Thank God for Christian charity this Christmas - The Centre for Independent Studies
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Thank God for Christian charity this Christmas

charityChristmas has come under fire from the guardians of political correctness who want every vestige of religion banished from our parks, streets and schools.

Out with the carols; out with the Christmas trees; in fact, out with anything that smacks of ‘medieval superstition and bigotry’.

Poor old Santa has copped a beating in recent days, too. A white, overweight, elderly man just isn’t what the identity warriors want for our children.

And if we’re getting rid of angels and shepherds and the Baby Jesus, why do we even need the word ‘Christmas’ in the first place? ‘Holidays’ will do just as well, thank you very much.

In the topsy-turvy world of identity politics, the only social reality is language. Choosing the right word, they say, is all you need so you can create the right world.

No need for gender. No need for God. No need to teach our kids anything more than the importance of penis-tucking. Out with all that bourgeois language of oppression.

The key is to make everything ‘safe’, they tell us. But if you’re hungry or homeless or unemployed, feeling safe might be a luxury well out reach.

Thank God for the religious charities working around the clock this Christmas to help Aussie families doing it really tough.

Over the past 25 years, Uniting Care has distributed more than 2 million gifts to kids who would have got nothing otherwise. It’s the same story with Anglicare and the Toys ‘n’ Tucker appeal.

The Salvos don’t just try to help out with gifts and food hampers for families in need. Many people have nowhere to go at Christmas so the Salvos host free Christmas lunches around the country.

When divorce and family breakdown cause real distress to young children caught between feuding parents, groups like CatholicCare work hard to bring about reconciliation.

It’s all very well to talk at Christmas about ‘Peace on Earth and Good Will to All’. But distance, grief or anger can mean that for many people, peace is the last thing they have.

Reports suggest we’ll have spent more than $8 billion on presents and $19 million on food and drink by the time we get to Christmas Day. And most of that will have been stuck on the credit card.

Many people, however — who have a lot less than perhaps you and I do — are dreading a Christmas with no presents under the tree, and no food on the table.

Rubbishing religion is a popular pastime these days, and a favourite topic amongst the politically correct do-gooders. But it is the Christian charities and their faithful and committed staff who are the ones really doing good this Christmas.  Spare a thought for those genuine good-doers – and for all the people they support each year.

And let Christmas really be the season of peace and good will for all Australians.

Peter Kurti is a Research Fellow at the Centre for Independent Studies