Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese posted a few photos on his X handle of himself celebrating the Bandi Chhor Divas, a big day for the Sikh community, on Friday (November 1). Albanese visited Sydney’s Murugan Temple where he celebrated Diwali with the Tamil Australian community. “Deepavali celebrates the victory of light over darkness”.
Pope’s child protection board urges transparency from Vatican sex abuse office and compensation
Pope Francis’ child protection board called Tuesday for victims of clergy sexual abuse to have greater access to information about their cases and the right to compensation, in the first-ever global assessment of the Catholic Church’s efforts to address the crisis.
The Pontifical Commission for the Protection of Minors issued a series of findings and recommendations in its pilot annual report, zeroing in on the church in a dozen countries, two religious orders and two Vatican offices with detailed analysis.
Survival of planetary life depends on decisions made now
Bishop Philip Huggins writes from the Riverina region of NSW, Australia, on a farm which is part of the Biodiversity Conservation Trust. We are helping with plantings which take account of climate change. See https://www.bct.nsw.gov.au/. He writes that he is meeting wonderful people who are doing what they can to transition to renewables and help this area respond to current realities of climate change.
End the Silence: Interfaith Prayers for Violence Prevention within the home and the community
United Religions Initiative and Religions for Peace Australia invite you to be part of a gathering with prayers, a presentation, and an open discussion on how our faith, spiritual, and ethnic communities can stand against violence and support women, children, and families at risk on Sunday 24 November 2024.
Interfaith Forum on Women, Peace, and Security
Religions for Peace Asia is pleased to announce that Religions for Peace Philippines, BYU International Center for Law and Religion Studies, Philippine Center for Islam and Democracy and Uniharmony Partners Manila will hold “Interfaith Forum on Women, Peace, and Security” on October 28th, 2024 9:00 AM – 3:00 PM (Manila Time).
The Freedom of Choice: Asma Lamrabet on the Headscarf and Women’s Rights
In the ongoing discourse surrounding women’s rights in the Islamic world, few topics spark as much debate as the headscarf. Asma Lamrabet, a prominent Moroccan feminist and Islamic scholar, offers a refreshing perspective on this contentious issue. Her assertion that wearing a headscarf should not be viewed as a spiritual obligation but rather as a matter of personal choice resonates deeply in today’s societal landscape. Lamrabet’s nuanced understanding of the headscarf as both a right and a choice encapsulates the essence of modern feminist discourse within Islam, emphasising that autonomy is paramount.
Anti-Bias Churches
The World Council of Churches takes up its mission to make Churches and Christian faith communities open and accessible to all, free of bias, discrimination and Xenophobia. Here, the World Council of Churches releases a paper on mitigating unconscious biases for Churches.
Anti Racist Churches
The World Council of Churches continues on the long legacy of their commitment to contribute to the dismantling of racial prejudices, racial discrimination, systemic racism, xenophobia, casteism, and all other forms of discrimination in ecumenical faith communities.
Climate Talanoa
Climate solidarity: Talanoa with Climate activists from Tuvalu and Kiribati. This is a collaboration between Edmund Rice Center with Uniting Mission and Education (UME) and Rodger Page Congregation (Auburn Parish) NSW & ACT Synod, Uniting Church in Australia.
Ecumenical Patriarch: The Need for Dialogue Today
His All-Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew has been visiting Australia since 4 October 4, his final appointment will take place on 19 October 2024.
While here, His All-Holiness was awarded and honorary doctorate degree from the Notre Dame University in Sydney, where he gave an address entitled “The Need for Dialogue Today.”
Let’s Build Respectful Communities
Working for the prevention of family and domestic violence is a key strategic priority for Catholic Social Services Victoria (CSSV). To highlight the ongoing importance for the Catholic community to take action on response and prevention, an open letter from Cathy Humphrey, Chair of CSSV Council and Felicity Rorke, Chair of the CSSV Domestic Violence Working Group has been written. It draws on a number of statements by Church leadership and urges reflection and change.
Australian National Imams Council AGM
The Australian National Imams Council (ANIC) convened its 17th Annual General Meeting (AGM) on Sunday 13 October 2024 in Sydney, marking a significant milestone in the organisation’s ongoing commitment to serving Islam and the Australian Muslim community.
