The Beatitudes and Australian Politics - Anthony Maher on Hope Radio

01 Jun 2022 - by

Our Executive Director, Professor Anthony Maher, appeared on Hope Radio 103.2, with Ben McEachen to discuss the Australian Beatitudes and the response of the new Labor Government.

Ben McEachen asked why Australian politicians should consider the Beatitudes if they themselves are not followers of Christ and Professor Maher explained that; “The Beatitudes are principles of social justice, philosophically speaking, the Beatitudes are a ‘World view’. They are not a set of laws or codes, but they are principles for common good. Principles of an informed conscience; of love; of compassion. Such principles are shared by all people of faith…”

Listen to the full Interview here

More About the Australian Beatitudes

Anticipating a new government after Saturday’s federal election, the new Executive Director of the ACC&C, Prof. Anthony Maher, has urged the leaders of the major political parties to consider adopting the ‘Australian Beatitudes’, as formative to their party-political agenda – in government and opposition.

He said: “They are the ‘Australian Beatitudes’, which flow from a reading of the New Testament in the form of eight questions, are applied to ordinary Australian life today”.

Prof. Maher has invited all political parties to work alongside the ACC&C, and people of faith more generally, to enthusiastically promote the collective wisdom for the common good inherent in the New Testament.

“Religiously minded people are called by their faith to discern act, and vote for whatever political party is most consistent with a wide-ranging religious worldview of the common good, particularly upon social, economic and political concerns. We believe, that all Australians are responsible for the great ethical challenges of our time, and that our collective response to the ‘Australian Beatitudes’, at this election, are of no small concern, indeed, it will determine the future wellbeing of our people, nation and the planet.” Prof. Maher said.

The Australian Labour Party (ALP) has responded to the ‘Australian Beatitudes’. Read the response here.

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