“Catholics are in power this Easter,” said the Sydney Morning Herald. The highest percentage of Roman Catholics ever is at the highest levels of power in Australia. Beside the Prime Minister Tony Abbott, seven of his cabinet is Roman Catholic including the treasurer, finance, trade, communications, education, agriculture and social services ministers. This represents nearly double the proportion of Catholics in the general population. Almost all are Jesuit trained, which might partly explain why they are so out of proportion to the general population.
None of the cabinet members admits to being atheist, though almost a quarter of the general population says they have no religion.
“The Catholicisation of the Coalition has been a trend in Australia over the past several decades, said John Warhurst, an expert in religion and politics at the Australian National University.”
Asked whether the Abbott government was the most powerful coalition of Catholics assembled in Australia, Professor Warhurst said: ”I don’t think there’s any doubt about it. Many of the same [Catholic ministers] were in the Howard cabinet . . . but they didn’t enjoy the level of influence they have now.”
Over the years Catholics have migrated from the Labor Party to the Democratic Labor Party and then to the Liberals. While Catholics have become wealthier in Australia, Labor has become more secular making it less appealing to socially conservative voters. “The most striking example of the trend was during the 2009 Liberal leadership contest, in which all three contenders – Mr. Abbott, Malcolm Turnbull and Joe Hockey – consulted with Jesuit priests.”
Some experts speculate that the Liberal party has become more conservative, a rather interesting development. This would impact issues like same-sex marriage and euthanasia by increasing opposition to them. Rome greatly values public service because it puts the church in a powerful position to guide the nation in harmony with her agenda. Rome has always sought for political power. She has not changed and the work of the Jesuits in Australia has now born amazing fruit.
“Under various disguises the Jesuits worked their way into offices of state, climbing up to be the counselors of kings, and shaping the policy of nations.” The Great Controversy, page 235
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