Australia

The Latest

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Pro-life advocates fight against euthanasia expansions across Canada, Australia

Feb 21, 2024

By Daniel Payne

In Canada, euthanasia and assisted suicide have been legal for nearly a decade and in Australia all six of the... Read more

Cardinal Gerhard Müller (center) and Father Joseph Hamilton (at left), personal secretary to the late Cardinal George Pell, were among the priests celebrating the Jan. 10, 2024, Mass held on the first anniversary of the cardinal's death.

Requiem Mass for Cardinal Pell celebrated on first anniversary of his death 

Jan 10, 2024

By Matthew Santucci

The chapel of the Domus Australia in Rome was filled to capacity for the Mass, which was celebrated by Cardinal... Read more

Australian Cardinal George Pell leaves after being released from Barwon Prison near Anakie, some 70 kilometers west of Melbourne, on April 7, 2020.

Catholic Church loses bid to have abuse lawsuit thrown out in Australia

Aug 25, 2023

By Daniel Payne

The Court of Appeal agreed with last year’s Supreme Court ruling, ordering that the father of the now-deceased alleged victim... Read more

Cardinal George Pell’s funeral Mass drew thousands of mourners to Sydney’s St. Mary’s Cathedral Feb. 2, 2023.

Thousands mourn Cardinal Pell at Sydney funeral: ‘Be not afraid’ was his motto 

Feb 2, 2023

By Kevin J. Jones

Civic leaders, friends, and members of Cardinal George Pell’s family remembered the Australian cardinal’s dedication to the Church. Read more

Andrew Thorburn (seen here in a 2015 photo), a former Australian banking executive and current chairman of church affiliated with the Anglican Diocese of Melbourne, stepped down Oct. 4, 2022, one day after being appointed chief executive of an Australian rules football club due to public backlash.

Christians excluded from Australian sports? Bishops raise alarm after exec resigns

Oct 7, 2022

By AC Wimmer

One day after being appointed chief executive of an Australian rules football club, Andrew Thorburn stepped down from the role... Read more

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Australian Anglicans split over same-sex marriage

Aug 18, 2022

By AC Wimmer

An attempt by the Sydney archdiocese to affirm that marriage is only between a man and a woman was narrowly... Read more

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Australian bill would allow legalization of assisted suicide, euthanasia in territories

Aug 2, 2022

By Kevin J. Jones

Lawmakers in the Australian Parliament have proposed a bill to allow two of Australia’s ten territories to legalize euthanasia and... Read more

Credit: Photographee.eu / Shutterstock.

Final Australian state allows euthanasia and assisted suicide, rejecting religious exemptions

May 19, 2022

By Kevin J. Jones

New South Wales has become the sixth and final Australian state to legalize euthanasia and assisted suicide. Its legislation forces... Read more

Archbishop Timothy Costelloe at St. Mary’s Cathedral in Perth, Australia.

Australia’s Catholic bishops elect new leader

May 6, 2022

By CNA Staff

Archbishop Timothy Costelloe of Perth is the first member of a religious order to lead Australia’s bishops’ conference. Read more

The Supreme Court of Victoria, Australia.

Catholic diocese in Australia found vicariously liable for clerical abuse

Jan 21, 2022

By CNA Staff

The ruling is believed to be the first of its kind in the country. Read more

Parliament House for the state of Victoria in Melbourne, Australia.

Victoria anti-discrimination bill 'unfairly targets' religious organizations, archbishop says

Dec 7, 2021

By Jonah McKeown

Catholic leaders in Australia expressed concern this week about a new set of laws passed in the state of Victoria... Read more

Credit: Photographee.eu / Shutterstock.

Bishop urges Queenslanders to oppose euthanasia, assisted suicide bill

Sep 2, 2021

By Jonah McKeown

Catholics in Australia’s Queensland state are being urged to sign a petition asking the parliament not to pass a bill... Read more

Cherish Life Queensland Rally for Life, October 2018

Australian pro-lifers to march against proposed assisted suicide law

Aug 30, 2021

By Jonah McKeown

Pro-life advocates in Queensland, Australia will hold a public March for Life ahead of parliamentary debate on a proposed assisted... Read more

Refugee children from Afghanistan.

Afghan refugees deserve welcome, Australian and Irish bishops urge governments

Aug 24, 2021

By Kevin J. Jones

Bishops in Ireland and Australia have asked their governments to do more to take in refugees from Afghanistan after the... Read more

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Australian archbishop: Catholics will ‘need to adapt’ to liturgy restrictions

Jul 22, 2021

By Courtney Mares

Archbishop Peter Comensoli said that “for some, it will be not an easy moment.” Read more

Support grows for ‘born-alive’ abortion bill in Australia

Jul 7, 2021

By CNA Staff

The private members’ bill was introduced on June 21. Read more

Credit: GUNDAM_Ai / Shutterstock.

Australian diocese breaks with Sydney archbishop on gender fluidity ban

Apr 21, 2021

The Australian Diocese of Parramatta has split with other Catholic leaders in responding to a new bill that would ban... Read more

A view of St. Peter's Basilica from the Pontifical University of the Holy Cross.

Australian Cardinal Edward Cassidy, Vatican official and diplomat, dies at 96

Apr 10, 2021

By Hannah Brockhaus

The retired cardinal had been a Vatican nuncio and Holy See official for over 30 years. Read more

Tasmania poised to legalize euthanasia, assisted suicide

Mar 5, 2021

The Australian island of Tasmania is expected to become the third Australian state to legalize assisted suicide and euthanasia, after... Read more

The flag of Australia. Credit: Rob Wilson/Shutterstock.

Australia’s Catholic bishops issue plenary council working document

Feb 26, 2021

Australia’s Catholic bishops on Thursday issued a working document ahead of the first assembly of a landmark plenary council in October.  Read more