Speaking for country, speaking for self
Fr Frank Brennan's address to the Melbourne College of Divinity Centenary Conference, Trinity College, University of Melbourne, 6 July 2010.
True memories of Bloody Sunday
Lord Saville's report this week into a seminal moment of 'The Troubles' in Northern Ireland included the admission that the killing of 14 demonstrators by the British Army was 'unjustified and unjustifiable'. True reconciliation can only ever take place with a true recounting of memory.
Forgiving genocide
Bronwyn Lay
During the massacre Rurangwa's grandmother was murdered mid-prayer, various family members called to god for help, while the killers, fellow parishioners of the local church, struck their machetes until faith fell with precious bodies into a pile.
A Christian view of budgets and burqas
This week's headlines have been about elections in the UK, the economy in Greece, and justice and law in Australia regarding banning the burqa and monstering asylum seekers. The way these are played out leaves little room for love, altruism, forgiveness, restoration, reconciliation and freedom, and no space for grace.
Plane tragedy prolongs Polish-Russian curse
Tony Kevin
The Devil himself could not have better orchestrated Sunday's air tragedy at Smolensk Airport. It was to be a symbolic moment of reconciliation between two neighbouring countries that have been separated by war.
Yes we can beat church sex abuse
Michael Mullins
In his Easter message, Cardinal George Pell made an oblique reference to sexual abuse in the Church. While most Australians dismiss such utterances as too little too late, it is possible to look at them optimistically when set against actions of the recent past.
Rabbi takes on Religious Right
Why 'welcome to country' is more than formality
Christian prayer at public meetings cannot have the same importance as an acknowledgement of country. Indigenous peoples have a genuine spiritual association with the land. By recognising this, all Australians can be united in a non-denominational spirituality.