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- 24 March, 2023
Bishops outline dangers in proposed discrimination reforms
Senior bishops have warned law changes proposed by the Australian Law Reform Commission would prevent Church schools from being authentically Catholic, arguing they would discount the rights of people with a religious faith. Source: ACBC Media Blog.
Conference debates religious freedom and the role of the state
Religious liberty, freedom of conscience and the challenges of state and religious organisations in finding a balance that will prove beneficial to all were debated at the University of Notre Dame Australia’s annual Religious Liberty Lecture and Conference.
Gay conversion ban won’t impinge on religious freedom: Minns
Faith leaders have secured a bipartisan commitment to be able to pray and preach on matters of sexuality under proposed laws banning gay conversion therapy, after NSW Labor leader Chris Minns vowed to protect their rights. Source: Sydney Morning Herald.
Religious education fears fall on deaf ears
A letter from Australia’s most senior religious figures expressing “deep disappointment” with the Australian Law Reform Commission’s inquiry into religious schools “had very little impact” on the thinking of the inquiry’s commissioner. Source: The Catholic Weekly.
Banning gay conversion therapy will not affect religious freedoms: Perrottet
New South Wales Premier Dominic Perrottet has promised not to ban prayer or preaching as part of laws to be introduced in the next Parliament to end so-called gay conversion therapy. Source: The Guardian.
Culture of faith-based schools ‘must be protected’
The public release of a letter signed by the leaders of all major faith traditions addressed to the federal Attorney-General has reignited the debate on religious freedoms in this country, writes Mark Fowler. Source: The Australian.
Labor ‘deaf to concerns of people of faith’
Opposition legal affairs spokesman Julian Leeser has demanded Attorney-General Mark Dreyfus “wipe the slate clean” on an Australian Law Reform Commission review into discrimination in religious schools. Source: The Australian.
Faith leaders warn future of religious education under threat
An alliance of the nation’s faith leaders is warning the future of religious education is under threat and that their schools will not be allowed to choose teachers who share the same faith under proposed anti-discrimination reforms. Source: The Australian.
Catholic education concerned over proposed discrimination reforms
The National Catholic Education Commission is unhappy with the proposed reforms outlined by the Australian Law Reform Commission in its inquiry into religious educational institutions and anti-discrimination laws.