Letters

Anti-religious bigotry

Peter Kamsma

Contents - Oct 2013 - Buy a copy now Editorial: Postscript on the Australian elections - Peter Westmore Pope Francis to consecrate world to the Immaculate Heart of Mary - Peter Westmore News: The Church Around the World Frassati Australia and the New Evangelisation - Fr Paul Chandler OSCE Conference: The new face of religious intolerance - Bishop Mario Toso The Catholic Church is holy, despite its members' sins - Audrey English Interview: Why science needs faith - Professor Dominique Lambert The priesthood and the Catholic faith - Fr John O'Neill PP Church of Divine Mercy in Singapore: an amazing discovery - Kazimierz Kozlowski Blessed Jacinta Marto: heroine of Fatima - Cedric Wright Letters: Dr Mobbs replies ... - Frank Mobbs Letters: Exaggeration? - Noel Keith Roberts Letters: Humanae Vitae - Ron Graham Letters: Moral failure - John Wynter Letters: Harmful effects - Richard Grant, Willie Chenhall, Maryse Usher Letters: Creator's plan - Clare Ryan Letters: Culture of life needed - Fr Bernard McGrath Letters: Anti-religious bigotry - Peter Kamsma Events: Spiritual Exercises in Bowral, December 2013 Books: A Book of Saints and Heroes, Heroines, by Joanna Bogle - Val Prendergast (reviewer) Books: COURAGE AND CONVICTION, by Joanna Bogle - Peter Westmore (reviewer) Books: ON THE LEFT BANK OF THE TIBER, by Fr Gerald O'Collins SJ - Frank Mobbs Books: THE FREEDOM OF LOVE, by Rafael de Santiago - Br Barry Coldrey (reviewer) Support: Launch of 2013 Fighting Fund - Peter Westmore Books: Order books from www.freedompublishing.com.au Reflection: Bishop Fisher: Young Catholics must be Christ in the world - Bishop Anthony Fisher

In the recent federal election, one of the new parties standing was the Secular Party of Australia.

In a pamphlet distributed in my electorate, the Secular Party said: "Religions block many socially progressive laws".

The party claims to be founded on the principle of "keeping religion out of government".

Has this party realised that in areas such as healthcare, education, care of the aged and the most marginalised, including the destitute and indigenous communities, churches and religious organisations have played a key role in the provision of basic services to Australians?

And in our democracy, are they not entitled to express their views on the great issues of the day, like business groups, trade unions, environmentalists, pressure groups, the media and the range of other organisations which contribute to public debate?

I had hoped that anti-religious movements were a thing of the past. Most people accept the existence of any party, but a party based on anti-religious prejudice cannot be regarded as "socially progressive".

In fact, it is simply a reintroduction of bigotry by another name.

PETER KAMSMA
Traralgon, Vic

Reprinted from AD2000 Vol 26 No 9 (October 2013), p. 15