CANBERRA, Australia (AP) — The speaker of Australia's Parliament has called for a public debate about whether the country's lawmakers should end the practice of starting each session with the Lord's Prayer.
Lawmakers have started every day of Parliament with the Christian prayer for more than a century — a tradition inherited from Britain during colonial rule.
But some are now questioning whether a prayer adopted by the first Australian Parliament in 1901 remains relevant in an increasingly secular and religiously diverse nation....
Well one thing about Australians at the moment is that we are fighters. We have public prayers on Anzac Day...for those who died for God, King and Country, and those who try to remove our culture, including prayers is in for a fight. A number of God hating political groups (one is now dead and gone)have tried many times to remove prayer from Parliament but has failed every time...and there are Christians in Parliament, including our Prime Minister Kevin Rudd who may oppose it. So if they attempt to try to remove prayer or God from our schools, they will have a huge fight on their hands. If prayer in Parliment goes the prayers on Anzac Day will also go and that is not on..so the majority of Australian people will protest against it. At least we have a Christian Prime Minister for the next 3 years..that'll help.
While the Lord's prayer, should never be used as a mantra, it is better than most things to start a Parliament. No doubt, it is quickly forgotten in the first five minutes of the session.
Matthew 6:5
And when ye pray, ye shall not be as the hypocrites: for they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen of men. Verily I say unto you, They have received their reward.
Dr. Alan Cairns | 9/14/2009
COMMENTS | 
