Religion News Selection

August 22 – 29, 2021

A selection of religion news stories from Australia

(Research: Greg Spearritt)

 

ABUSE

Vatican accepts resignation of Broome Bishop Christopher Saunders (ABC News)
Aug 29 – The Vatican has accepted the resignation of one of Australia’s longest-serving Catholic Bishops, leaving the future of its investigation into his conduct unclear.

INTERNATIONAL STORIES
Religious Violence

Who is ISIS-K, the Islamic State offshoot in Afghanistan that has the Taliban worried? (ABC News)
Aug 27 – Deadly explosions have rocked the edge Kabul’s Hamid Karzai International Airport overnight killing and injuring locals wanting to flee Afghanistan after the Taliban’s takeover, as well as US military personnel trying to help the evacuation effort.

ISLAM

‘People fear police’: Leader says decades of collaboration are being undone (Sydney Morning Herald)
Aug 26 – A prominent Australian Muslim leader and human rights campaigner has said the intense police focus on south-western Sydney risks undoing decades of collaboration between law enforcement and marginalised communities.

JUDAISM

When services resume, Orthodox Jewish women deserve more of a say (Sydney Morning Herald)
Aug 29 – (Opinion: Nomi Kaltmann) One of the oldest synagogues in the world is the Altneuschul in Prague, which was completed in 1270.

RELIGION & SOCIETY

LGBTQI+ group protest outside controversial Australian Christian Lobby event (ABC News)
Aug 24 – A group of protestors say the Australian Christian Lobby (ACL) has been promoting gay conversion therapy during a controversial speaking tour of Western Australia.

Almost $50,000 in fines handed out to churchgoers who broke COVID rules  (ABC News)
Aug 26 – Almost $50,000 in fines have been handed out to churchgoers who broke public health orders by attending a service in Sydney’s west.

Australian Christian Lobby says believers should push for COVID freedoms, not ‘fear death’ (Sydney Morning Herald)
Aug 28 – The Australian Christian Lobby has called on its supporters not to “fear death” and instead push state governments to end COVID-19 lockdowns and restrictions.