The Religion and Ethics Report - Separate stories podcast

The deadly Ebola virus spreading through the Democratic Republic of Congo is now outpacing the ability of health workers to respond, according to the World Health Organisation.  But medical staff aren’t just battling a virus. They’re fighting scepticism among some communities about whether the disease is real, and the role of traditional burial practices in helping to spread Ebola.  The Anglican B...

Dr Peter John Hollingworth was an Australian bishop who served as Governor-General of Australia from 2001 until his resignation in 2003, resigned, in the wake of controversy over his role in handling sex abuse allegations in the Anglican Church.  He had previously held the position of Anglican Archbishop of Brisbane from 1989 to 2001. An Anglican church inquiry found Dr Hollingworth failed to remo...

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...

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...

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...

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...

New research suggests many far right 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.  GUESTS: 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:...

In 2018, a gunman walked into in a synagogue in the Squirrel Hill neighbourhood of Pittsburgh. He killed 11 worshippers in one of America's worst antisemitic attacks.  As you’ll hear, deep in their Jewish faith and traditions, somehow the survivors of Squirrel Hill found ways to rebuild. This episode takes you to Pittsburgh on October 27, 2018.  This is the second episode in our three-part series...

In a move that defies the stereotype of American mega-churches, the pastor of 24,000-strong Methodist parish in Kansas has announced he’s running as Democrat for the US Senate in November. Adam Hamilton is also a best-selling author and podcaster.  Hamilton joins a growing chorus of Christian ministers who are reclaiming faith from pro-Trump forces. But he’s careful to stress, he’s no liberal. Kat...

In a move that defies the stereotype of American mega-churches, the pastor of 24,000-strong Methodist parish in Kansas has announced he’s running as Democrat for the US Senate in November.  Adam Hamilton is also a best-selling author and podcaster.  Hamilton joins a growing chorus of Christian ministers who are reclaiming faith from pro-Trump forces.  But he’s careful to stress, he’s no liberal. ...

When a white supremacist gunman opened fire during a Bible study at Mother Emanuel Church in Charleston, South Carolina, nine worshippers, including their charismatic pastor, were murdered at a bible class in a racist attack. Writer Kevin Sack spent a decade documenting what happened at Mother Emanuel, tracing not only the events of June 17, 2015, but the deeper history of race, resistance, and fo...

A year ago, more than a hundred cardinals were deep in conversation, even a little conspiratorial.  They’d just buried their beloved Pope Francis.  Now they had to choose a successor to lead 1.4 billion Catholics. But forces outside the church were also trying to shape the result of the conclave.  In a new book, The Election of Pope Leo XIV: The Last Surprise of Pope Francis , we learn about some...

The defeat of Viktor Orban’s nationalist government in Hungary is causing ripples from the heart of Europe all the way to the Middle East. Orban was a key ally of another nationalist, Benjamin Netanyahu in Israel, protecting his government from censure and sanction in the European Union. Hungary’s new prime minister Peter Magyar is unlikely to be as friendly.   A year ago, more than a hundred card...

The defeat of Viktor Orban’s nationalist government in Hungary is causing ripples from the heart of Europe all the way to the Middle East.  Orban was a key ally of another nationalist, Benjamin Netanyahu in Israel, protecting his government from censure and sanction in the European Union.  Hungary’s new prime minister Peter Magyar is unlikely to be as friendly.  GUEST: Dr Shahar Burla is a contrib...

Pope Leo’s showing he won’t by cowed by Donald Trump, who recently attacked him as weak and liberal after papal criticism of the Iran war. Leo hasn’t directly named the US President but during his visit to Africa, he’s referred to war, tyranny and to “spending billions of dollars on killing and devastation”.  Vice President J.D. Vance, a recent convert to Catholicism, also decided to explain the t...

It’s not just the Iran war that’s inflamed tension between the Vatican and the White House.  The church has also spoken out against the Trump administration’s aggressive crackdown on irregular immigration.  For the Archbishop of Guam, a US territory in the South Pacific, it’s a personal issue.  Archbishop RYAN JIMENEZ is an immigrant from The Philippines. He’s just been appointed to a top Vatican...

The name Walter Dexter has faded into history but during World War I he was one of the British empire’s most famous churchmen.  He became most decorated military chaplain ever.  Long before he found his faith in the Anglican Church, he had a rollicking life at sea, plunging into the cultures of Asia and Africa.  Historian DANIEL REYNAUD has just published Sailor, Soldier Vicar Farmer: The Improbab...

Pope Leo’s showing he won’t by cowed by Donald Trump, who recently attacked him as weak and liberal after papal criticism of the Iran war.  Leo hasn’t directly named the US President but during his visit to Africa, he’s referred to war, tyranny and to “spending billions of dollars on killing and devastation”.   Vice President J.D. Vance, a recent convert to Catholicism, also decided to explain the...

Soon after he returns from his 10-day trip to Africa, Pope Leo will finish his first encyclical.  It’s almost certainly on the opportunities -- and dangers -- of artificial intelligence.  The perils of AI, especially on higher education, have prompted Notre Dame University to set up a new Centre for Technology and Human Futures.  GUEST: Associate Professor Victoria Lorrimar is director of The Cent...

In the occupied West Bank village of Taybeh, radical Jewish settlers continue their campaign to seize the land long owned by one of the last unified Christian communities in Palestine.  Now the Christians are turning to Pope Leo, hoping he’ll visiting their village and ramp up pressure on the Israeli government.  GUEST:  Fr. Bashar Fawadleh Taybeh parish priest  Related: Israeli settler and Christ...

Donald Trump’s onslaught against the Pope is almost overshadowing his first visit to Africa.   The US president accused Leo of being soft on crime, untroubled by the prospect of a nuclear Iran, and in league with the radical left. Trump’s angry about the pope’s repeated criticism of the US and Israeli war on Iran.  But Leo says he’s not afraid of Trump.  Has there ever been such a deep rift betwee...

Donald Trump’s onslaught against the Pope is almost overshadowing his first visit to Africa.  The US president accused Leo of being soft on crime, untroubled by the prospect of a nuclear Iran, and in league with the radical left. Trump’s angry about the pope’s repeated criticism of the US and Israeli war on Iran. But Leo says he’s not afraid of Trump. Has there ever been such a deep rift between a...

Andrew West discusses Trump's attack on Pope Leo with James Glenday on ABC Breakfast TV.

Buddhist extremists have been emboldened by religious nationalism in America and beyond. They defy the image of Buddhism and undermine its core teachings.

Pope Leo visits Africa next week on a 10-day tour that will take him to Algeria, Cameroon, Angola, and Equatorial Guinea. Buddhist extremists have been emboldened by religious nationalism in America and beyond. They defy the image of Buddhism and undermine its core teachings.