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Compass is an Australian weekly news-documentary program screened on ABC Television on Sunday nights. Originally presented by Geraldine Doogue, the program is devoted to providing information about faith, values, ethics, and religion from across the globe.
2015
Still dancing at 100, Eileen Kramer's creative spirit is undiminished.
In our first Moral Compass of the year, Geraldine and her guests will be grappling with the subject of blasphemy: the act of insulting or showing contempt or lack of reverence for God, to religious or holy persons or things, or toward something considered sacred or inviolable.
Three inspiring Jewish women who lived through WWII pass on their life experience and recipes to their grandchildren.
On her first visit to the Holy Land, Compass presenter and ABC personality Geraldine Doogue travels on a personal pilgrimage for Holy Week.
The history of the Muslim Cameleers who helped open up Australia from the 1860’s through to the introduction of the motor car.
Stan Savige fought at Gallipoli, then commanded the operation that saved 50,000 Assyrian refugees from certain death in the Middle East and went on to found Legacy - an organisation still providing aid to families of service men and women.
Emily Simpson’s passion for walking labyrinths made her determined that everyone should be able to enjoy this ancient form of spiritual exercise.
Geraldine and her guests will be grappling with the question: Does Christianity really offer women a seat at the table?
For generations of young Australians, Sunday School was their first playground - a place where they learnt about God and Jesus, said prayers, sang songs and made friends.
Formed in Australia in 1916, the RSL was borne out of the camaraderie, concern and mateship shown by diggers for the welfare of their mates during and after the First World War.
In the 1960’s Indian guru Maharishi Mahesh Yogi introduced Transcendental Meditation to the world, spreading his meditation technique to Australia and setting up centres in Melbourne and Sydney.
Australia’s grand dame of the outback - the Country Women’s Association turns 93 this year but is showing no sign of aging or retiring anytime soon. Instead she’s having something of a facelift.
Examines the impact Women’s Lib really had on our culture and attitudes. After the massive achievements of the late 1960s and 1970s is sisterhood still powerful?
After WW2 the Anglican Church in Australia introduced Marriage Guidance to try and retrieve marriages threatened by the inevitable fallout of war. Growing up through the social upheaval of the 1960’s and 1970’s Marriage Guidance became a secular service that reflected the mood of the times, evolving and transforming into the multi-million dollar industry it is today.
Archibald prize-winning artist Wendy Sharpe draws portraits of 39 asylum seekers as they share their powerful stories of survival and integration.
As the end of the financial year approaches, tax is on many of our minds. What are our moral obligations around paying tax? The Moral Compass gets a feel for the views of people in the street and an expert panel debates the ethical issues - both big and small - associated with tax.
Aboriginal community leader Lois Cook’s exploration of her great grandfather Bubba Jack Cook’s story reveals the history of indigenous massacres on the NSW North Coast.
Through its ground-breaking arts based curriculum, Port Phillip Specialist School in Victoria provides a transformative learning experience for students with special needs.
Rather than saving souls for the hereafter, the organisation Urban Neighbours of Hope (UNOH) strives to make life better for those struggling in the here and now.
In June, the Pope’s Encyclical called on humanity to change its approach to the environment. Since then, there’s been fierce debate with politicians and business groups from around the world opposing the Pope’s environmental message and questioning the church’s legitimacy to even enter the debate. So have church leaders strayed too far beyond religion or is climate change core business for Christians?
Part 1 charts the relationship of an Australian gay man and his American partner and their 40 year fight for recognition of their marriage.
Part 2 continues the story of Tony Sullivan and Richard Adams and their 40 year struggle to have their marriage recognised by the American authorities.
Geraldine Doogue goes on a personal quest to understand more about the Jewish roots of her Christian faith. Following a visit to Jerusalem at Easter, she became intrigued by the history and traditions of Judaism.
Stephen Fry talks to Irish broadcasting legend Gay Byrne about the people, ideas values and beliefs that give his life meaning. In February this year a Youtube clip from this interview describing what Fry would say to God if he met him at the Pearly Gates went viral. Here Compass brings you a revealing insight into the life and brilliant, but troubled, mind of Stephen Fry.
Mary Robinson, Ireland’s first woman President, talks to Irish broadcasting legend Gay Byrne about the people, ideas, values and beliefs that give her life meaning. A brilliant lawyer and human rights activist before entering politics, she famously challenged the influence of the Catholic Church in Irish society and helped to bring about changes in the law concerning contraception, divorce and homosexuality. And yet she remains the product of a traditional religious upbringing and education and sees those values as the moral engine behind her continuing work for human rights and what she calls climate justice.
Sir Michael Parkinson talks to broadcaster Gay Byrne about the people, ideas, values and beliefs that give his life meaning. The two originally met when Byrne interviewed the Beatles in 1962. Fifty years later, after Parkinson went on to become a broadcasting legend in Britain and Australia, the two met up again to record an interview for Gay Byrne’s series The Meaning of Life on Irish Television.
The Victorian opposition says it’s a broken election promise but the decision has reignited debate about the place of religion in public schools. After a report found that Education Department guidelines were being breached by the key provider of Special Religious Instruction (SRI), Access Ministries, Victoria also banned religious organisations from running prayer groups, handing out Bibles and delivering other unauthorised information sessions during school hours. NSW legislation requires state schools to offer religious education classes for ‘children of any religious persuasion’ but recently the Baird government has unveiled a proposal to remove reference to ethics classes on school enrolment forms, leaving parents unaware of their right to opt out of the scripture lessons presented in Special Religious Education (SRE). Given the fact that various state based legislation argues that education in public schools be secular, should that exclude religious instruction classes or religion in the broader curriculum?
