Citipointe Christian College withdraws controversial enrolment contract

Citipointe Christian College has withdrawn a controversial enrolment contract allowing them to expel students based on their gender identity.

Citipointe Christian College has withdrawn a controversial enrolment contract that called on students to denounce homosexuality and agree to specific gender roles.

The Carindale school, in Brisbane’s south, made headlines when Principal Pastor Brian Mulheran issued the contract, which required students to sign days before students return or risk being excluded.

Many were shocked by the document, with Australian comedian and content creator Christian Hull blasting it as “sickening” and damaging to young people.

“The new contract is utterly disgusting and discriminatory. I cannot believe in 2022 we are still here and still fighting these battles,” he wrote on Instagram.

“We need to stamp out this type of blatant bigotry and not allow the school to act in this way.”

In a statement this morning, it announced it was withdrawing the contract and that “families will no longer be asked to agree to that contract for their child to be enrolled in the College”.

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Citipointe Christian College has withdrawn a controversial enrolment contract that called on students to denounce homosexuality and agree to specific gender roles. Picture: Richard Walker

While Pastor Mulheran had previously doubled down on the contract — and the school’s right to issue it — in the statement announcing its withdrawal he said the College “deeply regret that some students feel that they would be discriminated against because of their sexuality or gender identity, and I apologise to them and their families on behalf of the College”.

“As stated previously, the College does not and will not discriminate against any student because of their sexuality or gender identity. It is central to our faith that being gay or transgender in no way diminishes a person’s humanity or dignity in God’s eyes,” he added.

“It is also deeply distressing that some of our students have been vilified in the community simply for their religious beliefs or because they attend the College.

“I hope that by withdrawing the contract we can return all of our focus to the Christian education of our students as we begin this new year.

Citipointe Christian College Principal Pastor Brian Mulheran. Picture: Facebook

“Every individual is created equal in the image of God and should be treated with compassion, love, kindness, respect and dignity. This will continue to be at the heart of our College and help us to come together again as a community.

“Our society gives freedom to people to be a part of groups with shared beliefs. Citipointe has the freedom to maintain its Christian ethos and this is an essential part of Christian education and choice for parents. As a College established for religious purposes, we will continue to provide an education based on our shared beliefs.

“I would also like to thank our families, students and staff who have continued to support us.”

The College added that it will “continue to ensure that families are provided with the information that is necessary to make informed choices about our community and our approach to teaching and caring for their children”.

Ultimately, the damage has been done for the students most vulnerable.

They have heard, in no ambiguous terms, they are unwelcome and unwanted at school, they are considered "sinful and offensive to God" and now know that if they're unsafe at home, they're also unsafe on campus. https://t.co/N0C8OUHdQl

— Benjamin Law 羅旭能 (@mrbenjaminlaw) February 3, 2022

Reacting to news of the contract’s withdrawal, Sydney-based writer Benjamin Law said that “ultimately, the damage has been done for the students most vulnerable”.

“They have heard, in no ambiguous terms, they are unwelcome and unwanted at school, they are considered ‘sinful and offensive to God’ and now know that if they’re unsafe at home, they’re also unsafe on campus,” he wrote on Twitter.

The withdrawal comes after Prime Minister Scott Morrison opposed the contract, telling radio station B105.3 this morning that students should not be discriminated against for what they believe in.

“I don’t support that. My kids go to a Catholic school in Sydney and I wouldn’t want my school doing that either,” the PM said, but added the school was not going against the current federal law.

“One of the bills that we are going to be taking through to parliament, we’ll be having an amendment which will deal with that. The law, as it currently sits, would allow for that, but that’s what I’m trying to change. Religious freedom isn’t just about people who have religion.

“It’s also about people who don’t, and you shouldn’t be discriminated against by what your religious faith or isn’t. And that’s what the bill we’re trying to take though the parliament is all about. It actually protects and supports all Australians, whether they have faith or they don’t.”

Prime Minister Scott Morrison opposed the contract, telling B105.3 he didn’t “support” it. Picture: Gaye Gerard/NCA NewsWire

The contract stated the school can terminate a child’s enrolment if they do not identify with their birth gender.

It noted the bible ties gender identity to biological sex and does not make a distinction between gender and biological sex.

“Whilst each student is individually valued and equally encouraged to pursue opportunities in both academic and co-curricular activities, I/we agree that, where distinctions are made between male and female (inclusive of, but not limited to, for example, uniforms, presentation, terminology, use of facilities and amenities, participation in sporting events and accommodation) such distinctions will be applied on the basis of the individual’s biological sex,” the contract stated.

This is part of a 16 page contract parents are made to sign on behalf of their child to attend Citipointe Christian College in Brisbane

I have condensed the disgusting content in this contract down to this image.

Sigh the petition. Call this out https://t.co/VYGZcZpNGQpic.twitter.com/w6JfIYVwue

— Christian Hull (@christianhull) January 30, 2022

“The Parents acknowledge and accept that, should I/we not share the college’s commitment to fostering these fundamental doctrinal precepts, this will constitute a serious departure from the religious precepts upon which Citipointe Christian College is based and will afford Citipointe Christian College the right to exclude a student from the College who no longer adheres to the College’s doctrinal precepts including those as to biological sex …”

The document also branded homosexuality “sinful, offensive and destructive”, while also lumping it into the same category as paedophilia and incest.

“We believe that any form of sexual immortality (including but not limited to; adultery, fornication, homosexual acts, bisexual act, incest, paedophilia and pornography) is sinful and offensive to God and is destructive to human relationships and society,” the school document stated.

The contract also noted that marriage and sexual intimacy should only be between a biological man and woman and outlined the school’s anti-abortion and anti-euthanasia stance.

Fees for the Kindergarten to Year 12 school range from $8880 to $12,610 a year.