The Religion and Ethics Report

Catholics and Labor: Is the long affair over?

The Religion and Ethics Report

Show Notes

How have socially conservative Catholics found a home for themselves in the Liberal Party, especially considering its early history as a bastion of Australia’s protestant establishment? It’s due in large part to the end of long romance between the Catholic Church and the Labor Party. GUEST: Dr Jeff Kildea is the author of the new book Iron Law No More: The Rise and Demise of the Catholic-Labor Alliance in Australia.

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Oct 21, 2026

Despite the tragedy of the Gaza war, civil society groups are making small but critical steps towards reconciliation.

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Israeli settlers have again besieged the Palestinian town of Taybeh. It’s the last remaining Christian village on the West Bank. But this time the far-right Jewish youths also attacked a visiting Catholic Archbishop from France and European diplomats who were watching the olive harvest. GUEST: Father Bashar Fawadleh is the Catholic parish priest of Taybeh.

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