This article was first published in The Canberra Declaration…here
It’s probably better entitled – anti-Catholicism, anti- Pentecostalism in Australia….
ANTI-CATHOLICISM IN AUSTRALIA: MEDIA REACTION DOMINIC PERROTTET
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After the shock resignation of Gladys Berejiklian, Dominic Perrottet has been voted leader of the NSW Liberal Party and Premier of NSW. Does anyone outside of the Liberal party, the political media and the chattering classes, care?
Those of us who are Christians should; firstly because, in general, we are to pray for those who are our political leaders (1 Timothy 2:1-2) and secondly because, in particular, we can learn a great deal about today’s Australia from the reaction to Mr Perrottet’s election.
I don’t know much about him. But I do know that he is a ‘conservative’ Catholic, (which just means that he believes what the Catholic Church teaches), a father of six and that he voted against decriminalising abortion.
I know this because the ABC told me and contrasted him with his rival and friend, Rob Stokes, who is an Anglican believer with a family of three and who also voted against decriminalising abortion.
The Sydney Morning Herald also gave us these crucial facts before publishing one of the most disgraceful and dishonest hatchet pieces I have ever read in a mainstream newspaper.
The Reverend Dr Stephanie Dowrick who describes herself as a social commentator, author and interfaith minister, wrote a piece titled “NSW must do better than Dominic Perrottet as Premier”.
Even by SMH standards, it reached new depths of intolerance, ignorance and bigotry. It attacked the Catholic church as being ‘a rigidly male-dominated institutional church”.
One wonders in passing how an ‘interfaith minister’ is going to do interfaith with Catholics, Orthodox Christians or indeed Muslims. The list of approved ‘faiths’ is going to be quite small.
I am intrigued by the level of anti-Catholic bigotry displayed in this article and elsewhere.
Coming from Scotland I am not unused to a level of anti-Catholicism – although it is important to notice that this bigotry in Scotland, at least in recent decades, has largely come from secularist progressives, who despise the Catholic church, and not from bible believing Presbyterians!
It seems as though conservative Presbyterians have a great deal in common with conservative Catholics.
The article also relied on ignorance and complete dishonesty.
In an attempt to smear Perrottet through guilt by association, our ‘interfaith’ minister attacked the Prime Minister for belonging to a denomination that believes in a 6,000-year-old earth, is expecting the world to end soon and that Christians of other denominations are going to Hell.
If Ms Dowrick was not so busy transposing her prejudices from her time in the US, to Australia, she could have done a five-minute read of what the ACC believe on their website and found out that none of what she said is true.
Doubtless, there will be some within the ACC who may share those beliefs (there are after all almost 400,000 of them) – but it is not their official position, and I have yet to come across any Pentecostal who believes them.
But apparently, it’s ok to smear and deceive if you are doing so in the name of ‘love’.
Dowrick then states that Scott Morrisson believes in a prosperity gospel that sees accumulating wealth as a sign of God’s favour, and justifies neglecting the poor. According to Ms Dowrick ‘individual salvation is everything’.
Apart from the illogicality of the remark (if individual salvation was everything then why is Scomo involved in politics?), it’s once again just a straightforward lie.
Pentecostals, like many other Christians, tend to be very committed to the poor – more so because many of them are ‘the poor’. Unlike the virtue signalling progressives many of whom talk about how much they are ‘for the poor’, but don’t live amongst them.
And the lies go deeper. Ms Dowrick claims that 1 per cent of Australia’s population believe these things and 15% of the Government cabinet. Again this is reminiscent of the kind of ‘the Jews are taking over the world’ conspiracy theory.
Perhaps the SMH should get a Facebook-style fact-checker for its articles – before they publish such nonsense?
Apart from the dishonesty, misrepresentation, smears, spin and lies – is there anything else to like about the article?
Indeed there is. Stephanie tells us that we are entitled to hold whatever religious beliefs we like, as long as we hold them ‘privately’. How kind and tolerant of her!
