News from around the world. Curated by Mark McDowell. Posts do not constitute agreement or endorsement.
King Charles III is the first British monarch who has previously had a civil marriage and a civil divorce. In 1981, Charles, then the Prince of Wales, married Lady Diana Spencer in a fairytale wedding watched by 750 million people worldwide. However, the royal couple separated in 1992 and they…
Captain Sukhbir Toor, who with three other Sikhs sued the U.S. Marine Corps April 11, 2022. | Sikh Coalition A group of four Sikh men are seeking a religious exemption from the Marine Corps allowing them to keep the beards and turbans that they say are essential to the practice…
A clergyman in Australia is required to pay superannuation withholdation for PAYG dues as soon as he or she reaches retirement age, beginning in July 2000. Those who work as religious practitioners who take PAYG, FBT, ABN and GST as their primary occupation are also considered employees. Payments for stipends…
Yes. Australian law treats religious entities as tax exempt. In addition to large and small denominations such as the Anglicans, Catholics and Seventh Day Angels, the Exclusive Bretherens are also included in this group. In the Charities Act 2013, this is expressly stated. Table of contents How Much Tax Does…
Archbishop Peter Comensoli of Melbourne called the new laws “a serious overreach by the Victorian Government into the rightful freedoms of faith-based organizations.” Melbourne Parliament House in Victoria, Australia. (photo: Jason Benz Benne / Shutterstock) MELBOURNE — Catholic leaders in Australia expressed concern this week about a new set of…
Parliament House for the state of Victoria in Melbourne, Australia. | Stock photo via Shutterstock Catholic leaders in Australia expressed concern this week about a new set of laws passed in the state of Victoria which prevent religious groups and schools from making hiring decisions based on protected attributes such…
Australians support religious freedom protections for individuals but less for institutions such as schools or hospitals run by religious organisations, a new report for the Centre for Independent Studies has found. The findings do not “bode well for the prospect of any robust protection of religious freedom in this country,”…
Australians support religious freedom protections for individuals but less for institutions such as schools or hospitals run by religious organisations, a new report for the Centre for Independent Studies has found. The findings do not “bode well for the prospect of any robust protection of religious freedom in this country,”…
The flaws in the Coalition’s religious discrimination bill are “so serious” it cannot be supported in its current form, the Sydney Anglican diocese has warned. Bishop Michael Stead has warned the bill would force Anglican youth camps to host Satanist masses at its campsites and has the “perverse effect” of…
Prime Minister Scott Morrison (centre) with faith community leaders. FOLLOWING last year’s Religious Freedom Review conducted by an expert panel headed by Philip Ruddock, and the publication of its report, the Australian government announced its intention to introduce a new law, a Religious Discrimination Act, to prohibit discrimination on the…
Scott Morrison’s “religious freedom” platform has little to do with the right to pray, it has everything to do with the right to discriminate and undo what the country voted for. Do we need the unqualified right to be bigots, the right to openly discriminate against same sex couples and…
Are you for Israel Folau or against? What a pity that Folau’s dismissal by Rugby Australia should be reduced to an ideological and binary debate. Of course, we love a simple answer. Twitter views are various: the Folau case is exclusively a matter of contract law; Folau has the rights…
The Ruddock review on Religious Freedom has recommended the creation of a Religious Discrimination Act as part of its 20 recommendations . Some have argued there is no pressing need for a Religious Discrimination Act. All states and territories , except South Australia and New South Wales, currently prohibit discrimination…
Are you sick of the constant political campaign commercials? Sick of hearing the names of the candidates? Sick of hearing how Candidate X is the best thing since sliced bread or the worst, depending on which political party or political action committee paid for the advertisement? Me, too. (Maybe we…
Row over Australia plan to let faith schools reject gay students GAY students and teachers could be rejected by religious schools under changes to anti-discrimination laws being recommended by a federal review into religious freedom. ‘We will protect religious freedom, and get the balance right. In the federal sphere, senator…
Fairfax Media’s exclusive report on Wednesday detailing sections of the religious freedom review commissioned by the Coalition government has triggered a political furore. The report by former attorney-general Philip Ruddock, which was ordered by Malcolm Turnbull in the wake of last year’s same-sex marriage victory, was delivered to the government…
Scott Morrison is just starting to tell Australians about who he is and what he stands for. Photo: Alex Ellinghausen Prime Minister Scott Morrison does not hesitate when asked if Australia needs new laws to protect religious freedom . “Yes,” he says. He is yet to set out exactly […]…
The prime minister has revived the religious freedom issue months after a review was handed to his predecessor Malcolm Turnbull. Prime Minister Scott Morrison has given his clearest indication yet that his government would change anti-discrimination laws so that religious beliefs were protected – just as race, gender or […]…
One of the loudest voices calling for better protection of religious freedoms in recent years has been the Prime Minister Scott Morrison. But what exactly is religious freedom, and why are we having this debate now? Who follows what religion in Australia? Christianity remains the dominant religious group in […]…