12 R.E: Role of Religion and a Current Issue

using examples, explain the cultural role that religion plays in society

• influences cultural expression through art, music, literature, traditions and national events

• serves as a stimulus for creativity

• offers individuals opportunities for spiritual reflection and expressing beliefs about meaning and life

• contributes to the national identity and cultural heritage of a society

• examples:

  • Christian religious festivals such as Christmas and Easter are not only religious observances but also major national holidays in Australia, embedded in the cultural identity of the nation

  • religion encourages personal reflection and shared spiritual stories such as survival, forgiveness and meaning-making, which can be seen in how people turn to prayer and religious storytelling during times of personal loss and natural disasters

  • religious values and traditions are deeply embedded in morals and national commemorations (eg. ANZAC Day) where religious services (eg. dawn vigils and prayers) form part of the cultural observance

using examples, explain the political role that religion plays in society

• religion informs ethical debate, policy advocacy, and the decisions of individuals in leadership roles

• examples:

  • in Aus, religion has historically influenced political debates on issues such as same-sex marriage, euthanasia, abortion and refugee policy

  • politicians such as Tony Abbott and Scott Morrison have openly spoken about their Christian faith shaping their values and decisions

  • religious organisations such as the Salvation Army and Anglicare advocate for the vulnerable, influencing government policy on homelessness, addiction and poverty

  • faith-based political parties such as the Christian Democratic Party and the Australian Jewish Democratic Society provide formal platforms for religious perspectives in political discourse

using examples, explain the social role that religion plays in society

• religion provides essential social services and community support, often stepping in where government services are limited

• examples:

  • faith-based schools and hospitals, such as Catholic and Anglican institutions, educate and care for millions, playing a critical role in Australia’s education and healthcare systems

  • religious charities such as Caritas Aus, St Vincent de Paul and the Salvation Army support the homeless, addicted and impoverished

  • these services alleviate pressure on government infrastructure, demonstrating religion’s functional role in providing support for society

  • religious groups foster community building, providing space for fellowship, belonging and mutual support

using clear examples outline what public life means

• public life refers to the way a society discusses, debates and makes decisions on important issues

• it includes political processes but also extends to social and cultural discussions

• examples of public life:

  • moral debate: debates about social justice issues such as climate change, poverty, refugee protection and end-of-life laws involve many sectors of society, including religious voices/organisations

  • national events: public responses to national crises (eg. interfaith services and public prayer vigils after bushfires) show religion’s role in action within public life

  • service provisions: Catholic and other religious schools educate approximately 30% of Australian children, participating actively in the public education system

explain the role religion plays in the public life of Australia

• in Australia, religion plays a multifaceted role in public life, influencing various aspects from social welfare and education to cultural identity and even political discourse

• while Australia is officially a secular nation, religious organisations and beliefs continue to shape society through their involvement in social services, education, and community engagement

• social services and welfare support

  • religious groups are the largest non-government providers of welfare services in Australia

  • Catholic institutions alone operate hundreds of schools, hospitals and aged care facilities

  • organisations like Caritas, Anglicare and St Vincent de Paul provide food, housing, addiction support and employment training to vulnerable populations

• influence in political and ethical debates

  • religious groups participate in debates about key national issues by submitting public policy recommendations, engaging in media commentary and mobilising community action

  • the Catholic Church’s involvement in the same-sex marriage debate is a clear example, where religious views were shared publicly through church teachings, media releases and political engagement

  • the euthanasia debate also saw strong religious input, with arguments based on the sanctity of life and human dignity

• cultural and national identity

  • Christianity, particularly Judea-Christian values, continue to inform Australia’s cultural calendar and traditions

  • Christmas and Easter are public holidays with widespread celebration, not only for their religious significance but also as shared national cultural experiences

  • public rituals such as ANZAC Day services often include religious elements, reflecting Australia’s historical reliance on religion for collective memory and cultural meaning

describe the role of religion in Australian public life in the past

• religion has played a foundational and evolving role in shaping Australia’s public life