Our beliefs must not be acted upon, publicised, or have any place in the public square. This applies to Catholics, Charismatics and Calvinists – but it of course does not apply to Stephanie or those who share her doctrines.
They are so obviously right that they must determine all public policy and all politicians should be required to adhere to them. How can you possibly be the Premier of NSW if you don’t share all of them?!
The founders of modern Australia had the sense to decree that there should be no religious test for public office – but our modern ‘progressives’ want to reintroduce that test.
Perhaps the most stunning piece of the article is when Ms Dowrick warns us about fundamentalism.
“Fundamentalist thinking is also highly divisive. The world consists of “us” – and the rest of you. High levels of conformity are demanded; to doubt, self-question, is unwelcome or forbidden.”
As an example of a lack of self-awareness, this is hard to beat. Ms Dowrick, and the readers of the SMH who wrote with gushing praise for her in the letters column, clearly think that their beliefs are not fundamentalist.
Yet they too divide the world into ‘them’ and ‘us’; they too demand high levels of conformity; to doubt, self-question, their fundamentalist beliefs are unwelcome or forbidden.
This fundamentalist ‘progressive’ ideology, in its righteousness and self-righteousness around central questions of identity, sexuality, gender politics, minority rights and an unwavering conviction that this is the ‘one true faith’, is far removed from the Christianity of Jesus, the Christianity of the Bible, and the Christianity of most of the Church.
This progressive ideology demands that women have the right to kill their own babies, but denies that men and women the right to consent to seeking to live faithful Christian lives.
This progressive ideology demands that all schools teach their doctrines, and wants to deny Christians their basic human right to have their children educated according to our philosophy.
This progressive ideology will not tolerate anyone of any faith who does not bow down to their idol.
This progressive ideology judges people by their gender, and yet does not know what gender is. It professes to be against racism but insists that people be judged according to the colour of their skin.
Ms Dowrick’s whole article is but the worst example of the kind of intolerance, ignorance and bigotry that Christians in Australia have to put up with today – often from within the Church. But thankfully there are others who are aware of it. I would suggest you read this excellent article from Murray Campbell, a Baptist minister in Melbourne.
Here is one quote:
“Does Australia really want to exclude from political life Aussies who hold to traditional forms of Christianity? No doubt many would say yes. Today’s letters to the Editor are praising Dowrick. But let us understand, this is not a sign of a maturing and tolerant society, but one that is losing its moorings.”
Amen to that.
Note as well that the SMH have a habit of printing a lot of letters attacking and mocking biblical Christianity – not because this is a fair reflection of the letters they get – but so they can continue to give the impression that all ‘right thinking’ people think right – like them!
It is by Ms Dowrick’s definition, the worst kind of fundamentalism.
Australia is coming to a crossroads.
We can choose to go the way of Ms Dowrick and the cultural elites of our society, as their fundamentalist progressivism leads us deeper into darkness, irrationality and despair; or we can return to the basic traditions of Western democracies, founded upon Christian liberal principles, which give us equality, diversity and tolerance.
Given the choice between Western democratic liberalism, with all its flaws, and the kind of secular fundamentalism and intolerance that would make even the Spanish inquisition blush – it’s a no brainer!
That is why this biblical Presbyterian will stand shoulder to shoulder with my Catholic brother – even if I disagree with him on some doctrines.
At least he will let me disagree.
And both of us will agree that there is yet more truth to come from Christ and his Word.
Why Christians Must Continue to Cry Freedom – Canberra Declaration
“Even by SMH standards, it reached new depths of intolerance, ignorance and bigotry. It attacked the Catholic church as being ‘a rigidly male-dominated institutional church”.”
1. Bigotry IS ignorance and I see none within her piece.
2. The Catholic Church IS a “rigidly male-dominated institutional church.”
“Coming from Scotland I am not unused to a level of anti-Catholicism – although it is important to notice that this bigotry in Scotland, at least in recent decades, has largely come from secularist progressives”
What an utter lie. The vast majority of anti-Catholic rhetoric in Scotland comes, as you well know, from ultra-protestants, of which faith you appear to be a member. Does not the Westminster confession place the Pope as the antichrist. You of course signed up to that WC.
