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The plan was that, at 8am on Sunday, 35 men dressed in orange sashes and black bowler hats would march up a street in Portadown, in Northern Ireland.  By 8.30, it was supposed to be over.  Now, the planned march, which never took place, has become a stand-off that threatens to bring down Norther Ireland’s provincial government.  The controversy has also reopened a tension between the town’s Catholic nationalists and Protestant loyalists that’s been contained for almost three decades.  GUEST: Professor Dominic Bryan is a specialist in politics and religion at Queens University in Belfast.

The plan was that, at 8am on Sunday, 35 men dressed in orange sashes and black bowler hats would march up a street in Portadown, in Northern Ireland. By 8.30, it was supposed to be over. Now, the planned march, which never took place, has become a stand-off that threatens to bring down Norther Ireland’s provincial government. The controversy has also reopened a tension between the town’s Catholic nationalists and Protestant loyalists that’s been contained for almost three decades.  AND France is a country that, since the early 20th century, has built its politics and civil life around a strict practice of secularism. The law even bans the wearing of crosses and other religious symbols in some public institutions. So how much of a shock has it been to see Pope Leo draw massive crowds during his brief visit to France? An estimated 800,000 people turned out to see him in Paris. And does it suggest a religious revival in a country where only about  5% of people attend church each week?  GUESTS: Professor Dominic Bryan is a specialist in politics and religion at Queens University in Belfast.Professor Charles Mercier specialises in public religion at the School of Advanced Studies in Paris.This program was recorded and produced on the lands of the Gadigal People of the Eora Nation

France is a country that, since the early 20th century, has built its politics and civil life around a strict practice of secularism.  The law even bans the wearing of crosses and other religious symbols in some public institutions.  So how much of a shock has it been to see Pope Leo draw massive crowds during his brief visit to France? An estimated 800,000 people turned out to see him in Paris.  And does it suggest a religious revival in a country where only about 5% of people attend church each week? GUEST: Professor CHARLES MERCIER specialises in public religion at the School of Advanced Studies in Paris.

Where religion and ethics meet news and current affairs in Australia and around the world.

In the early 1990s, a young economist and philosopher anticipated the end of Labor's era in government and asked what came next for Australian politics.  Clive Hamilton then set up the Australia Institute.  It became the country's premier centre-left think tank. He later became Professor of Public Ethics at Charles Sturt University.  Despite being a man of the left, Clive began to despair about the state of progressive politics, especially the movements around gender and sexual identity.  Clive's retiring from academic life but his voice remains as prophetic as ever in the battle of ideas. Guest:Clive Hamilton, retiring Professor of Public Ethics, Charles Sturt University and founder of the Australia Institute. This program was made on the lands of the Gadigal People of the Eora nation

As ethno-nationalists continue their march across much of Europe, what has become of the once predominant political movement in Europe — Christian Democracy? While it might share a religious origin, it is worlds away from today's abrasive Christian nationalism.  Christian Democracy was the driving force behind the rebuilding of Europe in the wake of World War II; bolstering welfare states and helping to create the communal organisation that would become the European Union.  But today, the influence and appeal of Christian Democracy has significantly diminished.  Does it have a future in an increasingly volatile political climate? Guest: Jan-Werner Muller, Professor of Politics, Princeton University. Author of the new book, Street, Palace, Square: The Architecture of Democratic Spaces and a recent essay for Foreign Policy magazine. This program was made on the lands of the Gadigal People of the Eora nation

Who are the real leaders behind the current MAGA movement in the US? There's no doubt that Trump has amassed a significant, largely male support base. But there's a growing movement of politically-engaged conservative Christian women who are challenging long-held stereotypes and proving to be a formidable force in right-wing politics. They have modelled themselves on a prominent figure of the Old Testament and are reshaping perceptions of what it means to be on the religious right.   GUEST Katie Gaddini, associate professor at University College London and author of Esther's Army: The Christian Women Who Power the American Right.This program was made on the lands of the Gadigal People of the Eora nation

Australia’s Law Reform Commission is due to release its review of surrogacy laws this week.  Surrogacy advocates have lobbied hard to allow commercial or compensated surrogacy for women who bear children for couples who cannot, or choose not to, have a natural pregnancy.  But the United Nations Special Rapporteur on Violence Against Women is urging the federal government not to liberalise the laws.  Reem Alsalem says it will lead to the exploitation of poor women. She was in Australia recently and met the commission to put her case. GUEST: Reem Alsalim  is the United Nations Special Rapporteur on Violence Against Women

As the war in Sudan continues into its fourth year, with a death toll as high as 400,000, violence has come to the last refuge.  In the Nuba mountains, Christian and Muslim Sudanese have traditionally lived in peaceful co-existence, and in roughly equal numbers.  But the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement has set up a de facto government, principally to control the abundant resources of the mountains.  GUEST: Mohaned El Nour is a distinguished Sudanese human rights lawyer who works with the group Christian Solidarity Worldwide.

