FED: Howard urges churches not to take sides

AAP General News (Australia)
02-16-2004
FED: Howard urges churches not to take sides

SYDNEY, Feb 16 AAP - In a pre-emptive strike this election year, Prime Minister John
Howard has asked church leaders not to favour political parties.

The Daily Telegraph newspaper said today Mr Howard had accused some church leaders
of indulging in "partisan" politics which was offending and dividing congregations.

"I think church leaders should speak out on moral issues but there is a problem with
that justification being actively translated into sounding very partisan," Mr Howard told
the Telegraph.

"I don't deny the right of any church leader to talk about anything.

"But I think, from the point of view of the unity of the church, it stresses and strains
when the only time they hear from their leaders is when they are talking about issues
that are bound to divide their congregations."

Mr Howard singled out an attack by Anglican primate of Australia Peter Carnley after
the Bali bomb blast, which suggested bombers believed Australia was too aligned with the
US.

Some church leaders also mounted a campaign just before the Iraq war last year, trying
to convince Mr Howard to end the crisis peacefully.

AAP ved/rs

KEYWORD: HOWARD CHURCHES

2004 AAP Information Services Pty Limited (AAP) or its Licensors.