Religion and Belief

‘National shame’Aussies of faith ‘fail to grasp’ domestic violence crisis

Religious Australians are unlikely to recognise domestic violence within their communities, with researchers finding national campaigns may fail to ‘translate to acceptance of DV as an issue closer to home’.

Sarah Ison

Christmas rushPerth to get twilight visits from the postie

Australia Post is introducing a twilight delivery service in Melbourne and Perth and extended trading hours to cope with its busiest festive season on record.

AAP

Religion and BeliefReligious freedom bill to finally emerge

The religious freedom bill promised by the federal government at the last election almost three years ago is set to brought to parliament this week.

Colin Brinsden

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Landmark bill
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How Religious Discrimination Act will extend to childcare

The long-awaited Religious Discrimination Act will extend protections to faith-based childcare and early learning centres, allowing them to hire and fire staff in accordance with their belief system.

Lanai Scarr

Religion and BeliefReligious discrimination laws edge closer

Laws to ensure individuals cannot be discriminated against on the basis of religion are expected to be introduced to federal parliament in coming weeks.

Paul Osborne

Religion and BeliefBolivia's smoking skulls honour the dead

The annual Day of Skulls, believed to bring good luck to those honouring the dead, has been observed in Bolivia's administrative capital of La Paz.

Monica Machicao and Sergio Limachi

Lakshmi pujaMillions across Asia celebrate Hindu Diwali festival

Hindus - and others - across the world, particularly in Asia, have gathered with family members and friends to celebrate the festival of Diwali.

AAP

Religion and BeliefBiden receives communion at Rome Mass

President Joe Biden has received communion at Mass in Rome while attending the G20 summit, a day after he met Pope Francis.

Jeff Mason

Religion and BeliefWarning to post mail early for bumper Xmas

Australia Post is urging customers to get their Christmas parcels and cards in the mail early as the corporation gears up for its busiest ever festive season.

AAP

Religion and BeliefPremieres aplenty for Adelaide Festival

Adelaide Festival in 2022 will include nine world premieres, six Australian firsts and 17 Adelaide exclusives in a 71-event program.

Tony Magnusson

Religion and BeliefIslamic forum with Taliban cancelled

An online forum promoted by the Australian Federation of Islamic Councils that included Taliban figures has been cancelled after the NSW government intervened.

AAP

Religion and BeliefSouth Africa's Archbishop Tutu turns 90

South Africa's anti-apartheid icon Archbishop Desmond Tutu has celebrated his 90th birthday.

Emma Rumney and Shafiek Tassiem

Religion and BeliefBlessings for furry COVID companions

Furry friends great and small have been blessed at a religious service thanking them for their companionship during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Tracey Ferrier

Religion and BeliefCatholic church weighs historic reforms

The Catholic Church in Australia will begin charting a new path on Sunday, in the wake of the child abuse royal commission.

Tracey Ferrier

Religion and BeliefSummernats returns to inject $30m into ACT

The Summernats car festival will be held for the first time in two years in January, being one of Canberra's first major events since the COVID lockdown.

Andrew Brown

Religion and BeliefPope warns against anti-Semitism 'fuse'

Pope Francis's unusually short visit to Hungary underlines differences with his political opposite, nationalist and anti-immigrant Prime Minister Viktor Orban.

Gergely Szakacs

Religion and BeliefUS church installs transgender bishop

Transgender bishop Megan Rohrer will lead one of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of America's 65 synods, overseeing almost 200 congregations.

AAP

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Equality probe
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Religious schools may lose right to hire based on faith

The State Government is set to consider law reform stripping religious schools of their right to sack — or refuse to employ — gay or non-religious staff.

Charlotte Elton

Religion and BeliefTop Christian leaders make climate appeal

The world's three main Christian leaders have issued an unprecedented joint appeal to members of their Churches to "listen to the cry of the earth".

Nicole Winfield

Catholic controversyBroome bishop quits amid long-running probe

A Broome bishop at the centre of a long-running misconduct investigation has resigned from his post.

Charlotte Elton

controversial clashChristian lobby event sparks Bunbury protest

A group of protestors are concerned a controversial religious event held in Bunbury this week will spread harmful beliefs to the wider community.

Ailish Delaney

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Second coming
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Perth’s ‘Father Armani’ back in the pulpit

Father Joe Walsh, the Catholic priest accused of stealing from his parish only for charges to be dropped, is back - and he’s spoken exclusively to The West about his ordeal.

Ben Harvey

Attack on genderGender dysmorphia ‘taught to kids by adults’: ACL

The Australian Christian Lobby has told supporters in Perth that young people go to gender clinics because adults are telling them they’re ‘stuck in the wrong body’.

Peter Law

Police investigationSuspicious letter to Pope intercepted by post

Italian police say an envelope sent from France containing three bullets has been addressed to Pope Francis at the Vatican.

AAP