The first flush of love, your heart skips a beat, a knowing look - or is it? We find out where it all began for our five couples.
When two individuals leave their family of origin and combine to make a new family, each brings a piece of their past with them, some bring more baggage than others. Our couples reflect on how they negotiated this tricky transition.
After the honeymoon period, sooner or later every relationship hits a rough patch. Sickness, infidelity, addiction, children; it’s the stuff that can make or break any relationship. Our couples share what got them through.
As the daily grind takes its toll, the division of domestic labour is a matter that must be negotiated. And then there is the question of sex. Does longevity breed boredom in the bedroom? Our couples reveal the habits they tolerate, those that drive them crazy and how to keep that special spark alive.
Our couple's relationships have stood the test of time with their bonds intact. But the ultimate price of a life lived together is the reality that one of you will die before the other. Our couples reflect on the glue that has held them together, what they are most proud of and how they look to the future.
Geraldine is joined by local panellists to discuss what Australia can learn from Toowoomba’s experience of helping to settle refugees who have moved into the area. Guests are Professor Lorelle Burton, Psychologist from the University of Southern Queensland, Gitie House from Toowoomba International Multicultural Society, Dr Mark Copland from the Catholic Social Justice Commission, and former refugees, Moses Ali and Prudence Melom.
Michelle, Vicki and Aaron are young adults who suffered devastating disability through chronic illness and injury. For each of them a protracted stay in aged care facilities has formed part of their recovery experience because there was nowhere else for them to go.
Music therapist Emma O’Brien has been instrumental in transforming the lives of long term patients who participate in her innovative therapy program at the Royal Melbourne Hospital.
Jarrod McKenna and Teresa Lee are Christian activists. They are amongst a growing number of Christians turning to civil disobedience to try to effect change.
Since 1971 the Adamstown Uniting Church in Newcastle has been making Christmas puddings to support a range of welfare and community programs in Newcastle, Australia and overseas.
2010
As Australia welcomes in the Chinese New Year, Compass explores what it all means. As well as marking the beginning of the lunar year, it’s a time when the Chinese community pays respect to their elders, and when good fortune is abundant.
Evelyn Lowah, a respected Torres Strait Islander and born-again Christian, is a popular radio presenter in Cairns in far north Queensland. She and her cousin Thomas Seveka play Gospel music and talk with local people about what’s going on in their community.
As the world grapples with the Global Financial Crisis, Compass asks: Should our lives be ruled by the almighty dollar? In the 21st century money has become the measure of all things, but what does money really mean to us?
A powerful film that explores how five American Christian families have handled having a gay child. Among them are the parents of the first openly gay Episcopal Bishop in the US, Gene Robinson.
Is Judaism Christianity's guilty secret? Leading British writer Howard Jacobson, himself a Jew, examines the origins and consequences of Christian belief.
British journalist, former Conservative Party politician and lapsed Catholic Michael Portillo investigates the legacy of the Roman Emperor Constantine. He was the first Christian Roman emperor and he transformed Christianity.
British theologian Dr Robert Beckford explores how warring pagan tribes in Britain became one nation under a single religion - Christianity. In this extraordinary story, which begins with the fall of the Roman Empire 400 years after the birth of Jesus, he charts the precarious survival of Christianity in the Celtic West and Ireland.
Acclaimed war correspondent Rageh Omaar examines the effect the 900 year old Crusades have had on the world today. In the West, he argues, the Crusades are a chapter of Christian history that has little impact on our everyday lives, but in the Middle East many believe that the Crusades are happening again.
There’s a modern day revival in the age-old habit of pilgrimage, and parishioners from St Joseph’s Church in Subiaco, Perth have created their own, Camino Salvado. Compass joins the inaugural pilgrimage for a six day walk from Perth to the Benedictine Monastery at New Norcia.
The extraordinary story of one of world’s great, lost masterpieces: Caravaggio’s "The Taking of Christ". This film traces the painting's journey from its birth in Rome in 1602 to its amazing re-discovery in 1990.
The last place you might expect to find a chaplain is dodging bullets in Afghanistan. This film follows two British Royal Marine chaplains as they travel around 'their parish' bringing faith to the frontline.
Examines the covert Catholic ritual of exorcism in Italy where half a million people are turning to exorcists for help each year. Pope Benedict XVI recently hailed the importance of the rite and for the first time the Vatican is backing a course to prepare a new generation of exorcists.
This Anzac special follows Sister Susan Connelly’s campaign to have East Timor’s unique wartime contribution recognised, with a ‘Companion of the Order of Australia’. During WW2 the Timorese risked their lives to help the Australian Commandos known as “Sparrow Force”.
What if you were highly intelligent, but remained trapped within a disorder that made others see you as inarticulate, odd or disabled? This film explores the line between ability and disability by following four Australian adults who are autistic.
Nearly 400 years after being tried by the Roman Catholic Inquisition, Galileo again faces charges of heresy. Leading scientists, scholars, barristers, politicians and churchmen take part in a unique performance event staged by the University of NSW and filmed by Compass.
Melbourne psychiatrist Sidney Bloch returns to South Africa, the country of his birth, with his teenage son. Sid has been plagued by guilt for “not doing enough” when segregation was introduced during the apartheid era more than 40 years ago.
This program explores the Catholic Church in Australia during one of the most dynamic periods in its recent history, the Second Vatican Council (1962-65). Vatican II challenged elements of Catholicism unquestioned since the 16th century.
