In an address to the National Civic Council’s Christmas function in Melbourne, Peter Westmore spoke of the spiritual emptiness which is at the heart of contemporary secular culture. It is from this talk that the following extracts have been taken. It is often said that Shakespeare speaks to every generation. A recent series on ABC…
Fierce criticism of a deal between an Aboriginal community and the Federal Government, initiated by the Aboriginal people to improve the poor health of Aboriginal children, can only be described as politically motivated nonsense. The critics included former ATSIC chief, Mick Clarke; chairman of the Australian Indigenous Leadership Centre, Mick Dodson; NSW Democrat Senator Aden…
The future of Ukraine, for 70 years part of the Soviet Union, is in the balance, following a disputed presidential election, which was overturned by Ukraine’s Supreme Court. The court found evidence of widespread ballot-rigging by the pro-Russian ruling party. There are 48 million people of Ukraine, and the election was regarded as a test…
Christmas, the season of joy in which we celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ, offers an occasion on which to consider what it is to be truly human. Next year, Federal Parliament will review legislation enacted in 2002 which permits human-embryo experimentation, under strictly controlled conditions, and forbids the cloning of human beings. Interestingly, despite…