Dunne v. Gallagher church spat goes international

Masquara said :

Well that bastion of church/state separation the united states has the prez swearing on the bible, and as we atheists actually don’t think a prayer will do anything, equally we should be thinking it will do no harm whatsoever and is a well-meaning folly that should be indulged.

We should also totally teach creationism in school … it’s just well-meaning after all innit?

Masquara said :

Well that bastion of church/state separation the united states has the prez swearing on the bible, and as we atheists actually don’t think a prayer will do anything, equally we should be thinking it will do no harm whatsoever and is a well-meaning folly that should be indulged.

Yeah, sure, having everyone kowtowing to a bunch of religious nutsacks could never ever cause any problems at all.

Religious people would never try to impose their beliefs on others.

Well that bastion of church/state separation the united states has the prez swearing on the bible, and as we atheists actually don’t think a prayer will do anything, equally we should be thinking it will do no harm whatsoever and is a well-meaning folly that should be indulged.

Chop71 said :

Jim Jones said :

Chop71 said :

wow, most pressing issue Canberra has faced since the election.

We need more politicians to sort out these types of squabbles.

So … you turned to say that you’ve got nothing to add? Or is it just to say that politicians should only do *really really important things* and that everything else is a massive waste of your valuable time?

: golfclap :

Yes Jim,

You’ve nailed it. I hope there is more to running the LA (and residents of Canberra) than who attends a church service.

But if you think this holds huge importance, then you ride that pony.

The importance being that it shows those who are out dated and half witted and those who are smarter and do t believe in magic sky fairey.

Chop71 said :

Jim Jones said :

Chop71 said :

Jim Jones said :

Chop71 said :

wow, most pressing issue Canberra has faced since the election.

We need more politicians to sort out these types of squabbles.

So … you turned to say that you’ve got nothing to add? Or is it just to say that politicians should only do *really really important things* and that everything else is a massive waste of your valuable time?

: golfclap :

Yes Jim,

You’ve nailed it. I hope there is more to running the LA (and residents of Canberra) than who attends a church service.

But if you think this holds huge importance, then you ride that pony.

In an amazing feat, I will now do more than one thing at the one time … some of the things I will do are less important than others, but – to the amazement of all – I will still do them at the same time … and … (here’s the big reveal) … I’ll do it without whining like a little b1tch!

You could even ride the pony to the church service, that would be 2 birds with one stone.

Why are you talking about your pony so much? Surely we all have better things to do than to listen to you talk about your pony? Do you really think that your pony is the most important thing in the world?

There are children starving and people being bashed and wrongfully imprisoned and all you can do is talk about your pony.

johnboy said :

I think the speaker has pretty clearly linked this service to the Assembly.

Thanks.

If that’s the case, then I think that Katy has done the right thing.

What happened at the start of previous sitting years, especially when Stanhope was Chief Minister?

Jim Jones said :

Chop71 said :

Jim Jones said :

Chop71 said :

wow, most pressing issue Canberra has faced since the election.

We need more politicians to sort out these types of squabbles.

So … you turned to say that you’ve got nothing to add? Or is it just to say that politicians should only do *really really important things* and that everything else is a massive waste of your valuable time?

: golfclap :

Yes Jim,

You’ve nailed it. I hope there is more to running the LA (and residents of Canberra) than who attends a church service.

But if you think this holds huge importance, then you ride that pony.

In an amazing feat, I will now do more than one thing at the one time … some of the things I will do are less important than others, but – to the amazement of all – I will still do them at the same time … and … (here’s the big reveal) … I’ll do it without whining like a little b1tch!

You could even ride the pony to the church service, that would be 2 birds with one stone.

Chop71 said :

Jim Jones said :

Chop71 said :

wow, most pressing issue Canberra has faced since the election.

We need more politicians to sort out these types of squabbles.

So … you turned to say that you’ve got nothing to add? Or is it just to say that politicians should only do *really really important things* and that everything else is a massive waste of your valuable time?

: golfclap :

Yes Jim,

You’ve nailed it. I hope there is more to running the LA (and residents of Canberra) than who attends a church service.

But if you think this holds huge importance, then you ride that pony.

In an amazing feat, I will now do more than one thing at the one time … some of the things I will do are less important than others, but – to the amazement of all – I will still do them at the same time … and … (here’s the big reveal) … I’ll do it without whining like a little b1tch!

johnboy said :

Ellis?

Brain fade!

Seems like Vicki just wants to parade her friend Jesus around at a party she’s organised. Unfortunately it’s a work party Vicki, leave him at home.

someone find Vicki Dunne a reason for her continued existence already, so we can get past this embarrassing dummy spit.

