He spoke against Australian involvement in the Vietnam War[3] and in the 1970s was active in residents' action groups in Woolloomooloo.[4]
His books on Australian Catholic history combine a personal point of view with discussions of the wider social context and the impact of Australian Catholics in many fields.[5]
Books
1980, John Henry Newman: Friends, Allies, Bishops, Catholics, Melbourne: Dove Communications, ISBN0859241254
1982, Rockchoppers: Growing Up Catholic in Australia, Ringwood, Vic: Penguin, ISBN0140064451;
1987, Australian Catholics, Ringwood, Vic: Viking, ISBN0670816957
1994, A Place in the City, Ringwood, Vic: Penguin, ISBN0140179135
1996 (edited), Catholic Voices: Best Australian Catholic Writing, Melbourne: David Lovell Publishing, ISBN1863550534
1997, Great Australian Catholics, Ringwood, Vic: David Lovell Publishing, ISBN1863550577;