Catholics pray for Pope Leo’s mission, Australian visit
Church leaders are confident they have a "foot in the door" to getting Pope Leo XIV to Australian shores after his sudden rise to the papacy.
Religion and Belief
Dignitaries join everyday Australians to farewell Pope
Catholics and political leaders have gathered across Australia to pay their respects and celebrate the life of the late Pope Francis.
PM hails papacy to poor as world farewells Pope Francis
Pope Francis leaves a legacy of compassion for the powerless and poor, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese says, as the Catholic faithful gather to his funeral.
‘Voice of compassion’: Aussie churchgoers farewell Pope
Australian Catholics have used Sunday mass to farewell Pope Francis at the first services since his funeral, celebrating him as a "voice for the voiceless".
Catholic Australians’ mega pilgrimage to farewell Pope
Devoted Catholics are making the long journey across the world to pay their final respects to the late Pope Francis before his funeral.
How will a new pope be chosen? An expert explains the conclave
Following the death of Pope Francis, we’ll soon be seeing a new leader in the Vatican. The conclave – a strictly confidential gathering of Roman Catholic cardinals – is due to meet in a matter of weeks to elect a new earthly head.
Australian Catholics join world mourning for Pope
Church leaders and politicians have led tributes to Pope Francis who has died after battling illness, with Catholics set to join services across the nation.
Mosque unveiling tainted by alleged massacre taunt
A teen has been charged after allegedly threatening to "Christchurch 2.0" a mosque as worshippers gather for the Muslim holy month of Ramadan.
Duo tied to more attacks amid ‘festering’ anti-Semitism
A man accused of targeting a synagogue has also been charged over a graffiti and arson attack at the former home of a Jewish community leader.
Injustice for priest’s victim-survivors despite death
The death of one of Australia's worst sexual predators will provide cold comfort for the dozens of victims and families he preyed upon, legal experts say.
ABC’s integrity on the line in Gaza advocate case: boss
The ABC's integrity will be affected by the outcome of a lawsuit by a radio host dismissed over a post on the Gaza conflict, the broadcaster's boss has said.
University heads grilled over anti-Semitism inaction
Vice-chancellors have defended action taken against anti-Semitism on university campuses amid concerns that Jewish students feel unsafe.
‘Australia is a racist country’ is impartial: ABC boss
An ABC boss has been asked why a radio host was removed for sharing a post on Gaza but high-profile news figures remained despite their polarising views.
‘Insulting’: trans music tutor sues Catholic schools
A transgender tutor has accused a Catholic schools body of failing to let her work after she transitioned and asking invasive questions about her bathroom use.
Fears hate speech laws could make anti-Semitism worse
A crackdown on hate speech laws to curb anti-Semitism could have the opposite effect, legal experts warn.
‘Soul-crushing’ attacks raising Jewish community fears
After a string of anti-Semitic incidents in the past week, Jewish community leaders say they are constantly looking over their shoulder in fear of more attacks.
Warm season’s greetings for most Christmas revellers
Australians can expect to be of good cheer as the official forecast for Christmas Day expects settled warm and dry conditions for most of the country.
Retailers buoyed as shoppers swarm Boxing Day sales
Aussies are expected to splurge on homewares and beauty products, with bargain hunters set to spend more than $1.3 billion on Boxing Day sales.
Call to criminalise threats against places of worship
A senator is urging the federal government to bolster its hate crime bill and make threatening places of worship an offence following an attack on a synagogue.
PM lashes anti-Semitic attacks as evil and disgraceful
Anthony Albanese has delivered an impassioned call for Australians to unite around common values and respect after two attacks on Jewish communities.
Worshippers escape ‘devastating’ synagogue attack
A congregant says the Jewish community has been "hit in the heart" after fire gutted one of Melbourne's largest synagogues within the space of an hour.
‘Cheap and late’: PM heckled at firebombed synagogue
An angry crowd has met Prime Minister Anthony Albanese as he visited a synagogue to see for himself the destruction caused by a suspected terrorist attack.
High Court limits church liability for child abuse
The High Court has found a Catholic diocese in regional Victoria is not liable for the sexual abuse of a young boy by a priest over 50 years ago.
House divided: leaders spar over Israel-Gaza motion
As Australians continue to flee escalating violence in the Middle East, a potential moment of unity between the nation's leaders has been rejected.
CFMEU crackdown laws lodged as calls mount to go harder
CFMEU officials who attempt to disrupt the work of external administrators have been threatened with heavy penalties, but not everybody is happy with the laws.
Rioters convicted over ‘unacceptable’ church attack
A magistrate has condemned the actions of rioters congregating outside a church after a bishop's stabbing as three charged over the incident appeared in court.
Mum forced daughter into two marriages: court hears
A mother who forced her daughter to marry a man who would go on to kill her should be jailed to send a message to the community, a court has been told.
No jail for ‘morally repugnant’ rioter who punched cop
A man who attended violent riots after a church bishop's stabbing and was pepper sprayed after punching a police officer will not spend any more time in prison.
Greens deputy says Muslim voters ‘long ignored’
The deputy leader of the Greens says the major parties have failed to address the needs of migrant communities and their voices are not being heard.
Church rioter’s sentencing delayed due to new charges
The first sentence against a participant of an angry mob riled up by a bishop's stabbing has been delayed as the rioter faces new domestic violence allegations.
‘Tears of joy’ after four Israel hostages freed in Gaza
An Australian Jewish advocacy body says the freeing of four hostages held by Hamas in Gaza is "a beautiful thing", despite mass Palestinian casualties.