Howard and unions: a Catholic response

Neil Ormerod, Professor of Theology at the Australian Catholic University in Sydney, writes:

"When the very notion of the common good is itself under threat, when politics is actively seeking to marginalise unions and leave workers unprotected from the ever increasing demands of employers to do more with less, unions may feel impelled to act politically: "union activity undoubtedly enters the field of politics, understood as prudent concern for the common good".

It is difficult to see how Kevin Andrews, Minister for Workplace Relations, reconciles his workplace reforms with his Catholic faith. And where will that other prominent Catholic minister in the Howard government, Tony Abbott, stand in relation to these proposed reforms. And finally, it will also be interesting to see how a certain Catholic prelate, who has often sided with the Howard government, will respond to a policy so at variance with Catholic social teaching."

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