Religion News Selection 45 (Nov 26 - Dec 3)
(02 December 17)by Greg Spearritt
Religion News Selection
November 26 – December 3, 2017
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
Adelaide Catholic Archbishop will not
resign after Alzheimer’s diagnosis halts court case (ABC
News)
Nov 29 - The Catholic Archbishop of Adelaide, Philip Wilson will not resign in
the wake of an Alzheimer’s diagnosis, brought to light at a court hearing
relating to child sexual abuse he allegedly covered up.
EDUCATION
Brindabella Christian College board sacks
principal, warns of devil’s actions (Canberra Times)
Nov 30 - The board of Brindabella Christian College has suddenly sacked the
school’s principal and warned parents "the devil has his sights on
Christian education" as the federal government prepares to legislate for
same-sex marriage.
INTERNATIONAL STORIES
Abuse
Former pupils tell inquiry of sexual abuse
by priests at Ampleforth College (The
Guardian, Australia)
Nov 30 - Priests at a leading Roman Catholic school abused boys as young as
six, including beatings and sexual assaults, the national inquiry into child
abuse has heard.
Sogyal Rinpoche and the abuse accusations
rocking the Buddhist world (Sydney Morning Herald)
Dec 2 - On a late September evening this year, a group of leading Australian
business figures gathered in a Sydney boardroom to discuss a series of allegations
that had scandalised the Buddhist world, and shaken their own to the core.
Islam
Israeli health minister Yaakov Litzman
resigns in protest over railway work on the Sabbath (ABC
News)
Nov 27 - Israel’s health minister has resigned, saying he opposed continued
maintenance work on the country’s railways on the Sabbath, when all labour is
strictly prohibited by Jewish law.
Also: President Trump slammed for retweeting
videos by Britain First deputy leader Jayda Fransen (news.com.au)
Nov 30 - DONALD Trump has been accused of “spreading hate” after he retweeted
unverified anti-Muslim videos from a fringe far-right UK political leader.
Muslim population in some EU countries
could triple, says report (The
Guardian, Australia)
Nov 30 - The Muslim population in some European countries could triple by 2050
while it will barely change in others, according to new projections released by
the Washington-based Pew Research Centre.
Canadian judge suspends part of face veil
ban (Sydney Morning
Herald)
Dec 3 - Toronto: A Canadian judge on Friday suspended part of a Quebec law
banning people from wearing full-face veils when giving or receiving public
services, handing a provisional victory to civil liberties groups who argued
that the law is unconstitutional and discriminates against Muslim women.
Judaism
Ultra-Orthodox rabbis call for boycott of
Jewish arts centre over LGBT support (The Guardian, Australia)
Dec 3 - A group of ultra-Orthodox rabbis have called on their congregations to
boycott a Jewish cultural centre in London because it held a gay-themed week of
events and provides a meeting space for gay Jewish parents.
Religious Violence
To find the extremism behind the Egypt
terror attack, start with anti-Sufi preachers (The Guardian, Australia)
Nov 28 – (Opinion: HA Hellyer) On Friday, more than 300 Muslim worshippers were
murdered, and scores more injured, by extremist Islamists in Egypt.
Other
Researchers date discovery of Jesus Christ’s
tomb in Jerusalem to Roman era (ABC
News)
Dec 1 - Mortar under a slab at the heart of Jerusalem’s Church of the Holy
Sepulchre dates to the era of Roman Emperor Constantine, confirming historical
accounts of the discovery of the place where Christians believe Jesus was
entombed, researchers say.
PNG sets up taskforce to investigate brutal
torture of young girl accused of sorcery (ABC
News)
Dec 1 - The torture of a six-year-old girl whose mother was accused of
practising sorcery will be investigated by a special police taskforce, the
Papua New Guinea Government says.
Liberalism has eaten itself – it isn’t
very liberal any more (The
Guardian, Australia)
Dec 3 – (Opinion: Tim Farron) When a liberal turns out to be an evangelical
Christian, people are surprised or confused.
POLITICS
One Nation senator condemned for warning
schoolchildren may become Islamist terrorists (The Guardian, Australia)
Dec 2 - A One Nation senator is writing to school principals warning them their
children risk turning into “terror-endorsing Islamists” whose religion compels
them to kill westerners.
Coalition to test Labor again over same-sex
marriage as bill heads to lower house
Nov 30 - Coalition MPs will look to test Labor once again over religious
freedom when the same-sex marriage bill goes to the House of Representatives
next week, after passing the Senate in a historic vote on Wednesday.
Malcolm Turnbull backflips on religious
protections in same-sex marriage bill (The Guardian, Australia)
Nov 30 - Malcolm Turnbull has revealed he will support at least two amendments
to the Senate’s same-sex marriage bill to guarantee that charities will not be
affected and to allow civil celebrants to refuse to solemnise weddings.
