Former prime minister Malcolm Turnbull spoke of the “Politics of Love” as he delivered the McCosker Oration at Catholic Social Services Australia’s 70th Anniversary Gala Dinner on Wednesday. Source: ACBC Media Blog.
“We don’t speak about love enough anywhere, and certainly not in this place,” Mr Turnbull said, referring to Parliament House in Canberra where the dinner was held.
The McCosker Oration pays tribute to the legacy of Monsignor James Francis (Frank) McCosker, whose commitment to social justice and the common good continues to inspire CSSA’s work across Australia.
Mr Turnbull began his oration by referring to the Australian Catholic Bishops Conference’s latest Social Justice Statement on Living the Gospel in Times of Social Division, which was released last week.
“The challenge of living the Gospel is especially hard today, as the bishops have said, in these times of social division,” Mr Turnbull said.
“Their recent Social Justice Statement, informed by Pope Leo’s recent encyclical, frames the challenge.
“How do we bring people together, how do we maintain and advance our solidarity in a time when so many forces are seeking to pull them apart? How do we manifest our Christian love for all God’s creation at a time when we are surrounded by so much hatred?”
Mr Turnbull reminded those present that, “Again and again Jesus tells us to love strangers, sinners, enemies, to love unconditionally and without seeking anything in return”.
“God is love and we are closest to God when we are filled with love, and like the Good Samaritan doing something about it,” he said.
The Social Justice Statement and Pope Leo XIV’s “recent and magnificent encyclical Magnifica Humanitas all point the way” to building and building social cohesion, Mr Turnbull said, before offering his own thoughts.
“There are good things we should do, and do often, and use all the modern communication tools to do,” Mr Turnbull said.
“And at the same time we should not be afraid of calling out those who are peddling hatred or telling lies or treating people with disrespect. Calmly and with courtesy, of course. We should refrain from words that offend and hurt offers – but courtesy should take second place to honesty.
“If at the heart of what we do is love for others, then that means respect for others and that means we should tell the truth. This is how you build trust, absolutely vital for any leader, any government, any organisation – sacred or secular.”
FULL STORY
The Politics of Love (ACBC Media Blog)
