Religion News Selection
April 24 – May 1, 2022
A selection of religion news stories from Australia
(Research: Greg Spearritt)
ABUSE
Scientology accused of child trafficking, forced labour of Australians (WA Today)
Apr 29 – Three Australian residents have accused Scientology of child trafficking, covering up multiple sexual assaults, forced labour and other abuses in a significant legal claim lodged in a Florida court overnight.
Also: Inside ‘Freewinds’, the Church of Scientology’s ship of fear (Brisbane Times)
Apr 30 – When Laura Baxter was accused of monopolising the attention of actor Tom Cruise aboard Scientology’s Caribbean cruise ship in 2004, she says her punishment was to be locked in an “extremely hot” engine room of the Freewinds ship.
POLITICS
‘Contrite’ Deves set to visit Jewish Museum (The Australian)
Apr 29 – Katherine Deves has accepted an invitation from Jewish leaders to visit the Sydney Jewish Museum and speak to a Holocaust survivor.
‘A little bit scared of us’: Pro-life senators speak at anti-abortion rally in Brisbane (Brisbane Times)
May 1 – Senator Amanda Stoker, the federal government’s assistant minister for women, promoted her stand against abortions to around 1000 people at a pro-life rally in Brisbane on Saturday.
RELIGION & SOCIETY
From faith to fear: churches put to the test (WA Today)
Apr 30 – (Opinion: Julia Baird) It should come as no surprise to church leaders that domestic violence occurs within their own congregations.