RELIGION & SOCIETY
Religious liberty key to diversity (The Australian)
Nov 28 – (Opinion: Peter Kurti) Beware of anti-discrimination legislation that
eradicates differences in our society.
An industry in need to help: marriage
slides to an all-time low (Sydney Morning Herald)
Nov 28 - Same-sex marriage could be just the boost the industry needs.
Church leaders in last-ditch pushback
against same-sex marriage bill (Sydney Morning Herald)
Dec 1 - Australia’s most senior churchmen, including the Anglican and Catholic
archbishops of Sydney, have made a list-ditch plea to political leaders to
salvage religious exemptions in the same-sex marriage bill.
The art of missing out, or how to beat ’FOMO’ (ABC News)
Dec 2 – (Opinion: Simon Smart) Tim Winton reckons surfing saved his life.
The Brisbane nun who defied Sir Joh’s
government to help AIDS sufferers (Brisbane
Times)
Dec 3 - Queensland was gripped by fear in the 1980s following the outbreak of
HIV, so much so that then-premier Joh Bjelke-Peterson refused to curb the
spread of the virus among Indigenous Australians because he believed it was
"a punishment from God".
From the Archive…
Religion News Australia 2017 – 45 (Nov 26 – Dec 3)
Religion News Australia 2017 – 44 (Nov 19 - 26)
Religion News Australia 2017 – 43 (Nov 12 - 19)
Religion News Australia 2017 – 42 (Nov 5 - 12)
Religion News Australia 2017 – 41 (Oct 29 - Nov 5)
Religion News Australia 2017 – 40 (Oct 22 - 29)
Religion News Australia 2017 – 39 (Oct 15 - 22)
Religion News Australia 2017 – 38 (Oct 8 - 15)
Religion News Australia 2017 – 37 (Oct 1 - 8)
Religion News Australia 2017 – 36 (Sept 24 – Oct 1)
Religion News Australia 2017 – 35 (Sept 17 - 24)
Religion News Australia 2017 – 34 (Sept 10 - 17)
Religion News Australia 2017 – 33 (Sept 3 - 10)
Religion News Australia 2017 – 32 (Aug 27 – Sept 3)
Religion News Australia 2017 – 31 (Aug 20 - 27)
Religion News Australia 2017 – 30 (Aug 6 - 12)
Religion News Australia 2017 – 29 (July 30 – Aug 6)
Religion News Australia 2017 – 28 (July 23 - 30)
Religion News Australia 2017 – 27 (July 16 - 23)
Religion News Australia 2017 – 26 (July 9 - 16)
Religion News Australia 2017 – 25 (July 2 - 9)
Religion News Australia 2017 – 24 (June 25 – July 2)
Religion News Australia 2017 – 23 (June 18 - 25)
Religion News Australia 2017 – 22 (June 11- 18)
Religion News Australia 2017 – 21 (June 4 - 11)
Religion News Australia 2017 – 20 (May 28 – June 4)
Religion News Australia 2017 – 19 (May 21 - 28)
Religion News Australia 2017 – 18 (May 14 - 21)
Religion News Australia 2017 – 17 (May 7 - 14)
Religion News Australia 2017 – 16 (Apr 30 – May 7)
Religion News Australia 2017 – 15 (Apr 16 - 23)
Religion News Australia 2017 – 14 (Apr 9 - 16)
Religion News Australia 2017 – 13 (Apr 2 - 9)
Religion News Australia 2017 – 12 (Mar 19 – Apr 2)
Religion News Australia 2017 – 11 (Mar 11 – 19)
Religion News Australia 2017 – 10 (Mar 5 - 11)
Religion News Australia 2017 – 9 (Feb 26 – Mar 5)
Religion News Australia 2017 – 8 (Feb 19 - 26)
Religion News Australia 2017 – 7 (Feb 12 - 19)
Religion News Australia 2017 – 6 (Feb 5 - 12)
Religion News Australia 2017 – 5 (Jan 29 - Feb 5)
Religion News Australia 2017 – 4 (Jan 22 - 29)
Religion News Australia 2017 – 3 (Jan 15 - 22)
Religion News Australia 2017 – 2 (Jan 8 - 15)
Religion News Australia 2017 – 1 (Jan 1 - 8)
Religion News Australia 2016 – 49 (Dec 25 - 31)
Religion News Australia 2016 – 48 (Dec 11 - 25)
Religion News Australia 2016 – 47 (Dec 4 - 11)
Religion News Australia 2016 – 46 (Nov 27 - Dec 4)
