Christians say calling new Royal Adelaide Hospital’s prayer space a ‘chapel’ is too Christian
CHRISTIANS say calling the new Royal Adelaide Hospital’s prayer space a “chapel” is too Christian.
CHRISTIANS say calling the new Royal Adelaide Hospital’s prayer space a “chapel” is too Christian.
Australian Conservatives Senator Cory Bernardi has slammed the $2.3 billion project for having two spiritual spaces; one with two separate washrooms for Muslims to perform ablutions, and another generic prayer space.
Senator Bernardi said that was “bending over to appease a minority for fear of causing offence while undermining our tradition and heritage”, and that there should be a specifically Christian prayer room.
On Wednesday, the State Government said the multi-faith space would be called a chapel, which Senator Bernardi hailed as a victory for common sense.
But Chaplaincy Services SA — who work with SA Health to integrate spiritual care into healthcare — told The Advertiser they had made a conscious decision not to use such an “exclusive” term.
Executive officer Craig Bossie said it would be a “backwards step” to call the room a chapel because they had been working with a range of faiths to build relationships and “learn from one another and work collectively”.
“The language of ‘chapel’ can have the connotation of being exclusively Christian,” he said.
“We are taking positive steps, building relationships with other faiths and spiritual beliefs so we can learn from one another and work collectively.
“(The word) chapel can have that connotation about being specifically Christian and a that’s a regressive step rather than the idea of spiritual care as an inclusive thing.”
Mr Bossie said the important thing was to deliver spiritual care for everyone within the healthcare area.
He also said that what people thought was a Muslim prayer room was still a shared prayer room, and the “only distinctive feature” was the washing facilities.
Senator Bernardi said Mr Bossie was a “sellout”.
“The reason Western values are being weakened is because we’re reliant on people like this to defend them,” he said.
“He wants an inclusive space and yet endorses an area that is specifically designed and catered to a militant minority. Talk about a sellout. “
“I only thank God that the defence of Christianity is not left to the appeasers of the militant minority.”
State Health Minister Jack Snelling reportedly said that the arrangements at nRAH are the same as those in place at the existing hospital.
Senator Bernardi split with the Liberal Party to form the Australian Conservatives; he has recently been joined by anti-Islam activist Kirralie Smith. One Nation’s Pauline Hanson is competing with the Conservatives — this week she called for people to boycott Cadbury’s Easter eggs because they are halal-certified.
Senator Bernardi yesterday said Australia’s “cultural traditions” were “under constant threat from militant secularism”.
“These radicals are aided and abetted by weak governments and timid civil institutions who seem unprepared to defend Western values, culture and ethics,” he said.