Associate Professor Jason Neelis from Wilfrid Laurier University is the holder of the 2023 University Buddhist Education Foundation (UBEF) Visiting Professorship in Buddhist Studies. As part of this Professorship, he will deliver a lecture series on following Thursdays during October in the John Woolley Building at the University of Sydney.
New South Wales
Parramatta Bishop’s pastoral letter on the National Referendum on the Voice to Parliament
In his letter to the Catholics of the Parramatta Diocese, Bishop Long says the referendum “will be a critical moment in the life of our nation. It will have implications for what kind of society we want ourselves to be”. Bishop Long said, “Enabling our First Nations People to have a say on the issues that affect them is a matter of the heart, common sense and justice”.
Executive Council of Australian Jewry and the Voice to Parliament
The Executive Council of Australian Jewry – ECAJ, the peak national representative body of the Australian Jewish community, is delighted to invite you to an enlightening presentation and Q&A virtual session with Noel Pearson, as we delve into the significant topic of The Voice referendum in Australia on the evening of Wednesday 6 September 2023.
Buddhist Council of NSW: Voice to Parliament Workshop
The Buddhist Council of NSW will conduct a workshop to learn more about the referendum that is being held later this year and to help develop a Buddhist response to the Uluru Statement from the Heart. The workshop will be on Saturday 2 September 2023 at the Wentworth Point Community Centre and Library.
NSW: Buddhist Studies Seminar
The Life of Pawo Tsuglak Threngwa will be the topic of the next seminar of the Australian Association of Buddhist Studies at the University of Sydney on 6:00-7:30pm (AEST) on Thursday 24 August. This will be a hybrid session.
NSW: International Day of Peace Interfaith Prayer Service
To celebrate this day, you are cordially invited to join an Interfaith Prayer Service on Wednesday, 21 September 2023, at 11 am at Knox Cultural Centre, Knox Grammar School, 2 Borambil Street, Wahroonga 2076 (a stone’s throw distance from Warrawee Train Station).
NSW: New religious vilification protections a step forward for faith in NSW
In a step forward for the protection of religious freedom in NSW, Parliament has passed a religious vilification amendment to the state’s Anti-Discrimination Act on 3 August making it an offence to “incite hatred towards, serious contempt for, or severe ridicule” of a person or group of people on religious grounds.
Under the new law, which passed the NSW Legislative Assembly on 3 August, a punishable public act of vilification includes any form of communication to the public whether verbal or non-verbal.
People who do not have a religious belief or affiliation or do not engage in religious activity are also protected under the new law.
Human rights lawyers highlight flaws in NSW Government’s approach to Religious Vilification
Australian Lawyers for Human Rights (ALHR) has highlighted serious flaws in the New South Wales Government’s Anti-Discrimination Amendment (Religious Vilification) Bill 2023 (the Bill). The Bill seeks to include religious vilification as an offence under the NSW Anti-Discrimination Act 1977. Under the Bill, it would become unlawful to publicly invite hatred towards or severely ridicule a person or group because of their religious belief, affiliation or activity.
NSW: Indigenous Elder to speak on the VOICE
Ms. Norma Ingram, Wiradjuri woman from Corowa, NSW will join the June meeting of the NSW Branch of Religions for Peace Australia and give one talk on the topic of the Voice to Parliament. Norma Ingram is the first Aboriginal person to graduate from Harvard University attaining a Master’s Degree in Education. The meet will take place at teh Vedanta Hall, Liverpool Road, Croydon, from 10:00 am on Monday June 26.
NSW: Buddhist Studies Seminar
The 2023 Master Sheng Yen Lecture in Chinese Buddhism will be given by Professor James Benn (McMaster University) on Tuesday 30 May, 6:00-7:30pm at New Law School Lecture Theatre (LT024), New Law Annexe F10A, University of Sydney. The lecture is presented by the University of Sydney School of Languages and Cultures.
Plans unveiled for Syriac Catholic church in Sydney’s south west
Sydney’s Syriac Catholics are set to build a home for its fast-growing community after receiving development approval for a church and pastoral centre in Sydney’s south-west.
NSW: Thousands attend consecration ceremony at Hindu temple near Sydney
Thousands of Hindus have travelled from across Australia and Asia to attend a traditional ceremony in NSW.
The celebrations were held to mark renovation work at Helensburgh’s Sri Venkateswara temple.
Improvements to the temple are made once every 12 to 20 years, and are completed by specialist workers from India.
