Have Your Say 

Recent Comments

1. Well, fellow Christians, with current attendance rates at most churches, what did we expect?
   How can Australia take us seriously if we cannot take ourselves seriously?
   Unless we want to live in this sort of Australia/World I suggest we all get a spine and consider whether we want to be in or out of this Christianity gig.
   Jesus talks strongly about us being lukewarm and this may well be the fruits of our lukewarmness.
   I have enjoyed over the past year reading the comments that contributors make to CathNews stories and wish you all a very 'Un-PC' Christmas filled with true peace and love that only comes from Our Lord.

   Posted By: KathyD Brisbane

2. For centuries, Christians and other faiths have been living side by side in other countries around the world. Now, all of a sudden, when people of these faiths come to Australia, we expect them to be offended when we express our Christian faith!
   It just looks like some one taking the opportunity to express their own bigoted views against Christianity under the name of others.

   Posted By: Desmond Lismore

3. I want to know if this kindergarten is remaining open at Christmas? Are the staff having time off and why, will they be reciveing holiday rates of pay??
   If they do not want to ackonwledge Christmas, they have no right to expect extra time off etc.
   

   Posted By: Rosemary Keenan Gwelup WA

4. When they say 'inclusive', why does that always mean exclusive of Christianity?

   Posted By: Maureen, Padstow NSW

5. It is said that people get the leaders they deserve, so perhaps our tepidity has allowed political correctness to go berserk.
   Certainly a great deal of money has been spent but with little real effect.
   If we truly value our Christian heritage, why are we not demanding that Christmas be celebrated appropriately but explanation given to those of other faith who expect us to respect their celebrations and traditions?
   If we can practice and respect other religions, and teach this to our children, then we might have a richer heritage to pass on the the future.

   Posted By: jah walloon qld

6. The children know better!

   Posted By:  D.A. Davies. Milton.

7. I have to laugh. Yesterday, I was in the shopping mall near where I live in this almost 90% Muslim majority country, surrounded by piped Christmas songs, with Christmas trees twinkling and signs all over the place wishing people Season's Greetings. Later I drove past a housing estate with a Christmas lights display at the entrance.
   I couldn't help but think of the nonsense that some back in Australia sprout about inclusivity.
   If you're going to say those sorts of things, then celebrate the lot, as they do here.
   Almost all of the public holidays here are religious, with the significant days in the Muslim, Buddhist, Hindu and Christian calendars all acknowledged. That's inclusive.
   (I should actually have said Christian and Catholic because they are treated as different religions here!)

   Posted By: ErikH, Surabaya, Indonesia

8. Last weekend I attended a St Nicholas day celebration held by the Dutch community of my region. We've been going for the last 4 years.
   The celebration is attracting more people each year, even people who are not of Dutch origin but like the historical origins of Santa Claus in the form of Sinterklaas.
   So what is it that is attracting all these young families? A fun atmosphere (music, tug-of-war, patato sack races, egg and spoon races, unstructured play for the kids), Dutch food and a spirit of hospitality given by the Dutch community here.
   I'll probably be doubling my contingent for next year based on the fun that was had this year.
   The Catholic Church has a wealth of culture that we can open up to the community. I really think that young families like mine crave such simple fun but struggle to find it these days.

   Posted By: AD, Newcastle, NSW

9. To Marlene Gudu if she reads this:
   I understand that the Montessori method of education is to encourage and train lateral thinking. Perhaps, this principle is now not as authentic as it was originally intended. Education is about learning to think and about life and all it's wonderful mysteries. Is the school up to this basic challenge?

   Posted By: J Lim, Canberra

10. This isn't inclusive, it's exclusive.
    I know plenty of Muslim and Jewish people and I don't know a single one who objects to people celebrating Christmas.
    Some of them do too - at least in the sense of taking the opportunity to get together with family and celebrate the idea of peace on earth and goodwill to all - which, let's face it, it all it means to most people who celebrate it.
    I also know several who get quite upset over this kind of mis-placed 'concern' for their sensibilities. As my Jewish friend said, if they really want to be inclusive, why don't they teach the kids about some of the other religious festivals as well?
    This is at best misguided and at worst, as someone else said, a cloaked effort to remove everything even remotely smacking of any kind of faith from general life.
    I don't think religious instruction should be undertaken in secular schools, but to deny a reality of Western life (like Christmas) is just silly.

    Posted By: Imelda Melbourne

11. The school employees responsible for this ridiculous ban should be immediately sacked and ostrasized.This is a Christian country, not a Moslem one.

    Posted By: R.B.Meppem Beacon Hill NSW 2100

12. Well said Imelda, Melbourne. You are correct in what you have written, I also know many who think and talk the same way.

    Posted By: JoyceB, Shepparton Victoria

13. R.B.Meppem: There is no mention of Muslims in the article, nor any hint that this decision was made because of Muslim sensibilities.
    As I noted in my earlier post, I think many Muslims would be as appalled by this political (in)correctness as you are. Why blame it on them?

