Religion News Selection 31 (Sept 9 - 16)
(15 September 18)by Greg Spearritt
Religion News Selection
September 9 - 16, 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.
[The next roundup of religious news will be posted on Sept 2, 2018]
ABUSE
Push for jail time for priests who fail to
report child sexual abuse 'not needed' (ABC
News)
Sept 11 - A push to jail priests who fail to report suspected child abuse when
its revealed through confession has been called "unnecessary" and
"discriminatory" by South Australia's Attorney-General.
Church's 'wall of silence' saw Boystown
Beaudesert boys abused (Brisbane
Times)
Sept 14 - The Catholic church oversaw a "wall of silence" at a
south-east Queensland youth home where boys were abused, a court has heard.
Anglican Church horrified over how redress
scheme calculates payments to victims (ABC
News)
Sept 16 - As preparations are made for next month's national apology to
survivors, the Anglican Church of Australia says it is deeply disappointed with
parts of the National Redress Scheme, describing it as unfair.
ANGLICAN CHURCH
D.W.B. Robinson and the puzzle of Sydney
Anglicanism (ABC News)
Sept 12 - Donald William Bradley Robinson, AO (1922-2018), Bishop in Parramatta
(1973-1982), Anglican Archbishop of Sydney (1982-1993), could appear to
observers as something of a puzzle.
ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
Dancing Shiva at Art Gallery of South
Australia was stolen from India (ABC
News)
Sept 13 - A 600-year-old Dancing Shiva owned by the Art Gallery of South
Australia has been identified as stolen from India, with authorities there
commencing a bid for its return.
EDUCATION
Malek Fahd, Australia's largest Islamic
school, has funding restored (ABC
News)
Sept 10 - Australia's largest Islamic school has had its funding permanently
restored by new federal Education Minister Dan Tehan, after several years of
court battles.
INTERNATIONAL STORIES
Abuse
Catholic Church admits 'shameful' legacy
after study details thousands of sexual abuse cases (ABC
News)
Sept 13 - The Catholic Church in Germany has acknowledged a "depressing
and shameful" legacy of sexual abuse after a leaked study said clerics had
abused thousands of children over a 70-year period.
Anglican Church
Gig economy denounced as 'evil' by
Archbishop of Canterbury (Sydney Morning Herald)
Sept 13 - Washington: Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby, the most senior
cleric in the Church of England, denounced the gig economy as "evil"
and accused Amazon and other tech companies of "leeching off" the UK
by avoiding taxes.
Catholic Church
Pope Francis tells Sicily’s mafia: ‘You
cannot believe in god and be Mafiosi’ (news.com.au)
Sept 16 - POPE Francis denounced the mafia’s “blasphemous” existence on
Saturday during a brief trip to Sicily to honour a priest murdered by the mob 25
years ago while trying to save youngsters in poor neighbourhoods from falling
into their hands.
Judaism
'You didn't get our message': key Trump
aide Stephen Miller condemned by childhood rabbi (The Guardian, Australia)
Sept 11 - The childhood rabbi to Stephen Miller, special adviser to Donald
Trump and a key architect of his “zero-tolerance” immigration policies,
criticized his former charge on Monday as a purveyor of “negativity, violence,
malice and brutality” who had learned nothing from his Jewish spiritual
education.
Religious Violence
Seventeen years after 9/11, al-Qaeda
stronger in Syria and elsewhere (Brisbane
Times)
Sept 11 - Beirut: In the days after September 11, 2001, the United States set
out to destroy al-Qaeda.
Indonesia’s troubled minorities (The Age, Melbourne)
Sept 13 - Meiliana, a 44-year-old Buddhist mother of Chinese descent, sat
crying in disbelief in a North Sumatra court in late August.
'My soul, where are you?': families of
Muslims missing in China meet wall of silence (The Guardian, Australia)
Sept 14 - An estimated 1 million Muslims are being held in re-education camps
in Xinjiang.
Other
China’s war against religion:
‘Unauthorised’ churches stormed (news.com.au)
Sept 11 - BEIJING officials have stormed one of China’s largest “underground”
Protestant churches for operating without a licence, part of a widespread move
to impose state control over religious worship.
China cracks down on 'chaotic' religious
information online (The Guardian,
Australia)
Sept 11 - China has drawn up new draft guidelines to crack down on the
“chaotic” and illegal online promotion of religion, the official Global Times
reported on Tuesday, part of a tough state campaign to bring religious worship
into line.
Uygurs call for sanctions over mass
internments (The Saturday Paper)
Sept 15 - In a theatre in Parramatta, about 400 people from Australia’s tiny
community of Uygurs – the Turkic people of China’s far western region of
Xinjiang – are gathered for a rare moment of recognition as their culture is included
in Sydney’s two-week festival of sacred music.
POLITICS
Scott Morrison's claim to be 'on God's
side' is fraught with danger (The
Guardian, Australia)
Sept 10 – (Opinion: Geoff Thompson) Everyone, it seems, has a take on the faith
of Australia’s new prime minister.
What is the 'religious freedom' debate about,
and why are we having it? (The
Age, Melbourne)
Sept 11 - One of the loudest voices calling for better protection of religious
freedoms in recent years has been the Prime Minister Scott Morrison.
The real test of religious freedom today (The Age, Melbourne)
Sept 12 – (Opinion: Robert Forsyth) Prime Minister Scott Morrison’s pledge to
take action to protect religious freedom should not be interpreted as caving in
to Liberal Party’s conservative base, let alone as serving the vested interests
of the Pentecostal community of which he is a member.
Scott Morrison's Christianity doesn't spell
the end of democracy (ABC News)
Sept 13 – (Opinion: Simon Smart) Scott Morrison's religious faith has come
under scrutiny and, in some quarters, derision of late.
The Liberals’ religious right (The Saturday Paper)
Sept 15 – (Opinion: Mike Seccombe) Mal Washer is no longer a federal Liberal
MP, which is probably just as well for him, because it’s really not his party
anymore.
RELIGION & SOCIETY
Harper is not an impudent child, she is
hope (Brisbane Times)
Sept 15 – (Opinion: Wendy Squires) I was around nine years old when I found my
voice as a free-thinking human being with every right to be so.
Jewel in Sydney's heart fighting back against
big and boring (The Age,
Melbourne)
Sept 15 – (Opinion: Elizabeth Farrelly) If it’s religious freedom we’re
talking, you know what Sydney needs now?
From the Archive…
Religion News Australia 2018 – 31 (Sept 9 - 16)
Religion News Australia 2018 – 30 (Aug 19 - 26)
Religion News Australia 2018 – 29 (Aug 12 - 19)
Religion News Australia 2018 – 28 (Aug 5 - 12)
Religion News Australia 2018 – 27 (July 29 – Aug 5)
Religion News Australia 2018 – 26 (July 22 – 29)
Religion News Australia 2018 – 25 (July 15 - 22)
Religion News Australia 2018 – 24 (July 8 - 15)
Religion News Australia 2018 – 23 (July 1 - 8)
Religion News Australia 2018 – 22 (June 24 – July 1)
Religion News Australia 2018 – 21 (June 17 - 24)
Religion News Australia 2018 – 20 (June 10 - 17)
Religion News Australia 2018 – 19 (June 3 - 10)
Religion News Australia 2018 – 18 (May 27 – June 3)
Religion News Australia 2018 – 17 (May 20 - 27)
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)