Tag Archive for: news

chinese bible

Ban on Bible Sales in China to be Reinforced

By: Anne Rinaudo

China’s government last week issued a ban on internet sales of the Bible. Beijing also issued its first white paper on religious freedom in 21 years. There is a long-standing rule that the Bible cannot be sold publicly or on the internet in China but oversight of this rule has been allowed to slide over the years. Read more

singing

Slavery Couldn’t Silence Christian Music

By: Anne Rinaudo

The black American experience of slavery is a key factor in the development of popular music. African slaves in America’s southern states were subject to incalculable injustice and oppression. However, that shameful period in history was the source of many music genres. Read more

prison system

Is Our Prison System Working? Why Should we be Concerned?

By: Anne Rinaudo

Discussion of crime and punishment inevitably gets heated. Some people want to take a hard line ‘prison is for punishment’ approach while others see merit in addressing the social circumstances and personal difficulties that got people behind bars. Read more

clean water

When Clean Water is Just a Dream

By: Stephen O’Doherty

Papua New Guinea ranks among the world’s most disadvantaged nations when it comes to access to clean water. Read more

gambling industry

Should the Gambling Industry be Allowed to Donate to Political Parties?

By: Stephen O’Doherty

The latest funding disclosures by political parties show gambling industry donations of more than $1.5m in 2016-2017. However Tim Costello, Director of The Alliance for Gambling Reform, says that represents only the donations required to be disclosed. He says the true figure is much bigger. Read more

manus island

Fear and Hoplessness: A Canberra Nun Describes Life on Manus Island

By: Stephen O’Doherty | Open House

A Brigidine Nun from Canberra has expressed serious concern for the health and welbeing of 600 refugees and asylum seekers who, after 4 years on Manus Island, seem no closer to any hope of resettlement than when they were first sent there. Read more

religious freedom

Imbalance: How Religion Has Less Protection than Other Human Rights

By: Stephen O’Doherty | Open House

The result of the marriage survey, with its consequent change to the law, has opened up the question of religious freedom in Australia. Read more

Rohingya

Rohingya Refuge Crisis “Like Walking Through the Gates of Hell” — Tim Costello

By: Stephen O’Doherty | Open House

World Vision’s Tim Costello has visited many of the world’s most critical humanitarian disasters.

Yet even he was unprepared for the refugee camps hastily constructed in Bangladesh for the Rohingya people fleeing from the continuing conflict in Myanmar. Read more

Healing a Divided Australia: Advice from a Professional Peacemaker

By: Clare Bruce

If there’s one expert Australia needs to hear from right now in the heat of painful national debates, it’s a Peacemaker. Read more

reconciliation

Healing a Divided Australia: 5 Keys from Psychologist – Collett Smart

By: Clare Bruce

After months of national debate over marriage law, many relationships across Australia are suffering, and in need of some healing. Read more