Opinion article from Janet Albrechtsen raises the polemical issue of the Prime Minister’s religious sincerity. See PM proves a convert to the politics of faith and Janet Albrechtsen Blog | July 14, 2009

During that Compass interview in 2005, Gillard castigated Tony Abbott and then deputy prime minister John Anderson “for putting matters of faith more on their sleeve” for political purposes. Much of the media agreed with Gillard. What would she—and they—make of Rudd’s 5000-word Faith in Politics essay in October 2006 when Rudd openly touted his religious fervour, writing at length about German theologian and pastor Bonhoeffer, the social gospel and his Christian faith? Not much. A more intellectually honest and genuinely sceptical press gallery might have explored Rudd’s expedient embrace of religion back then. It may have asked why Rudd’s various “convictions” seem to appear on his sleeve at only the most politically opportune moment. They didn’t.

Do you agree that the Prime Minister is using his religion in a politically opportune way?

What questions about religion and opportunism would you like to ask the Prime Minister?

We then had a follow up article in the same newspaper by Kate Legge July 18, 2009 Faith the cornerstone of PM’s wife Therese Rein’s very full life

‘AUSTRALIA’S first spouse, Therese Rein, attends church most Sundays to take communion and enjoy “some quiet time for me”, but during the week her faith inspires prayer and sometimes a song.

Religion is integral to her calling, her values. “It’s fundamental to who I am,” Rein reveals in one of the first interviews she has given since her husband, Kevin Rudd, became Prime Minister in December 2007.

She’s tentative as the conversation turns to the “very personal” question of her relationship with God, a commitment that became unshakeable after a period of searching during her years at ANU, where she first met Rudd in 1976.
“There are two particular pieces of scripture that shout to me from the rooftops, and they are about freedom for the captive and recovering sight for the blind,” she says. “They are all about inclusion, they are all about being there to feed the hungry, to visit people in prison and hospital, to house the people who are not housed.

“This is very difficult to talk about. Faith is a living thing. It’s hard to put it into words. Yes, I pray. Yes, I sing, but only in private.”

Rein and Rudd’s regular worship in the Anglican Church is a novelty for an electorate schooled in the tradition of keeping church and state on either side of the private and public divide. Rudd’s 2006 essay Faith in Politics sought to free God from conservative clutches, and a new study has confirmed that politicians of all stripes are making more mention of religion than MPs in the past.

Although not a ‘BBQ stopper’, this is a significant ongoing conversation for Australians.

I believe Australia is a spiritual society whose values are shaped by the spirituality of Australians. It is not a bad thing that we have a Prime minister who can articulate the shaping of his values by his spiritual convictions. It is also a blessing for our nation that those spiritual values are shaped by Jesus Christ. We are called to pray for our leaders and even more so when they are followers of Christ. May Godgive me the will and the wit to pray for our Prime Minister, his wife and their family.