News

Canberra: Attorney General references Religious Discrimination Bill at Interfaith Breakfast

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ACU Interfaith Breakfast 2022

Discussions about religious freedom in Australia should aim to unite the nation rather than divide it, guests at the Australian Catholic University’s sixth Parliamentary Interfaith Breakfast have heard.

Over 160 guests, including around 50 faith leaders and 50 parliamentarians, gathered for the Parliamentary Interfaith Breakfast at the National Press Club in Canberra on 24 November 2022, after a two year hiatus due to the pandemic.

Attorney general Mark Dreyfus gave a speech at the 6th interfaith breakfast event where he spoke about the government’s plan for a religious discrimination bill.

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UN Alliance of Civilisations: Morocco Meeting

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UNAOC logo


At this transitional moment for humanity, it is important to uphold mutual respect, unity, and solidarity, the senior UN official promoting cross-cultural understanding and cooperation has stated. Miguel Ángel Moratinos, High Representative for the UN Alliance of Civilizations (UNAOC), was speaking ahead of the start of its 9th Global Forum, which opens in Fez, Morocco, on Tuesday.

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Faith Communities Responding to Family and Domestic Violence

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RfPA Green Logo

Issues of religious faith, or the belief in a specific system of principles and practices that give reverence to a higher power, are often central to the experiences of many victims and survivors of domestic violence. Faith communities and secular domestic violence programs are becoming increasingly aware of the need to create an awareness of domestic violence within faith communities, as well as the need for cross-training and education about dynamics of domestic violence and the role that faith plays in individuals’ lives.

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Meditation and The Sanctuary Experience

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Mental HealthIn times of challenges presented by weather and the local environment, mental health is most important for those suffering the impact of extremes in their personal environment. The Brahma Kumaris community of Australia has produced a series of meditations which may be of help in bringing peoples to inner stillness. We take a look at The Sanctuary Experience and how it can help people experiencing extreme, emotional challenges.

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At a Crossroads: A Multireligious Intergenerational Response to the Social and Environmental Crises

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At a Crossroads: A Multireligious Intergenerational Response to the Social and Environmental Crises

Religions for Peace, in partnership with Manresa City Council and Religions for Peace-Spain-GTER, invite you to virtually participate for the event, “At a Crossroads: A Multireligious Intergenerational Response to the Social and Environmental Crises,” from 28-30 November 2022. This event is open to the Public.

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NSW: Domestic and Family Violence – United to Remember, United to Support

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NSW Ecumenical Council

The Member Churches of the NSW Ecumenical Council will hold an online webinar on November 26, from 8am to 5pm – Day of Prayer and Reflection in observance of International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women and the 16 days of activism against gender-based violence.

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Family Violence: ‘One victim is too many’

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Family Violence: ‘One victim is too many’Family Violence, also called “domestic violence” or “intimate partner violence”, can be defined as a pattern of behavior in any relationship that is used to gain or maintain power and control over an intimate partner. Abuse is physical, sexual, emotional, economic or psychological actions or threats of actions that influence another person. Religions for Peace Australia invites people of faith in Australia involved in working with or thinking of working with faith communities/ faith leaders on the prevention of family violence to an informal Zoom gathering.

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10 Spiritual Principles for Climate Repentance

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Promoting 10 Spiritual principles for climate repentanceThe 10 Spiritual Principles for Climate Repentance prompts religious leaders to call for a re-examination of deep-seated attitudes and identifying ways to transform people’s attitudes toward the well-being of Earth, mankind’s common home. The ecological crisis is a spiritual crisis of how we deal with this ongoing destruction of Planet Earth, our home. As spiritual beings the question before us is “When will religion – the sleeping giant – wake up to address the ecological crisis?”

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Religious leaders join world-first inter-faith ceremony on Climate Change

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inter-faith ceremony on Climate Change

People must confront the “destructive habits” that limit their efforts to tackle climate change, a world-first inter-faith ceremony has heard.

A former archbishop of Canterbury gathered in London alongside leaders from a range of other religions to “offer our voice as a contribution” to work by politicians and negotiators at the Cop27 climate summit in Egypt.

Representatives of the Christian, Jewish, Muslim, Hindu, Buddhist and Sikh faiths joined the UK event organised by the Elijah Interfaith Institute on Sunday afternoon.

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Western Australia: Jewish community backs calls for swastika ban

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ban the hakenkreutzAn auction of Nazi memorabilia, including a card signed by Adolf Hitler and a banner, has led to renewed calls for Western Australia to ban the public display of the swastika.

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Queensland: Bishop Putney Memorial Lecture 2022

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Bishop Michael PutneyQueensland Churches Together and the Brisbane Roman Catholic Council for Ecumenism and Inter Religious Relations will this year present the annual Bishop Michael Putney Memorial Lecture in the Hanly Room, Francis Rush Centre, Brisbane, on evening of 17 November 2022 at 7:00pm.

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Asia Pacific Women of Faith Network: Climate Change Seminar

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Asian Conference on Religions for Peace

Religions for Peace Asia is pleased to invite you to an online seminar on climate change issues, to be held Tuesday, November 29th, 2022 2:00 PM (Japan Standard Time),hosted by Asia Pacific Women of Faith Network. (Click Here for Your Local Time)

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Deepavali: Hindus thank Australian Parliaments and the Governor General

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Deepavali in Govt House, CanberraThe Hindu Council of Australia would like to thank Australian Federal Parliament and the Governor General for celebrating Hindu Festival of Deepavali. Hindus feel very proud that Hindu festivals have been accepted as important festivals in Australia and Hindus are being treated as important citizens.

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Victoria: Sacred Expressions of the Human Spirit

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The Interfaith Centre of Melbourne invites you to Sacred Expressions of the Human Spirit, at St Michael’s Church, 120 Collins Street, Melbourne, on Sunday 20 November, commencing at 4pm. This concert brings together Australia’s First Nations Didgeridoo master alongside some of Australia’s leading sacred music practitioners.

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Interfaith dialogue promotes holistic reflection on climate change on eve of COP27 in Egypt

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Dialogue in Egypt

6 November 2022, Sharm El-Sheikh, Egypt: Religious leaders and representatives of ecumenical organizations gather for a Talanoa dialogue at the eve of COP27 in Egypt. The dialogue seeks to address how faith-based communities can contribute to the work to address the evermore urgent climate emergency, and in 2022 is held at Qesm Sharm Ash Sheikh, or The Heavenly Cathedral, in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt, home to congregants of the Coptic Orthodox Church. Photo: LWF/Albin Hillert


On the day before the official opening of the UN Climate Change Conference (COP27) in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt, representatives from different faiths gathered at Qesm Sharm Ash Sheikh, or The Heavenly Cathedral, home to congregants of the Coptic Orthodox Church, to share their perspectives on the climate crisis.

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