Jim Jones said :

chewy14 said :

I don’t really get this.

Is she not attending because she doesn’t want to attend a church service as an atheist or because it’s meant to be celebrating the start of the assembly?

Has Katy attended other church services before?

Read the OP. Can’t get much clearer than that.

Yeah I did read it, hence my comment. Thanks for your help.

My point is, would she attend a church service at any other time of year and this decision is just because she doesn’t want to link the start of the Assembly with a church service?

If that’s her point then I’m OK with it. But if it’s not, then is she going to start not attending other community events just in case it signifies a link between the assembly and those other groups too?

“Katy gets to be a hero to her Dawkins worshippers (on a global stage no less) and Vicki plays the martyr to her fundies and the applause of the ACL.

Both walk away happy from this one.”

Nailed it right there, JB. Win-win Labor on a non-issue before the stting year has even kicked off. It is a great piece of publicity.

Any word on Mayor Rattenbury’s attendance?

Jim Jones said :

Chop71 said :

wow, most pressing issue Canberra has faced since the election.

We need more politicians to sort out these types of squabbles.

So … you turned to say that you’ve got nothing to add? Or is it just to say that politicians should only do *really really important things* and that everything else is a massive waste of your valuable time?

: golfclap :

Yes Jim,

You’ve nailed it. I hope there is more to running the LA (and residents of Canberra) than who attends a church service.

But if you think this holds huge importance, then you ride that pony.

neanderthalsis said :

To my knowledge, the Feds have a service at the start of the sitting year and start each day with the Lords prayer. This doesn’t, however, mean that church and state have become one inseparable entity, it just means that most politicians can separate their personal beliefs from their representative roles.

No, what it means is that parliament is still lumbered with outdated traditions that are sadly unrepresentative of present-day Australia and its viewpoint on the importance of religious devotions.

So, Ellis decides to organise a party with all her friends, and then insists that Gallagher must attend?

Sounds pretty puerile to me.

chewy14 said :

I don’t really get this.

Is she not attending because she doesn’t want to attend a church service as an atheist or because it’s meant to be celebrating the start of the assembly?

Has Katy attended other church services before?

Secular,for which i for one applaud!

neanderthalsis said :

it just means that most politicians can separate their personal beliefs from their representative roles.

I don’t think it really has anything to do with their personal beliefs it’s more a case of parroting the beliefs of which block of voters they think is the best to target for their re-election. This is why the mad monk worries me, he seems to truly believe all this stuff.

Chop71 said :

wow, most pressing issue Canberra has faced since the election.

We need more politicians to sort out these types of squabbles.

So … you turned to say that you’ve got nothing to add? Or is it just to say that politicians should only do *really really important things* and that everything else is a massive waste of your valuable time?

: golfclap :

wow, most pressing issue Canberra has faced since the election.

We need more politicians to sort out these types of squabbles.

chewy14 said :

I don’t really get this.

Is she not attending because she doesn’t want to attend a church service as an atheist or because it’s meant to be celebrating the start of the assembly?

Has Katy attended other church services before?

Read the OP. Can’t get much clearer than that.

Gungahlin Al said :

Right behind Katy on this.
Church State separation. It’s fundamental to our system of parliament, irrespective of whether one has any faith or none.
What’s so hard to understand about that Vicki? Not exactly a great start to your stint in the Speaker role is it?
Or is this just about grandstanding for the politics of it? Which would be kind of pathetic. But not unexpected…

I didn’t realise that going to church at the start of the year meant that the church suddenly insinuated itself into every aspect of your working life thereafter. Will every politician that sets foot in a church have to consult the ACL before making a decision?

To my knowledge, the Feds have a service at the start of the sitting year and start each day with the Lords prayer. This doesn’t, however, mean that church and state have become one inseparable entity, it just means that most politicians can separate their personal beliefs from their representative roles.

“Spat”?! – it seems not

I don’t really get this.

Is she not attending because she doesn’t want to attend a church service as an atheist or because it’s meant to be celebrating the start of the assembly?

Has Katy attended other church services before?

Right behind Katy on this.
Church State separation. It’s fundamental to our system of parliament, irrespective of whether one has any faith or none.
What’s so hard to understand about that Vicki? Not exactly a great start to your stint in the Speaker role is it?
Or is this just about grandstanding for the politics of it? Which would be kind of pathetic. But not unexpected…

That’s interesting, I didn’t know you had to be an atheist to believe in the separation of church and state.