Three Nigerian Catholic priests are sent to save Tasmania’s struggling church. But will the dwindling congregations and the resistance of the local clergy prove too hard a cross to bear? In episode 1, Beginnings, Fathers Christopher, Felix and Kene arrive in Tasmania on its coldest winter’s day. It’s a whirlwind of ‘enculturation’ Tassie style as they encounter Tasmanian Devils, colonial villages and snowfields. There’s the even colder reality of elderly congregations in largely empty churches and an aging local priesthood. Fr Kene goes to Launceston where the harsh reality and loneliness of being an African in Australia starts to bite. Fr Felix, sent to Tasmania’s isolated West Coast, struggles with a church culture vastly different to his own. Fr Christopher stays in Hobart’s Cathedral Parish, where it’s clear his mentor doesn’t believe importing priests is the solution to Tasmania’s clerical crisis.
Three Nigerian Catholic priests are sent to save Tasmania’s struggling church. But will the dwindling congregations and the resistance of the local clergy prove too hard a cross to bear? In episode 2 – Reaching Out, the three young Nigerian priests are struggling with Australian life, homesickness, and confronting the reality of a Church in decline. There are new housemates to contend with and not everyone is getting along, so life isn’t getting any easier. As a rural church closes its doors after more than 100 years it’s a profound shock for the new missionaries, and triggers an unexpected revelation from one.
Three Nigerian Catholic priests are sent to save Tasmania’s struggling church. But will the dwindling congregations and the resistance of the local clergy prove too hard a cross to bear? In episode 3 – Worlds Apart, the three Nigerian priests, now six months into their mission, are part of a Catholic community looking for solutions to churches closing down, congregations dying out and no priestly vocations. Questions arise as they discover that Aussie celebrations for Christmas are festive, and not necessarily reverential. Even Fr Kene’s unshakeable faith is rocked by the sudden numbers of ‘once a year Catholics’. Will the cultural divide prove too hard to cross as the priests go deeper into their mission in a distant land?
Three Nigerian Catholic priests are sent to save Tasmania’s struggling church. But will the dwindling congregations and the resistance of the local clergy prove too hard a cross to bear? In episode 4 – Out There, the three Nigerian Fathers celebrate the first anniversary of their roller coaster ride of faith, dedication and culture shock. For the Tassie priests working with them and the communities they are reaching out to, there are inspiring surprises and even dangerous encounters in store. As they all come together to celebrate the Nigerian priests’ first year in Australia, it is clear the experience is difference for each of them. While for their mentor priests, the experiment has produced more questions than answers.
Filmed before, during and after his final days on the High Court of Australia this documentary explores the personal, moral and spiritual convictions of Michael Kirby – one of the country’s greatest legal minds. It charts his formative years, his Christian faith and his 40 year relationship with his partner Johan van Vloten.
In the final week of the World Cup, Compass presents the story of the team that never played. In the 1970s South African soccer players were among the best in the world, but because they supported the international sporting bans against the apartheid regime, these unsung masters never had the chance to play on the world stage.
A provocative series examining the history and impact of Christianity through the personal views of leading British figures. In this episode former Conservative MP Ann Widdecombe explores the Reformation.
This programme reveals how Christianity became the world's largest religion despite, rather than because of, Western missionary zeal. British writer and Christian Kwame Kwei Armah begins his journey in Latin America to understand why Christianity is so successful there.
For more than 1500 years Christians saw the Bible as the primary source of knowledge, but in the 17th Century a scientific revolution challenged the Christian view of the world. Eminent scientist Colin Blakemore interviews scholars and churchmen in order to understand how science transformed Christianity over the last four centuries.
Leading British lawyer and committed Catholic Cherie Blair investigates Christianity over the last 100 years and explores its future prospects. She examines the challenges posed by war, and political oppression in the 20th century which culminated in the Holocaust.
This is the story of three women who were once nuns. Although they took their vows for life, they found they couldn’t keep them.
Ahead of Saturday’s federal election Geraldine Doogue talks to four high profile politicians at the forefront of their political parties. Featured are the Liberal Party’s Joe Hockey; The Nationals Senator Barnaby Joyce; the Labor Party’s Tanya Plibersek; and, The Greens Senator Christine Milne.
Compass investigates the rules about sex within three different faiths. For Muslims sex within marriage is seen as an act of worship, although in the public arena the emphasis is on de-sexualising the body.
Everyone thinks they know more about sex than the previous generation. But is this true?
Sex sells, and it’s everywhere like never before. Think of the detailed coverage of Tiger Woods’ misadventures, or even the International Air Sex Championships.
Should ethics be offered to school students as an alternative to Religious Instruction or Scripture Classes? When public schools offer scripture classes students who opt out may sit idle.
As we reach retirement age, more and more of us want to ensure this period of our lives is fulfilling and rewarding. Good health and strong personal relationships are important.
Some cultures believe it is your duty to look after your elderly family members. But in Australia today expectations are changing, dictated by the realities of modern life.
Home and community are vitally important, and often become more so as we get older. In northern Europe, housing models for seniors have been designed to allow them to maintain connection with their communities, and to stay in their own homes for longer.
Next Sunday Australia’s first saint Mary MacKillop (1842 – 1909) will be canonised by Pope Benedict XVI at the Vatican. It will be a highly significant event for Australia, and its five million Roman Catholics.
Geraldine Doogue presents a Compass special on the canonisation of Mary MacKillop from the Vatican in Rome. This program includes highlights of the ceremony in St Peter’s Square presided over by Pope Benedict XVI, and attended by more than 8000 Australian pilgrims.
Compass investigates support and opposition to the growing number of chaplains in our state schools. Since the Federal Government’s National School Chaplaincy Program (NSCP) was announced in 2006, the number of chaplains in government schools has grown to over 2700.
