Freedom of Religion or Belief · Spiritual Minorities · Global Advocacy
News and analysis on freedom of religion or belief — covering discrimination against spiritual and religious minorities, anti-cult movements, and government inquiries worldwide.
4 July 2026
What a religions scholar, a legal scholar, and a Christian legal advocate say about Victoria's inquiry into "cults and organised fringe groups" — its origins, the definitional problem, and the religious-liberty stakes.
Freedom for Faith’s Mike Southon warns Victoria’s inquiry into “cults and organised fringe groups” cannot define a cult without sweeping in mainstream churches — and urges lawmakers to prosecute illegal acts, not legislate belief.
6 January 2026
Legal scholar Keith Thompson warns that Victoria's proposed inquiry into 'cults and organised fringe groups' threatens religious freedom and disregards legal precedent.
29 November 2025
Part 2 of Bernard Doherty's analysis: "cult" is used so loosely in Victoria's inquiry that most Australian churches and faith communities could be targeted — a threat to religious liberty far beyond the unpopular few.
15 November 2025
Part 1 of Bernard Doherty's analysis: Victoria's 2025 parliamentary inquiry into "cults and organised fringe groups" is far from unprecedented — Australian anti-cult inquiries since the 1963 Anderson Inquiry have nearly all failed.
14 November 2025