• although church attendance has declined, religion's structural legacy and influence remain strong in the education system, healthcare, public values, and community life

• colonial foundations

  • when the British settled in Aus in 1788, Christianity, particularly Anglicanism, was closely tied to governance and education

  • Churches were key to early social order and morality

• education and health development

  • religious institutions were among the first to provide formal education and medical care, establishing schools, hospitals and charities that operated long before government systems were in place

• shaping moral and legal norms

  • many of Australia’s early laws and moral standards were grounded in Christian ethical teachings

  • the idea of charity, fairness and community responsibility came from biblical foundations

• post-war migration and diversity

  • as Aus became more multicultural after WWII, religion continued to play a role in helping immigrants integrate and form communities

  • churches supported new arrivals, refugees and cultural preservation

• secularism and pluralism

  • over time, Aus adopted a more secular national identity, but religion remained influential

  • the Aus Constitution (1901) guarantees freedom of religion (Section 116) and legal cases such as the Defence of Government Schools Case (1964-81) confirmed that religious schools can receive state funding for educational purposes

euthanasia/voluntary assisted dying (VAD)

• euthanasia - intention is to shorten a person's life with a supposedly merciful motivation

• involves the deliberate taking of a person’s life, typically because the person is suffering from an incurable disease

• types of euthanasia

  • voluntary: a person consents to and requests the ending of their life (eg. a doctor administers a lethal injection upon request)

  • non-voluntary: the person cannot give consent (eg. infants, those with severe illness or disability)

  • involuntary: the person is capable of consenting but has not - either not asked or explicitly refused (eg. removing life support without consent)

• forms of euthanasia

  • active: deliberate actions like administering lethal drugs

  • passive: withholding or withdrawing treatment to allow natural death

• WA Voluntary Assisted Dying Act (2019):

  • effective from July 1, 2021

  • available to terminally ill adults with less than 6–12 months to live

  • multiple safeguards (e.g. independent medical assessments, written requests, mental health checks)

  • only the patient can administer the medication

• the CC sees euthanasia as a bioethical issue, meaning it involves questions about life, death and medical practices

• it directly challenges Catholic beliefs about the sanctity and dignity of life and raises concerns about how society values suffering, human dignity and death

outline the Catholic Church’s response to euthanasia

• the CC opposes euthanasia and promotes palliative care as a dignified alternative

• its response includes:

  • public statements from Popes and Church leaders (eg. Evangelism Vitae by Pope John Paul II)

  • Catholic teaching documents, such as those from the Vatican’s Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith

  • support for healthcare services that focus on compassionate care for the dying (eg. Archdiocese of Hobart promoting end-of-life dignity)

  • Catholic media and education are used to inform the faithful and society about the moral implications of euthanasia

  • emphasising that true compassion means accompanying the suffering, not ending their life

• the Church teaches that true compassion means "suffering with" those who are ill, not ending their lives

• it rejects the view that loss of autonomy or productivity removes a person's dignity

---

• • papal encyclicals

    • Evangelium vitae (Gospel of Life) - Pope John Paul II in 1995, condemns euthanasia, “intrinsically evil act”, urges society to care for dying and vulnerable with compassion and respect

  • statements and letters from the Vatican

  • debates and public advocacy

    • Bishops’ Conferences

    • lobbying, legislative discussions, education

  • promotion of palliative care

    • seen as upholding dignity, compassion, and care for the whole person

    • provides physical comfort, spiritual care, and emotional support at the end of life

    • critique: palliative care is not universally available—Church advocates expanding access

explain how the Catholic Church interacts with euthanasia/VAD

• the CC interacts with euthanasia/VAD through:

  • advocacy and political engagement, lobbying against VAD laws in parliament

  • moral teachings and public debate, contributing to public discourse through bishops’ conferences, publications and Catholic organisations

  • healthcare institutions, where Catholic-run hospitals and aged-care centres provide palliative care rather than euthanasia

  • education and formation, teaching its ethical stance in Catholic schools, universities and seminars

