School chaplains need counselling

It cannot be stressed strongly enough just how much suspicion and loathing exists among many gay people towards organised religion. It’s palpable, and not for irrational reasons. Religious people and church groups have often made their lives miserable, painful or difficult. 

Certainly, I wonder whether any organisation which supports the right of schools to expel gay students and sack gay teachers is really in any position to offer support, reassurance and empathy to an LGBTI teen struggling with a lack of acceptance.      

The recent High Court decision does not dismantle the chaplaincy program, it merely shifts the funding arrangements. The Abbott Government has Labor support to now send the money directly to the states. The program will continue, however, Opposition Leader Bill Shorten said last month that ALP support will not be forthcoming unless the program also allows for secular counsellors.

Not surprisingly, this move is opposed by church groups which want their religious ambassadors in the public school system for their own reasons. Of course, not all chaplains are anti-gay. Some are very supportive, but the organisations they emerge from frequently have histories of anti-gay sentiment and many of the program’s key backers, including the Australian Christian Lobby, are on record with opposing equal rights for gays, relationship recognition for same-sex couples and demanding exemptions from anti-discrimination law.    

If Access Ministries, The Scripture Union or GenR8 Schools Ministries, for example, which supply many of the chaplains across Australia, wish to be taken seriously in their claims that they are not pursuing a religious, moral agenda then they must demonstrate this.

These organisations need to publicly acknowledge the cruelty and harm of past wrongs. They should accept the science on sexuality and gender identity and affirm that homosexuality is a natural part of the human experience. They should agree that same-sex relationships are legitimate and distance themselves from those who encourage ‘reparative gay cures’.

A good starting point for this would be to ensure that all chaplains are trained in LGBTI issues, in the same way that similar training has been provided to many teachers, state police forces and the equity divisions in the nation’s military. Some chaplains are already calling for this but resources are the issue. The new state funding model could perhaps address this?

At the very least, under the new arrangements it should be mandatory for chaplains to adhere to the Sexuality and Gender Diversity policy and guidelines around the states. 

I oppose the chaplaincy program outright. But if it’s going to continue with Labor and Liberal support, then the training requirements must be improved to benefit LGBTI kids. Where religious groups will not agree to this, then referral to secular counselling options must be guaranteed and readily available.