[Oe List ...] Bonhoeffer makes news in Australian Politics

[Richard and Maria Maguire]

>The opposition (Labor) shadow foreign affairs minister, Kevin Rudd 
>caused quite a stir this week by publishing an article in a magazine 
>calling on the churches and Christians to take an active role in 
>politics concerning social justice, and not allow the right wing 
>Christians take over the field.  The churches have been critical of 
>the current conservartive government on a number of issues in the 
>past several years, including going to war in Iraq, current 
>windbacks of workers rights, asylum seekers, Aboriginal people and 
>other issues, as has been the Labor party.


However it is rare for a Labor person to speak up explicitly in terms 
of his theology, and Rudd does so in an impressively articulate 
manner.  The journalists have had a great struggle with this and 
can't quite understand that separation of church and state doesn't 
mean stay away from politics.  Rudd calls upon Bonhoeffer as a great 
20th century example of someone who engaged in politics as a 
Christian, and by doing so has made Bonhoeffer's name front page news.

It's possible to view what he says in a speech he gave recently at 
the University of New South Wales.  You can view it at 
http://newcollege.unsw.edu.au/lecture_pdf/1131324972742Rudd.pdf#search=%22bonhoeffer%20%22Kevin%20Rudd%22%22. 
The magazine article is not on the web, but this speech gives his 
essential points.

If you would like to see how a journalist has a struggle 
understanding what this is about see
http://www.abc.net.au/lateline/content/2006/s1753913.htm and 
http://www.abc.net.au/lateline/content/2006/s1753915.htm .

Kevin Rudd is a Catholic and as he rightly points out the Labor Party 
has had a large Catholic representation since its beginning.

To many people Rudd is the most interesting and challenging of the 
Labor front liners, and many think he will one day be the leader of 
the Opposition, and I'd be glad to see him as Prime Minister.

Richard





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