An Australian intensive care doctor explores moral and ethical questions about ongoing life-support for our elderly. Over the past decade hospital intensive care wards in Australia have been filling up with elderly patients in their 80s, and 90s with no realistic chance of recovery.
From our remote north, the remarkable story of the first traditional aboriginal woman to become a priest. In 2009 Yulki Nunggumajbarr became the Anglican Church’s first remote area indigenous woman priest.
The story of Ted Noffs, a maverick Methodist minister, whose groundbreaking work with the young and destitute in 1960s Australia lives on through his son and grandsons. But with one major difference - the Christian message is no longer part of the mission...
In our globalised world the trading of children for sex or forced labour is a burgeoning industry. It is estimated as many as 23 million children are slaves in various countries around the world.
Three unique choirs all with one aim: to bring Christmas to those who aren’t really looking for it. Music plays a big part in creating the sound and spirit of Christmas.
This Christmas feast of readings, carols and anthems is performed by the St Mary's Cathedral Choir and orchestra. It was recorded in the lead up to Christmas 2010 at the newly renovated St Mary’s Cathedral in Sydney, Australia’s oldest.
2013
The life and legacy of outgoing Pope Benedict XVI who surprised the world by resigning after less than eight years at the helm of the Catholic Church.
As the world waits for Benedict XVI's successor Australian Catholics are considering what they'd like from their new Pope.
St Patrick, Patron Saint of Ireland, is also one of the world's most popular saints, but does his life live up to his legend?
A bold new approach is harnessing the power of the bystander to put an end to cyberbullying.
Horses and humans traumatised by the Black Saturday bushfires in Victoria are finding comfort in each other, thanks to an innovative therapy program.
From the Vatican in Rome, Geraldine Doogue tells the story of Pope Francis's election, and looks ahead to the challenges he now faces as leader of the Roman Catholic Church.
Survival and success, the stories of Jewish families who lost everything in WW2 and rebuilt their lives from scratch here in Australia.
Is donating one of your kidneys an inspirational act of kindness or a naïve and irrational gesture?
Compass tells the story of six bells rescued from Wales about to be installed in a Sydney church in time for its centenary celebrations... St. Leonard’s Catholic Church in Naremburn turns 100 this year and, for the first time in its busy history, bells will be ringing in the mass.
The story of two unlikely friendships that might never have formed if not for a groundbreaking scheme... Called “Best Buddies”, the program matches up disabled and non-disabled students and has had growing success in NSW public high schools.
What will happen when Kim, a committed Anglican youth leader from Launceston switches lives with Aakash, a devout Hindu with a love of Bollywood dancing, from western Sydney?
Freeman, a young Buddhist monk switches lives with Anthony, a devoted Maronite Catholic. Over the two-week switch, Freeman opens up to many new experiences while Anthony's swap is somewhat different.
Mobinah, a committed Muslim woman from Bonnyrigg in Sydney switches lives with Jordane, a Jewish woman, recently returned to her home in Melbourne after a year on a kibbutz in Israel.
On his 60th birthday Australian clown and mime Jean-Paul Bell leads a travelling circus troupe to Nepal to perform for school children in remote villages, only to find he’s taken on more than he bargained.
The extraordinary story of one of Britain's fastest-growing religious groups, and its eccentric creator.
Compass sets off deep into the Australian desert to join a camel trek for Muslims.
When it comes to offering a helping hand to those in need Australians are among the most generous in the world, but why are our wealthy are among the most reluctant when it comes to giving money?
A new breed of fashion designers is turning heads on the Australian catwalk catering to Muslim women eager for cutting edge designs better suited to our lifestyle and climate...
Geraldine Doogue talks to Australian singer-songwriter Archie Roach about his journey of survival and transformation.
The Hare Krishna movement arrived in the West in the 1960s, at the height of the youth revolution. Temples and farming communities soon sprang up around the world. Chandra and Dhara were raised communally on Australia’s biggest Hare Krishna farm in northern NSW, where – contrary to popular myth - devotees lead a highly disciplined life as strict vegetarians, abstaining from drugs, alcohol, gambling and illicit sex, while worshipping Krishna, their supreme God, through prolonged chanting. So, who joined the Hares and why? And, where are they now?
Charismatics believe through God they can heal the sick, receive signs and speak directly to God in a special language... 40 years ago a radical new religious movement erupted in Australia and one of its flag-bearers was Harry Westcott, a Methodist preacher from Canberra, who had an experience of God so powerful, it transformed him and his style of ministry. Charismatic renewal attracted tens of thousands of Christians, giving them a new and deeper sense of God, and transformed parts of the Anglican, Catholic and Protestant churches. But within 20 years it was over... So what was the Charismatic Movement? Why did it burst onto our scene when it did? And, whatever happened to Harry Westcott?
The first Kibbutz was founded in Israel just over 100 years ago. A radical socialist experiment, it combined communal living and Zionist philosophy with the aim of “making the desert bloom”. Soon there were dozens, and training farms were set up in countries like Australia, to prepare young people for the physical hardship of kibbutz life where - in exchange for outdoor manual labour – volunteers were provided with food, shelter, education and medical care. In the late 60s and 70s many young Australians, Jewish and non-Jewish, went to Israel to join a Kibbutz. Why did they go? How has the experience shaped their lives? And, do Kibbutzim still operate? Compass finds out.
The Girl Guides began in Britain 100 years ago when a band of girls gate-crashed a Boy Scouts Rally in London demanding a group of their own. The movement spread worldwide and in its Australian heyday boasted 80 000 members helping shape a whole generation of girls, now women. Today Girl Guides still go camping and learn outdoor skills, but they are also focused on climate change, poverty, body image and preventing bullying. And, among its newer members are young Muslim girls. So, what values lie at the heart of this 100 year old girls-own group? In a time of gender equality, where anything’s possible for a modern Australian girl, what is its enduring appeal?
