An Introduction to Australia Religious Politics
The Church in Australia has always been involved in politics. Shortly after the English began our nation as a European penal settlement, the Church of England became involved with the first legislative support to the Governor. The Church of England became closely associated with the conservative parties, both urban and rural.
As most convicts were Irish Catholics, it was inevitable their numbers would grow until one in every seven Australians was of Irish Catholic descent. They became strongly involved in the Labor Party in State and national politics. As the Labor Party became under the influence of the Communist Party, the Catholic Church strongly supported the formation of a new political party, the Democratic Labor Party. The split in the Labor Party was responsible for keeping the conservative parties in power. Other Christian groups became aligned with the policies and personnel of the Australian Democrats and the Greens. Christians stood for and were elected to Parliament in all of these parties.
In the midst of this, evangelical Bible Believing Christians formed the Christian Democratic Party led by Rev Fred Nile and two members of the NSW Parliament have been elected in each election over a twenty year span. What are those policies and principles that might be regarded as the desires of God’s heart? A careful study of God’s Word should illuminate those issues that Christians should promote in the political process.
When Mary was pregnant she visited her kinswoman Elizabeth, who gave birth to John the Baptist. While there Mary burst forth into praise in what has become known as the Magnificat. In that song of praise is an insight into what God wanted of his people in society. It is a revolutionary concept:
And Mary said: “My soul glorifies the Lord and my spirit rejoices in God my Saviour, for he has been mindful of the humble state of his servant. From now on all generations will call me blessed, for the Mighty One has done great things for me – holy is his name. His mercy extends to those who fear him, from generation to generation. He has performed mighty deeds with his arm; he has scattered those who are proud in their inmost thoughts. He has brought down rulers from their thrones but has lifted up the humble. He has filled the hungry with good things but has sent the rich away empty. He has helped his servant Israel, remembering to be merciful to Abraham and his descendants forever, even as he said to our fathers.” Luke 1.
