Welcome to Eureka Street

back to site

Keywords: Civil Liberties

  • RELIGION

    In defence of same-sex unions

    • Frank Brennan
    • 09 March 2011
    53 Comments

    There are homosexual persons who enter into loving, faithful and committed relationships. It is difficult to characterise a law that gives non-discriminatory protection to such couples as 'so harmful to the common good as to be gravely immoral' as Benedict has previously done.

    READ MORE
  • INTERNATIONAL

    China's 'incremental' democracy

    • Mark Chou
    • 27 January 2011
    8 Comments

    Last week's media coverage of Chinese President Hu Jintao's Washington visit focused on Senator Harry Reid's offhand remarks. Reid called Hu is a 'dictator', describing his government as 'different' to that of the US. But China is on a path towards a form of democracy that may be no less democratic than many western nations.

    READ MORE
  • AUSTRALIA

    Best of 2010: Don't wimp out at the ballot box

    • Edwina Byrne
    • 07 January 2011
    5 Comments

    It would be easy to cast a donkey vote or a vote for a minor party and to thus wash your hands of the responsibility for our governance for the next three or so years. In a representative democracy, a vacuous election represents a lazy polity.

    READ MORE
  • AUSTRALIA

    Politicians stoke the violence myth

    • Ellena Savage
    • 26 November 2010

    I used to carry a knife in my handbag. Like nearly a quarter of Australians, I believe that 80 per cent of all crime is violent crime; I was concerned for my safety. And then I discovered that if my self-defence weapon were used, it would likely be used against me.

    READ MORE
  • RELIGION

    Reconciling religion, politics and human rights

    • Frank Brennan
    • 04 November 2010
    15 Comments

    Cardinal Pell, with whom I have voiced disagreement, preached superbly at the mass of thanksgiving after the canonisation of Mary MacKillop. 'She does not deter us from struggling to follow her.' As we wrestle with the common good, let's make a place for all our fellow citizens.

    READ MORE
  • AUSTRALIA

    Don't wimp out at the ballot box

    • Edwina Byrne
    • 20 August 2010
    22 Comments

    It would be easy to cast a donkey vote or a vote for a minor party and to thus wash your hands of the responsibility for our governance for the next three or so years. In a representative democracy, a vacuous election represents a lazy polity.

    READ MORE
  • RELIGION

    Human rights framework only a start

    • Frank Brennan
    • 23 April 2010
    19 Comments

    There is no getting away from the public's interest in a human rights act. But the Labor Government has baulked at the recommendation for such an act. While many Australians enjoy adequate human rights, we can do better.

    READ MORE
  • RELIGION

    Poverty and plenty: where do Christians stand?

    • Frank Brennan
    • 22 March 2010
    2 Comments

    Text from Fr Frank Brennan SJ's presentation Poverty and Plenty: Where Do or Should Christians Stand? at the Centre for an Ethical Society as part of the 2010 Series Forum at the Australian Centre for Christianity and Culture, 17 March 2010.

    READ MORE
  • RELIGION

    Schooling for a more cohesive society

    • Frank Brennan
    • 19 March 2010
    4 Comments

    The challenges and opportunities are to fund equitably all networks in education and to ensure that robust morale and community engagement are hallmarks of all parts of the network, including state schools and emerging schools such as Muslim schools.

    READ MORE
  • RELIGION

    Toothless, Trojan or true to Trinitarian anthropology

    • Frank Brennan
    • 28 January 2010
    1 Comment

    The full text of Frank Brennan's January 2010 address to the Australian Association of Catholic Bioethicists, 'Toothless, Trojan or True to Trinitarian Anthropology? Reflecting on the 2009 National Human Rights Consultation'. 

    READ MORE
  • RELIGION

    Human Rights Consultation and beyond

    • Frank Brennan
    • 14 October 2009
    1 Comment

    Even if all our recommendations were implemented tomorrow, there would still be vulnerable Australians missing out on essential economic and social rights. Responsibility for meeting these needs cannot rest solely with government. We need to take responsibility for each other.

    READ MORE
  • AUSTRALIA

    Getting smart, not tough, on bikies

    • Moira Rayner
    • 07 May 2009
    4 Comments

    No 'group' can be assumed to be full of criminals. Men form friendships out of common, innocuous interests. Laws introduced in NSW interfere with civil liberties and are likely to be ineffective at addressing organised crime.

    READ MORE