I am a Catholic. I think that Cardinal Pell is right from a Catholic social doctrine point of view to express reservations to WorkChoices.
There is no point I think in Liberal party liberalism that says it agrees with rights of association eg unions but then effectively, through new laws- that by the way are a sad continuation of the previous Hawke/keating years in downgrading the operational powers of unions and workers in the workpalce.
If unions are to exist then more than lip service should be given them. We also need to restoration of the Conciliationa dn Arbitration Commission. Profit share has increased at the expense of wages share for many years now. Sure small business is a different case however, medium and large companies can affors to give 35hr weeks and 9 day fortnights to all staff and to ensure that family time is restord in this structured way- the union way.
You can read about the DLP’s true labor polices on industrial relations from our website:
www.dlp.org.au/
There are also many moderate Catholic and Protestant Christians within the ALP too. Sadly they are outnumbered.

Michael Webb

Thank you Paul for your timely and much needed clarification and correction.

I must note that “Monagle” is another great Irish Catholic name.

John FG McMahon

Good points. But that is not to say that I thought Howard’s Workchoices was any good or any where near above criticism. It was Pell’s pro-union, anti-freedom position that I was opposed to. I don’t think you guys would really disagree with this though.

From what I remember Kulikovski’s piece on economics was quite sound.

Damien Spillane

Most Western nations already have the basic limitations in place, as in defamation laws, legislation against slander, and so on. What many of us object to are the various religious vilification laws which are little more than an attack on free speech, especially the right of Christians to proclaim the gospel.

As to the issue of homosexuality, this raises the concept of “hate speech” and hate crimes. Increasingly Western jurisdictions are passing unhelpful and nefarious laws of this nature, which are really meant to silence believers from speaking out on controversial moral and social issues.

The truth is, many homosexual activists would regard anyone reading from Romans 1 on a Sunday morning in church as hate speech, and would like to see such persons chucked in jail for such crimes. Indeed, that has already happened in places like Sweden, where reading certain biblical texts from the pulpit is now regarded as a hate crime.

It all comes from this silly and vacuous notion that people have a right not to be offended. I have written up the dangerous nature of such thinking and laws in various places, including here:

www.billmuehlenberg.com/2002/03/26/the-problem-with-vilification-legislation/
www.billmuehlenberg.com/2007/05/02/the-trouble-with-hate-crime-legislation/
www.billmuehlenberg.com/2007/07/18/unleashing-the-thought-police/

Bill Muehlenberg, CultureWatch

Pell thinks there is a line. He said “I approve of legislation outlawing incitement to violence and acknowledge that tightly limited anti-hate legislation is appropriate. But this second category of legislation should be used sparingly, lest it stifle robust legitimate criticism, so deepening tensions and exasperation under the surface, indirectly encouraging what it aspires to prevent.”

So where does that leave us on holocaust-denial and statements that might encourage hate-crimes against homosexuals?

Mark Harvey

On that matter Pell simply fell into line with all the lefty priests and ‘social justice’ types in the church. It’s an unfortunate fact that it’s almost impossible to find a church leader these days who talks sense on IR issues. When it comes to minimum wages and benefits, etc., most of them prefer to think like socialists and then wonder why Australian jobs are exported to countries with a less ridged and draconian IR regime, or wonder why Australian manufacturing industries can’t compete with imports from developing countries.

Ewan McDonald.

Soon to come to school near you with its children being made to attend its headmistress being married to another woman or even the crowds waving as the Archbishopress of Canterbury stands on the steps of Canterbury Cathedral with her new bride or brides even.

David Skinner, UK