The Religion and Ethics Report - Separate stories podcast

A litmus test for anyone seeking office as a Democrat in the US is unqualified support for abortion. At the moment, it’s popular. Even in Republican states have passed ballot measures to over-ride abortion bans. But can the Democrats forge a long-term coalition to win the congress and the presidency without some pro-life voters, especially Catholics? A growing number of progressive Democrats say the party needs to be a bigger tent. GUEST:TIMOTHY KIRCHOFF is a contributing writer to the liberal Catholic magazine, Commonweal.

After 180 years in Australia, the Catholic order of Christian Brothers is closing down – bankrupt and shamed by the child sexual abuse scandal. The Christian Brothers have announced a plan to sell off their remaining 36 properties in Australia at an estimated value of $216 million. The proceeds will go to victims and survivors and their lawyers. Those with claims against the brothers won’t receive all they’re seeking but the Brothers have revealed they’ve already paid a staggering $480 million in abuse settlements since 1980. If the geopolitics of Israel and Palestine isn’t hot enough, there’s now a controversy over control of the Al-Aqsa mosque complex in the Old City of Jerusalem. For decades, the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan has been the official custodian, allowing non-Muslims to visit but not to pray. But Israeli hardliners -- backed reputedly by the Trump administration and some Gulf Arab states -- want to transfer control to a so-called multi-faith council. A litmus test for anyone seeking office as a Democrat in the US is unqualified support for abortion. At the moment, it’s popular. Even in Republican states have passed ballot measures to over-ride abortion bans. But can the Democrats forge a long-term coalition to win the congress and the presidency without some pro-life voters, especially Catholics? A growing number of progressive Democrats say the party needs to be a bigger tent. GUESTSProfessor DARRYL HIGGINS is director of the Institute for Child Protection Studies at Australian Catholic University.WYRE DAVIES is the BBC’s Middle East correspondent.TIMOTHY KIRCHOFF is a contributing writer to the liberal Catholic magazine, Commonweal.

We have an image of Ethiopia as a harsh, even forsaken place, of famine and a landscape literally cracked by rising global temperatures.But Ethiopia’s a country of resilient, resourceful people, who could thrive, if only world powers stopped meddling. That’s the message of Australian aid worker VALERIE BROWNING. She’s been living in Ethiopia’s Afar region for 53 years, running an extraordinary organisation that’s helped half a million women. Valerie’s back in Australia to visit family and publicise the work of the Barbara May Foundation that helps fund her work. Guest:Valerie Browning is a nurse and author of "Maalika: My Life among the Afar Nomads in Africa”. She founded the Afar Pastoral Development Association and the Barbara May Maternity Hospital.

As Pauline Hanson’s appeal seemingly grows by the week, at least according to opinion polls, how is she building a coalition that might not deliver her government but could make One Nation the second biggest party in the next parliament? Senator Hanson has never been an explicitly religious politician but there is small but important religious constituency that she is trying to woo. The Australian religious right.GUEST:Dr Benjamin Moffitt is a political scientist at Monash University and has been charting the progress of One Nation.

Churches and charities are warning that the federal government’s plan to increase taxes on discretionary trusts could cost the welfare and community sector billions of dollars in donations. They fear up to 30 per cent of their income could disappear.If you attend a Donald Trump rally in the United States, you’ll almost certainly hear his favourite song – the high-camp late 70's hit by the Village People, “YMCA”. And you’ll increasingly hear another song that, strictly speaking, has nothing to do with politics. It’s the evangelical anthem, “How Great is Our God”. Now, some evangelical leaders fear the MAGA movement has hijacked their music, even their worship style. On the northern fringe of Sydney, among gum trees and very loud native bird song, the Catholic Church plans to build Australia’s newest cathedral. The proposal by the Diocese of Broken Bay has attracted criticism for its expense. But the church hopes the stunning new design, which captures the essence of the nearby bushland, will convince the critics.GUESTS:Mark Fowler is a charity lawyer and advisory committee member for the Australian Charities and Not-for-Profit Commission, a commonwealth agency. Professor Leah Payne of the Portland Seminary is the author of God Gave Rock & Roll to You.Niall McLaughlin is the architect on the planned Broken Bay cathedral.

If you attend a Donald Trump rally in the United States, you’ll increasingly hear another song that, strictly speaking, has nothing to do with politics. It’s the evangelical anthem, “How Great is Our God”. Now, some evangelical leaders fear the MAGA movement has hijacked their music, even their worship style. GUEST:Professor Leah Payne of the Portland Seminary is the author of God Gave Rock & Roll to You.

