SCOTT Morrison has never shied away from his Christian faith even under the harsh lights of federal politics.
His departure from parliament yesterday was no different.
He said he left parliament “appreciative and thankful, unburdened by offences and released of any of the bitterness that can so often haunt post-political lives”.
“This is due to my faith in Jesus Christ, which gives me the faith to both forgive and be honest about my own failings and shortcomings,” he said.
“During my time as Prime Minister, the power and necessity of forgiveness was demonstrated to me most profoundly by the Abdallah and Sakr families, whose children were taken from them, and they found the strength in their faith to forgive.”
Mr Morrison had become closely involved with the Abdallah and Sakr families after their children were killed in a car collision in Oatlands in 2020.
He had attended the funeral and petitioned for a memorial at the site where the collision had occurred.
Mr Morrison said he had become an “honorary Maronite” Catholic over the years.
He counted Maronite Bishop Antoine Tarabay as a friend and said Danny and Leila Abdallah, Bridget Sakr and Craig McKenzie had “taught us all what faith is really all about”.
Mr Morrison warned about the diminishing influence of Judaeo-Christian faith, saying that it “risks our society drifting into a valueless void”.
“In that world, there is nothing to stand on, there is nothing to hold on to, and the authoritarians and autocrats win,” he said.
He said politics was not the place to find one’s “identity, ultimate meaning and purpose in life”.
“There are far better options than politics,” he said.
Mr Morrison said his Judaeo-Christian principles ran to the heart of western society.
“We stand on the values that build a successful, free society, like individual liberty, the rule of law, equality of opportunity, responsible citizenship, morality and liberty of speech, thought, religion and association,” he said.
“All of these stem from the core principle of respect for individual human dignity.
“So do representative democracy and even market based capitalism.
“This is a unique Judaeo-Christian principle.
“It is about respecting each other’s human dignity through our creation by God’s hand, in God’s image, for God’s glory, where each human life is eternally valued, unique, worthy, loved and capable.”
Mr Morrison ended his speech with three Scriptures.
“For those who perhaps may feel a bit uncomfortable with my Christian references and scripture references here or at other times, I can’t apologise for that,” he said.
“It says in Romans 1:16: ‘For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes.’
“It says in 2 Timothy 1:17: ‘I am not ashamed for I know what I believe and in whom and I am convinced that He is able to protect what I have entrusted to Him until that day.’
“In that vein, let me quote one last scripture in this place as an encouragement to all who continue to serve.
“2 Thessalonians 2:16 says: ‘Now may our Lord Jesus Christ himself and God and our father, who has loved and given us eternal comfort and good hope by grace, comfort and strengthen your hearts in every good work and deed.’”
