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Religion and Belief

The West Australian exclusive
The West Australian exclusive
Esther FoundationPremium
The West Australian exclusive
WA dept ‘referred five women’ to ‘troubled’ rehab centre

At least five young women were placed in the now-defunct Esther Foundation by the Department of Communities, it has been revealed in a submission to an inquiry focused on the Christian rehab facility.

Josh Zimmerman

Religion and BeliefPremiumMusk uses Twitter to announce Pope meeting

Technology billionaire Elon Musk has posted a photo of himself with Pope Francis, in which four of his sons can also be seen.

Staff Writers

Religion and BeliefPremiumVatican closes UK property sale at a loss

The Vatican says it has sold the luxury London building at the centre of an ongoing corruption trial.

Staff Writers

Religion and BeliefHost city Sydney cheers WorldPride 2023

Over 1000 supporters wearing brightly-coloured T-shirts gathered on the Sydney Opera House steps to celebrate the city hosting the WorldPride festival in 2023.

Farid Farid

Religion and BeliefHobart solstice swimmers take nippy dip

More than 2000 people have stripped naked for a sunrise dip in Hobart, marking the winter solstice and end of the Dark Mofo festival.

Ethan James

Religion and BeliefPremiumDriver crashes through Vatican barrier

A shot was fired and a man tasered after a car drove through a police cordon near St Peter's Basilica in Vatican City.

Staff Writers

Human rights abusesAustralian member among UN-mandated rights inquiry to rebuke Israel

A three-member commission of inquiry, which includes an Australian, says Middle East tensions are underpinned by Israel's ‘perpetual occupation’.

Emma Farge and Dan Williams

Religion and BeliefPope Francis announces 21 new cardinals

Pope Francis has selected 21 new cardinals, revealing their names to worshippers in St Peter's Square.

Manuel Schwarz

Religion and BeliefVivid festival lights up Sydney once again

The Vivid festival has returned to Sydney, lighting up the Opera House and beyond after a two-year hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Staff Writers

Religion and BeliefMuslims around world celebrate Eid al-Fitr

Over the past two years, Muslims celebrated amid curfews and social distancing measures imposed to combat the coronavirus pandemic.

Staff Writers

Inside storyPremiumWhat really went on at Perth church rehab accused of abuse

In just over a month’s time the women and girls who attended a now notorious Perth rehab facility will finally have their day in court. Some have waited years for this moment. Most thought it would never come.

David Hardaker

Religion and BeliefOktoberfest to return after pandemic break

Germany's annual Oktoberfest will return this year after a two-year hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Staff Writers

Religion and BeliefObama, Beyonce honoured at Rio Carnival

Nelson Mandela, Barack Obama and Beyonce were among influential black people honoured at Rio de Janeiro's Carnival parade.

Maria Angelica Troncoso

Religion and BeliefElvis loves Parkes, baby

Elvis fans insisted his legacy lives on, as they celebrated the king during a raucous street parade at the 29th Parkes Elvis Festival.

Stephanie Gardiner

Tensions mountIsrael enforces Al-Aqsa mosque prayer ban

Israel says there has been no change in its long-standing ban on Jewish prayer at the compound of Al-Aqsa mosque in Jerusalem.

Ari Rabinovitch, Nidal al-Mughrabi and Ali Sawafta

Religion and BeliefPremiumTroubled WA rehab centre in administration

The Esther Foundation women's rehabilitation centre in Western Australia has called in administrators amid claims former residents were abused and mistreated.

Michael Ramsey

‘Reputational damage’ PremiumChristian institution in administration after abuse claims

A Perth Christian institution at the centre of abuse allegations and ‘cult-like’ conditions from former residents has gone into voluntary administration.

Phoebe Pin & Kellie Balaam

The West Australian exclusive
The West Australian exclusive
‘Cult-like’ Premium
The West Australian exclusive
Ex-resident tells of culture of abuse at Christian retreat

A teenager has broken her silence on the emotional abuse she suffered as a resident of a prominent WA Christian institution.

Phoebe Pin

Campaign on holdVideoPremiumGood Friday ceasefire: Jenny Morrison’s moment with Albo

There were no signs of any animosity on Good Friday, after a brutal opening to the election campaign, when Anthony Albanese joined Prime Minister Scott Morrison’s wife Jenny at mass in Sydney.

Finbar O’Mallon and Tess Ikonomou

opinion
opinion
Arylene Westlake-JenningsCommentsPremium
opinion
Just how secular is Australia really?

I probably speak for most millennial Aussies when I say the Good Friday/Easter long weekend is simply a welcome window to catch up with family and friends, get a few extra days off and perhaps indulge.

Arylene Westlake-Jennings

Reporting ‘error’CommentsPremiumOver 1100 COVID cases missed in Catholic Education bungle

WA has recorded 6892 new COVID cases and a further 1100 additional cases dating back to March after rapid antigen tests failed to be reported.

Briana Fiore

Shocking allegations Premium‘Tortured’: Horror claims over Perth’s Esther Foundation

A Parliamentary Inquiry will examine damning allegations of mental, physical and sexual abuse that are said to have occurred at a Christian institution in Perth.

Briana Fiore

‘Quasi-parish’PremiumPriest weighing up options in suburban ‘holy land’ battle

A Belmont priest who tried to stop the Archbishop of Perth from selling a piece of land his church sits on says he is considering his next step after the Court of Appeal threw out his bid to prevent the sale.

Emily Moulton

Perth Theatre TrustCommentsPremiumControversial venue hire policy eased after outcry over bans

A policy that banned the Australian Christian Lobby, supporters of Taiwan and Tibet and a controversial conservative commentator from hiring State-owned venues in recent years has been scrapped.

Peter Law