Posts Tagged ‘Australia’

Divine decision: churches split on indigenous Voice vote

Thursday, September 28th, 2023
indigenous voice

As the clock ticks down to the October 14 Australian referendum on the Indigenous Voice, religious leaders in Australia are under the spotlight. Despite the political risks of taking a stand, some urge these leaders to move beyond mere words and show decisive support for the constitutional change. Francis Sullivan, who formerly led the Catholic Read more

Albanese and Dutton need to find common ground on Voice to Australia’s Parliament

Thursday, June 8th, 2023
voice

An Australian priest backing the Indigenous Voice referendum to parliament fears the result will leave Australians divided. That will be a tragedy, he says. Father Frank Brennan (pictured), a Jesuit priest and human rights lawyer, blames leadership on both political sides for not seeking common ground. He hopes a “reconciling spirit” will blow through parliament’s Read more

US, Pacific allies conclude Exercise Cartwheel joint drills in Fiji

Monday, October 3rd, 2022

A Pacific Island multinational military training exercise involving the US, the UK, Australia, New Zealand and Fiji has concluded in Fiji. The 11-day Exercise Cartwheel 2022 drew criticism from China which has been seeking to expand influence in the South Pacific. The exercise, named after Operation Cartwheel – a major military operation for the Allies Read more

What is it about change and the Church?

Monday, August 1st, 2022
synodality change

“What is it about women and the Church?” Sister Patty Fawkner SGS, recently asked. Writing as a member of the just completed Plenary Council of the Catholic Church in Australia, she spoke of her experience during the moment of “protest” once the motion on women failed to get the required vote. But her very reasonable Read more

Scott Morrison tells Pentecostals to trust God, not governments

Thursday, July 21st, 2022
governments

People should trust God, not governments says former Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison. In a sermon to churchgoers at Perth’s Pentecostal Victory Life Centre, Morrison said in his experience it would be a mistake to trust governments. “We trust in Him. We don’t trust in governments. We don’t trust in United Nations, thank goodness. “We Read more

Australia’s PM – Cultural Catholic of humble origins

Thursday, May 26th, 2022

Australia’s new prime minister is a self-described cultural Catholic with an agenda to make social reforms and take action on climate change. Anthony Albanese, centre-left leader of the Labor Party, claimed election victory on 21 May defeating the conservative Liberal-National coalition that has governed for nine years. Mr Albanese always described himself as the only Read more

Don’t dump religious discrimination bill

Thursday, February 17th, 2022
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Australian religious leaders are increasing pressure on Prime Minister Scott Morrison and Opposition Leader Anthony Albanese not to dump the religious discrimination bill ahead of the election. So far the bill has faced stiff opposition from all sides. Its only successful amendment was  on Wednesday, which saw the removal of Section 38(3) of the Sex Read more

Faith-based hospitals denied a say in patient deaths

Thursday, September 16th, 2021

Faith-based hospitals in Queensland will not be able to deny entry to outside ­doctors to help terminally ill ­patients die, new legislation proposes. The Queensland government has rejected pleas by the churches for institutional protection from the widest voluntary assisted dying law to go before an Australian parliament. The legislation leaves the private, church-backed institutions Read more

Politician’s LGBTQI rights bill divides Catholic schools

Monday, April 19th, 2021

Catholic schools in New South Wales are divided over a proposed anti-trans education bill. The proposal seeks to ban any discussion of gender diversity in the state’s classrooms. The state’s main Catholic education body supports One Nation leader Mark Latham’s the bill. The large Parramatta diocese, however, is lodging a strong objection. Latham’s bill proposes Read more

Aussies making it a crime to pray

Thursday, December 10th, 2020

A proposed law before Victoria’s state parliament seeks to criminalise any practices that seek to change or suppress a person’s sexual orientation or gender identity, including prayer. Melbourne Archbishop Peter Comensoli said any coercive practice “is an affront to human dignity.” He said he firmly rejects such harmful acts but added that “nobody is protected Read more