The Religion and Ethics Report - Separate stories podcast

How have socially conservative Catholics found a home for themselves in the Liberal Party, especially considering its early history as a bastion of Australia’s protestant establishment? 
It’s due in large part to the end of long romance between the Catholic Church and the Labor Party. 
GUEST:
Dr Jeff Kildea is the author of the new book Iron Law No More: The Rise and Demise of the Catholic-Labor Alliance in Australia.

The ABC’s head of religion, Noel Debien, has been watching the proceedings at ICAC and is here with an update.
In New South Wales, the Independent Commission Against Corruption is investigating claims that the head office of Catholic schools – but not the schools themselves -- employed some staff to work primarily on factional activities for the Liberal Party. There’ve also been allegations that the organisation paid a consultant who then funnelled his money to a faction known as the Reformers. 
How have socially conservative Catholics found a home for themselves in the Liberal Party, especially considering its early history as a bastion of Australia’s protestant establishment? It’s due in large part to the end of long romance between the Catholic Church and the Labor Party. 
GUESTS:
Noel Debien is a religion expert and broadcaster, and heads the Religion and Ethics unit at ABC Radio National
Dr Jeff Kildea is the author of the new book Iron Law No More: The Rise and Demise of the Catholic-Labor Alliance in Australia.
Anne Benjamin is a respected educator, who was Director of Schools for the Parramatta diocese. 
This program is recorded on the lands of the Gadigal People of the Eora Nation

In New South Wales, the Independent Commission Against Corruption is investigating claims that the head office of Catholic schools – but not the schools themselves -- employed some staff to work primarily on factional activities for the Liberal Party. There’ve also been allegations that the organisation paid a consultant who then funnelled his money to a faction known as the Reformers. 
But first, the ABC’s head of religion, Noel Debien, has been watching the proceedings at ICAC and is here with an update.
GUESTS:
Noel Debien is a religion expert and broadcaster, and heads the Religion and Ethics unit at ABC Radio National
Anne Benjamin is a respected educator, who was Director of Schools for the Parramatta diocese.

For six years, a Church of England priest has been trying to uncover the fate of more than 60 Iraqis taken prisoner by Coalition forces during the 2003 Iraq invasion.

For six years, a Church of England priest has been trying to uncover the fate of more than 60 Iraqis taken prisoner by Coalition forces during the 2003 Iraq invasion. 
What makes this search for the truth so compelling is that before becoming a priest, Nicholas Mercer was a Lieutenant Colonel and one of the most senior lawyers in the British military. 
As part of his search, he wrote repeatedly to the Inspector General of the Australian Defence Forced because Australian troops were involved in detaining the Iraqis. 
Nicholas Mercer has finally received a response from the Inspector-General.
The following statement can be attributed to a spokesperson for the Inspector-General of the Australian Defence Force:
The Inspector-General of the Australian Defence Force’s role includes the examination of matters affecting military justice in the ADF.  
The IGADF inquiry into Dr Mercer’s concerns did not find any evidence that substantiates wrongdoing on the part of the ADF.
 GUEST:
A former British Army Lieutenant-Colonel, the Rev Nicholas Mercer has been campaigning for the truth about war crimes in Iraq - he is also an Anglican priest