news in brief
Bangladesh: murdered
On 5 June, Sunil Gomez, a Christian grocer, was murdered inside his shop in a Christian neighbourhood in the district of Natore.
On 7 June, Ananda Gopal Ganuli, a Hindu religious leader, was killed in Jhenaidah after performing his regular religious rites in a temple in the Naldanga area, where he served as a priest. Attacks on religious minorities by extremist groups in Bangladesh have escalated rapidly in recent months. Responsibility for the murders has reportedly been claimed by Daesh (Islamic State).
Australia: church statements – home and away
Peter Riddell
Date posted: 1 Mar 2016
As Australian churches entered the New Year, the attention of the church media was devoted to several pressing issues of debate, both domestic and international.
The push in Australia for the somewhat euphemistically named ‘same-sex marriage’ has been increasing in momentum in recent times. Opposition is coming from various quarters, including the different Australian churches, in partnership with other faith communities.