Re Editorial, The Age 18/8/17
The core issue is relationship of State to an entity (religious organisation) that is based on moral authority over its adherents. It would seem, then, a simple matter for all of those entities to publish their constitutions and show how they protect their employees and constituents from coming into conflict with Law.
It seems some Christian outfits take a narrow view of the command to “render unto Caesar” by limiting their obligation to the State down to payment of taxes. Yet, these same entities, like any other amoral corporation, will have active offices keeping up with ways to minimise or avoid tax.
Unless churches and other religious bodies that seek exclusion from payment of taxes make explicit their obligations to the State these kinds of “moral” dilemmas will persist. Academic theologians should be seeking to minimise areas of conflict between their employers and the State, not be making good livings from the conflicts. Churches etc *can* have their moral authority and be of great benefit to society, but we must have these discussions on an equitable basis.
To Canberra Times 20/8
Letters Editor
Joanne McCarthy (‘The issue isn’t the sanctity of the confessional, it’s about church, state and power struggles’, 20/8) has it dead right, it is only about power.
The core issue is relationship of State to an entity (religious organisation) that is based on moral authority over its adherents. It would seem, then, a simple matter for all of those entities to publish their constitutions and show how they protect their employees and constituents from coming into conflict with Law.
Unless churches and other religious bodies make explicit their obligations to the State these kinds of moral dilemmas will persist. Academic theologians should be seeking to minimise areas of conflict between their employers and the State. Churches can have their moral authority and be of great benefit to society, but we must have these discussions on an equitable basis and with full disclosures.
170821 TK comment here.
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