Show Notes
For six years, a Church of England priest has been trying to uncover the fate of more than 60 Iraqis taken prisoner by Coalition forces during the 2003 Iraq invasion. What makes this search for the truth so compelling is that before becoming a priest, Nicholas Mercer was a Lieutenant Colonel and one of the most senior lawyers in the British military. As part of his search, he wrote repeatedly to the Inspector General of the Australian Defence Forced because Australian troops were involved in detaining the Iraqis. Nicholas Mercer has finally received a response from the Inspector-General. The following statement can be attributed to a spokesperson for the Inspector-General of the Australian Defence Force: The Inspector-General of the Australian Defence Force’s role includes the examination of matters affecting military justice in the ADF. The IGADF inquiry into Dr Mercer’s concerns did not find any evidence that substantiates wrongdoing on the part of the ADF. GUEST: A former British Army Lieutenant-Colonel, the Rev Nicholas Mercer has been campaigning for the truth about war crimes in Iraq - he is also an Anglican priest
More from The Religion and Ethics Report
Israeli settlers have again besieged the Palestinian town of Taybeh. It’s the last remaining Christian village on the West Bank. But this time the far-right Jewish youths also attacked a visiting Catholic Archbishop from France and European diplomats. Their violence has even triggered condemnation from a prominent Orthodox rabbi. And It seems like every Israel election since the early 1990s, and the start of the stalled Oslo peace accords, has been historic or pivotal. But next week’s poll really does feel like a crucial choice for the country. Benjamin Netanyahu has committed his hard-right government to the expansion of Israeli territory and no statehood, ever, for Palestinians. Will Israelis endorse his vision? Plus Despite the tragedy of the Gaza war, civil society groups are making small but critical steps towards reconciliation. Project Rozana is a global charity, started in Australia, that brings Jews, Israelis, and Palestinians together to deliver health care in Palestine. It’s about to open a rehabilitation hospital in Hebron, backed by the Australian government. Guests: Father Bashar Fawadleh is the Catholic parish priest of Taybeh. Dr Dahlia Scheindlin is a public opinion analyst and senior columnist with Ha’aretz. Panos Massouris is the chief executive of Project Rozana, a global charity This program was made on the lands of the Gadigal People of the Eora Nation
It seems like every Israel election since the early 1990s, and the start of the stalled Oslo peace accords, has been historic or pivotal. But next week’s poll really does feel like a crucial choice for the country. Benjamin Netanyahu has committed his hard-right government to the expansion of Israeli territory and no statehood, ever, for Palestinians. Will Israelis endorse his vision? GUEST: Dr Dahlia Scheindlin is a public opinion analyst and senior columnist with Ha’aretz.
Despite the tragedy of the Gaza war, civil society groups are making small but critical steps towards reconciliation.
Israeli settlers have again besieged the Palestinian town of Taybeh. It’s the last remaining Christian village on the West Bank. But this time the far-right Jewish youths also attacked a visiting Catholic Archbishop from France and European diplomats who were watching the olive harvest. GUEST: Father Bashar Fawadleh is the Catholic parish priest of Taybeh.
Those with fond memories of our grandmothers will often say she “was a saint”. For Martha Hennessy, that will literally be the case. Her grandmother, the American Catholic writer and social justice activist Dorothy Day is on track to canonization. Dorothy Day died in 1980, almost 50 years after she co-founded the Catholic Worker newspaper, but Pope Benedict, Pope Francis and now Pope Leo have invoked her life and work. Martha Hennessy is currently touring Australia. GUEST: Martha Hennessy is an American Catholic peace activist and member of the Catholic Worker Movement