Well, of course I do. The banner at the top of this blog, of course, says "Atheist". You'd think I would.
However, there are very good reasons why you should be against the national school chaplains program even if you're a believer, and explaining this is part of the purpose of a new website launched tonight by my good friend Dave The Happy Singer, who's been beavering away behind the scenes with a small group of smart, dedicated folks. And me.
No To Chaplains starts with ten simple and very good reasons why the NSCP is a bad idea, none of which you'll notice, is "there's no god so teaching kids about it is spreading a lie". While that may be on my list, it's not an appropriate secular response, and that secular principle is the ground on which this issue should be fought.
The secular principle of fair and equal treatment for all dictates that no particular religious viewpoint should have a special privilege. None. The NSCP clearly violates this spirit, and should therefore be stopped.
I have no problem with a private school run on religious principles employing chaplains at their own private expense, but to have a secular government paying for sectarian chaplains, from public funds, to be placed in public institutions is an embarrassment to a country that waves the flag of multiculturalism so vociferously.
Stop the chaplains NOW.