THE
P RTAL
November 2015
Page 23
Church Social Justice
mired in whacky agendas!
Fr James Grant offers his own personal comment
The fact
that Australia’s mainline Protestant Churches are near collapse doesn’t seem to have
deterred them from aggressively pursuing a number of dubious social justice agendas.
Recently, Anglicans have been busy loudly
condemning coal as the new evil, questioning the
conduct of Australian border security and encouraging
local parishes to use dolphin-friendly tuna and
vegetarian options at all church gatherings.
John Paul II noted, Jesus spent most of his life working,
hence, the Pope’s call for worker support whenever
employment is threatened or lost, care for their families
and a strong emphasis on new employment as central
to our community life. (Laborem exercens , No 8)
This begs the question, what should Australia’s
churches actual ly be advocating as social benefits for
our community, particularly from denominations
that are numerically, financially and spiritually
disconnected from mainstream Australian life.
The world of work changes; that is the one constant
reality of work. Nothing stays the same and adaptation
is the key. All businesses must be focused on continued
improvement and all workers on the need for adapting
and developing skills.
Pope John Paul II has given a powerful focus to the
central issue that is confronting Australian society in
the 21st Century in his encyclical Laborem exercens
(English: On Human Work), highlighting the
dignity and value of human work. Australia has not
been immune from recession, the restructuring of
manufacturing and the constant need to compete and
adapt to global markets.
In Australia, employment issues are directly related
to the health of all Australian States. It is not just
South Australia or Tasmania in which this is keenly
felt. States unable to support their population with
long-term employment which encourages individuals
to build lives over a sustained period, will simply lose
population to states which can.
The Australian government is sharply focused on a
free trade agenda that will go a long way to ensuring
our continued prosperity, particularly in our trading
relationship with Asian neighbours. This is a good
policy. Nevertheless, there are Australian workers,
urban and rural, whose employment has been affected
or eroded by international competition. In many
cases there are limited opportunities for alternative
employment.
Some churches also need more honesty surrounding
the benefits that flow from free-enterprise. The
generally socialist ethos of church pronouncements is
often restricted to the idea that business is motivated
by profit alone. Broader notions of wealth which
include physical, psychological, moral and spiritual
benefits almost always stem from the world of work.
Australian business has overwhelmingly allowed
Australians to participate in the benefits and
goods that define our humanity and has made an
Whilst churches also talk a great deal about poverty irreplaceable contribution to our society. The Business
reduction, they are usually silent and blind to the Council is making a powerful call to lower company
obvious; gaining employment and holding it is the tax and personal income tax. Currently, Australia is
key platform for human fulfilment. Employment is at severe competitive disadvantage against our Asian
the foundation of the whole social justice agenda. neighbours, whose average corporate tax rate is around
It is the means to provide for marriage and family, 22% compared to our 30% rate.
the ownership of a home and the resources to raise
However, let’s not expect our churches to get on
and educate children. It also allows for all of us to
contribute to the welfare of our nation beyond our board with this soon. The real challenge facing young
employed Australians is the need for more political
family and friends.
engagement and greater social justice. I know, lets
But the demands of the modern economy must not hold a sustainable, multi-cultural rally in aid of
destroy employment or the dignity of the worker. As Animal Welfare!
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