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Rudd seeks church role in politics
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Produced by:
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SMH
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Date of Production:
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Monday, 2nd October 2006
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Abstract:
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Ken Rudd argues that this approach provides "an illuminating principle - even a 'light on the hill', to borrow Chifley's phrase, which he in turn had consciously borrowed from Christ's Sermon on the Mount - that can help to shape our view of what constitutes appropriate policy for the community, the nation and the world".
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Printing:
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Click here for a printer friendly version of this page.
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The prominent federal Labor frontbencher Kevin Rudd has issued a clarion call for Christians and the churches to take a bigger role in national politics.
In a striking departure from the secular practices of the contemporary Australian Labor Party, Mr Rudd has in effect launched a major appeal for the Christian vote.
In a 5000-word essay in October's issue of The Monthly, a magazine of politics and the arts, he calls on the churches to take a more active role in politics, to "fearlessly speak truth to the state", and especially in calling the Howard Government to account.
He advocates an "alternative vision for Australia's future" shaped by Christian values.
With the Government elevating the place of "values" in politics and courting the evangelical vote, Mr Rudd is signalling that Labor will not allow the conservatives a monopoly on matters of faith and religion.
"For too long in this country," he said yesterday, "there's been an assumption that if you have private faith your natural destination is one of the conservative parties."
Complete article : http://www.smh.com.au/news/national/rudd-seeks-church-role-in-politics/2006/10/01/1159641213160.html
Refer also : http://www.acl.org.au/national/browse.stw?article_id=11193
Kevin Rudd web site : http://www.kevinrudd.com/ |
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