religion
These conversion therapy survivors are still dealing with the trauma
Tasmanian survivors of dangerous LGBT “conversion therapy” have laid bare their ongoing trauma in a major new report that calls for a statewide ban. In the Tasmanian Law Reform Institute report, forty Tasmanian survivors shared experiences of undergoing the harmful “conversion” practices. A 28-year-old trans person said they were subjected to conversion therapy after confiding …
‘Tears and confusion’ as Anglican bishops go rogue on same-sex marriage
Australia’s Anglican bishops have blocked an attempt to affirm the church’s definition of marriage as between a man and a woman in a shock vote. The church’s General Synod, the national assembly of Anglican clergy, was on earlier this week. At the Synod, the conservative Sydney diocese brought on a vote on a statement to …
Anglican school principals angry about same-sex marriage contract
A number of Anglican school principals have slammed the Sydney Anglican diocese for requiring principals and school board directors to sign a document affirming their belief that marriage is between a man and a woman. The Anglican Diocese runs dozens of schools in Sydney. The church has inserted the new clause against same-sex marriage into …
Conservatives blast Labor candidate for tweeting ‘Jesus was gay’
Coalition MPs and religious groups have called for Labor to dump a Senate candidate because she once tweeted “Jesus was gay”. Mich-Elle Myers (pictured, above right) is fifth on Labor’s NSW Senate ticket at the upcoming election. But Coalition MPs and religious groups have criticised her for a string of resurfaced tweets about religion. The …
Scott Morrison vows to pass Religious Discrimination Bill if re-elected
Prime Minister Scott Morrison has promised religious groups he will pass his contentious Religious Discrimination Bill if re-elected this month. The Coalition shelved the proposed legislation after moderate Liberals and Labor successfully added amendments to protect students at faith schools from expulsion over their sexuality or gender identity. As religious groups lobby for the original …
Satanists outraged as Gold Coast Mayor blocks them from prayer room
Gold Coast Mayor Tom Tate has rejected an attempt by a group of Queensland Satanists to book the council’s new prayer room. Trevor Bell is from the Noosa Temple of Satan, a religious group who “revere Satan as a figure who symbolises rebellion against tyrannical or arbitrary authority.” Bell said he made a booking after …
Christian rehab facility investigated over alleged abuse, conversion therapy
The Esther Foundation, a taxpayer-funded, Pentacostal-linked women’s rehab facility in Perth, will face a WA government inquiry after numerous allegations of abuse and mistreatment including harmful “gay conversion” practices. The Esther Foundation has operated in Perth since the mid-1990s, with ties to Perth’s Pentecostal churches. The Christian treatment facility was supposed to offer refuge and …
School chaplains banned from unwedded sexual relationships
A former South Australian school chaplain has told the Guardian that Australia’s second-largest schools chaplaincy provider insists school chaplains must be married or live on their own. Qualified counsellor Caragh Larsen previously worked as a chaplain for Schools Ministry Group at two Adelaide public primary schools. The federal government pays over $60m annually to the …
Former student sues Citipointe Christian College
A bisexual former student of Citipointe Christian College is reportedly suing the Brisbane religious school for discrimination. In late January, the Carindale school in Brisbane’s east caused outrage after demanding families sign a revised enrolment contract. The document required families denounce homosexuality and bisexuality and students identify by their sex assigned at birth, or risk …
Gold Coast’s Home of the Arts a ‘demonic stronghold’
Sue Baynes, personal spiritual advisor to Gold Coast mayor Tom Tate — and appointed paid city pastoral advisor last month — told a religious service in November of a ‘demonic stronghold’ at the city’s Home of the Arts (HOTA). During the November service, Sue Baynes said HOTA previously resisted hosting a combined churches event known …