Australian PM is an Atheist
Gillard won’t play religion card – ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation).
Former prime minister Kevin Rudd was a regular at Canberra church services and Opposition Leader Tony Abbott is known as a devout Catholic.
In contrast, Ms Gillard says that while she greatly respects other people’s religious views, she does not believe in God.
Ms Gillard has been quizzed on personal topics including her attitude to religion and her relationship with her partner during interviews this morning.
She says does not go through religious rituals for the sake of appearance.
“I am not going to pretend a faith I don’t feel,” she said.
“I am what I am and people will judge that.
“For people of faith, I think the greatest compliment I could pay to them is to respect their genuinely held beliefs and not to engage in some pretence about mine.”
That’s pretty cool. I don’t think we will see anything like that here in the states for a very, very long time. I think it would be better sooner than later.
Too bad most Americans think Australia is next to Germany or that they’re just like us with funny accents.
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That is actually what she said after she was asked about private school funding. I was listening on the radio at the time
Here is Aus, private schools get more funding per capita than public schools (not supposed to). The Xtian lobby was worried that funding would be cut. Personally I think it should be but she did not want to start a religious debate.
It is worth noting that the majority of politicians are from a private schools.
Maybe this will change now.