Religion News Selection
November 13 – 27, 2022
A selection of religion news stories from Australia
(Research: Greg Spearritt)
ABUSE
Father Damian’s dark playbook (ABC News)
Nov 27 – Joe* was just eight years old when he wrote a letter to his mum to tell her he was running away from everything.
EDUCATION
Private schools buoyed by record cash and new enrolments (The Age, Melbourne)
Nov 26 – Private schools are sitting on record reserves of cash as growing enrolments, a pause on big building projects and an end to COVID-19 fee discounts fill their coffers.
INTERNATIONAL STORIES
Islam
Iran’s women want a revolution, and this time the protest is driven by a globally connected movement (ABC News)
Nov 19 – For two months, Iranian women have been marching in the streets, burning their hijabs and cutting off their hair in mass protests against the Islamic Republic.
ISLAM
Return to Oz: Jihadist Neil Prakash to face terror trial in Australia (Brisbane Times)
Nov 26 – The planned return of Islamic State terrorist Neil Prakash to face charges in Australia has been hailed as an “impressive accomplishment” by Australian authorities after years of diplomatic wrangling.
POLITICS
Religious leaders in the NT urge government to revise proposed changes to anti-discrimination laws (ABC News)
Nov 19 – Leaders of several religious groups in the Northern Territory have joined forces to raise concerns over proposed changes to anti-discrimination laws, warning the NT government of a voter backlash if the changes are legislated.
Sister of controversial Victorian Liberal Party candidate opens up about City Builders Church (ABC News)
Nov 20 – As her father and his followers hammered wooden stakes into the ground around the perimeter of their south-east Victorian town, Clare Heath-McIvor decided that something wasn’t right.
Liberal leader Matthew Guy ignored warnings about Renee Heath’s religious views (Sydney Morning Herald)
Nov 20 – At least nine senior Liberal Party members wrote to Opposition Leader Matthew Guy and other party leaders weeks ago to sound the alarm about the political risks of candidate Renee Heath’s controversial religious views, but were dismissed or received no response.
Faith no more: Fewer Christians, but religion still haunts politics (Sydney Morning Herald)
Nov 24 – The long and uneasy relationship between religion and major-party politics has returned with a vengeance in Victoria, despite a precipitous drop in Christian adherence in every age group and every electorate in the state.
RELIGION & SOCIETY
Fourteen people are accused of murdering Elizabeth Struhs. Here’s what we know about the case (ABC News)
Nov 26 – With her long dark hair, pink Tweety Pie cap and Dora the Explorer shirt, eight-year-old Elizabeth Struhs looks like a happy little girl in a family photograph.