In 2006/07, RMIT APPROVED a new proposal to design and build a replacement Muslim Prayer Room.

On March 18 word broke out that RMIT HAD BROKEN its promise to build a bigger Muslim prayer room and instead decided to make it a multi-faith spiritual centre.

It was only at the first Student Services Religious Advisory Committee meeting that students heard of this intention. Ironically, advertising brochures for international students are still being published at RMIT promoting the new "Muslim Prayer Room." (end of quote).

This is not a case of a certain group of students asking for special privileges. This is a case of a University reneging on its promise to
the growing number of students from the Muslim world (that the university is actively trying to attract).

Other universities, have not converted their prayer rooms into unisex multi-faith prayer halls.

If a university makes a promise - it should keep it.

But then RMIT has a lot to answer for - the last lot of students that they reneged on were ones with disabilities. They won their case.
Let's hope in all fairness that the Muslim students will also win theirs. A university should be held accountable for the promises it makes to students that it accepts. They can't promise and then not deliver.

Is not the tax-free status for non-charitable work of the Churches, a form support against the tenet of the Constitution. Sanitarium foods doesn't pay tax, and therefore has a commercial advantage over Kelloggs.

Worrying about, say, a chapel in a hospital or airport is moving "the deck chairs on the Titanic". Herein why should secularists pay more tax, while, say the Catholic brothers at St Mary's Cathedral are afforded tax free accommodation. Inceditably , I am told, there is a room generally left vacant for the Pope's exclusive use.

Why should the Catholic church buy expensive jewellery for its Bishops, before paying taxes, which can used to help the poor or relieve the general tax burden. Why should a pastor or minister's spouse have access to a tax-free car to go the shopping for his/her family?

Except of charitable work, Churches should be treated as if mercantile entities.