au
Interview: Harry Potter – Making Evil Look Innocent?

Interview: Harry Potter – Making Evil Look Innocent?

From the Sorcerer's Stone to the Half-Blood Prince, the Harry Potter series by J. K. Rowling has captured the heart of both children and adults all around the world. However, with each new book, the novels have also become a hot topic of debate within the theological arena..

  • Churches Against Maria Korp Public Advocate

    On the 27th July 2005 three Melbourne churches have been in opposition to the decision made by Julian Gardner the Public Advocate of Maria Korp who advised doctors to stop artificially feeding Maria Korp who is thus expected to die within a fortnight. Maria Korp has remains in a permanent vegetative state since February after her husband’s mistress choked her and left her for dead in a car boot.

  • Christians say 'No' to Book Ban to Tackle Religious Extremism

    Church leaders in Australia have said that banning controversial books is not the answer to terrorism, following recent discoveries of materials being sold that advocate extremism.

  • Free Right to Talk Religion in the Classroom

    Teachers in the state of Victoria will be allowed to legally discuss religion in the classroom in order to stay relevant to current events.

  • Refugee Detention Centres: Still a Way to go

    On the 18th July 2005 the chair of the Bishop Committee for Migrants and Refugees, Bishop Joseph Grench is optimistic although he say there is 'still a way to go' following the release of the Palmer report which stated Australia's Detention Centres are 'ill equipped to deal with the mental health and well-being needs of detainees.'

  • Catholics, Jewish and Muslims Stand United

    Archbishop Denis Hart, Rabbi Meir Kluwgant and Sheik Fehmi Naji representing the Catholics, Jewish and Muslim communities made a symbolic public stance outside the Flinders Street Station on July 15th July to sign a statement expressing opposition to "terrorism, hatred and bigotry in all forms."

  • Religion Seen As Antidote To Depression

    A report has found two thirds of Australians are at risk of severe depression but Dr. John Poon a Sydney psychologist has suggested the scripture and sacraments can be used as effective inoculation.

  • A Call For Prayer In The Face Of Drought

    The drought in Australia is still ongoing despite the heavy rainfall experience in parts of Australia. Three broad networks of churches are calling on all Australian Christians to join them in prayer for 40 days in the face of drought. Further the leaders from these networks have issue a statement regarding the prayer.

  • Review of Human Cloning in Australia

    The issue of human cloning is flaring up with the meeting of a panel of six experts held in Sydney recently. The chairman of the panel John Lockhart in anticipation of the submissions being receive by the panel has remarked "I'm sure there will be a lot of views expressed on this, and I hope there are - because it's a matter of great importance to the community."

  • Catholic and Christian Leaders Concern about the Proposal of Industrial Relations Reform

    Prime Minister John Howard is currently proposing a major revolution in Australian industrial relations, which the overall trust of this revolution is to marginalize unions from contributing to industrial negotiations. The Church leaders from Catholic and Christian oppose the proposal knowing that this will lead to de-valueing the rights and power in the workplace for employees and the union.

  • UN's Annan Urges Rich & Poor Countries to End Poverty

    On 27th June 2005 UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan called on rich countries to provide the funding for poor nations, describing this era as the time when "after many years of hard work and compromise, the world is now on the threshold of a breakthrough in the pursuit of development and human dignity."

  • Proposal to Include Married Men as Catholic Priest

    In the proposal of discussion paper of the National Council of Priests, there will be a time of an acute shortage of priests. Under proposals by the nation's bishops, Australia's next generation of catholic priests will include "community" priests such as single and widowed men.