Posted on 10/29/2005 1:06:06 AM PDT by Dundee
Labor olive branch to Christians
OPPOSITION Leader Kim Beazley has moved to soothe relations between Labor and Christian churches, linking his moral values to the fight against the Government's planned industrial relations laws.
He told church leaders that a post-September 11 world had distorted the message of faith in God.
The devoutly religious Mr Beazley also criticised a distortion of Christian faith which he said had occurred in the United States.
"In the post-September 11 age when religion is at the centre of public fears of terrorism, we must be able to challenge the ugly, violent distortions of genuine faith," he told the Australian Christian Lobby conference in Canberra.
"We still have the opportunity in Australia to avoid the divisive, partisan exploitation of religious faith that has entered American political debate."
Mr Beazley did not mention by name former leader Mark Latham - who has bitterly criticised Mr Beazley - but conceded Christians had had concerns about Labor in the lead-up to last year's federal election.
"I know that many of you feel that last year the relationship between federal Labor and the Christian community got out of balance," he said.
In a speech peppered with references to the Government's proposed industrial relations reforms, he criticised governments which put the demands of the market ahead of the lives of families, saying it undermined society.
"When society becomes a market, it loses its values. And that's why this current debate is about more than industrial relations," he said.
"This debate is a referendum on Australia's values.
"Do we choose to be only a market, where no aspect of family life is safe from the intrusion of secular materialist values?"
Dealing with questions from the audience on matters such as abortion and homosexuality, Mr Beazley promised Labor would listen to the often silent, religious sector of the community, partly through its caucus faith and values working group, headed by frontbencher Kevin Rudd.
"We have to be conscious of the fact that there are some things that are very important to people that don't necessarily hit the headlines on a daily basis," he said.
"You often find in the (religious) community a sense of peace and reticence, a sort of stoic charm, that doesn't always expose itself to the people in political life."
Family First senator Steve Fielding, whose vote could become crucial in Senate debates on issues such as IR and counter-terror laws, said he was pleased to see Mr Beazley addressing family issues.
He said the IR proposals were concerning to people he talked to in the street, many of whom were only just beginning to understand the issues.
"Surely we need to be treating people fairly," he told reporters.
"Are we going to continue down this market-driven path, (often) to the detriment of families?" ACL head Brigadier Jim Wallace said many Christians did not vote for Labor at the last election because of former leader Mark Latham's public pronouncements that he was not guided by faith.
He urged politicians to listen to churches on issues such as industrial relations and for the Government to allow time to absorb and understand the issues.
With the rise of Evangelical churches in Australia (such as Hillsong), religion is becoming openly discussed and is having an impact on the political life of Australia.
Labor (Aussie version of the Democrats) has recognised the shift but I doubt that true Christians will be all that comfortable with Labor's far left, secular positions.
Can a Christian be involved in politics?
Yes.
Can politics be involved in Christianity?
No.
I'm a baptised Roman Catholic who is probably more of an Evangelical than a Roman Catholic. Jesus is my Lord and Savour, and as such I'm not unhappy that Christians are becoming more involved in politics here.
Better that the ugliness of politics be tempered by beauty of His message than the other way around.
If Christianity in the USA was having the effect on politics that pleased him, it would not be cast in a negative light as he has mentioned here. These left wing loonies continue their war on Christianity for one reason only: It is a threat to their plans, desires and goals.
Tough dookie dude.
""We still have the opportunity in Australia to avoid the divisive, partisan exploitation of religious faith that has entered American political debate.""
"Think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword. For I am come to set a man at variance against his father, and the daughter against her mother, and the daughter in law against her mother in law.
And a man’s foes shall be they of his own household." - Matt. 10:34
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