“Stephanie tells us that we are entitled to hold whatever religious beliefs we like, as long as we hold them ‘privately’. How kind and tolerant of her!”
That’s not what she said.
She said, “Freedom of thought and belief are Australian values. If religious beliefs are held privately, then individuals are entitled to their views. Yet at the more fundamental end of all religions, including Christianity, a dogmatism takes hold that blurs those vital margins between private and public. And that will always be significant when those individuals have the power to exercise choices that directly affect our collective wellbeing.”
You really want to take a good look at yourself. Basically you are again lying for Jesus.
Thanks Elsie – I listed in the article the ignorance – please read it. Although to be fair I think they were just downright lies – not ignorance.
The vast majority of anti-Catholic rhetoric comes from militant secularists – as my Catholic friends tell me. Yes there are a few orange order – Rangers fans who fuel that. But it’s tiny compared with the hatred from the secularists.
Thanks for citing the quote I was referring to. I have taken a look at it again and myself and yes she does say that you can hold your beliefs as long as you keep them private. Perhaps before you accuse others of lying you should take lessons in logic and comprehension. I assume that you were not lying – its just you didn’t grap what she was saying…
Elsie, don’t you think it’s nice of Dr Stephanie Dowrick to comment “if religious beliefs are held privately, then individuals are entitled to their views” and in doing so tell anyone with such views that they have rights that they already know they have? Also she doesn’t say anything about the rights to express such views publicly with freedom of religion.
If she were to be promoting equality, diversity and inclusion actively, wouldn’t she be affirming the rights of anyone to express something that she feels offended by because of her differing beliefs?
Expressing a view comes with the risk of someone being offended and as the definition of bigotry is intolerance to people who hold different views at what point is the taking of offence the issue at hand of displaying bigotry rather than the view being expressed?
There was also this in the SMH from me https://www.smh.com.au/politics/nsw/sydney-s-conservative-christians-are-not-fundamentalist-20211005-p58xc8.html
This was excellent – thanks John…..Sadly it is the letters page which is most depressing…
The SMH column you slam is by an external commentator. So are others published in the last couple of days like “Typecasting our leaders robs us of the joy of discovering their full selves” by Dallas McInerney, CEO of Catholic Schools NSW and “Sydney’s conservative Christians are not fundamentalist” by John Sandeman, editor of Eternity. If the SMH had been offered these pieces and had refused to print them, they might have a case to answer.
I buy and read a newspaper (the Age in my case) to be exposed to a range of opinions, some of which I agree with, others not. A few even make me think again. That’s a good thing in my book.
Sadly, I see this mocking of Dominic Perrottet, or anti-Catholicism, even in the Anglican Sydney Diocese. A well know Sydney Anglican Minister, and his followers, mocked him on his Facebook site, which has since been removed.
We were warned that the likes of Rev Dowrick would come in verse 4 of Chapter 4 of St Paul’s last recorded letter – 2 Timothy. We should not be surprised. In more modern times it is said that Lenin called the likes of Rev Dowrick as ‘Useful idiots’.
Actually 2 Timothy 4 V3 is what I meant.
Thank you David for expressing so eloquently what many of us think. I will be forwarding your article to as many people as I can.
At least , Dundee accepted a RC immigrant who gained fame as ” the nation’s worst poet ” :
William Topaz McGonagal ………..legend , and an early discovery of Widdecombe & Pump !
Dear David, We thank God the Roman Catholic Church has by & large stood firm against SSM & Abortion, though the current Pope seems increasingly ambivalent to such issues. Having said that, I would hesitate to call any Roman Catholic a “brother” as you do. We fellowship with ex devout Roman Catholics, who when they were “born again” after receiving the true unadulterated Gospel, fled the RCC and would not go near it with a barge pole; being very aware of it’s idolatry, superstition, heresies, and thoroughly un-Biblical Doctrines.
