#990 for broadcast on 2CH Sydney, 2 Nov 2014. The parliamentary committee on constitutional recognition of Australia’s first people has released its report on the way forward, saying the vote should be “at or shortly after the next federal election in 2016.” The churches have a role to play. As federal Opposition Spokesperson on Indigenous Affairs, Shayne … Continue reading
#989 for broadcast on 2CH Sydney, 2 Nov 2014. Just when we thought it couldn’t get worse, it did. Four unaccompanied minors aged between 15 and 17, granted refugee status and resettled on the Pacific island of Nauru, say a group of intoxicated local men assaulted them, threatening to kill them if they did not leave. … Continue reading
#988 for broadcast on 2CH Sydney, 2 Nov 2014. Immigration Minister Scott Morrison’s increasingly harsh asylum seeker policies continue to generate substantive critical responses as well as more light-hearted social media commentary. One social media meme I saw this week featured an image of Mr Morrison, a devout Christian, in Parliament with the words, “I … Continue reading
#987 for broadcast on 2CH Sydney, 2 Nov 2014. Last weekend the Australian Christian Lobby held its national conference, featuring keynote speeches by Sydney Catholic Archbishop-elect Anthony Fisher and federal Labor Opposition Leader Bill Shorten. Mr Shorten had the unenviable task of explaining his support for same sex marriage to an audience committed to a … Continue reading
#986 for broadcast on 2CH Sydney, 26 Oct 2014. Discussion on same sex marriage has caused tension in the community and the church. Much of the Christian community has sought to uphold marriage as presently practiced and legislated. But increasingly Christians have gone silent or appear to support the push to legalise same sex marriage. Baptist minister … Continue reading
#985 for broadcast on 2CH Sydney, 26 Oct 2014. Disputes over the right to wear religious symbols in the workplace continue to make headlines, and have prompted allegations of a bias against Christian symbols. Former Qantas employee Georgina Sarikoudis claims the airline demanded she and others discard the religious symbols they wore, including “threats and … Continue reading
#984 for broadcast on 2CH Sydney, 26 Oct 2014. The five-day Synod of the Anglican Diocese of Sydney ended on Wednesday with votes on a range of social issues, including a call for the refugee cap to be lifted and children to be freed from immigration detention. Earlier, the 800-member synod called for affiliated organisations … Continue reading
#983 for broadcast on 2CH Sydney, 26 Oct 2014. NSW Premier Mike Baird last week signed a memorandum of understanding with ClubsNSW whereby clubs would provide “community care services” in return for tax concessions under the ClubGrants scheme. The NSW Council of Churches takes the view that gambling venues are unsuitable for childcare and aged … Continue reading
For immediate release – 21 October 2014 Gambling venues are unsuitable for childcare and aged care, and the prospect of tax concessions should not be the motivation for ClubsNSW to provide such services, the President of the NSW Council of Churches, the Reverend Dr Ross Clifford, said today. NSW Premier Mike Baird last week signed … Continue reading
#982 for broadcast on 2CH Sydney, 19 Oct 2014. The October issue of the newspaper Eternity reports on a recent speech made by the federal Attorney-General, Senator George Brandis, to the University of Notre Dame on the Christian basis for human rights. It makes fascinating reading. In his conclusion, Senator Brandis said: The governing ethical … Continue reading