Parliamentary Paper: Jews. - Fund for Public Worship. Copy of despatch from the Right Honorable the Secretary of State, in reply to a memorial from the members of the Jewish faith to be allowed to participate in the funds appropriated to public worship.

(AUSTRALIA)

John Ferres, Government Printing Office

Melbourne

1856

Single page. Parliamentary paper (Victoria-Parliament 1855-56, no. A52).

Members of Victorian Jewry had signed a petition to have the wording of the Act for Public Worship altered, so that it included the word ‘Hebrew’ as well as the term ‘Christian’. This would entitle the Jewish community of Victoria to a share of public funds set aside for religious faiths, and in particular religious education. The Secretary of State writes that the Queen has received the petition and that she deems it a reasonable request, but as yet ‘Her Majesty has not been advised to make any Order thereupon. The wishes of the Colony however, should they propose to admit the Jews to participate in the Funds for Public Worship, will receive a favorable attention.’ State aid for religion in the Colony of Victoria was a contentious topic in the mid 1850s, with dissenters arguing that is was grossly unfair to tax citizens of other faiths in order to pay for the maintenance of the ascendent Protestant or Catholic Churches. The counter-argument warned of the dangers of becoming a secular state, in which lack of respect for religion would lead to a degeneration of public morals and a decline in social tolerance.