Free Pastor Yousef Nadarkhani

Last week I mentioned Pastor Yousef Nadarkhani, arrested and sentenced to death in Iran for changing his religion and telling Muslims the truth about Jesus.  Support and advocacy for the pastor is growing around the world as people realise the brutal truth about religious freedom in some Muslim-dominated nations. Pastor Nadarkhani is under constant pressure …

Too sexy, too soon

Opponents of the sexualisation of women applauded news this week that men’s magazine FHM is to cease publication. Meanwhile, leading psychiatrist Professor Louise Newman has warned that the emphasis on “sexiness” among children (linked to self-esteem and the ability to make friends) can cause emotional damage. “I have seen young children becoming quite confused about how …

Orwellian media inquiry recommendations

On March 2, Federal Communications Minister Senator Stephen Conroy released the findings of an independent inquiry into the regulation of Australia’s media. The Finkelston Report recommended the establishment of a News Media Council to oversee all print, radio, television and online media, including personal blogs and Twitter.  The super-regulator would be empowered to impose a …

Ethics needs a strong philosophical foundation

The NSW Government is conducting an inquiry into the proposed repeal of legislation to allow ethics classes to be taught in state schools.  The NSW Council of Churches has called for significant legislative reforms including an independent review of the controversial classes with a report to Parliament before the date of the next state election. …

Iranian pastor faces execution

Iranian Pastor Youcef Nadarkhani was the spiritual leader of a 400-member Christian congregation, and a network of Christian house churches in the city of Rasht in northwestern Iran. But in October 2009, Pastor Nadarkhani was arrested for changing his religion, evangelising Muslims, and a number of moral offences that have since been dismissed.  His punishment …