    Posted By: ErikH, Surabay, Indonesia

14. I cannot understand how inclusive of all religious and cultural groups means to exclude Christmas. Do they exclude all other religious and cultural groups also? - Oakleigh, Victoria

    Posted By: Jean Maher

15. This seems to me more like exclusion than inclusion.
    It reminds me of all those weddings and, worse still, funerals I wasn't able to celebrate or commemorate with the girls I worked with in the 60s.

    Posted By: Margaret McDonald Brunswick West

16. It would be more to the point to be fully inclusive and keep the major feasts of the main religions. This would bring a better understanding to each religion and, with everyone being inclused, no-one need feel left our.

    Posted By: Helen-Mary Langlands

17. The kindergarten that killed Christmas. This is political correctness gone mad.
    Thinking people in all religions will agree that their is only one God for all and the Eternal us is the Divine spark of God that is in all of us.
    When we die and our Soul journeys home, the level of light we enter is decreed by the amount of love, light and equality we left in the world, not by the religion we belonged to.
    To ban Christmas celebrations and not all other religious celebrations is elitist. To ban all religious celebrations would be divisive.
    If you allowed all religious celebrations with all your children being involved in those celebrations then you would be fostering that inclusiveness you desire.
    Imagine how well rounded those children would become and grow up with a deeper acceptance and understanding of each other.

    Posted By: Maurice O'Connell, Brisbane

18. I find is strange that the inference is that the ban was placed to avoid offending someone, when all it serves to do is offend and divide the community.
    I for one am offended by the ban.
    The irony for me is that just last Christmas, a neighbour who is a Muslim from Saudi Arabia, knocked on my door and offered a plate of sweets and biscuits as a Christmas gift.
    They were far from offended by Christmas and its festivities.
    So much for your tolerance of your own faith.

    Posted By: Norm Dennis, Perth

19. Some poster has advocated that the Santa suppressors be sacked. They most certainly should not. Perhaps they should be counselled to the following effect:
    S Claus is not a religious symbol (except in Holland where Sint'Niklaas is alive and well on his feast day).
    As a devout and irreverent Santa atheist I would not be sorry to see Santa fade into oblivion. The kids don't care as long as they get all the seasonal loot.
    And yes, Imelda is right. Every Xmas-tide I journey to Auburn (Sydney) to pick up industrial quantities of Turkish Delight from a Muslim-run shop and every year I am wished a happy and holy Xmas by the proprietor.
    Every so often Xmas conicides with Eid al-fitr (end of Ramadan) and I am able to return the compliment.
    

    Posted By: JR,Sydney

20. This is ridiculous, especially coming from a secular civilised country like Australia. This 'Judeo-Christian heritage' is apparently a farce. This is by far a joke by Australian standards.
    I'm from Malaysia, and say whatever you will about Malaysia, but even the Governments of one of the states in Malaysia have organised a state-level Christmas public open house for all to enjoy.
    The government is run by a coalition that has a conservative Muslim component party and yet, the churches, both Catholic and Protestant, are playing an integral part in this. And the Government knows too well that the religious aspect is important.
    Looks like little Muslim country Malaysia has given Australia a run for its money in the overblown hype of Christmas.
    I've already decided that I'm celebrating on the 6th of January.

    Posted By: Collin Michael Nunis, Perth, Western Australia

21. Colin: Do you mean to say that you would not have celebrated Epiphany anyway?

    Posted By: JR,Sydney

22. The teacher's draconian dictates to the little chuildren to force them to change any words of songs which refer to Christianity, and to forbid them from using any symbol derived from Christianity, are totally contrary to the Montessori principle of child-directed, natural and free learning.

    Posted By: Peter G Thornleigh

23. Australia is a Christian country, otherwise we wouldn't have a public holiday on Dec 25th.
    
    

    Posted By: Anna K

• » Advertise in CathNews

Email to Friend Please fill out the following details (fields marked with a * are mandatory):
Send To Email Address*:
Send To Name *:
Sent By Email Address*:
Sent By Name *:
Text to include in email:
Captcha validation:	please enter the code above:

^ Page Top

Comment on this article

More from this section

1. Catholics urged to write to MPs to support traditional marriage

   Catholics have been asked to write to their Federal MPs in support of traditional marriage, in response to a recent Federal Parliament motion that asked members to gauge constituents' views on how to achieve equal treatment for same sex couples, reports The Catholic Weekly.

2. Aged care providers make loss on high-care beds

   Aged care providers lose at least $13 a day on high-care beds in capital costs alone, according to Catholic Health Australia chief executive Martin Laverty in an AAP report in the Sydney Morning Herald.

3. ACT first to start new national curriculum in 2011

   The ACT will be an early adopter of the national curriculum, with Education Minister Andrew Barr saying it will be rolled out in independent, Catholic and public schools from next year, reports AAP in the Sydney Morning Herald.

4. Christmas light show switched on at St Mary's Cathedral

   The Lights of Christmas, a dazzling light show featuring traditional Christmas imagery and colours, were switched on at Sydney's St Mary's Cathedral last night, the Archdiocese of Sydney announced in a statement.

5. Mary's ministry draws huge numbers in cyberspace

   The Mary MacKillop website, set up by the Sisters of St Joseph in preparation for her canonisation, has recorded some 190,000 visitors and received prayer requests from 80,000 people in just six months, the website's manager said in a recent presentation.