Religion News Australia 2016 – 45 (Nov 20 - 27)
Religion News Australia 2016 – 44 (Nov 13 - 20)
Religion News Australia 2016 – 43 (Nov 6 - 13)
Religion News Australia 2016 – 42 (Oct 30 - Nov 6)
Religion News Australia 2016 – 41 (Oct 23 - 30)
Religion News Australia 2016 – 40 (Oct 16 - 23)
Religion News Australia 2016 – 39 (Oct 9 - 16)
Religion News Australia 2016 – 38 (Oct 2 - 9)
Religion News Australia 2016 – 37 (Sept 25 – Oct 2)
Religion News Australia 2016 – 36 (Sept 11 - 18)
Religion News Australia 2016 – 35 (Sept 4 - 11)
Religion News Australia 2016 – 34 (Aug 28 – Sept 4)
Religion News Australia 2016 – 33 (Aug 21 - 28)
Religion News Australia 2016 – 32 (Aug 14 - 21)
Religion News Australia 2016 – 31 (Aug 7 - 14)
Religion News Australia 2016 – 30 (Aug 1 - 7)
Religion News Australia 2016 – 29 (July 24 - 31)
Religion News Australia 2016 – 28 (July 17 - 24)
Religion News Australia 2016 – 27 (July 10 - 17)
Religion News Australia 2016 – 26 (June 26 – July 10)
Religion News Australia 2016 – 25 (June 19 - 26)
Religion News Australia 2016 – 24 (June 12 - 19)
Religion News Australia 2016 – 23 (June 5 - 12)
Religion News Australia 2016 – 22 (May 29 – June 5)
Religion News Australia 2016 – 21 (May 22 - 29)
Religion News Australia 2016 – 20 (May 15 - 22)
Religion News Australia 2016 – 19 (May 8 - 15)
Religion News Australia 2016 – 18 (May 1 - 8)
Religion News Australia 2016 – 17 (Apr 24 – May 1)
Religion News Australia 2016 – 16 (Apr 17 - 24)
Religion News Australia 2016 – 15 (Apr 10 - 17)
Religion News Australia 2016 – 14 (Apr 3 - 10)
Religion News Australia 2016 – 13 (Mar 27 – Apr 3)
Religion News Australia 2016 – 12 (Mar 20 - 27)
Religion News Australia 2016 – 11 (Mar 13 - 20)
Religion News Australia 2016 – 10 (Mar 6 - 13)
Religion News Australia 2016 – 9 (Feb 28 – Mar 6)
Religion News Australia 2016 – 8 (Feb 21 - 28)
Religion News Australia 2016 – 7 (Feb 14 - 21)
Religion News Australia 2016 – 6 (Feb 7 - 14)
Religion News Australia 2016 – 5 (Jan 31 – Feb 7)
Religion News Australia 2016 – 4 (Jan 24 - 31)
Religion News Australia 2016 – 3 (Jan 17 - 24)
Religion News Australia 2016 – 2 (Jan 10 - 17)
Religion News Australia 2016 – 1 (Dec 27 – Jan 3)
Religion News Australia 2015 – 48 (Dec 20 - 27)
Religion News Australia 2015 – 47 (Dec 13 - 20)
Religion News Australia 2015 – 46 (Dec 6 - 13)
Religion News Australia 2015 – 45 (Nov 29 – Dec 6)
Religion News Australia 2015 – 44 (Nov 22 - 29)
Religion News Australia 2015 – 43 (Nov 15 - 22)
Religion News Australia 2015 – 42 (Nov 8 - 15)
Religion News Australia 2015 – 41 (Nov 1 - 8)
Religion News Australia 2015 – 40 (Oct 25 – Nov 1)
Religion News Australia 2015 – 39 (Oct 18 - 25)
Religion News Australia 2015 – 38 (Oct 11 - 18)
Religion News Australia 2015 – 37 (Sept 27 – Oct 11)
Religion News Australia 2015 – 36 (Sept 20 - 27)
Religion News Australia 2015 – 35 (Sept 13 - 20)
Religion News Australia 2015 – 34 (Sept 6 - 13)
Religion News Australia 2015 – 33 (Aug 30 – Sept 6)
Religion News Australia 2015 – 32 (Aug 23 - 30)
Religion News Australia 2015 – 31 (Aug 16 - 23)
Religion News Australia 2015 – 30 (Aug 9 - 16)
Religion News Australia 2015 – 29 (Aug 2 - 9)
Religion News Australia 2015 – 28 (July 26 – Aug 2)
Religion News Australia 2015 – 27 (July 19 - 26)
Religion News Australia 2015 – 26 (July 12 - 19)
Religion News Australia 2015 – 25 (July 5 - 12)
Religion News Australia 2015 – 24 (June 28 – July 5)
Religion News Australia 2015 – 23 (June 21 - 28)
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)