Why a fearless and fiery Anglican priest travels to war-torn countries, supports Putin in Syria, and believes that Christians must unite to fight the lies of Western liberal governmentsDecades ago, he opened a boxing club in Dulwich Hill, then a drug-ridden, poverty-stricken area of Sydney. Having been a tempestuous teenager himself, he knew that channeling aggression, pain and anger productively could transform the lives of young men.
Australian born Anglican priest 'Fighting' Father Dave, 55 years old, is a vivid character, dynamite in a religious world which too often closes its eyes to the lies and crimes of the Western governments and media.
Decades ago, he opened a boxing club in Dulwich Hill, then a drug-ridden, poverty-stricken area of Sydney. Having been a tempestuous teenager himself, he knew that channeling aggression, pain and anger productively could transform the lives of young men.
The liberal press both loves and hates him. On one hand, his work in helping the underprivileged in Sydney cannot possibly be critiqued by even the most virulent of social warriors.
Films have been created with about his life and work. In the very heart of Sydney, a vibrant mural of him sprawls on the wall of a building which, among other things, houses the American embassy. It was done by Luke Cornish, the most famous street artist in Australia. (Though the artist, who won the illustrious Archibald prize for his portrait of another Christian leader, is known for some rather blasphemous artworks, he seems to find the insuppressible life force of some of Sydney's spiritual leaders irresistible).
Comment: Update (Oct 3): Demonstrations continue today, as tens of thousands of people demonstrated throughout the Spanish northeastern region of Catalonia. Some 180,000 people took part in the rallies in the regional capital of Barcelona alone, local media reported citing police estimates. Crowds of students filled the city's central square, waving the yellow, red and blue flags used by independence supporters: