Faith & Politics in Oz
Three articles in today's Age re our Treasurer's newly-discovered interest in faith:
A "newly patient" Treasurer tells Jason Koutsoukis he has been overwhelmed by the public response to his appeal for a return to Christian values in a time of moral decay. - accompanied by a good Tandberg cartoon!
Then an article on Faith's Demographics downunder:
Treasurer Peter Costello's appeal to the Ten Commandments is likely to resonate with at least seven out of 10 Melbourne voters. Religious demographers say about 65 per cent of Melburnians identified as Christian at the 2001 census. Add to that another 5 per cent in Muslims and Jews, plus secularists who are socially conservative, and family values make a winning formula.
Mr Costello has identified particularly with Pentecostals - speaking at events organised by Hillsong in Sydney and Catch the Fire in Melbourne - who are strong in the marginal outer-east electorates.
Easy to be cynical here, but I'll leave that in case Gary's lurking somewhere!
Finally, another article on Costello's Faith Call:
"I just hope values like abusing women, idolising drugs, approving of suicide aren't sold to young people as if they are cool and hip. "
Acutely aware of the potent mixture politics and religion can be, Costello nevertheless vehemently affirms his belief in the separation of church and state.
# posted by geoff @ 10:02 am
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