Australia’s Law Reform Commission is due to release its review of surrogacy laws this week. Surrogacy advocates have lobbied hard to allow commercial or compensated surrogacy for women who bear children for couples who cannot, or choose not to, have a natural pregnancy. But the United Nations Special Rapporteur on Violence Against Women is urging the federal government not to liberalise the laws. Reem Alsalem says it will lead to the exploitation of poor women. She was in Australia recently and met the commission to put her case. PLUS For the first time since the 1930s, a far-right party is poised to take government in a German state. In the weekend elections in Saxony-Anhalt, the Alternative for Deutschland won 44 per cent of the vote. The party’s unmistakably, and unashamedly, anti-Islam, but its relationship with the Christian churches is also severely strained.  AND As the war in Sudan continues into its fourth year -- with a death toll as high as 400,000 – violence has come to the last refuge. In the Nuba mountains, Christian and Muslim Sudanese have traditionally lived in peaceful co-existence, and in roughly equal numbers. But the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement has set up a de facto government, principally to control the abundant resources of the mountains.  GUESTS: Reem Alsalim  is the United Nations Special Rapporteur on Violence Against WomenJan-Werner Mueller is a Princeton University political scientist and one the world’s leading experts on the far right. His latest book is called Street, Palace, Square: The Architecture of Democratic Spaces.Mohaned El Nour is a distinguished Sudanese human rights lawyer who works with the group Christian Solidarity Worldwide.   STATEMENT FROM THE AUSTRALIAN LAW REFORM COMMISSION The ALRC typically establishes an advisory committee for each inquiry. Advisory committee members are selected for their expertise and experience relevant to the area of law under consideration, including expertise in regulation, research, policy, or practice. An advisory committee is not intended to represent all stakeholder groups involved in an inquiry, as the ALRC consults more broadly through a range of other mechanisms.The role of an advisory committee is solely advisory. Advisory committee members provide feedback and share their views. Their input is one of many sources that inform the ALRC's work. The ALRC always consults broadly and hears from a range of views. We do so through public submissions (open to anyone with an interest in an inquiry), consultations, surveys, webinars, round-tables, and other stakeholder engagement activities. Advisory committee members, like all consultees, have no decision-making role. The views of any consultee or advisory committee are informative but are not determinative.All inquiry decisions are made by the ALRC's President and Commissioners. In developing recommendations, the President and Commissioners consider the totality of the evidence before them, including submissions, consultations, research, and the ALRC's independent analysis.This program was made on the lands of the Gadigal People of the Eora nation

For the first time since the 1930s, a far-right party is poised to take government in a German state.  In the weekend elections in Saxony-Anhalt, the Alternative for Deutschland won 44 per cent of the vote.  The party’s unmistakably, and unashamedly, anti-Islam but its relationship with the Christian churches is severely strained. GUEST: Jan-Werner Mueller is a Princeton University political scientist and one the world’s leading experts on the far right. His latest book is called Street, Palace, Square: The Architecture of Democratic Spaces.

“The scale and suddenness of this flood have left many families facing immense uncertainty and hardship.” says Roslyn Gabriel, World Vision’s National Director in Nepal. The death toll from the floods that have swept the border region between Nepal and Chinese-controlled Tibet continues to rise, along with the intense rescue effort. But Nepal must also rebuild the villages in the path of the flood or rehouse people who’ve moved to the capital, Kathmandu. Hundreds of children have also reportedly been made orphans. PLUS Almost every UN member country has signed covenants to guarantee human rights. But what happens when there’s a clash of rights, such as personal identity versus religious liberty? Some battles end in the courts but official human rights agencies are trying to balance these claims. The Templeton Foundation is funding a $1.2 million global study of the issue.  AND It’s five years since the Taliban seized power in Afghanistan, erasing, almost overnight, the human rights gained in the previous 20 years. A western occupation had its problems – a Brown University study found it cost allied powers around $2 trillion – but for two decades it empowered many women and girls to live as full citizens. Now they face what Afghanistan’s former human rights chief is calling a “femicide”.  GUESTS: Roslyn Gabriel is the National director of World Vision NepalNicholas Aroney is Professor of Constitutional Law at The University of QueenslandShaharzad Akbar is a human rights activist from Afghanistan, currently in exile and a Visiting Scholar at Wolfson College, OxfordAustralians can support World Vision’s Nepal emergency appeal at the World Vision Australia website: Nepal emergency flood appeal | World Vision Australia Also the ABC is supporting the Emergency Action Alliance member charities and their local partners.  Your donation will help provide food, water, financial support, emergency shelter and aid to those in need.  Go to ABC.net.au/gives to find out more and donate. Nepal-Tibet Floods - ABC Gives

Almost every UN member country has signed covenants to guarantee human rights.  But what happens when there’s a clash of rights, such as personal identity versus religious liberty?  Some battles end in the courts but official human rights agencies are trying to balance these claims.  The Templeton Foundation is funding a $1.2 million global study of the issue.  GUEST: Queensland University law professor Nicholas Aroney is project leader.

“The scale and suddenness of this flood have left many families facing immense uncertainty and hardship.” says Roslyn Gabriel, World Vision’s National Director in Nepal.  The death toll from the floods that have swept the border region between Nepal and Chinese-controlled Tibet continues to rise, along with the intense rescue effort. But Nepal must also rebuild the villages in the path of the flood or rehouse people who’ve moved to the capital, Kathmandu.  Hundreds of children have also reportedly been made orphans. GUEST: Roslyn Gabriel is the National director of World Vision Nepal based in KatmanduAustralians can support World Vision’s Nepal emergency appeal at the World Vision Australia website: Nepal emergency flood appeal | World Vision Australia

It’s five years since the Taliban seized power in Afghanistan, erasing, almost overnight, the human rights gained in the previous 20 years.  A western occupation had its problems. A Brown University study found it cost allied powers around $2 trillion.  But for two decades it empowered many women and girls to live as full citizens.  Now they face what Afghanistan’s former human rights chief is calling a “femicide”.  GUEST: Shaharzad Akbar is a human rights activist from Afghanistan, currently in exile and a Visiting Scholar at Wolfson College, Oxford