| Home | Bookmark | Tell | Active petitions in over 75 countries | Follow GoPetition |
End Compulsory Prayer in the Aussie Parliament
Petition published by Brendan on Sep 17, 2009
449 Signatures 
|
Target: The Parliament of Australia
Region: Australia
Petition Background (Preamble):
Since 1901, Australian Parliamentary Standing Orders have required the House & Senate to open daily with a Christian prayer, to the exclusion of all other beliefs and disbeliefs.
"Almighty God, we humbly beseech Thee to vouchsafe Thy blessing upon this Parliament. Direct and prosper our deliberations to the advancement of Thy glory, and the true welfare of the people of Australia.
Our Father, which art in Heaven: Hallowed be Thy Name. Thy Kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in Heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive them that trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation; but deliver us from evil: For Thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever and ever. Amen."
"Almighty God, we humbly beseech Thee to vouchsafe Thy blessing upon this Parliament. Direct and prosper our deliberations to the advancement of Thy glory, and the true welfare of the people of Australia.
Our Father, which art in Heaven: Hallowed be Thy Name. Thy Kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in Heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive them that trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation; but deliver us from evil: For Thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever and ever. Amen."
Petition:
This petition of certain citizens of Australia draws to the attention of the Australian Parliament the impropriety of Standing Orders requiring Christian prayers to be read aloud by the Speaker on taking the chair each day.
Parliament is not a house of religious worship. This ritual does not accord with the spirit of our Constitution (ยง116) in relation to the imposing of religious observance. Nor does it represent the beliefs of the Australian people as a whole.
We therefore ask the Parliament to remove prayers from Standing Orders of the House and Senate.
Parliament is not a house of religious worship. This ritual does not accord with the spirit of our Constitution (ยง116) in relation to the imposing of religious observance. Nor does it represent the beliefs of the Australian people as a whole.
We therefore ask the Parliament to remove prayers from Standing Orders of the House and Senate.
The End Compulsory Prayer in the Aussie Parliament petition to The Parliament of Australia was written by Brendan and is in the category Government at GoPetition. Contact author here. Petition tags: prayer, parliament, church, state, separation, religion, politics, australia, federal
