Keywords: Australian Catholic University
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RELIGION
- John Warhurst
- 25 March 2025
As Australia approaches another federal election, the Catholic Church, long ambivalent about democratic politics, prepares to weigh in. Its official statement could play it safe, as in years past — or it could offer a deeper moral vision, confronting the global drift toward division with the quiet radicalism of synodality.
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RELIGION
- Jim McDermott
- 13 March 2025
Frank Brennan wears his prominence lightly. A priest, lawyer, and tireless advocate for Indigenous rights and refugees, he is as at home in political corridors as he is at the dinner table, welcoming friends with stories and good cheer. Now, celebrating 50 years as a Jesuit, he reflects on faith, justice, and a life of service.
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RELIGION
- Emma Carolan
- 19 February 2025
Amidst a rise in antisemitism globally, some in the Jewish community have raised concerns about echoes of historic anti-Judaism resurfacing within the Church. While Catholic leaders condemn overt hate, has the Church fully confronted its entrenched biases, or do old prejudices still affect its response in ways that go unnoticed?
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AUSTRALIA
- Erica Cervini
- 05 February 2025
In 1940s Australia, neighbourhoods pulsed with neighborly connection — a stark contrast to today’s soaring rates of loneliness. As societies grow increasingly fragmented and isolation deepens, can that bygone era offer any lessons on healing our contemporary disconnection?
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RELIGION
- Bill Uren
- 11 December 2024
A contentious graduation speech at Australian Catholic University laid bare divisions between traditional Catholic values and modern sensibilities. The backlash, marked by audience walkouts, underscores broader challenges facing the Church.
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RELIGION
- John Warhurst
- 03 December 2024
2 Comments
The Synod of Bishops may mark a turning point for the Catholic Church, but the real work now begins — locally. From diocesan councils to parish communities, the challenge lies in translating synodality into action. In Australia, divergent episcopal views and a patchy history of reform raise critical questions about the Church’s future.
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EDUCATION
- Erica Cervini
- 14 November 2024
4 Comments
At an ACU graduation event, students walked out in protest as Joe de Bruyn gave an address condemning abortion, single-parent IVF, and same-sex marriage. The event highlights tensions for Catholic institutions trying to balance traditional Catholic values while also embracing often opposing perspectives a diverse, pluralistic society.
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AUSTRALIA
- Andrew Hamilton
- 08 November 2024
1 Comment
The story of Race Mathews’ career will be an antidote to despair about politics and politicians. It underlines the possibilities of politics, showing how it can be more than a job or a career. It can be a calling to imagine a more just society and ways of building it.
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RELIGION
- Joanna Thyer
- 07 November 2024
3 Comments
At the World Synod in Rome, four women joined to advocate for ordaining women as deacons. Though the topic remains off the table officially, the message highlights the Church’s internal conflict between traditional values and growing calls for inclusion and change.
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RELIGION
- John Warhurst
- 07 November 2024
14 Comments
The Catholic Church recently displayed two strikingly different faces. In Rome, the Synod on Synodality wrapped up with a facade of unity. But back in Melbourne, a Catholic University’s graduation became a battleground over church doctrine and free speech, exposing deep, unresolved fractures within the church.
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AUSTRALIA
- Rachel Dryer
- 01 November 2024
1 Comment
New research reveals a troubling link between heavy social media use and psychological distress during pregnancy, raising concerns about social media's impact on maternal mental health and urging a reassessment of societal pressures on expectant mothers.
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AUSTRALIA
- Daniel Nellor
- 25 October 2024
1 Comment
An AI-driven companion designed to connect with people living with dementia raises important questions about companionship, care, and the human experience. Can an AI truly replace the role of a human caregiver, or are we compromising what it means to connect?
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