Religion News Selection 45 (Oct 12 - 19)
(18 October 14)by Greg Spearritt
Religion News Selection
October 12 - 19, 2014
A
selection of religion news stories from Australia.
(Research: Greg Spearritt)
Inclusion here does not endorse the veracity or quality of any particular item
– it just means
I found it worth reading and reflecting on (even if badly conceived or poorly
written).
If you’re after the
unexpurgated (and reasonably unbiased) version,
see Religion News Australia which
appears weekly on our website.
ABUSE
Police and church
co-operated on sexual abuse victims, commission hears (Brisbane Times)
Oct 14 - The NSW Police Force had an informal agreement with the Catholic
Church not to encourage victims of child sexual abuse to come forward,
particularly if they were reluctant to make a formal statement, the Police
Integrity Commission has heard.
Adelaide Anglican Church
synod supports priests breaching confessional to report sex abuse (ABC
News)
Oct 18 - The Anglican Church in Adelaide has backed an earlier move by the
church nationally to let its priests break the confidentiality of confessions.
ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
Chaser team attacked for
IS gags (The West Australian)
Oct 16 - The Chaser team have been labelled "gutless wonders" for
making jokes about the Islamic State terrorist group on their comedy show.
INTERNATIONAL STORIES
Catholic Church
Vatican signals change
in attitude to homosexuals (Sydney Morning Herald)
Oct 13 - Vatican City: An important meeting of bishops at the Vatican used
remarkably conciliatory language towards gay and divorced Catholics, signalling
a possible easing of the church's rigid attitudes on homosexuality and the
sanctity of marriage.
Also:
Bishops slam brakes on
reform push for gays and divorcees (The
West Australian)
Oct 17 - Vatican City (AFP) - Catholic bishops have spoken out against a
landmark Vatican report calling for a more open approach to gay believers,
presenting a series of strongly-worded changes bound to disappoint
progressives.
Also:
George Pell: Catholic
church is not going to change its views on sexuality (The Guardian, Australia)
Oct 18 - The most senior Australian in the Vatican says the discussions at the
Synod on the Family are not taking the Catholic Church in a new direction in
its teachings on marriage, sexuality and family, despite a more liberal stance
from Pope Francis.
Also:
Setback for pope as
synod fails to agree on gays, divorcees (The West Australian)
Oct 19 - Vatican City (AFP) - Roman Catholic bishops on Saturday failed to
reach a consensus on opening the Church's doors to remarried divorcees and gays
after a special synod on the family, in a blow to Pope Francis.
The Pope's astronomer on
space, the Bible and alien life (Brisbane
Times)
Oct 16 - Science and religion have often appeared at loggerheads, but Papal
astronomer Brother Guy Consolmagno says there is no need for conflict.
Pope faces key test with
vote on divorcees, gays (The West
Australian)
Oct 19 - Vatican City (AFP) - Pope Francis was set to sort his allies from his
enemies Saturday with a Vatican vote on a document drafted at the end of a
fierce two-week debate over opening the Catholic Church's doors to remarried
divorcees and gays.
Islam
Despite Nobel win,
Pakistan's Malala hated by many at home (The West Australian)
Oct 15 - Islamabad (AFP) - Malala Yousafzai may have won the Nobel Peace Prize,
but she remains an object of hate for many Pakistanis who view her as a Western
agent on a mission to shame her country.
Religious Violence
Islamic State: jihadists
boast of enslaving Yazidi women and children (ABC
News)
Oct 13 - The Islamic State jihadist group says it has given Yazidi women and
children captured in northern Iraq to its fighters as spoils of war, boasting
it has revived slavery.
Pakistan Taliban leaders
pledge allegiance to Islamic State (The
Age, Melbourne)
Oct 16 - Islamabad: In another sign of the Middle East-based Islamic State's
expanding influence, the chief spokesman for the Pakistani Taliban and five
regional commanders have declared allegiance to the group and its chief, Abu
Bakr al-Baghdadi.
Al-Qaeda wants Muslims
to join Islamic State (news.com.au)
Oct 18 - TERROR group Al-Qaeda has called on Muslims worldwide to join Islamic
State in their quest to create a caliphate as the militants continue to be
beaten back in both Syria and Iraq.
Other
'We have to stop harming
beloved children of God' (Sydney Morning Herald)
Oct 15 - Washington: With a bland act of office administration last Monday
morning, the United States Supreme Court changed the fabric of American
society.
Greek mosaic uncovered
in ancient Alexander-era tomb depicts abduction of underworld goddess (ABC News)
Oct 17 - An imposing mosaic uncovered in the largest antique tomb ever
discovered in Greece depicts the myth of the abduction of Persephone, Zeus's
daughter who became goddess of the underworld.
Danish immigrant party
challenges populist right (The
West Australian)
Oct 18 - Copenhagen (AFP) - A political party targeting the immigrant vote by
advocating looser immigration laws and "a ban on banning" religious
symbols has launched in Denmark amid record support for the populist right.
