Clergy of all faiths urgently needed cultural training to deal with an Australia that had changed beyond recognition since the 1990s, according to one of Australia’s leading religious authorities. Melbourne Anglican priest, UNESCO officer and university academic Gary Bouma told a UN Interfaith Harmony Week lecture at Melbourne University in February that Australia was now “one of the most diverse nations in the world”.
RfPA
Australia: Nada’s Story
During his speech at the National Press Club on 15 March 2017, Greens Leader Richard Di Natale invited Nada, an inspiring young Muslim woman, to tell the country her story in her own words – hear it for yourself: NADA: LET’S BRING PEOPLE TOGETHER “I don’t think there has been a single month where someone … Read more
South Australia: Spiritual Harmony Day
The Multifaith Association of South Australia in collaboration with Adelaide Theosophical Society will conduct a joint Spiritual Harmony Day celebration at the on Sunday 19 March 2pm – 5pm. The celebration will take place at 310 South Terrace, Adelaide. This event is offered in collaboration with Harmony Week. There will be a Q & A … Read more
Queensland: Tensions over new Islamic centre in Gladstone fuelled by ‘unreal fears’
COMMUNITY tensions over plans to build an Islamic centre in Gladstone are fuelled by “unreal fears”, a Church expert on Christian-Muslim relations says. Sydney’s Centre for Christian-Muslim Relations co-ordinator of Columban Father Patrick McInerney is regularly called upon to address religious and cultural concerns that increasingly confront Australian towns and city communities. In Gladstone, anti-Muslim sentiments are being voiced after the Islamic Society of Gladstone lodged a development application to build a worship centre.
Child sexual abuse royal commission: What’s happened and when is it due to finish?
The Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse has come a long way since it first began hearings in April 2013. Since then, it’s made almost 2,000 referrals to authorities, held more than 6,500 private sessions, and handled almost 40,000 phone calls. But with so much ground to cover, where is it up to now and what’s left to go?
Australian Interfaith Appeal : International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons (ICAN)
Faith-based groups across Australia are uniting to call on the Australian Government to participate and support the United Nations negotiations for a treaty banning nuclear weapons this year.
Victoria: Buddhist Council of Victoria 20th Anniversary Celebration
The Buddhist Council of Victoria invites you to join in celebration of Buddha Dhamma , Wisdom and Compassion – Bringing Communities Together 20th Anniversary Celebration on Saturday 25 March 2017.
APRO interfaith forum on Religious values and the value of religion
“Religious values and the value of religion” was the theme of a national interfaith forum attended by 100 Australians from diverse faith backgrounds at NSW Parliament House on Wednesday 22 February.
Nonviolent Interfaith Leadership Program
Pace e Bene Australia invites inspiring young people to apply for a Nonviolent Interfaith Leadership Retreat from Sunday 2 to Friday 7 April 2017 at ‘Amberley’ – Edmund Rice Centre, 7 Amberley Way, Lower Plenty Victoria.
Royal Commission: Public hearing into nature, cause and impact of child sexual abuse in institutions
The Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse will hold a public hearing commencing Monday 27 March 2017 in Sydney.
The scope and purpose of the public hearing is to inquire into the nature of child sexual abuse and related matters in institutional contexts in Australia and how community understanding of abuse has changed over time. Other necessary factors will also be examined by this public hearing.
Western Australia: Beaconsfield Anglican church welcomes Muslim community, offers land for mosque
An Anglican church in Perth’s south, which has been opening its doors to local Muslim worshippers once a week, has offered to sell part of its land for a mosque to be built next door.
Victoria: Art is a Prayer
Tisna Sanjaya will be participating in Art is a Prayer on the forecourt and steps to the State Library of Victoria in Melbourne, 27 February- 3 March, 10am -4pm, daily. He will be joined by the Jeprut Community from Bandung, Indonesia, an art movement group.