FABC News
Submission on Proposed Change of Definition of Charity
In response to the invitation by the Assistant Treasurer and the Minister for Financial Services and Superannuation the FABC has submitted the following:
The following is in response to the request for submissions outlined in ‘A Definition of Charity, Consultation Paper October 2011, published by the Australian Treasury as part of its review of the not-for-profit sector.
India to host new world Buddhist body
The Australian Buddhist community was represented at the first Global Buddhist Congregation held in New Delhi by FABC President Mr Kim Hollow and Anna Markey (SABC). The FABC had been invited via Ven Thich Quang Ba of the Canberra based Sakyamuni Buddhist Temple. Ven Thich was mentioned in this news story from The Times of India:
India to host new world Buddhist body
TNN | Dec 1, 2011, 01.39AM IST - The Times of India
NEW DELHI: In an important move that may provide a joint platform to Buddhist communities across the world and also impact geo-politics in Asia, the first Global Buddhist Congregation, which led to a diplomatic row between India and China, concluded here on Wednesday with a decision to set up a new international Buddhist organization in India.
Not all faith groups silent on gay civil unions
The Brisbane Times ran the story "Faith groups silent on gay civil unions" - an interesting title considering our president Mr Kim Hollow was quoted in the story! Please read the news story here:
Faith groups silent on gay civil unions
Daniel Hurst November 15, 2011
Representatives of three out of four faith groups nominated by an opponent of same-sex civil unions have refused to buy into the debate.
The conservative Australian Christian Lobby and numerous church leaders fronted a parliamentary committee hearing last week to voice opposition to a bill that would allow same-sex couples and straight couples to register their relationships as a “civil partnership”.
Disability Access
We are happy to announce our "Statement of Intention: Provision of Disability Access To Places of Worship for the Buddhist Community". We thank Di Cousens for helping to put this together and she says:
Being able to get into a temple is a basic expectation of everyone within the Buddhist community. Temples provide Buddhist teachings and are the places for rituals and important life events including ceremonies for the deceased. They act as community centres and they enable connectedness within the Buddhist community. They provide access to teachers and the spaces themselves are thought to retain the blessings of the
events they host (The full statement may be read in the Foreword of the publication)..
Raped Nepali Nun now faces expulsion from Buddhist nunnery
We have today written to the Nepal Buddhist Federation about this tragic matter which was reported in the Buddhist Channel.
LETTER TO NEPAL BUDDHIST FEDERATION
Dear President and Committee,
We are writing to you regarding the recent horrifying case of the gang rape of a young Nepalese nun. According to reports in the media, she was violently raped to near the verge of death, and still is extremely traumatized.
"Buddha Bar"
In response to the news article “Officials bar Buddha from restaurant name” published in The West newspaper on 28th June 2011, the Buddhist Council of Western Australia’s statement to The West was as follows:
The Buddhist Council of WA feels that the use of the name of the Buddha or for that matter any religious or respected figure should only be used when it is appropriate and respectful to do so.