‘Continued Persecution’: MP Lambasts Proposal to Remove Prayer From Parliamentary Proceedings

Bob Katter of Katter’s Australian Party during a press conference in the Mural Hall at Parliament House in Canberra, Australia on June 22, 2021. Sam Mooy/Getty Images

Independent MP Bob Katter has issued a stinging rebuke of the Australian Senate chief after she proposed removing the Lord’s Prayer from parliamentary proceedings.

It comes after the new Senate President Sue Lines said that as an atheist, she did not want to say the prayer, which has been read prior to each sitting day since 1901.

“If we are genuine about the diversity of the Parliament, we cannot continue to say a Christian prayer to open the day,” she told The Australian newspaper.

“Personally, I would like to see them gone, but again it’s not something I can ­decree. It’s a view of the Senate,” she said, adding that removing the prayer would be “on the agenda” for the Senate Standing Committee on Procedure.

Katter, the MP from North Queensland, spoke to the media in Parliament while holding up an edition of the Bible.

“This Book for 5,000 years has been the heartland of religious belief, a concept that there is something bigger than me, but in sharp contrast, the persecutors believe that there is nothing bigger than themselves and their opinions,” he said.

“This continued persecution is well and truly alive today. Just have a look at what’s happened to these seven boys from Manly. They have been persecuted for no other reason than they have moral conviction and whether you agree with their convictions or not is irrelevant.”

“And now, we have been told today by some that we cannot say prayers in the Parliament. We can show allegiance to some lady in England, but we cannot say prayers.”

Rugby League Controversy

Katter was referring to recent controversy surrounding the decision by seven rugby league players to stand down from a match after they neared the team was supposed to wear a special “pride” jersey with rainbow-coloured stripes.

The coach of the Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles, Des Hasler, was forced to apologise to the seven players—who were of Pacific Islander background—and the LGBT community.

“We accept your cultural beliefs and hope that you can accept our apology,” he told reporters on July 26.

“We wish to apologise to the minority groups within the community who embrace the rainbow colours as a symbol of pride in who they are, what they stand for, and their impassioned advocacy.”

Around 45 percent of Australia’s premier rugby league competition, the National Rugby League (NRL), is comprised of Pacific Islander players, many of whom hold deeply religious Christian beliefs.

This situation contributed to the NRL being one of the few major sporting leagues last year not to implement vaccine mandates.