The Legal and Social Issues Committee of the Victorian Government tabled its final report on the End of Life Choices Inquiry in Parliament on June 9th. The 440 page report conveys the complexity of the issues under consideration.
RfPA
Prime Minister and NSW Premier attend Orlando Memorial Service
Leaders have attended what the Prime Minister called a ‘loving’ commemoration service for victims of the Orlando massacre. Malcolm Turnbull and his wife Lucy took time out from the election trail while Premier Baird, the NSW Governor David Hurley and the American Consul General, Hugo Llorens sat in the front row during the service led by the Dean of Sydney, Kanishka Raffel. Opposition leader Bill Shorten was represented by Senator Doug Cameron.
Australia: Prime Minister hosts iftar for Ramadan
Five days after 49 people were slain in the targeted terrorist attack on the LGBTI community in Orlando, Florida, Mr Turnbull hosted an Iftar fast-breaking dinner, a tradition of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, at his official Sydney residence.
Pope Praises 1st Graduates of Gregorian’s Safeguarding Minors Diploma
From Vatican Radio:
Pope Francis has commended the Pontifical Gregorian University’s recently created Centre for Child Protection (CCP) and expressed his hope that new graduates will be “brave and committed” to the prevention of sexual abuse of minors. On Tuesday, the first 19 students of the Centre’s new Diploma of Advanced Studies, “Safeguarding Minors” received their degree in a graduation ceremony in Rome.
Victoria: Support for Orlando
The Victorian LGBTI community will come together at Federation Square on Thursday 16 June 2016 at 5pm, to stand in solidarity with Orlando and against hate and prejudice. A multi faith service will be held at 6pm at St Paul’s Cathedral Melbourne.
NSW: Iftar Dinner at Cathedral House
The Archbishop was pleased to welcome more than 70 guests including the Grand Mufti of Australia and President of the Council of Imams, Dr Ibrahim Abu Mohamed as well as many religious leaders and representatives.
“You are always welcome in my house!” the Archbishop expressed to his guests who represented faith traditions including the Muslim, Jewish, Hindu and Buddhist communities as well as other Christian churches such as the Orthodox, Uniting and Lutheran.
Bendigo mosque appeal request thrown out by High Court
The High Court has thrown out a request to hear an appeal by opponents of Bendigo’s first mosque. Two Bendigo residents have been fighting the planned mosque, arguing the Bendigo City Council failed in their legal obligations to fully consider the social effect of the mosque.
Queensland: Happy Ramadan! (Wait, can we even say that?):
With the month of Ramadan now underway, we asked some of the burning questions you might have about the holy month.
What is Ramadan?
Ramadan is the fasting month for Muslims. It falls in the ninth month of the Islamic calendar and is one of the five pillars of Islam.
Participants fast during daylight, and generally eat a meal before sunrise and after sunset, called suhoor and iftar.
The end of Ramadan Eid ul Fitr is marked with a large celebration.
Tasmania, June 2016
In June we will be sharing in Multifaith events of two organisations. The first, Tierra Segrada or Sacred Earth, is a world-wide Multifaith day of prayer and action for the planet and a call to world leaders to commit to a 1.5 degree C limit on global temperature rise. This will be co-ordinated in Hobart by Marilyn Goninon at Scots Memorial Uniting Church, Bathurst St Hobart from 3.00-4.00pm on Sunday 12 June.
Secondly, we will share Tasmanians for Recognition’s Journey for Recognition to be held in Hobart from 12 noon to 2.00pm on 25 June on Parliament House lawns. There will be wet weather backup. There are a number of venues round Tasmania where people are welcome to join the Journey.
Victoria: Freedom Stories Film Screening
In Celebration of Refugee Week 2016, telling the story of getting here is most important. All stories are stories of the Divine. The remarkable documentary ‘Freedom Stories’ tells the heartening stories of people who arrived in Australia seeking asylum around 2001. This landmark feature documentary charts the challenges and successes of finding safety in Australia, and building a new life, while dealing with the feelings conjured up by what has been left behind. There will be a screening in Melbourne at the Lido Cinema, Hawthorn, on evening of Monday, 20th June, 7pm.
Victoria: Living in Jerusalem – navigating conflicted spaces:
The Council of Christians and Jews (Victoria) invites you to its Annual General Meeting 2016, and to hear the Annual Sr Shirley Sedawie Oration “Living in Jerusalem – navigating conflicted spaces” given by Mark Walsh at The King David School, Junior Campus, 117 Kooyong Road, Armadale 3143 on 10 July 2016.
South Australia: Sacred Earth 2016
On Sunday 12 June, Multifaith SA is taking part in the Sacred Earth Sacred Trust Thunderclap global event. This is s a worldwide day of Prayer and Action for our People and Our Planet.
