Weekend Wrap for 14 November 2021
Welcome to the NSL Weekend Wrap for 14 November 2021, where you can catch up on the latest secular-related news from around the country.
At the National Level
Around the Country
Commentary and Analysis
Andrew P Street suggests that the Morrison Government could use the proposed Religious Freedom Bill as a political weapon against Labor in the upcoming election. (Independent Australia)
Dr Bernadette Tobin argues that to legalise voluntary assisted dying is to legalise a practice that predictably and inevitably expands. (Catholic Weekly)
Bernard Keane: "The claim that Hillsong figure Brian Houston was invited to the Trump White House by Scott Morrison and was rejected was dismissed by the prime minister as 'gossip'. But eventually he was forced to tell the truth." (Crikey)
Mehmet Ozalp writes that the Islamic ideal of "care of creation" means that taking action on climate change is an Islamic obligation. (The Conversation)
Events and Advisories
Sign up for a webinar presented by the Rationalist Society of Australia on 24 November -- guest speakers Dr Nick Carr and Penny Hackett will present on the journey of reform since the Victorian parliament legalised VAD in 2017 and on the path ahead, with final hurdles remaining in New South Wales and the territories.
Watch a reply of the Rationalist Society of Australia webinar featuring Rev. Dr Elenie Poulos and Professor Marion Maddox, "Unpacking the religious freedom agenda".
Sign up to the #DontDivideUs campaign currently being run by a group of pro-secular groups including the NSL, to act against the proposed Religious Discrimination Bill.
Minister for Human Rights, Tara Cheyne, is running a petition calling on the Australian government to restore the right of Territories to pass laws on VAD. She also recommends people email the Commonwealth Attorney-General with their views, at attorney@ag.gov.au.
Dying With Dignity NSW are petitioning the NSW Parliament to work together to deliver voluntary assisted dying laws.
Dying With Dignity NSW has a tool that makes it easy for people to contact their federal MPs and senators to request help in repealing the "Andrews Bill", the 1997 legislation which denies the Territories the right to pass legislation on Voluntary Assisted Dying.
That's it for another week!
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