Humanists Australia supports call for balanced pastoral support in the ADF

Humanists Australia strongly supports Collin Acton's push for an adequately balanced pastoral support system in the Australian Defence Forces, as reported by Amy Fallon in The Saturday Paper this week.

Humanists have pursued a secular (religiously neutral) approach in public schools, hospitals, and prisons for years. The ADF situation is equally important. HA does not seek to push religious chaplains out of the ADF; however, we are very concerned about the pressure the chaplains have put on Collin to resign. He has been advocating to improve pastoral care for the service members he has supported for years. Collin is a Humanist, and his continued efforts demonstrate Humanism's value-driven approach to life. Moral behaviour and effective pastoral care do not need a religious basis.

Non-religious people from all walks of life have repeatedly told us that a religious pastoral carer is not their preference. In many cases, they would choose no pastoral care ahead of religious care. Being forced to go without adequate support in difficult times is unacceptable for our service personnel, the ADF, or society.

The latest census results, and the ADF's own surveys, show an ongoing society-wide move away from religion and highlights outdated ideas about religion and society, including one-size-fits-all pastoral support. HA strongly asserts that pastoral care be diversified to better reflect our society and improve the well-being of our communities.

We are in an era in which Australians continue to demonstrate that they can enjoy an ethical and compassionate life that fully contributes to society, with no ties to religion. It is time that religious pastoral care be put behind us in favour of a model that gives all people the choices and the support they need.

Read more about Collin’s experience in calling for action on this in The Saturday Paper.