James Campbell: Dan Andrews, like smart politicians, should know not to push believers into a corner

The Premier’s comments on Andrew Thorburn’s faith, and the actions of the Essendon board, represent a sea change in our attitude to religion — and it’s dangerous.

Daniel Andrews has made it clear he thinks the anti-gay and anti-abortion beliefs of the City on the Hill church are “absolutely appalling” and “just wrong”.

Fair enough.

But if that is so, then why has he — and other members of his government — sent his children to Catholic schools?

Maybe he hasn’t been listening in church but the doctrines of the denomination he professes to be a member of, are basically the same as those have got Andrew Thorburn sacked as CEO of Essendon.

And if the views of the Catholic church on gays and abortion are so awful why has he opened buildings at Catholic schools that teach them?

Incidentally, these “absolutely appalling” views are also taught by the overwhelming majority of Muslim clerics and Orthodox Jewish Rabbis.

This latest turn in the ongoing farce that is the Essendon Football Club has suddenly turned serious.

What has happened in the past 48 hours has implications for our society that go far beyond football.

Premier Daniel Andrews has made it clear he thinks the beliefs of the Church on the Hill are ‘appalling’. Picture: Andrew Henshaw

In his statement accepting Thorburn’s resignation, Bomber’s chairman Dave Barham tried to claim “this is not about vilifying anyone for their personal religious beliefs”.

But that is exactly what has happened.

Thorburn has lost his job not because of anything he himself has said, or how he acted towards people — indeed he was unaware of the offending sermons — but simply because he holds an office in a church that teaches these beliefs.

Is everyone who attends a church, mosque or synagogue that exposes religious opinions which within living memory were accepted by the vast majority of the world’s great monotheistic religions, now unemployable?

Perhaps that’s going too far.

Perhaps you can keep your job if you just go to such a church.

But clearly holding office in one is now grounds for dismissal.

Taking the collection plate around on Sunday or doing the flowers?

Clearly a grey area and probably best avoided.

The Premier’s comments and the actions of the Essendon board represent sea change in our attitude to religion.

Andrew Thorburn has lost his job not because of anything he himself has said but simply because he holds an office in a church that teaches these beliefs.

For most of our history politicians have gone out of their way to respect different religious opinions.

Not because they agreed with them, but because, among other reasons, they understood that for the sincerely religious, belief is not something that can be trimmed to suit the fashion of the day.

If you believe — really believe — that God has decreed abortion and homosexuality to be sinful, you are not going to be argued out of it.

People have suffered and died throughout history for their beliefs which is why smart politicians have always understood it doesn’t do to push believers into a corner.

Even leaders who have sought to impose a monopoly of the public displays of religion have frequently tolerated things in private, following the example of Queen Elizabeth I who said “I have no desire to make windows into men’s souls”.

When Daniel Andrews says of Thorburn’s church’s beliefs about homosexuality and abortion that “to dress that up as anything other than bigotry is just obviously false” he is not just saying he doesn’t think these view should be expressed publicly, he’s actually saying he doesn’t believe their views can be sincerely held.

That’s a big change and a very dangerous one.

Originally published as James Campbell: Dan Andrews, like smart politicians, should know not to push believers into a corner