A three-year campaign by abortion advocates to end pro-life vigils in rural Victoria may have finally reached its conclusion after the issue was referred to State Parliament. The Helpers of God’s Precious Infants have held prayer vigils outside the Fertility Control Centre’s abortion clinic on Englehardt Street in Albury for the past 15 years. Initially, the vigils were only for two h...

Various faith groups have joined in their concern over a controversial show that features in Adelaide’s upcoming Fringe Festival. Muslims and Jews joined Catholics in voicing their disapproval of the show, which is called ‘Come Heckle Christ’ and encourages members of the crowd to verbally abuse and throw items at a man dressed as Christ. The show is advertised as the perfect show for...

Australian Catholic parishes and schools are being encouraged to celebrate St Valentine’s Day by “honouring marriage as life-long romantic love”. The Australian Catholic Marriage and Family Council (ACMFC) has produced a resource that provides practical suggestions for parishes and schools to use on the day to affirm the value of romantic love within marriage. As part of the resource,...

Nineteen students graduated from Australia’s only Catholic liberal arts college last month, including two WA students. Perth’s Ben McCabe and Sam Green joined their classmates at Campion College’s December 12 graduation ceremony at its Old Toongabbie campus in Western NSW. There was a distinct Perth flavour to the ceremony, with Archbishop Emeritus Barry Hickey celebrating the graduat...

Caritas Australia is disappointed by the Australian Government’s decision to cut $650 million from Australia’s official aid program in the 2013/14 financial year. The decision was announced on January 18, with cuts set to reduce funding for programs in Africa, the Middle East, Latin America, and South and West Asia, as well as decreasing Government support for non-government organisation...

Perth attendees of the national liturgy conference held in Wollongong last week say the four-day event was filled with insightful talks that have given them new ideas on how to improve their parish liturgies. The four-day event commenced on January 15 with Mass at St Francis Xavier Cathedral in Wollongong, celebrated by Bishop Peter Ingham, who was joined by Archbishop Mark Coleridge, Bi...

FAMILY groups and educators have welcomed a review of the national curriculum that aims to restore recognition of the influence of Western civilisation on Australia’s history. Federal Minister for Education Christopher Pyne announced the review on January 5, saying it was prompted by the concerning results of students over the past decade. Research officer for Family Voice Australia (...

CHRISTIAN groups say the Greens’ attempt to remove the daily recitation of prayers in Federal Parliament, a practice that has taken place for more than 100 years, will fail. Acting Greens leader Richard Di Natale announced on January 14 that he would request the removal of the reading of prayers when Parliament returns next month, labeling the practice an “anachronism”. Senator Di Nat...

LIBERAL Senator Cory Bernardi says preserving traditional family values and morality is a task that begins with each individual. Last week, the politician came under fire after his new book, The Conservative Revolution, was criticised by various media outlets for its pro-life and pro-family views. But Senator Bernardi remains unfazed by the criticism, speaking openly to The Record abo...

Australia’s southern Indian faithful will have their own bishop after a breakthrough decision to establish a new Syro-Malabar Eparchy in Melbourne.