In the ‘70s and ‘80s followers of “sex-guru” Bhagwan Shree Rajneesh stood out in Australia with their bright orange clothes and unusual names. Combining eastern mysticism and western capitalism, the Bhagwan urged devotees to explore sex as a path to enlightenment, and many devotees gave up everything to join his ashram in India, then later in America. But when the controversial movement imploded in a cloud of corruption and murder allegations, almost overnight the Orange people seemed to disappear Who were the "Orange People"? What persuaded people to join? And, are they still around? Compass finds out.
Freemasons arrived in Australia with the First Fleet and up until quite recently were shrouded in secrecy and tightly maintained traditions. Freemasonry is not a religion, but members must believe in a supreme being, and in its heyday most were either Protestants or Jews. Catholics were forbidden by their church from joining. Now, faced with declining membership, the Freemasons have had to relax some of their rules and reinvent themselves. So, what does this silent band of brothers actually do? Are they viable anymore? If so, who belongs and why?
Chance and Ann were both struck down in their 30’s by freak accidents. Ann was horribly burnt in the Ash Wednesday bush fires 30 years ago. Chance has just broken his neck and is facing life as a quadriplegic. How have they coped with severe pain and adversity? What has helped get them through? And, is religious belief an asset or a liability? Through their journeys, Compass examines the human capacity to survive.
As demand for Foster Carers in Australia increases, Compass meets several foster families to learn about the challenges and rewards fostering can bring.
Assad Karem, Maha Sukkar, Mohammed El-Ieissy, Noha Sayed and Susan Carland talk about what being a Muslim means to them, how their faith informs their lives and the challenges they face in a post 9/11 world.
Bram Presser, Timmy Rubin, Mark Baker and Ronni Kahn talk about how their faith has informed their values, what makes ‘a good Jew’, the role of women in Judaism, and the contentious Israeli-Palestinian divide.
So, what’s in it for those who remain true to their faith? In Episode 3, Kristina Keneally, Christopher Geraghty, Thomas Wilson and Mary-Clare Meney - talk about what God means to them, how their faith informs their lives, what makes ‘a good Catholic’, and how they reconcile their Catholic identity with the shame of the sexual abuse crisis that has engulfed their church.world.
When disaster strikes, what determines who lives and who dies? Does luck, chance, Karma or God decide our fate?
The story of an unlikely friendship between a young Afghan asylum seeker and a 71 year old Australian pensioner.
Geraldine Doogue meets Irish writer Colm Toibin accused of blasphemy for his latest work, a reimagining of Mary, mother of Jesus, 20 years after his crucifixion...
The inspiring stories of two remarkable women who’ve overcome huge odds to realise their own dreams in later life...
As Australia continues to grapple with boat arrivals, Compass looks at who is helping asylum seekers already here and why...
The private life of a successful church minister beloved by her congregation, but behind the scenes lonely and yearning for change ... Marilyn Sewell is an outspoken and socially progressive Unitarian minister who has re-energized her congregation in Portland, USA. While serving a community that relies on her for wisdom and advice (on both personal and ethical issues), Marilyn struggles quietly with decisions about her own future. This film follows her over two years as she seeks to reconcile the commitments of her profession with a longing for intimacy and love, alongside difficult childhood memories.
In part two of this compelling portrait of a church minister, Marilyn Sewell tells her congregation of her decision to leave. As she prepares to do so, she embarks on a journey to her past and a childhood fractured by memories of her mentally ill mother and alcoholic father. Unexpectedly she falls in love for the first time in her life.
Ifrah Ahmed is the founder and organiser of the “Miss Ethnic Ireland” contest, a pageant she created to raise awareness about female genital mutilation of which she herself was a victim... when she was 8 years old.
The extraordinary stories of three missionaries who have devoted their lives to working with people in some of the most challenging and dangerous corners on Earth... Father John Glynn carries out his work for We Care Foundation in Papua New Guinea. Sister Pat Murray is a Loreto sister in charge of Solidarity with South Sudan. Father Pat Brennan is a Divine Word Missionary living in the Amazonian rainforest in Brazil. With honesty and candour, they all discuss their religious beliefs, their motivations and the meaning of a life spent in missionary service.
Father John Glynn in Papua New Guinea, Sister Pat Murray in South Sudan and Father Pat Brennan in the Amazonian rainforest in Brazil. All tell stories of endurance and faith in the face of extreme adversity. In this concluding episode they grapple with difficult questions: Have they made a difference? Has their life sacrifice been worth it? And what have they learned about themselves, their God and the church they serve?
2000
Compass presents a special program for Easter. A time for all of us, believers and non-believers alike to reflect on sacrifice, renewal and hope.
It has been a secret war between two rival faiths that has lasted for eighty years. For the Communists, the vision was of workers' paradise here on Earth; for the Catholics it was a heavenly paradise promised after death.
An intriguing look at the powerful alliance of Church and State - between Roman Catholicism and the American Government that destroyed the Soviet Empire.
Black Sea : Voyage of Healing mixes environmental issues, nationalist economic issues, mass tourism issues, and Orthodox Church politics into a program which is as much a tourist's travelogue as an information piece.
Finding approaches to abusive families.
Filmed over three weeks at St Christopher's Hospice in South East London, it follows the last weeks of Kevin, Hazel and Doris, who are all dying of cancer.
Who will be the next Pope? As the papacy of John Paul II enters its final phase, there is much speculation about who is likely to succeed him.
