Michael Perusco
Wednesday, 17 Feb 2010
Anglican Media, Melbourne
I was in Canberra last week and had the opportunity to ask Opposition Leader Tony Abbott whether a government under his direction would continue with the Rudd government's goal of halving homelessness by 2020. His answer was no.
In justifying his stance, Abbott quoted from the Gospel of Matthew: ''The poor will always be with us,'' he said, and referred to the fact there is little a government can do for people who choose to be homeless.
While it is healthy for an opposition to challenge government policy and propose alternatives, Abbott's view was surprising and more than a little troubling.
The Gospel quotation Abbott referred to is often misused. Like many verses in the New Testament, it should not be taken literally and ought to be considered in context. While I have no intention of examining the theology behind the statement, it would be fair to say that theologians would agree that Jesus' words cannot be used to defend inaction on poverty. Quite the contrary, there is almost universal agreement that the whole thrust of the New Testament is an expression of precisely the opposite.
Abbott's comment about people choosing to be homeless is another old and inaccurate cliche. It is a convenient myth that continues to be perpetuated by those who wish to avoid taking appropriate action to reduce homelessness.
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