One of the so-called ISIS brides appeared in a Melbourne court this week, charged with terrorism related offences. Rayann El Houli is one of six women linked to ISIS, who’ve returned from Syria in the past fortnight. Most have children who were born in Syria and were living in harsh conditions. But their return is confronting for one religious minority that’s found refuge in Australia. Extremism expert Professor JOSH ROOSE of Deakin University has been exploring the dilemma the ISIS brides pose for Australia.Pope Leo’s encyclical on the dangers of artificial intelligence includes a red light about the role technology plays in the sexual trafficking of women and children. The International Justice Mission is a faith-based organisation that fights modern slavery. It’s one of several human rights groups meeting in the Vatican this week. BRIONY CAMP is the head of campaigns for IJM Australia.As wars continue in the Middle East, Africa and Europe, voices for peace still try to break through the pessimism. One of the most prominent is the Religious Society of Friends, or the Quakers. They famously won a Nobel Peace Prize after World War II. But how realistic is their vision in 2026. JOYCE AJLOUNY is general secretary of the American Friends Service Committee, a Quaker agency. She was in Australia recently.

As wars continue in the Middle East, Africa and Europe, voices for peace still try to break through the pessimism. One of the most prominent is the Religious Society of Friends, or the Quakers. They famously won a Nobel Peace Prize after World War II. But how realistic is their vision in 2026? GUEST:Joyce Ajlouny is general secretary of the American Friends Service Committee, a Quaker agency. She was in Australia recently.

In a powerful warning about the dangers and delusions of artificial intelligence, Pope Leo has taken on the self-styled gods of the 21st century. He’s used his first encyclical to argue that whatever good AI might bring, it should never be controlled by a tiny group of ultra-wealthy tech titans. His 43,000-word encyclical is called Magnificent Humanity. GUEST:Dr Victoria Lorrimar heads the Centre for Technology and Human Futures at Notre Dame University Australia

In a powerful warning about the dangers and delusions of artificial intelligence, Pope Leo has taken on the self-styled gods of the 21st century. He’s used his first encyclical to argue that whatever good AI might bring, it should never be controlled by a tiny group of ultra-wealthy tech titans. His 43,000-word encyclical is called Magnificent Humanity. GUEST:Professor Beth Singler from the University of Zurich is author of Religion and Artificial Intelligence.

After two weeks of hearings at the Royal Commission into Antisemitism and Social Cohesion, Australians have a clear picture of a Jewish community experiencing harassment and violence – in the classroom, the campus, the streets, even some workplaces. The commission also heard different opinions on what antisemitism is -- and what’s political protest.GUEST:Professor DAVID SLUCKI is director of the Australian Centre for Jewish Civilisation at Monash University. He’s been following the hearings. Part 3. After the StormPolice in the US city of San Diego are treating as a hate crime an attack on a local mosque, in which two teenage boys killed three people then took their own lives. Without the heroic actions of a security guard, they say the attack could have been even worse. San Diego echoes an immense tragedy that took place 7 years ago, much closer to home. An Australian gunman slaughtered 51 Muslims at peaceful prayer at two mosques in Christchurch, New Zealand. This week is the third and final part of our series, After the Storm: How faith and friendship helped three religious communities overcome violent attack, which you can find in podcast at ABC Listen. We recall the Christchurch tragedy with a man who survived but bearing a terrible loss. GUEST:FARID AHMED is the author of Husna’s Story: My wife, the Christchurch Massacre and My Journey to Forgiveness.The full episodes of AFTER THE STORM:AFTER THE STORM: The aftermath of the Christchurch mosque massacreAFTER THE STORM: Beyond the horror at the Tree of LifeAFTER THE STORM: Healing after terror

On the 15th of March 2019, Farid Ahmed and his beloved wife Husna travelled to the Deans Avenue Mosque in Christchurch for Friday prayer. As they parted to pray in their different sections, Farid couldn’t know it would be the last time he saw Husna alive.And he couldn’t know about her bravery that ultimately cost her life.Husna Ahmed was one of 51 Muslim worshippers murdered that night. Their assailant was an Australian. Farid’s response tells a powerful story about his own resilience and his faith.This is part two of a special Religion and Ethics Report series on how faith and friendship helped three religious communities overcome violent attack, as Australia grapples with the aftermath of its own devastating attack at Bondi.GUEST:Farid Ahmed is the author of Husna’s Story: My wife, the Christchurch Massacre and My Journey to Forgiveness.

The most popular, and understandable, image of the far right today usually involves people dressed in black, shouting Nazi slogans or erupting into violence at football matches across Europe. But new research suggests many youths drawn to the extremes are looking for something more basic – a sense of belonging. Some have co-opted very traditional religion, while others try to make a religion out of their political ideology. GUEST:Dr Agnieszka Pasieka of University of Montreal wrote about the “Dreams of the Far Right” for Aeon magazine. She’s also the author of Living Right: Far-Right Youth Activists in Contemporary Europe.