The Slaves Of God is a video journey to the all-male "enclosed" Russian and Greek Orthodox Christian monks of this famed peninsula, Mount Athos, in northern Greece.
He is forthright... He has strong convictions... His controversial leadership style has caused friction among his flock. Join Geraldine Doogue for a frank conversation with the Catholic Archbishop of Melbourne, George Pell...
Hinduism is proportionately, the fastest growing religion in Australia today. Whether due to an influx of Hindu migrants of Indian extraction or the increasing involvement of Australians from a Judeo-Christian background.
Compass heads to India in search of the hidden spiritual message behind one of the world's most elegant wonders.
The extraordinary violence and beauty of the Aztec Empire. Behind this artistic and ordered society were Gods who demanded human sacrifice on a massive scale... a story of "Blood and Flowers"...
The search for El Dorado, the legendary golden kingdom of South America. Did cultural misunderstanding foil the quest for untold riches?
Compass peels back the centuries to investigate the ancient Nubian Empire of North Africa. At its height it challenged the power of the Egyptian pharoahs, but archaeologists have found it may also be one of the earliest examples of a mass suicide cult.
In this special Compass series we look at a quiet global revolution now underway, a new emphasis on the role, significance and power of voluntary, non-profit, community, or non-government organisations, now often called civil society organisations (CSOs). The Philippines is regarded as having one of the strongest and most vibrant civil societies worldwide.
The second in our series on People Power, the quiet but profound revolution underway on how we might meet modern community problems better. It envisages a whole new approach to the spread of power and responsibility within the community....with a shift towards volunteer and non-government groups.
The last in our three part series on the emergence of a new era of Civil Society. A time of new prominence and power for community and volunteer groups, non-profit and non-government organisations.
We've all read about East Timor , we've seen the Television Footage, heard the results of inquiries, and maybe in some ways , even started to become a bit desensitised to the whole thing.
The man at the centre of controversy this weekend as he is installed as Australia's newest Church Leader.
Two years ago the government disbanded the CES (Commonwealth Employment Service) and put unemployment services out to tender. Since then Church employment agencies have been major contract winners.
Buddhism is enjoying increasing popularity in Australia. Compass goes on retreat with one of the foremost teachers of Tibetan Buddhism in the West, Sogyal Rinpoche.
Compass examines the role of Churches and Missions in separating Aboriginal children from their families.
Part one looks at the conflicts and clerical politics triggered by the simultaneous arrival at St. Paul's of its new Dean, Dr. John Moses, and its first woman priest, Rev. Lucy Winkett on the occasion of the cathedral's 300th Anniversary.
We Need Money surveys the difficulties encountered by the new Dean to balance the Cathedral's finances and downsize its institutional staff. In his pursuit of his fiscal obligations, the Dean reveals how Christian humanism may take second place to commercial realities in attending to worldly concerns.
In the final of our series on St. Paul's Cathedral, we examine its major human resource, the childrens choir...and the trials and tribulations as young choristers aspire to be the best.
Heroin injecting rooms... Are they the answer to Australia's worsening drug problem or a perpetuation of it? With trials to begin shortly in Sydney's Kings Cross, we look at the heated debate surrounding the involvement of the Uniting Church in the project.
On the 14th of July an exhibition of the Dead Sea Scrolls will open at the Art Gallery of NSW. For the first time Australians will have the opportunity to view some of these documents which represent one of the most important archaeological finds ever.
A Common Heritage explores what the scrolls reveal about early Judaism and the origins of Christianity.
A study of modern service and altruism, an account of Amnesty International.
Opus Dei enjoys favoured status within the Roman Catholic Church...but its secretive recruiting methods and strict control of its members lives and beliefs have led some to liken it to a cult...
The appearance of the first all Jewish float in this year's Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gra Parade polarised opinion in the Jewish community. We examine conflicting interpretations of religious law, when Gay Jews challenge tradition.
On Compass we join the national leaders and youth representatives of Australian Christian Churches on a journey of reconciliation to the centre of Australia.
Thousands of Australians are spending big dollars on personal development courses in the pursuit of success and self-esteem. Do they change people's lives for the better?
This two-part British series outlines the nature of depression, its human impact on families and individuals, its damaging influence on the human spirit, and its current treatments. The series is hosted by biologist Professor Lewis Wolpert, himself a former sufferer of depression.
In Part Two of our revealing series on modern depression: Is it a physical illness? Is it genetic?
Is non-human life important and if so, why?
Marijuana, an ancient herbal remedy can help sufferers of epilepsy, arthritis and glaucoma but it is still on the illegal drug list in most countries.
A new four part series which will take us on a journey of religious discovery around the globe.
In Part Two of this four-part series Frederic Raphael travels to Thailand and Malaysia where Buddhism and Islam have both absorbed and been transformed by older beliefs and customs.
In this episode Frederic Raphael travels to Spain and Mexico to see this devotional intensity first-hand.
In Part Four our series closes with Frederic Raphael going back home... journeying deep into the United States to explore the American way of religion in it's Bible belt heartland.
Contact surveys the contemporary phenomenon of reports of alien abduction, UFO visitations and similar paranormal experiences in Canada and the USA. With several first-hand claims of abduction and descriptions of alien visits, the program canvasses the North American climate of Ufology...cults such as the Raelians who base their religion on extraterrestrial intelligence, plus psychiatric interpretations of this disposition towards the paranormal.
In this edition of Compass, the role of the mainstream churches in the global environment crisis... and whether theology should be responding.
In this edition of Compass, the growth of church schools and the nature of religious education.
When disaster strikes, many turn to religion for solace, and for answers. But catastrophe can also cause drastic change in beliefs, or total abandonment of faith.
