Acting on Conscience

Is there a place for personal beliefs in public life?

Is a Catholic health minister in a fit position to legislate on women's issues such as the right to an abortion pill? When the prime minister invokes church leaders' support in going to war with Iraq - and those church leaders tacitly approve this - is there a moral issue at stake?

In Acting on Conscience Jesuit priest, human rights lawyer and academic Frank Brennan tackles these issues head on. He explores some of the legal, moral and ethical issues that capture the public imagination - and critically examine the figures in public life who pass judgement on them.

Issues covered include:
The War in Iraq
Same-sex marriage and parenting
Late-term abortion
Politics and the judiciary

Through detailed analysis of examples from both Australia and the US, Brennan asks: Is there a place for personal beliefs in public life? As citizens and voters, how can we ensure that in the future, our leaders will speak for us - but not out of turn?

'In an age of fear and bigotry here is a welcome book of courage and conscience.' SENATOR BOB BROWN, Australian Greens

Father Frank Brennan SJ AO, a Jesuit priest and lawyer, is the Associate Director of Uniya, the Jesuit Social Justice Centre in Sydney. His books on Aboriginal issues include \"The Wik Debate\", \"One Land One Nation\", \"Sharing the Country\", and \"Land Rights Queensland Style\". His books on civil liberties are \"Too Much Order With Too Little Law\" and \"Legislating Liberty\" (UQP 1998).

In 2002, Frank Brennan was awarded the Humanitarian Overseas Service Medal for his work in East Timor and was a recipient of the Australian Centenary Medal in 2003 for his service with refugees and for human rights work in the Asia Pacific region.

His new book, \"Tampering with Asylum\", was released by UQP in November 2003.