ISLAM
Darwin's new Islamic
leader set to focus on youth issues and community bridging (ABC
News)
Oct 16 - An "open dialogue" between the Islamic and non-Islamic
community is central to combating recent reports of religious intolerance in
Australia, says Darwin Mosque's new religious leader.
How a women's Muslim
Aussie Rules team stood tall (The
Guardian, Australia)
Oct 17 - Australian Football is a prolific producer of underdog stories and
this year one quietly unfolded deep in what Collingwood Chairman Eddie McGuire
once dismissed as “the land of the falafel”.
RELIGION & SOCIETY
Mary MacKillop would not
stand for this (Brisbane Times)
Oct 13 – (Opinion: Jessica Rudd) In the 1870s you'd have been hard-pressed to
find a Kangaroo Point resident who hadn't crossed paths with Mary MacKillop.
From the Archive…
Religion News Australia 2014 – 45 (Oct 12 – 19)
Religion News Australia 2014 – 44 (Sept 14 - 21)
Religion News Australia 2014 – 34 (Sept 14 - 21)
Religion News Australia 2014 – 33 (Sept 7 - 14)
Religion News Australia 2014 – 32 (Aug 31 – Sept 7)
Religion News Australia 2014 – 31 (Aug 24 - 31)
Religion News Australia 2014 – 30 (Aug 17 - 24)
Religion News Australia 2014 – 29 (Aug 10 - 17)
Religion News Australia 2014 – 28 (Aug 3 - 10)
Religion News Australia 2014 – 27 (July 27 – Aug 3)
Religion News Australia 2014 – 26 (July 20 - 27)
Religion News Australia 2014 – 25 (July 13 - 20)
Religion News Australia 2014 – 24 (July 6 - 13)
Religion News Australia 2014 – 23 (June 29 – July 6)
Religion News Australia 2014 – 22 (June 22 - 29)
Religion News Australia 2014 – 21 (June 15 - 22)
Religion News Australia 2014 – 20 (June 8 - 15)
Religion News Australia 2014 – 19 (June 1 - 8)
Religion News Australia 2014 – 18 (May 25 – June 1)
Religion News Australia 2014 – 17 (May 18 - 25)
Religion News Australia 2014 – 16 (May 11 - 18)
Religion News Australia 2014 – 15 (May 4 - 11)
Religion News Australia 2014 – 14 (April 27 – May 4)
Religion News Australia 2014 – 13 (April 20 - 27)
Religion News Australia 2014 – 12 (April 12 - 20)
Religion News Australia 2014 – 11 (Mar 30 – April 12)
Religion News Australia 2014 – 10 (Mar 23 - 30)
Religion News Australia 2014 – 9 (Mar 16 - 23)
Religion News Australia 2014 – 8 (Mar 9 - 16)
Religion News Australia 2014 – 7 (Mar 3 - 9)
Religion News Australia 2014 – 6 (Feb 23 – Mar 3)
Religion News Australia 2014 – 5 (Feb 16 - 23)
Religion News Australia 2014 – 4 (Feb 9 - 16)
Religion News Australia 2014 – 3 (Feb 2 - 9)
Religion News Australia 2014 – 2 (Jan 26 – Feb 2)
Religion News Australia 2014 – 1 (Jan 4 - 26)
Religion News Australia 2013 – 53 (Dec 29 – Jan 4)
Religion News Australia 2013 – 52 (Dec 22 - 29)
Religion News Australia 2013 – 51 (Dec 15 - 22)
Religion News Australia 2013 – 50 (Dec 8 - 15)
Religion News Australia 2013 – 49 (Dec 1 - 8)
Religion News Australia 2013 – 48 (Nov 23 – Dec 1)
Religion News Australia 2013 – 47 (Nov 17 - 23)
Religion News Australia 2013 – 46 (Nov 10 - 17)
Religion News Australia 2013 – 45 (Nov 3 - 10)
Religion News Australia 2013 – 44 (Oct 27 – Nov 3)
Religion News Australia 2013 – 43 (Oct 20 - 27)
Religion News Australia 2013 – 42 (Oct 13 - 20)
Religion News Australia 2013 – 41 (Oct 6 - 13)
Religion News Australia 2013 – 40 (Sept 29 – Oct 6)
Religion News Australia 2013 – 39 (Sept 22 - 29)
Religion News Australia 2013 – 38 (Sept 15 - 22)
Religion News Australia 2013 – 37 (Sept 8 - 15)
Religion News Australia 2013 – 36 (Sept 1 - 8)
Religion News Australia 2013 – 35 (Aug 25 – Sept 1)
Religion News Australia 2013 – 34 (Aug 18 - 25)
Religion News Australia 2013 – 33 (Aug 11 - 18)
Religion News Australia 2013 – 32 (Aug 4 - 11)
Religion News Australia 2013 – 31 (July 28 – Aug 4)