Christianity has produced some of the greatest works of art of all time, in which believers and non-believers alike can explore the great themes of life and death. It is the language in which Leonardo and Michelangelo, Dali and Rembrandt speak to us all about love and suffering, loss and hope.
As Christmas approaches we are bombarded with images of the baby Jesus in the manger, one of the quintessential expressions of the Christmas story.
At the core of the Christian faith is an image at once powerful and harrowing the figure Jesus on the Cross.
On Christmas Eve, as the Christian world prepares to celebrate the 2000th birthday of Jesus of Nazareth, this edition of Compass takes a final tour through some of the greatest works of Christian art.
Geraldine Doogue's panel of notable Australians discuss themes of the 2000th Birthday of Jesus, the end of the Jubilee Year, and the true advent of The Third Millennium.
The Great Popes
2018
Foundations: An Overview of Systematic Theology
1999
Ancient Roads from Christ to Constantine
2015
Secret Files of the Inquisition
2006
Jesus: The Evidence
1984
Who Was Jesus?
2009
Des nouvelles de Dieu
2004
The Power of Myth
1988
Le vrai pouvoir du Vatican
2010
Atheism: A Rough History of Disbelief
2004
2014
Follows the twin journeys of a fervently Orthodox Jewish father and his now-secular son, after the son breaks the code of silence in Melbourne's Orthodox community and goes public with his story of being sexually abused as a student.
Who was Noah? When did the flood happen? Is the story really true? From Tissington Church in Britain to Mount Ararat in Turkey, the mountains of Oman and beyond, Joanna goes on a quest to unravel the truth behind the myths and legends surrounding one of the Bible’s greatest stories.
Who was Noah? When did the flood happen? Is the story really true? From Tissington Church in Britain to Mount Ararat in Turkey, the mountains of Oman and beyond, Joanna goes on a quest to unravel the truth behind the myths and legends surrounding one of the Bible’s greatest stories.
Three Australian families go on a pilgrimage to the oldest and largest religious festival on Earth, India’s Maha Kumbh Mela, to take a holy dip in the sacred Ganges...
A group of elderly European Jews reunite to tell their story of how their lives were transformed by living in an Irish castle for a year after the horrors of WW2...
The extraordinary 100 year old story of the relationship between the Catholic Church and Tiwi Islanders...
Melvyn Bragg uncovers the real story behind one of the Bible's most enigmatic and controversial figures: Mary Magdalene...
Melvyn Bragg uncovers the real story behind one of the Bible's most enigmatic and controversial figures: Mary Magdalene...
In our premiere program Geraldine and her guests grapple with thorny questions about Anzac Day: Are we glorifying war rather than honouring individual soldiers? Surrender — a seldom discussed matter. And, the highly emotional issue of the repatriation of soldiers' remains from past conflicts in faraway battlefields. She is joined by Dr Leslie Cannold, ethicist; former Army Captain James Brown, Professor Peter Stanley, a military historian and Ken Doolan, National President of the RSL.
God in the Lodge examines the religious beliefs of Australia’s Prime Ministers from Federation to now. In recent years our Prime Ministers’ religious beliefs have become more public but in our increasingly secular age, it’s an aspect of political life rarely explored. Part 1 (1901 – 1966) tells how our first Prime Minister’s meeting with the Pope outraged Australia’s majority Protestant population back home, how Billy Hughes fanned the flames of religious sectarianism in WW1’s conscription debates and reveals the fallout for Ben Chifley when he married outside the Catholic Church.
The faith, beliefs and values of Australia's prime ministers from Federation to present day. This week looks at our PMs from 1966-2014, including John Gorton, Gough Whitlam, Julia Gillard and Tony Abbott.
A deeply moving story that shows how music can rekindle emotions and re-awaken memories for elderly people lost to dementia...
My Big Fat Bar Mitzvah steps inside the world of Bar and Bat Mitzvah parties, uncovering a spectacular new aspect of contemporary Australian Jewish life...
Geraldine Doogue meets veteran actor, elder and activist Jack Charles who at 72 is enjoying newfound fame and purpose, after putting his life of crime and drugs behind him...
An Australian entrepreneur sets out to empower low-caste Indian orphans by teaching them to become Wall Street traders...
In our latest program Geraldine and her guests grapple with issues raised by the Rolf Harris trial, whether religious leaders should take part in illegal protests and overweight Australians - are they getting a fair go? She is joined by Greg Sheridan, foreign editor of The Australian; Sister Susan Connelly, nun and refugee advocate; Kate Carnell, CEO of the Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry and Tim Soutphommasane, Race Discrimination Commissioner for the Human Rights Commission.
How a corrupt, paedophile Catholic priest founded The Legionaries of Christ which he ran for 60 years with the Vatican's seal of approval.
Irish investigative reporter Mick Peelo reveals how five successive popes publicly endorsed Fr Marcial Maciel, despite repeated warnings. Former Legion recruits believe it is a cult within the Catholic Church that cannot be fixed. But the Vatican and the Legion believe there is hope for its future.
Ramadan, the world-wide Muslim month of fasting and feasting, has begun and Compass follows two families through the most important event on the Islamic calendar.
In our latest program Geraldine and her guests grapple with the thorny topic of children’s vaccination: Is it wrong for parents to opt out of vaccinating their children? Reality TV: What responsibilities do broadcasters, producers and viewers have to those who take part? And we also return to the Rolf Harris case: Should his creative legacy be expunged now from public view altogether? She is joined by Leslie Cannold, ethicist and writer; Tim Bowden, Anglican minister and school principal; Melinda Houston, TV critic and author and Matthew Beard, ethicist at the University of Notre Dame.
