The Religion and Ethics Report - Separate stories podcast

ABC Australia
  • 4.3 (6)
  • Religion & Spirituality
  • Updated Weekly

The Religion and Ethics Report, where religion and ethics meet news and current affairs in Australia and around the world.

  1. 3d ago

    Can Quakers be voices for peace in 2026?

    As wars continue in the Middle East, Africa and Europe, voices for peace still try to break through the pessimism.  One of the most prominent is the Religious Society of Friends, or the Quakers.  They famously won a Nobel Peace Prize after World War II.  But how realistic is their vision in 2026?  GUEST: Joyce Ajlouny is general secretary of the American Friends Service Committee, a Quaker agency. She was in Australia recently.

    9 min

  2. 3d ago

    Fears around the return of women linked to ISIS

    One of the so-called ISIS brides appeared in a Melbourne court this week, charged with terrorism related offences. Rayann El Houli is one of six women linked to ISIS, who’ve returned from Syria in the past fortnight. Most have children who were born in Syria and were living in harsh conditions. But their return is confronting for one religious minority that’s found refuge in Australia. Extremism expert Professor JOSH ROOSE of Deakin University has been exploring the dilemma the ISIS brides pose for Australia. Pope Leo’s encyclical on the dangers of artificial intelligence includes a red light about the role technology plays in the sexual trafficking of women and children. The International Justice Mission is a faith-based organisation that fights modern slavery. It’s one of several human rights groups meeting in the Vatican this week. BRIONY CAMP is the head of campaigns for IJM Australia. As wars continue in the Middle East, Africa and Europe, voices for peace still try to break through the pessimism. One of the most prominent is the Religious Society of Friends, or the Quakers. They famously won a Nobel Peace Prize after World War II. But how realistic is their vision in 2026.  JOYCE AJLOUNY is general secretary of the American Friends Service Committee, a Quaker agency. She was in Australia recently.

    29 min

  3. 3d ago

    The dilemma of the "ISIS brides"

    One of the so-called ISIS brides appeared in a Melbourne court this week, charged with terrorism related offences.  Rayann El Houli is one of six women linked to ISIS, who’ve returned from Syria in the past fortnight.  Most have children who were born in Syria and were living in harsh conditions.  But their return is confronting for one religious minority that’s found refuge in Australia. Extremism expert Dr Josh Roose has been exploring the dilemma the ISIS brides pose for Australia. GUEST: Dr Josh Roose is a political sociologist and Associate Professor of Politics at the Alfred Deakin Institute for Citizenship and Globalisation at Deakin University.

    9 min

  4. May 27

    A view of the Ebola crisis from the capital Goma in the DRC

    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 Bishop of Goma in the DRC, MARTIN GORDON, is overseeing a major church response. In a powerful warning about the dangers and delusions of artificial intelligence, Pope Leo has taken on the self-styled gods of the 21st century. He’s used his first encyclical to argue that whatever good AI might bring, it should never be controlled by a tiny group of ultra-wealthy tech titans. His 43,000-word encyclical is called Magnificent Humanity.  Dr VICTORIA LORRIMAR heads the Centre for Technology and Human Futures at Notre Dame University Australia, while Professor BETH SINGLER from the University of Zurich is author of Religion and Artificial Intelligence. GUESTS:  Rev Martin Gordon, Bishop of the Diocese of Goma, DRCA/Prof Victoria Lorrimar, Director, Centre for Technology and Human Future at the Institute for Ethics and Society, University of Notre DameProf. Dr Beth Singler, Assistant Professor in Digital Religion(s), Co-Director, University Research Priority Programme in Digital Religion(s), University of Zurich

    29 min

  5. May 27

    Anglican Bishop reports from Congo on Ebola

    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 Bishop of Goma in the DRC, MARTIN GORDON, is overseeing a major church response. GUEST: Rev Martin Gordon, Bishop of the Diocese of Goma, DRCRev Gordon on YouTube with an update 27/05

    10 min

  6. May 27

    Victoria Lorrimar on Pope Leo's encyclical

    In a powerful warning about the dangers and delusions of artificial intelligence, Pope Leo has taken on the self-styled gods of the 21st century.  He’s used his first encyclical to argue that whatever good AI might bring, it should never be controlled by a tiny group of ultra-wealthy tech titans.  His 43,000-word encyclical is called Magnificent Humanity.  GUEST: Dr Victoria Lorrimar heads the Centre for Technology and Human Futures at Notre Dame University Australia

    10 min

  7. May 27

    Will Pope Leo's critique of AI cut through to Sillicon Valley?

    In a powerful warning about the dangers and delusions of artificial intelligence, Pope Leo has taken on the self-styled gods of the 21st century.  He’s used his first encyclical to argue that whatever good AI might bring, it should never be controlled by a tiny group of ultra-wealthy tech titans.  His 43,000-word encyclical is called Magnificent Humanity.  GUEST: Professor Beth Singler from the University of Zurich is author of Religion and Artificial Intelligence.

    9 min

  8. May 25

    The passing of Dr Peter Hollingworth

    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 remove late paedophile priests Donald Shearman and John Elliot from the ministry, despite knowing they had sexually assaulted children. He died in Melbourne on Tuesday, aged 91. Noel Debien joins ABC TV to explain the impact and significance of a cleric's appointment to Governor General. Noel Debien is a religion expert and editor of Radio National's Religion and Ethics Unit

    5 min
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The Religion and Ethics Report, where religion and ethics meet news and current affairs in Australia and around the world.

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