Parliamentary religion and public accountability

Politics and religion are both in a state of flux - a bell tolls jarringly with a call for accountability from a disgruntled public. Hard on the heels on Treasurer Hockey's Age of Entitlement speech both sides of politics face closer scrutiny, controversially intensified by Bishop's chopper trip to Geelong and subsequent resignation.

Religion, too, is in turmoil with seemingly endless revelations of impropriety emerging from the Royal Commission into Child Sexual abuse. All is not well with a pious priesthood and public disquiet is evident.

While politics and religion may appear unrelated - certainly on these separate issues - it is the question of 'accountability' that binds them tightly together.

Historically, in fact, religion and politics have enjoyed a long symbiotic relationship since 380 CE, when Emperor Theodosius effectively made Christianity the state religion of the Roman Empire. But that's another story.

From a contemporary perspective, the current catalyst that blemishes any notion of a 'secular Australia' - the simple act of separating Church and State - is the protracted parliamentary fracas over marriage equality.

Both Labor and Liberal have floundered over this burning social topic that has so recently been resolved by Ireland and America - two of the most religious countries on Earth.

Tony Abbott dashed public hopes for a conscience vote on the issue with his controversial call for a coalition party room meeting - resulting in a two-thirds majority to defeat an open vote on the floor of parliament."

This divisive Liberal decision followed closely on Labor's embarrassing National Conference where the faithful backed Bill Shorten's call to defer making same-sex marriage a binding ALP policy.

So what is it that prevents our two main parliamentary parties from joining the more progressive countries of the world? What aspect of politics has gay marriage suddenly brought to light?

The answer, glaringly, is religion!

Religious MPs from both sides combine to repeatedly defeat marriage equality - together with a sweep of other progressive contemporary policies. Issues that, for many years, have had overwhelming public support.

The majority of Australians are now non-Christian, but what religious beliefs do our MPs hold? We simply don't know! Very few declare their faith in their parliamentary and electorate biographies. Why so much secrecy?