• this interaction aims to influence law, public opinion and provide alternatives rooted in Church teaching on dignity and the sacredness of life

explain why the Catholic Church has developed and expressed its beliefs regarding euthanasia/VAD

Catholic Christian Church

• firmly opposes euthanasia and considers it wrong under all circumstances

• the Church teaches that life is a sacred gift from God and must be respected

• human dignity

  • every life has value because all are created in the image and likeness of God (Genesis 1:27)

• sanctity of life

  • CC believes in the inherent dignity of every human life from conception until natural death, euthanasia is seen as a violation of this sanctity because it intentionally ends a human life

• moral teaching

  • euthanasia is classified as a form of murder, as it involves deliberately causing the death of an innocent person

  • this goes against the 6th Commandment “Thou shalt not kill”

• suffering and redemption value

  • Catholics are encouraged to find meaning and spiritual growth through their suffering rather than seeking to escape it through euthanasia

  • this is shown by Jesus’ own suffering and sacrifice

• end-of-life care

  • the Church encourages providing comfort and dignity to the dying and supports palliative care and pain management

• support for the vulnerable

  • rather than accepting euthanasia, the CC advocates for the protection and care of vulnerable individuals, promoting a culture of life rather than one of death

---

The Catholic Church has developed and expressed its beliefs on euthanasia for several reasons:

• To continue the mission and living tradition of upholding the value of life as a gift from God.

• To respond to cultural change, including rising secularism and societal acceptance of euthanasia.

• To protect human dignity, particularly the vulnerable, sick, and elderly.

• Because beliefs are not isolated, but part of a wider religious way of life. For Catholics, the belief in the sanctity of life is grounded in Scripture, the life of Jesus, and the understanding that humans are created in the image and likeness of God (Genesis 1:27).

In expressing these beliefs, the Church challenges both the individualistic ethic that underpins euthanasia and the assumption that suffering has no value. Catholic teaching sees suffering as potentially redemptive, a chance for deeper solidarity with Christ and others.

structures definition

• refers to the organised system of leadership and authority within a religion

• includes the roles, responsibilities and hierarchy through which a religion functions

• it is viewed as a complex system, which can be well-structured (eg. the Vatican hierarchy) or informal (eg. local prayer groups)

• eg. Ecumenical Councils - Vatican II

processes definition

• refers to the methods or procedures through which a religion expresses and carries out its beliefs, teachings and governance

• reflect and express how the structure operates in practice

• can be clearly defined (eg. the Mass) or more flexible (eg. informal prayer services)

• eg. the pre-Council meetings, sessions, discussions, voting and resulting documents, sacraments, liturgical reforms

outline the role religious structures and/or processes have in developing and expressing its religious beliefs

• the CC uses various structures and processes to develop and express its beliefs:

  • Magisterium (teaching authority)

    • the teaching authority of the Church (Pope and bishops) defines doctrine and moral teaching, such as the Church’s stance against euthanasia

    • includes the Pope and bishops, who define and teach moral doctrine (eg. papal encyclicals like Evangelism Vitae)

  • synods and councils

    • gatherings of Church leaders to discuss responses to ethical issues (eg. Vatican II responded to modern societal challenges and clarified beliefs like the sacredness of human life)

  • publishing documents

    • encyclicals (eg. Evangelium Vitae), apostolic exhortations, and pastoral letters are all used to develop and communicate beliefs

  • bishops’ conferences

    • provide national-level responses (eg. Australian Catholic Bishops Conference statements on euthanasia)

  • theological institutions and universities

    • engage in bioethics research and education

  • parishes and diocesan offices

    • help implement teaching through pastoral care, education, and support for palliative care services

    • engage with believers and society through education, sacramental care and social services (eg. hospice and palliative care services)

• these structures ensure the Church maintains a consistent moral voice while responding pastorally and practically to the needs of society

• the development of belief is not static—it evolves in response to historical, cultural, and ethical challenges, while remaining rooted in authoritative sources like Scripture and Tradition