Fed: GG appointment could blur separation of church and state

AAP General News (Australia)
04-23-2001
Fed: GG appointment could blur separation of church and state

CANBERRA, April 23 AAP - The appointment of Archbishop Peter Hollingworth as the next
governor-general could be regarded as inappropriate by some Australians, Canberra Anglican
Bishop George Browning said today.

The choice of Archbishop Hollingworth to take over from Sir William Deane in June this
year has raised concerns over the separation of church and state, as he is the first church
leader to be made the Queen's representative in Australia.

Bishop Browning, who first worked with Archbishop Hollingworth in Brisbane in the late
1980s and early 1990s, said he believed the governor-general-elect would carry on Sir
William's care of the marginalised and disadvantaged.

However he conceded the appointment could be perceived as giving inappropriate power
to the Anglican church.

"I don't think the Australian community will think kindly of the church being perceived
to be in a position of influence, authority or power, and of course the governor-general
isn't in that position, but it might be perceived to be," Bishop Browning told ABC Radio.

"It is not appropriate within Australian culture for one church to be seen to be more
established or more dominant than another.

"It is certainly not appropriate for a church to be seen to be inappropriately connected
with the seat of political power."

MORE eg/jas/bwl

KEYWORD: GG BROWNING

2001 AAP Information Services Pty Limited (AAP) or its Licensors.