Recently a memo was circulated suggesting that Centrelink and Medicare offices should not display nativity scenes at Christmas.

Human Services Minister, Tanya Plibersek, commented that this memo, written by a junior officer, was “inappropriate”.

She said, “It is perfectly reasonable for departmental staff to display Christmas decorations, including nativity scenes.”

“I also support staff who wish to celebrate Eid, Hanukkah, Diwali, the Lunar New Year or any other occasion of religious or cultural significance.”

Tanya P, although trying to sit on the fence, was making, in fact, an ideologically-loaded statement.

Her ideology being the belief that all religions are equally true/untrue.

A very unpleasant sort of fundamentalism.

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From a Christian viewpoint, religion exists to lead souls to God — as individuals, and ALSO as a society.

It is every Catholic’s duty to do everything possible to make the society in which he lives a Catholic society.

The enemies of Catholic religion – the smarter ones, anyway – know that religion cannot be destroyed. It is too deeply seated in the human heart.

Smart Communists, atheists, humanists etc. don’t waste time trying to eradicate religion, but strive to house-train it.

They know they have succeeded when people become convinced that “religion is a private matter”.

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Religion is NOT a private matter.

When his disciples asked Jesus Christ how they should pray, he taught them a prayer that says, “Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy Kingdom come . . . .”

We should look twice at that last sentence.

What would life be like if we lived as though it literally applied to us?

Our society would become overtly Christian.

Children would grow up knowing that to believe Catholic teaching is normal behaviour.

Christmas would be observed on an official basis.

Not only would nativity scenes be “tolerated” in government departmental workplaces — they would be given pride of place in each and every one of them.