By LACHLAN MOORHEAD
THE Casey Multi-Faith Network has defended the Safe Schools program but called for parent permission to be applied when dealing with sensitive material.
Last month Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull ordered an independent review of the taxpayer-funded program – aimed at helping lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans and/or intersex (LGBTI) school students – after its manual came under attack from right-wing politicians and the Australian Christian Lobby.
Former Prime Minister Tony Abbott has called for the program to be axed, while Coalition MP George Christensen likened the Safe Schools initiative to grooming undertaken by sexual predators.
But the Casey Multi-Faith statement backed the program’s “anti-bullying” stance.
A number of Casey schools are signed up to the Safe Schools program, including Cranbourne Secondary College, Fountain Gate Secondary College, Hallam Senior College and Oatlands Primary School in Narre Warren.
“It seems to us at the Casey Multi-Faith Network, that the Safe Schools program is first and foremost about “anti-bullying” – and the goal of the program is to help children to be more tolerant and gracious towards those who are different to them,” the statement read.
“We applaud that goal. It is right to train our children to live well with all other people.”
However the multi-faith statement noted that some members of faith communities might find some of the program’s activities offensive, while also stressing the importance of parental permission.
“The Casey Multi-Faith Network believes it is always wise to consider parent sensitivities when it comes to controversial materials being used for their children, in schools,” the statement read.
While the statement conceded that not all of the Casey Multi-Faith’s members agree on gender-identity issues, the group would continue to push for compassion and tolerance.
“We don’t all agree among ourselves on gay and gender-identity issues, and how they should be understood or worked with,” the statement noted.
“Some faiths have certain members now who are calling for renewed attitudes towards these issues in the light of greater understanding about human biology, DNA, psychology, and more.
“Others reject such calls and hold to a more conservative view on these things: a more traditional approach.
“We find it impossible to give a single voice to this topic, just as society as a whole can’t seem to either.
“But what we can say, with unity and absolute clarity, is that we agree that all members of our community should be taught to be compassionate, tolerant, gracious, accepting, and inclusive.”
Earlier this month Holt MP Anthony Byrne, who convened a well-publicised summit on youth suicide in Casey in 2012, urged people to be wary of the language they used when discussing the program.
“It is critical in any debate about this issue that inflammatory and derogatory language not be used,” Mr Byrne said.
“Words can literally kill.
“Any debate about this program must be temperate and take into account the suffering and anguish of those whom the Safe Schools program seeks to help.”
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