June , Byron Shire EchoByron Bay Writers FestivalVexing ethical conundrums for church and stateActing on Conscience How can we responsibly mix law, religion and politics by Frank Brennan UQP Reviewed by Ray Moynihanas his latest book about the explosive brew of law, religion and politics was hitting the book shelves, that very cocktail was served up to readers on the front pages of It was as if Frank Brennan Australias papers. A leader had scripted it himself. Just of the Catholic Church wasissuing a blunt threat to a political head of state if he voted for a particular piece of legislation he might not receive Holy Communion in a Catholic church. The controversy was stem cell research, and the players in last months drama were Archbishop George Pell and New South Wales premier Morris Iemma, who ultimately rejected the veiled threats, voted for the legislation and continued taking communion. The issue of stem-cell research is just one of the vexing ethical conundrums that Brennan mulls over in Acting on Conscience, which also explores debates about the Iraq War, same-sex marriages, abortion, aboriginal land rights, detention centres and the use of condoms to ght HIVAIDS. A well known voice of reason in Australian life, Brennans latest book is not about his views on these issues. Rather these rich controversies serve as case studies in his meditation on how church, state, and courts should responsibly interact. As a politically active lawyer and priest, Brennan sits in the middle of these three different worlds and he is try-Lawyer and priest Frank Brennan, author of Acting on Conscience.YA WA NNA COOKing to nd rules that should guide their relationships. While the book doesnt really come up with a set of strict guidelines, it does stress the importance of respect, and above all respect by political and religious leaders for the conscience of the individual. Most refreshing is Brennans authoritative moral questioning of the moral authority of leaders. In Acting on Conscience, Popes, Bishops, Prime Ministers and Presidents all come in for strong criticism. Rather than toe the churchs absurd line opposing the use of condoms to ght AIDS, Brennan dismisses Romes policies as incoherent Vatican announcements. John Howards policies on asylum seekers and detention centres are said to be driven by fear and trample the rights of minorities. After exposing the extreme nature of public comments on abortion by senior US bishops, Brennan says they had publicly disgraced themselves. The son of a high court judge, the young Brennan studied law and politics at the University of Queensland at a time when Joh-Bjelke Petersens police force was bashing students over thehead for democratic dissent. The year Gough Whitlam was sacked as Prime Minister, Frank Brennan entered the Jesuit Order of the Catholic Church, going on to play important roles in the evolving debates about aboriginal rights to land and the way our barbed-wire detention centres were run. In recent years he won accolades for work with refugees in East Timor. One key premise of Acting on Conscience is that since September , , and the subsequent explosion of debate about radical Islam, it is impossible to deny the role of religion in the public domain, even in very secular societies like Australia. Constant media stories about Islamic Australia, and the political inuence of Sheiks and Muftis seem to conrm Brennans point. Religion once again has a place at the table of public discussion on law and policy, he argues, adding the critical caveat that religions role must be circumscribed. Brennan is most passionate when he argues the wrongness of ill-informed religious leaders dictating their political views to their followers. Instead the bookargues the case for the primacy of an informed conscience. Summing up his thesis he writes It is catastrophic when the individuals freedom of conscience is violated by a religious authority acting in the public forum beyond its competence. If there is a aw in the books approach it is a defensiveness about the role religion has to play. A recurrent message is that for too long religious views have been marginalised in Australia by small l liberals, or intolerant atheists, and that now religion once again has the place it deserves in the public debate. Ironically it is Brennan who brilliantly exposes the often unhealthy nature of religions role in public debates about issues including abortion, HIVAIDs and homosexuality. The books biggest aw is the writing. It is poorly organised and meandering, rather than being a wellstructured essay. One gets the feeling that this busy priest has too many things on his to do list to spend too much time polishing his written words. And given the social value of many of the things this man does, thats probably a very good thing.New , writers fellowshipAndrew Denton has launched a new , fellowship named in honour of his late father. The inaugural Kit Denton Fellowship, presented by the Australian Writers Foundation, was launched at the Chauvel Cinema in Paddington with special guest, acclaimed playwright and screenwriter Stephen Sewell. An initiative of the Australian Writers Foundation AWF, the charitable arm of the

australian writers guild

AWG, the Fellowship is to reward courage and excellence in performance writing and allow a writer to develop a project over the coming year. Kit Denton was a respected and admired member of the writing community a lifetime member of the Australian Writers Guild, a scriptwriter, author, poet and lyricist. His most famous work was The Breaker, an international best selling novel about the trial and execution of Breaker Morant. After a life of courage, creativity and achievement Kit died in . When approached by AWF President, Geoffrey Atherden, about the Fellowship, Denton suggested the criteria be simple the writers work must demonstrate courage. Applications for the Fellowship close 5pm Friday July 6 and will be presented at the th Annual AWGIE Awards in Sydney on August . For details on how to apply go to au.