Religion News Selection 16 (May 13 - 20)
(20 May 18)by Greg Spearritt
Religion News Selection
May 13 - 20, 2018
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.
ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
Courtyard Studio becomes a chapel of
contemplation in ’Quiet Faith’ (Sydney Morning Herald)
May 16 – (Review) Convert or cynic?
Disbeliever or devout disciple? What part does faith play in every person’s
life?
EDUCATION
Religious schools should be free to follow
beliefs, Dutton says (The
Guardian, Australia)
May 19 - Peter Dutton has called for the entrenchment of “religious freedoms”,
including the right of religious schools to sack gay teachers, and for parents
to withdraw their children from the anti-LGBTI bullying program Safe Schools.
INTERNATIONAL STORIES
Islam
Saudi Arabia: women’s rights activists
arrested before lifting of driving ban (The Guardian, Australia)
May 19 - Saudi authorities have arrested seven prominent women’s rights
advocates, just weeks before the kingdom’s longstanding driving ban on women
is set to be lifted, Human Rights Watch said on Saturday.
Religious Violence
Surabaya bombings: Neighbours say family
responsible seemed like ’ordinary’ people (ABC
News)
May 14 - The family that carried out three church bombings in the nation’s
second-biggest city on Sunday were just "ordinary" people, according
to their neighbours.
Also: The bombers next door: how an Indonesian
family turned into suicide attackers (The Guardian, Australia)
May 19 - It was through food that the family of the Indonesian church bombers
demonstrated neighbourly affection.
More parents will sacrifice their own kids
in suicide bombings, analysts warn (ABC
News)
May 16 - If there is one thing that stands out about the attacks in Indonesia
on Sunday and Monday it is that they were carried out by two families — two
sets of parents, who together with their own children undertook suicide attacks
on four targets.
’Thank the Party!’ Inside China’s Muslim
brainwashing camps (Sydney Morning Herald)
May 18 - Almaty, Kazakhstan: Hour upon
hour, day upon day, Omir Bekali and other detainees in far western China’s new
indoctrination camps had to disavow their Islamic beliefs, criticise themselves
and their loved ones and give thanks to the ruling Communist Party.
Other
The Guardian view on US religion: the
Christian right is breaking up (The
Guardian, Australia)
May 14 – (Opinion: Editorial) One of the most interesting and important
developments in the American culture wars, which is to say in American politics
and self-understanding, is playing out inside the major Christian groupings
there: evangelical Christianity and Roman Catholicism.
Beautiful dream: the Beirut LGBT centre
offering an oasis of tolerance (The
Guardian, Australia)
May 17 - Tucked away in a quiet neighbourhood of Beirut, Helem, the first
community centre for LGBTQI+ people in the Arab world, opens its doors every
day from midday to evening.
ISLAM
Ramadan: My experiences making the journey
to Mecca and Medina during Islam’s month of fasting (ABC
News)
May 17 – (Opinion: Erwin Renaldi) It was always a dream of mine, and one shared
by millions of other Muslims, to observe the fasting month of Ramadan right in
the capital city of early Islam: Medina.
POLITICS
Senior Mormon faces probe over Liberal
Party membership (Sydney Morning Herald)
May 18 - A senior Mormon recently elected to a powerful position in the
Victorian Liberal Party has been accused of not being a legitimate member,
fuelling tensions over the rising influence of ultra-conservatives in the state
branch.
’The people with guns have a
responsibility’: Albanese demands explanation over Israel vote (Sydney Morning Herald)
May 20 - Labor frontbencher Anthony Albanese has indicated Labor would have
split from the US and backed a United Nations investigation into the killing of
dozens of Palestinians in Gaza, arguing Israel’s actions were damaging the
country’s reputation.
RELIGION & SOCIETY
John Howard wants to defund schools that
don’t let parents boycott sex and gender classes (Sydney Morning Herald)
May 14 - The federal government should cut all funding for any school that won’t
let parents pull their children out of sex- or gender-related classes, former
prime minister John Howard has urged.
’Gay conversion therapy’ practitioners
could face prosecution in Victoria (The
Guardian, Australia)
May 17 - Victorian practitioners of so-called “gay conversion therapy” could
face prosecution after a state government-ordered inquiry.
Folau raised question of hell - so let’s
really look at who belongs there (Sydney Morning Herald)
May 17 – (Opinion: Catherine McGregor) Israel Folau will undoubtedly burn in
hell.
Marketing religion to the masses:
Evangelist Will Graham visits WA’s ’Sin City’ (ABC
News)
May 19 - Once well-known for its brothels and pubs that opened at dawn, the
Western Australian gold mining city of Kalgoorlie-Boulder is playing host to
one of the world’s most famous evangelists.
Commission calls for federal human rights
act, Ruddock review hears (Sydney Morning Herald)
May 20 - Freedom of religion in Australia should be protected as part of a
"comprehensive" federal human rights act, the ACT Human Rights
Commission has urged.
From the Archive…
Religion News Australia 2018 – 16 (May 13 - 20)
Religion News Australia 2018 – 15 (May 5 - 13)
Religion News Australia 2018 – 14 (Apr 29 – May 5)
Religion News Australia 2018 – 13 (Apr 22 - 29)
Religion News Australia 2018 – 12 (Apr 15 - 22)
Religion News Australia 2018 – 11 (Apr 1 - 7)
Religion News Australia 2018 – 10 (Mar 25 – Apr 1)
Religion News Australia 2018 – 9 (Mar 18 - 25)
Religion News Australia 2018 – 8 (Feb 25 – Mar 4)
Religion News Australia 2018 – 7 (Feb 18 - 25)
Religion News Australia 2018 – 6 (Feb 11 - 18)
Religion News Australia 2018 – 5 (Feb 4 - 11)
Religion News Australia 2018 – 4 (Jan 28 – Feb 4)
Religion News Australia 2018 – 3 (Jan 14 - 28)
Religion News Australia 2018 – 2 (Jan 7 - 14)
Religion News Australia 2018 – 1 (Jan 1 - 7)
Religion News Australia 2017 – 49 (Dec 24 - 31)
Religion News Australia 2017 – 48 (Dec 17 - 24)
Religion News Australia 2017 – 47 (Dec 10 - 17)
Religion News Australia 2017 – 46 (Dec 3 - 10)
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)