Both the Anglican and Roman Catholic churches in Sydney are strongly orthodox, and alert for any attempt to impose “secularism by stealth”. If neither of them have a problem with these ethics classes, its probably a sign that the Rev. Nile should drop the issue.

“When ethics classes were introduced at Hilltop Road Public School in Merrylands last term, its Catholic scripture alternative lost one student. But Charlie Gregory, 10, who said the classes were more fun than scripture, also had some other reasons.
‘‘My dad’s the teacher,’’ he said.”

That sums it up - the churches were concerned that aggressive secularists were trying to use the ethics classes to displace religious education in schools. If that is not the case, if its a level playing field, then the churches have nothing to fear - most kids would rather go to religious education (‘scripture’ as we Sydney brats called it growing up) and most parents will encourage their kids to go to it, in the belief (occasionally justified) that it will make better citizens of the little so-and-sos!