Two of my mates have differing responses:

More forgiving is Robert Forsyth, senior bishop and second in command of Australia’s Anglican Church [Not quite accurate, but hey! Why not? Rob’s great :-)] . Having recently met the PM, and believing that she respects the beliefs of others, Mr Forsyth says: ”I think she’s a good model for religious freedom. Personally I’d like her to know God, but I have no concern that our prime minister is an atheist … I think that anyone who wants to lead has to believe in right and wrong. I believe that she does.”

However, Reverend Mark Durie, vicar of St Mary’s Anglican Church in Caulfield, says he’s not happy about ”the PM’s domestic arrangements (living in a de facto relationship) – I don’t think it’s a good model for others”.

He also wonders what kind of atheist Ms Gillard is. ”If you believe we are all just lumps of dirt, the result of a series of evolutionary accidents, of course this affects how you value the dying, the unborn, the disabled, the environment, human sexuality and marriage,” he says.

More responses in Will atheism spell trouble for Gillard?