Anthony Albanese has sparked debate after Aussies noticed a peculiar detail about his swearing-in this week.
Albanese was sworn in on Tuesday at Government House in Canberra for his second term as prime minister.
But many observers noticed that rather than swearing on a Bible – the traditional method in – Mr Albanese opted to take a secular affirmation during the ceremony with Governor-General Sam Mostyn despite parading his Catholic faith before the election.
‘I believe in the separation of church and state,’ he said when asked later about the move.
‘I’ve always chosen to do an affirmation because I think that, as the n prime minister, I represent people of every faith and no faith.
‘That for me, that’s a personal decision, other people who swear on the Bible or the Koran in (Labor MP) Anne Aly’s case, is perfectly up to them – it’s a personal choice.’
Albanese is Catholic and attended church several times at Easter during his election campaign to mark the death of Pope Francis.
He also mentioned that Christianity had inspired his principles of kindness and compassion, particularly towards vulnerable people.
Aussies were divided over Albanese’s choice not to swear on the Bible.
Some praised his decision to keep his personal faith separate from his office, while others thought it showed a lack of conviction.
‘A secular country is what we should be aiming for. No Bible cultism in my country thank you,’ one supporter said.
But another accused the PM of ‘once again pandering to minorities’.
‘We’re a Christian-based country and it’s a tradition he should uphold.’
‘He pretends to be Catholic when it’s politically advantageous,’ said a third.
A fourth argued that ‘saying you represent everyone means you represent no one’.
Sky News host Paul Murray, who delivered a lengthy critique on Tuesday night, went so far as to label him ‘each way Albo’ over the move.
‘If I was somebody who had three great loves, who spoke as warmly about the head of his church, who had gone to church publicly on the occasion of the resurrection of Jesus Christ – then you would think the greatest power you would swear to… would be the very God that you might not talk about every single day, but you were very happy to parade,’ Mr Murray said.
Sky News host James Macpherson held a similar view.
‘Now legally it makes no difference, but politically and culturally there are questions being asked, particularly since Anthony Albanese made a pretty big deal of his Catholic faith prior to the election,’ he said.
‘And particularly how proud his mother would be that he would be the first n prime minister to attend the inauguration of a pope.’
Mr Macpherson added that the principle of separation of church and state was a Christian idea.
‘That principal was non-existent until Jesus said: “Render unto Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and unto God the things that are God’s” – the principal of separation between church and state did not exist anywhere in the world until Jesus made that claim.
‘That principal which he said was his guiding principal is actually in the Bible that he refused to swear on.’
The heightened scrutiny of Albanese’s faith comes as he heads to Rome for the inaugural mass of Pope Leo XIV.
Albanese will join other world leaders at the mass in St Peter’s Square at the Vatican on Sunday.