SYDNEY (NEW SOUTH WALES, AUSTRALIA)
Sydney Morning Herald
June 21, 2020
By Caitlin Fitzsimmons
Large Christian churches and other major religions have applied for the JobKeeper scheme to fund clergy salaries, after the government belatedly opened it up to religious practitioners.
The Catholic, Anglican and Uniting churches, as well as the Great Synagogue in Sydney, have confirmed hundreds of religious ministers across NSW are receiving the JobKeeper Payment of $1500 a fortnight, to plug a “dramatic” shortfall in income caused by the pandemic lockdown.
The suspension of religious services meant no collection plates or other donations connected to a service, while public health orders also shut down community hire of church property for events.
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