The Religion and Ethics Report

One of the most serious consequences of the Ukraine war has been the split in the global Orthodox church. Pew Research estimates there are 260 million Orthodox Christians. The Russian Orthodox Church has not only supported Vladimir Putin’s attack, it’s blessed it as a Holy War. The influential World Council of Churches has been under intense pressure to expel or suspend the Russian Orthodox from the organisation. Its general secretary is the Revd. Dr. JERRY PILLAY. has been in Australia to discuss religious freedom. 

The marriage of Catholic convert J.D. Vance to a woman of Hindu Indian background not only defies assumptions about the Republicans, it’s making waves internationally. 

Religious diversity at the US ballot box, plus the World Council of Churches faces pressure to expel the Russian Orthodox Church over Ukraine.  

Religious practice may be falling in the United States but it remains a powerful expression of political identity. The near certainty that Kamala Harris will be the Democratic candidate for president focuses attention on her background as a woman of both Christian and Hindu heritage. On the Republican side, vice presidential candidate J. D. Vance, who’s in an interfaith and inter-racial marriage, up-ends stereotypes of the Trump Republican Party. 

The failed assassination attempt on Donald Trump has not only turbo-charged his supporters, it’s led many to believe that God spared his life so he could retake power.

A country in which almost everyone is Muslim might seem an unlikely place for the government to impose a ban on the hijab. So why has the parliament of Tajikistan done so?

How evangelicals are responding to the attempt on Donald Trump's life, how the decline of Black churches in the US is affecting the Democrats, and the Muslim country that's banning the hijab.

The once mighty US Black churches, which drew congregations in the thousands, are in decline – and it's affecting the Democratic party. 

The Pope has finally had enough of the rebellious, conspiracy-minded Archbishop Carlo Maria Vigano, who once tried to engineer a coup against Francis. He’s excommunicated Vigano. It’s one of the most severe penalties a pope can impose on any Catholic, especially a cleric. 

Even when an election’s a foregone conclusion, such as last week’s landslide victory for Labour in the UK, there’s usually unexpected results. Such was the victory of four independent Muslim candidates in what had been safe Labour constituencies. The major reason for their success – the war in Gaza. How likely is such a scenario in Australia?