| In the last 10 years the line between religion and government in Australia has become more blurred.
The churches now run more schools and universities and public hospitals, aged care and employment services on behalf of government and can use these services to proselytise or to exclude those with other beliefs. This relationship with government can compromise the social justice function of the traditional churches in speaking out about the treatment of refugees, the attack on Iraq, on industrial relations and on poverty and indeed these churches in particular have been attacked by government for doing so.
Churches enjoy tax exemption status, even for business enterprises, but there is little accountability for this financial advantage and no obligation for the public revenue foregone be spent in the public interest rather than those of particular churches.
Conservative religious organisations appear more influential in the major political parties and are investing their considerable resources into electing their own candidates, viz the Family First party. Federal ministers have reacted with divisive debates over euthanasia, abortion, gay marriage and Christian values. Political leaders and would-be leaders have publicly declared their religious faith and courted Hillsong, Ministries of Fire and other new evangelical churches.
So have Australians become more religious or is it just their politicians? Do Australians wish to see religion having more say in government and, if so what this mean for democracy?
When the Prime Minister says Australia is a secular country and immigrants who don't share Christian values should leave, what does this mean, particularly for those who practice Judaism, Buddhism, Islam, Hinduism, or for atheists, humanists and agnostics?
The Australian Democrats say the neo-conservative religious right - much of it with roots in the US - is having a disproportionate influence on public policy.
The Australian Democrats core values are democracy, freedom, equality and tolerance and we support freedom of religion, and the right of citizens to practice, or not practice a religious faith. But, while we support freedom of religious observance we do not consider that religion should have undue influence on the governance of Australian citizens and nor do we support the exploitation of religion and religious difference for political purposes.
We will explore the relationship between religion and politics in Australia and campaign for true separation of Church and State as some other countries have done. |
