On Christianity and democracy

#1068 for broadcast on 2CH Sydney, 3 May 2015

Senior research fellow at the Australian Catholic University, Dr Kevin Donnelly, writing in The Weekend Australian, observes that millions across the world are denied rights we take  for granted because our common law is founded on Christian principles.

While our Constitution states that the Commonwealth “shall not make any law for establishing any religion, or for imposing any religious observance,” Dr Donnelly says this

does not mean that religion should be banished from the public square or ignored by the curriculum.

To attempt to do so not only misinterprets the Constitution, it also weakens and undermines the liberal, democratic institutions and values that ensure Australia, compared with many countries, is such a peaceful, prosperous and just society.

Worse still, by denying that this country has a strong and viable narrative worth advocating and protecting, … we vacate the field and allow extremist and violent ideologies to influence our young.

Dr Donnelly co-chaired last year’s national curriculum review.

I’m Rod Benson for the NSW Council of Churches.