2005 to 2007
Former British Prime Minister Tony Blair recently sparked controversy by claiming that people who speak about their religious faith can be viewed by society as "nutters". The former prime minister's comments came as he admitted for the first time that his faith was "hugely important" in influencing his decisions during his decade in power at Number 10.
In the National Capital, a group of Catholics believed there was a need for a forum for speakers from the fields of politics, the media, business, public service, the universities and the clergy to debate issues in the public square with a Catholic and Christian perspective. This led to the establishment of the St. Thomas More’s Forum with the key objective of promoting thought, discussion and debate on the challenges of faith in the workplace, family and public life in the modern world.
This culminated in the Launch of The St. Thomas More’s Forum Papers 2005-2007, by the Hon. Murray Gleeson, Chief Justice of the High Court of Australia in December 2007. With a Foreword by the Chief Justice, the book contains papers presented at the St. Thomas More’s Forum during 2005, 2006 and 2007.
Among the Forum speakers who have contributed to the book are:
- Hon Kevin Rudd
Modern Labor and the Catholic Church
- Cardinal George Pell
First Annual Lecture St Thomas More’s Forum Lecture
Cardinal Newman on Conscience
- Hon Tony Abbott
A Catholic in Public Life
- Hon Peter Garrett
Peacemaking for Christians in the 21st Century
- Archbishop Mark Coleridge
Caesar and God – The Holy See and World Diplomacy
- Australian Federal Police Commissioner Mick Keelty
Keeping the Faith in Policing
- Fr Frank Brennan SJ, AO
Public Ethics in Bioethics
Price: $16.50 per book (ex postage)
Click here to purchase the St Thomas More Forum Papers