Any in any doubt on this would do well to read Dave Hunt’s book “The Woman Rides t5he Beast” which outlines all the issues which should rightly concern any true Christian. Every blessing in our precious Lord Jesus, who alone is “the way, the truth & the life” as NO ONE can come to the Father (our Father in Heaven & NOT THE HOLY FATHER the Pope) except by Jesus.
Also Churches Together in Southern Ryedale (North Yorkshire) which has resulted in the Ecumenical Movement has caused much damage to the Gospel as even Pentecostal Elim Churches have lost their way by joining in this, along with all the Denominations. Churches are closing down like dominoes!
David Woolley gives us a link to a book called, The Woman Rides the Beast’. I looked it up. It’s available in PDF format on the internet.
In it we find statements such as:
“Hitler, who remained a Catholic to the end..”
Really? Did he go to Mass on Sundays? Did he go to Confession?
We are told that the Bible mentions Vatican City:
“what the Bible says about Rome and Vatican City..”
Then we have this nugget of
“The Latin equivalent of the Greek “anti” is “vicarius,”(sic) from which comes “vicar.” Thus “vicar of Christ” literally means Antichrist.”
Mirriam-Webster says, “The oldest meaning of “vicarious,” which was first recorded in 1637, is “serving in someone or something’s stead.” The word vicarious derives from the Latin noun vicis, which means “change,” “alternation,” or “stead.” “Vicis” is also the source of the English prefix vice- (as in “vice president”), meaning “one that takes the place of.”
Wikipedia states that ‘anti’ comes “From Ancient Greek ἀντι- (anti- “against”). Doublet of and- and ante-. No mention of vicarious.
And there is this wonderful re-writing of history:
“When Emperor Constantine supposedly became a Christian in A.D. 313 (really a clever political maneuver), he gave freedom to Christians as well as official status alongside paganism to the Christian church. Since the church was now a recognized religious body in the empire, Constantine, as emperor, had to be acknowledged as its de facto head… While heading the Christian church, Constantine continued to head the pagan priesthood, to officiate at pagan celebrations, and to endow pagan temples even after he began to build Christian churches. As head of the pagan priesthood he was the Pontifex Maximus and needed a similar title as head of the Christian church. The Christians honoured him as “Bishop of Bishops,” while Constantine called himself Vicarius Christi, Vicar of Christ.”
“Hitler’s theory of the “purity of blood,” which he sought to maintain through extermination of the Jews (unopposed by the Vatican)..” Obviously Mr Woolley has never heard of the Papal Encyclical, ‘With Burning Sorrow’.
He quotes the most-biased and disproved sources to support his version of The Inquisition.
And so on.
‘Hitler, who remained a Catholic to the end’. That one statement is enough for me not to waste my time reading the book. Absolute nonsense – worthy of Richard Dawkins.
Digging down a bit further into ‘The Woman Rides the Beast’ I found this crazy statement:
“.. the pope is the most powerful ruler on earth today. ”
I would only recommend the book to either insomniacs or to anybody wanting a good laugh.
I couldn’t miss this one out:
“The Vatican’s constituency of 980 million followers is at least three times the number of
citizens in any Western democracy and is exceeded only by the population of China. Even more
important, these 980 million people are scattered throughout the world, many of them holding
high political, military, and commercial positions in non-Catholic countries. Moreover, the pope
has thousands of secret agents worldwide. They include Jesuits, the Knights of Columbus,
Knights of Malta, Opus Dei, and others. The Vatican’s Intelligence Service and its field
resources are second to none.”
I’m not a member but I’m going tonight to a meeting run by Opus Dei. I’m looking forward to them sharing some of their intelligence secrets with me.
What was The Reformation about? Read all about it from Godly me like Spurgeon & Ryle, plus many others & The Puritans (before they became Puritanical). I rest my case!!