January 2015 – Regional Interfaith Network

Pope Francis leads way in interreligious dialogue

January 31, 2015January 31, 2015 by admin

Pope Francis with Ammachi

Bendigo: Multi-faith dinner and forum

January 28, 2015January 28, 2015 by admin

Loddon Campaspe Multicultural Services conducts an annual Festival of Cultures in Bendigo. A Multi-Faith Dinner and Forum will take place during the Festival on Wednesday, 18 March. The guest speaker will be Prof. Gary Bouma.

Youth Action on Climate Change

January 28, 2015 by admin

The International Workshop on Climate Change “Youth Action on Climate Change” is organized by World Youth Foundation in collaboration with Ministry of Youth and Sports Malaysia, Malaysian National Commission for UNESCO, United Nations Environment Program (UNEP), Pembangunan Pertanian Melaka Sdn Bhd and various other agencies.

Mufti urges calm in Australia

January 28, 2015 by admin

Australian Muslims have been urged by the nation’s highest Islamic office holder to maintain civil behaviour in the wake of the controversial Charlie Hebdo magazine cover, but he also criticised the magazine for its double standards in publishing a provocative cartoon that was religiously offensive.

Read more…Mufti urges calm in Australia

Defence of ‘Charlie Hebdo’ worries Asia’s moderate Muslims

January 22, 2015 by admin

Indonesian Muslims pray at the Al-Akbar National Mosque in Surabaya earlier this month

The West’s defense of Charlie Hebdo’s right to offend is testing the patience of Muslims even in moderate Indonesia and Malaysia, who fear it could fuel radical sentiment kindled by the Islamic State (IS) group.

Malaysia Church loses long battle to use ‘Allah’ in Catholic newspaper

January 22, 2015 by admin

The Catholic Church’s long battle to use the word “Allah” in the newsweekly Herald came to an end Wednesday after the dismissal of its review application.

US, UN warn Myanmar over growing religious tensions

January 21, 2015January 21, 2015 by admin

Yangon (AFP) – A top American diplomat Friday decried growing religious intolerance in Myanmar and warned the use of faith for political ends was “playing with fire” in a crunch election year for the former junta-run country.

Hate, racism have no place in Buddhism

January 21, 2015January 21, 2015 by admin

Hate, racism have no place in Buddhism

Credit a top US diplomat for raising the issue of fast-growing religious intolerance in our region. Tom Malinowski, an official of the human rights office of the US State Department, made his comments last week in Myanmar. It was the perfect spot. It also drew the expected reaction: nothing. His message that hate and calls for violence were surfacing among some mainstream Buddhists in Myanmar and in Sri Lanka was overdue and bears strong repetition and opposition.