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Labor shelves promise to introduce religious discrimination laws
The Albanese Government has effectively shelved its push to introduce both extraordinary immigration powers and religious discrimination laws, with Labor offering few signs it will seek to deliver on its promised policies before the election. Source: ABC News.
Religious freedom ensures other rights, Vatican diplomat says
Governments should exercise “a detached neutrality” towards religions, the Vatican’s secretary for relations with states told a conference last week. Source: The Tablet.
Qld Government look to avoid ‘fight with the churches’ before election
Queensland Attorney-General Yvette D’Ath is pushing to water down draft reforms to the state’s Anti-Discrimination Act, amid concern Labor does not want to be drawn into “a fight with the churches” before the state election. Source: The Guardian.
Church could consider closing schools if stripped of rights: Archbishop
Sydney Archbishop Anthony Fisher OP has warned the Church will be forced to consider closing religious schools if the government strips them of the ability to preference the employment of teachers supportive of Christian teachings. Source: The Australian.
Church proposal seeks to address concerns with discrimination bill
Catholic Church leaders have put forward a proposal to the Albanese Government to address concerns about its draft religious discrimination laws, warning that as the legislation stands faith groups “would go a long way backwards”. Source: The Australian.
Dutton calls hate speech move ‘a trap’ as discrimination talks falter
Labor’s hopes of passing two key bills with bipartisan support have taken a hit with a breakdown in negotiations on religious discrimination and Opposition Leader Peter Dutton, labelling its hate speech proposal a “trap”. Source: The Guardian.
Pakistan bishop denounces anti-Christian violence as ‘dark day’
An attack on Christians in north-central Pakistan by an enraged Muslim mob, who accused a Christian man of having defaced the Koran, represents a “dark day” for the country’s Christian community, Pakistan’s top Catholic official has said. Source: Crux.
Government drafts hate speech bill to protect against vilification
Attorney-General Mark Dreyfus is drafting new hate speech laws that will impose criminal penalties for serious instances of vilification based on a person’s race, sexuality, gender, disability or religion. Source: Sydney Morning Herald.
Laws must protect religious freedom: ex-PM Howard
Former Prime Minister John Howard has defended the right of faith-based schools to hire staff who share the same religious beliefs and values as “common sense”, saying that it should be respected in any new legislation affecting religious freedoms. Source: The Catholic Weekly.