"Such a point of view though is jaundiced and gives little or no credit to the contribution that organised religion has made, and continues to make, in Australian society, notwithstanding instances of human failings."

Yeap right Greg, say that face to face to one of their victims.

Oh and BTW a sober look at how religious groups "help" the poor generally finds they do more harm then good.

The Labour party will be all the better for removing itself from the claws of the catholic church. Organised religion still holds far to much power in a secular country like Australia. Next step is to remove their tax exemption.

Corruption. Rotten to the core, the ALP.
I wonder to myself, when will the scandal plaguing the American Democratic Party visit the ALP.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=suDHJDX90zE

The growing public hatred of anything resembling a righteous path, growing disturbingly obvious in the ALP, which long ago, divorced itself from an historic past, where once it was supported universally by the working class unionist, a mostly God fearing and loyal nationalist!

Clintons are now embroiled in the bottom line of their ideology of anti religious, pro homosexual fervour, in an accusation with obvious truth behind it, from Wikileaks, the FBI and now the NYPD. Clintons, the satanic cult worshippers, with involvement in pediphelia and child sacrificial ceremonies.

The amazing thing is that Christian leaders believed that separating church and state would be good for the church, ha. Going forward, you'll probably want to have a lords spiritual type body with a supreme veto in future governing arrangements.

".... political parties..... do not usuually set out to antagonise let alone betray large constituent groups".

On the contrary, our duopoly does that very thing all the time now. They have a lock- step arrangement which sees them continuing with the bad policies of their predecessors. Section 18c of the HR Act is a case on point; another is the human-caused global warming idiocy.

Nevertheless, Greg Donnelly is correct on the matter of treatmeny of Christianity by politicians, who prefer to kow tow to Islam.

To quote Merv Bendle, writing in 'Quadrant': '... it is uncanny how the intensifying anti-Christian campaign in Australia ... is reminiscent of... operations launched previously... by Nazis... communists ... as well as presently by Islamists...'.

"Why the Australian Labor Party has developed such a tin ear towards organised religion and its adherents is worthy of serious reflection and discussion. "

It is definitely worthy of serious reflection and discussion.

Greg, you should be commended for showing that you have the backbone to raise the issue. Otherwise, Party policy risks going completely Green.

I think that one can drift down the path of totalitarianism in this respect. Parents would seem to have a right to decide on the environment in which their children are educated and the state has no right to interfere without really compelling reasons.

It won't be the last case. There will be other issues similar to this. It is nothing to do with Christianity or the Bible even if in agreement with it. A government that interferes in something like this knows no bounds and has no concept of individual freedom and responsiblity.

We are a long way from the collapse of democratic government in Australia but we are coming closer every day.

Governments are sticking their noses into areas they were never intended by the people who wrote our Constitution. Government is getting bigger and bigger,whereas it should be shrinking to allow people to make their own decisions, as Gadfly says, and live their lives in peaceful dignity without harassment from tyrannical politicians, most of whom have no world experience outside their job-for-life provided to them by the elite power brokers to whom they are answerable. They sure as hell do not answer to us anymore.

I wrote an email to my local members of the Victorian Legislative Council about this issue.

Hopefully they take my comments on board.

The ALP risks losing moderate, sensible voters with policies like this. They need to stop pandering to Greens voters and move back to policies that are in line with the views of Australian families.

Amazing Trav that you believe you speak on behalf of Australian Families.