Religion News Australia 2013 – 30 (July 21 - 28)
Religion News Australia 2013 – 29 (July 14 - 21)
Religion News Australia 2013 – 28 (July 7 - 14)
Religion News Australia 2013 – 27 (July 1 - 7)
Religion News Australia 2013 – 26 (June 23 - 30)
Religion News Australia 2013 – 25 (June 16 - 23)
Religion News Australia 2013 – 24 (June 9 - 16)
Religion News Australia 2013 – 23 (June 2 - 9)
Religion News Australia 2013 – 22 (May 26 – June 2)
Religion News Australia 2013 – 21 (May 19 - 26)
Religion News Australia 2013 – 20 (May 12 - 19)
Religion News Australia 2013 – 19 (May 5 - 12)
Religion News Australia 2013 – 18 (Apr 28 – May 5)
Religion News Australia 2013 – 17 (Apr 21 - 28)
Religion News Australia 2013 – 16 (Apr 14 - 21)
Religion News Australia 2013 – 15 (Apr 7 - 14)
Religion News Australia 2013 – 14 (Mar 31 – Apr 7)
Religion News Australia 2013 – 13 (Mar 24 - 31)
Religion News Australia 2013 – 12 (Mar 17 - 24)
Religion News Australia 2013 – 11 (Mar 10 - 17)
Religion News Australia 2013 – 10 (Mar 3 - 10)
Religion News Australia 2013 – 9 (Feb 24 – Mar 3)
Religion News Australia 2013 – 8 (Feb 17 - 24)
Religion News Australia 2013 – 7 (Feb 10 - 17)
Religion News Australia 2013 – 6 (Feb 3 - 10)
Religion News Australia 2013 – 5 (Jan 27 – Feb 3)
Religion News Australia 2013 – 4 (Jan 20 - 27)
Religion News Australia 2013 – 3 (Jan 13 - 20)
Religion News Australia 2013 – 2 (Jan 6 - 13)
Religion News Australia 2013 – 1 (Dec 30 – Jan 6)
Religion News Australia 2012 – 47 (Dec 23 - 30)
Religion News Australia 2012 – 46 (Dec 15 - 23)
Religion News Australia 2012 – 45 (Dec 9 - 15)
Religion News Australia 2012 – 44 (Dec 2 - 9)
Religion News Australia 2012 – 43 (Nov 25 – Dec 2)
Religion News Australia 2012 – 42 (Nov 18 - 25)
Religion News Australia 2012 – 41 (Nov 11 - 18)
Religion News Australia 2012 – 40 (Nov 4 - 11)
Religion News Australia 2012 – 39 (Oct 28 – Nov 4)
Religion News Australia 2012 – 38 (Oct 21 - 28)
Religion News Australia 2012 – 37 (Oct 14 - 21)
Religion News Australia 2012 – 36 (Oct 7 - 14)
Religion News Australia 2012 – 35 (Oct 1 - 7)
Religion News Australia 2012 – 34 (Sept 23 - 30)
Religion News Australia 2012 – 33 (Sept 17 - 23)
Religion News Australia 2012 – 32 (Sept 9 - 17)
Religion News Australia 2012 – 31 (Sept 2 - 9)
Religion News Australia 2012 – 30 (Aug 26 – Sept 2)
Religion News Australia 2012 – 29 (Aug 19 - 26)
Religion News Australia 2012 – 28 (Aug 12 - 19)
Religion News Australia 2012 – 27 (Aug 5 - 12)
Religion News Australia 2012 – 26 (July 29 – Aug 5)
Religion News Australia 2012 – 25 (July 22 - 29)
Religion News Australia 2012 – 24 (July 15 - 22)
Religion News Australia 2012 – 23 (July 8 - 15)
Religion News Australia 2012 – 22 (June 3 - 10)
Religion News Australia 2012 – 21 (May 27 – June 3)
Religion News Australia 2012 – 20 (May 20 - 27)
Religion News Australia 2012 – 19 (May 13 - 20)
Religion News Australia 2012 – 18 (May 6 - 13)
Religion News Australia 2012 – 17 (Apr 29 – May 6)
Religion News Australia 2012 – 16 (Apr 22 - 29)
Religion News Australia 2012 – 15 (Apr 8 - 22)
Religion News Australia 2012 – 14 (Apr 1 - 8)
Religion News Australia 2012 – 13 (Mar 25 – Apr 1)
Religion News Australia 2012 – 12 (Mar 18 - 25)
Religion News Australia 2012 – 11 (Mar 11 - 18)
Religion News Australia 2012 – 10 (Mar 4 - 11)
Religion News Australia 2012 – 9 (Feb 26 – Mar 4)
Religion News Australia 2012 – 8 (Feb 19 - 26)
Religion News Australia 2012 – 7 (Feb 12 - 19)
Religion News Australia 2012 – 6 (Feb 5 - 12)
Religion News Australia 2012 – 5 (Jan 29 – Feb 5)
Religion News Australia 2012 – 4 (Jan 22 - 29)
Religion News Australia 2012 – 3 (Jan 15 - 22)
Religion News Australia 2012 – 2 (Jan 8 - 15)
Religion News Australia 2012 – 1 (Dec 25 – Jan 8)