RSA Daily

For atheists, rationalists and secular humanists in Australia

Wednesday, September 20, 2023

Good morning ,

The RSA previously wrote to NSW multiculturalism minister Steve Kamper when we heard about the state govt setting up a new 'Faith Affairs' council. He told us the council would "ensure a diversity of viewpoints" but now it seems a third of those viewpoints are going to be excluded. Not happy, Steve.

Lead stories

So the NSW govt is now setting up its Faith Affairs council, with significant access to the top levels of the state's decision-making, and one third of the population will be excluded. 

This article really struck me as a brilliant summary of what so many - at least in the Western world - are feeling: "We know people are under stress. We know they avoid news. That they disengage from the life of the nation and seek psychic protection in everything from family to work to conspiracy theories, anything that makes them feel in control, at least of themselves. Anything that provides some padding against all the shit that is hurled at them, whether it be at the supermarket, at the bank, at work, or on television .. this is not democracy .. this is a form of slavery."

Ben Jones 'wrote the book' on the history of the movement for an Australian republic. He writes, "For well over half a century, politicians from both major parties have agreed the Constitution needs to be updated and modernised. Constitutional commissions and legal experts have been used in an attempt to depoliticise the process, but the foundational document remains largely frozen. The aggressive, hyper-partisan nature of Australian politics has meant few oppositions can resist the instinct to sink a government proposal, even if they support the change in principle."

Other stories of interest

What 15 years of research tells us about 'Nudge' theory's promises and politics - Rationale Magazine

Probably was a bit of a storm in a teacup.

Vatican report says Broome bishop a sexual predator

Apparently, the bishop hosted hosted “bunga bunga” parties at church properties and spent thousands of dollars of church money on cash payments, mobile phones, alcohol and cigarettes. A church report writes, "It has been established through the interview of witnesses and examination of documentary and other evidence that Bishop Christopher Saunders has developed a modus operandi of grooming young Aboriginal men for sex during his time within the Kimberley region, both as a Priest and as Bishop,"

Corporate lawbreakers should be jailed. Imagine what their spouses would say

Annoyed by how hard it is to cancel digital subscriptions? Apparently the new chair of the Competition and Consumer council is calling for stronger powers to curb these unfair trading practices ...

Got a comment on any of these stories? 

Write to me at president@rationalist.com.au

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