Should the "spiritual but not religious" or "Nones" (individuals who are not members of organised religious groups) be able to make freedom of religious claims?  In this special episode, I join a fascinating debate in the legal literature by presenting my

In many jurisdictions in Australian, public schools are allowed or even required to offer students religious instruction classes.  In recent years, this practice has become more controversial.  With me to talk about religious instruction in the public sch

The results of the recent census confirmed the expectations of those who study the demographics of religious identity in Australia: change is happening, and it's happening fast!  This episode features an interview with Professor Adam Possamai of Western S

Welcome to Season 3 of Law and Religion Down Under!   In this episode, we turn our attention to Indonesia.  Indonesia is a sprawling majority-Muslim democracy with growing influence in the Pacific region.  This episode features an interview with Professo

Roger Herft was a long-time Bishop of the Anglican Church in Australia. But when an investigation revealed a pattern of inaction toward reports of sexual abuse by other church employees, he was "defrocked." Mr Garth Blake, Chair of the Safe Ministry Com

In 2020, a unanimous High Court of Australia found that the jury that convicted Cardinal George Pell of historical sex abuse crimes must have had a reasonable doubt.  The decision set Pell free after 13 months of imprisonment, but has led to continued con

What can the history of the relationship between law and religion in Australian history tell us about the present and perhaps even the future? In this episode, we discuss  religion in colonial Australia, how the relationship between religion and the state

Does the composition of the High Court of Australia fairly reflect the demographics of the country?  A brief essay tries to answer the question. The entire "Judges and Their Religions" series can be found on the International Center for Law and Religion

Did you know Cardinal Pell once sued the National Gallery of Victoria on a charge of blasphemy?  What does it mean for something to be blasphemous?  In this episode, Professor Brent Rodriguez-Plate joins me to talk about blasphemy in law, art, and religio

In late 2021, the Victorian Parliament passed new amendments to the State's anti-discrimination laws.  These amendments limit the current exemptions provided to religious groups in a clash of what seem see as religious freedom versus equality.  This episo