8 - 13 March

God's Squad's John Smith loses his battle with cancer; an Anglican reflects on International Women's Day; and two opinion pieces on Cardinal George Pell.

March 14 2019

Lent helps us focus on lifelong task of seeking to become more holy, says Archbishop Freier

Watch a video of the Lent message from Archbishop of Melbourne and Anglican Primate of Australia, Dr Philip Freier.

John Smith, prophet, teacher, evangelist and biker, takes his last ride

John Smith, the founder of the Melbourne Chapter of the God's Squad Christian Motorcycle Club, has died after an almost two-decade battle with cancer. Eternity published an essay by him about his journey with cancer just last week, which you can read here.

International Women’s Day – making a space for female voices

The London-based Administration and Research Assistant for the Anglican Communion Office at the United Nations, Rachael Fraser, reflects on International Women’s Day in the lead up to the UN Commission on the Status of Women meeting.

Family of murdered Nigerian priest Anthony Idris Jata’u released by kidnappers

The family of Father Anthony Idris Jata’u, who were kidnapped in an incident in which he was killed, have been released, the Diocese of Sokoto has confirmed. 

World Council of Churches’ environment specialist among 157 killed in Ethiopian plane crash

An environment expert employed by the WCC, Pastor Norman Tendis, was among 157 people killed on Sunday when an Ethiopian Airlines flight from Addis Ababa to Nairobi crashed shortly after take-off. Pastor Tendis, a priest of the Evangelical Church in Austria, was travelling to Nairobi to take part in a meeting of the United Nations Environment Assembly. A four-person youth delegation from Canada was also among the fatalities.

Meet one of Australia’s ‘consecrated virgins’

What is "consecrated virginity" and why are modern women marrying Jesus? ABC Religion and Ethics speaks to Zara Tai, one of nine women in Australia known as "consecrated virgins".

Sexual abuse survivors reveal ‘traumatic’ pain of applying for National Redress Scheme

Applying to the National Redress Scheme for survivors of child sexual abuse is "like being raped again", the ABC’s 7.30 program has been told. Many survivors are concerned they won’t live to see redress, with 100 organisations yet to sign up to the scheme.

Gravesites among the factors prospective church buyers in Tasmania have to consider

Prospective buyers of dozens of Tasmanian Anglican churches put on the market are attracted to the properties’ "character, blank canvas and history", but privacy concerns mean churches with graveyards attached are a tougher sell.

The Cardinal and Mr Anonymous: George Pell's defenders mustn't repeat the mistakes of the past

Professor Patrick Parkinson warns that there are echoes of the voices of denial about child sexual abuse by senior religious leaders in the past in the criticism about the conviction of Cardinal George Pell, with implicit denunciations of the Cardinal’s anonymous accuser and the jury that found him guilty.

Andrew Bolt, please stop implying that you know all the facts about George Pell

Clare Linane, wife of a Ballarat survivor of child sexual abuse by a cleric, challenges a prominent commentator’s criticism of the conviction of Cardinal George Pell.

First Fijian consecrated and installed as Bishop of Polynesia and joint Primate of the Anglican Church in Aotearoa, NZ and Polynesia

The first Fijian chosen to lead the Diocese of Polynesia in its 110-year history, Fereimi Cama, was consecrated and installed on Sunday and also becomes one of three equal-status Archbishops and Primates of the Anglican Church in Aotearoa, NZ and Polynesia.