A country town Anglican farewell for a much loved local and a no-frills Muslim funeral for an asylum seeker.
Leather meets brass in a motorcycle send-off for a Vietnam Vet and a traditional Chinese-Buddhist funeral - Australian style.
An Italian-Catholic funeral draws 1500 mourners and a son farewells his father in a humble Hindu funeral a long way from home.
A Sydney group of Pentecostal Ghanaians celebrate and dance for the deceased and a do-it-yourself secular funeral: no God or grief allowed.
A Facebook memorial for a young man, a wife's ashes scattered in the sea, a tribal Tiwi ceremony, grieving for those lost without trace and a loved one's remains gifted to science.
Compass explores religion, morals and values underpinning video games in Australia.
In our latest program Geraldine and her guests grapple with the following thorny topics: Surrogacy - is it ever ethical to pay for a baby? What can families do about young Australians drawn to conflict zones overseas? And the cult of the Selfie - are there any boundaries? She is joined by Dr Anne Aly, counter-terrorism research fellow at Curtin University; Matthew Beard, ethicist at the University of Notre Dame; Venerable Robina Courtin, Buddhist Nun and James Arvanitakis, Professor of Humanities at University of Western Sydney.
In this two-part special, Compass examines the Salvation Army in Australia, a trusted church-charity engulfed by allegations of sexual abuse in its former children’s homes.
Compass examines the Salvation Army, trying to reconcile its dual role, and redeem itself in the face of shocking revelations of child sexual abuse in its former children’s homes.
In this Australian TV exclusive Geraldine Doogue talks to Justin Welby, the Archbishop of Canterbury about what he hopes to achieve as leader of the world’s 80-million Anglicans.
Compass explores the biggest and most widely celebrated Hindu festival in Australia which celebrates a goddess with ten arms who fights for good over evil...
In a special program for Mental As, the ABC's initiative for Mental Health Week, Geraldine and her guests grapple with: Does religious belief help or hinder mental well-being? The challenging issue of whether or not to disclose a mental health condition. And - stories of resilience and recovery. She is joined by Janet Meagher, consumer advocate and former National Mental Health Commissioner; Ian Hickie, Head of the Brain Mind Research Institute and National Mental Health Commissioner; Kate Richards, award winning writer and medical researcher; and Tim Costello, Baptist Minister and CEO of World Vision Australia.
Follows an ambitious scheme empowering people with mental health issues to build confidence, self-esteem and trust, and turn their lives around.
Anglican Minister David Smith is a man of many callings - a Parish priest, a professional boxer, a political activist and father of four, Father Dave is as comfortable in a boxing ring as he is in the pulpit.
This two-part program tells the story of one of the most influential men in English history. William Tyndale was a scholar, a theologian and a genius often referred to as the ‘Architect of the English Language’ second only to William Shakespeare. Fluent in eight languages, his translation of the New Testament was the first ever to be printed in English. Yet his work was denounced as heresy by authorities of the Roman Catholic Church and he was burned at the stake. Presenter and writer Melvyn Bragg charts the extraordinary life of a great reformer whose ambition and determination changed history forever.
Part two of the William Tyndale story, one of the most influential men in English history, historian Melvyn Bragg reveals how Tyndale translating the Bible into English unlocked the English language for ordinary people. This marked a turning point in the evolution of Christianity in England, giving people the liberty to think for themselves rather than the duty to simply believe what they were told. But in a poignant twist, Tyndale was never able to celebrate his success and his groundbreaking work was attributed to another while he was condemned to death for heresy.
Mari Steed is on an emotional journey to piece together the missing links of her past, a life tainted by separation, loss and tragedy.
This delightful two part special documents a year behind the scenes in Ireland's only women's Cistercian Monastery.
The Cistercian nuns of St Mary's Abbey in Ireland have been leading a life of prayer and dedicated contemplation for over 800 years.
The Exodus Foundation has been providing a free hot Christmas lunch to those who need it for over twenty years. This year founder Bill Crews is expecting meals to be served to 3000 people in two gigantic sittings.
1988
2016
The Pope who calls himself 'a sinner' is, certainly, a man of contradictions. But who is Jorge Mario Bergoglio? How did the man who was loved and loathed by his fellow Jesuits back in Argentina become Pope?
Examines Pope Francis' controversial rise to power from Jesuit to Cardinal and eventual accession to the papacy.
The broader implications of the water-cooler conversation: Cardinal Pell at the Royal Commission. With Catholic Church stewardship in the spotlight, what's the effect on church leadership & the impact on the community?
Melany was only 12 when her father died. As a young adult she realised she could no longer shut out the past. Meeting Helen Dunne - a professional shroud maker, was a turning point.
The Assyrians are a vibrant community who have made a great contribution to Australian life since the 1950's. Persecuted for centuries & a people without a country, their church has become the focus of their cultural identity.
An ultra marathon runner is determined to raise awareness of domestic violence in rural communities by undertaking an 860km run through NSW.
Should Australian churches be offering sanctuary to asylum seekers? Geraldine Doogue is joined by Robert Manne, Anne Henderson, Rod Bower, Peter Kurti & Tim Costello for a Moral Compass special.
A small town in Poland becomes the centre of an initiative to improve vexed relations between Poles and Jews by reconsecrating an abandoned Jewish cemetery.
The bitter conscription debates that raged through the First World War divided Australia. The struggle was embodied by two men, Prime Minister Billy Hughes and Catholic Archbishop of Melbourne Daniel Mannix.
When Rosendo Salvado founded the tiny religious community of New Norcia in Western Australia in 1847 he also began an extraordinary correspondence with a dear friend in France.
This week on the Moral Compass "A Good Exit: Who Decides" The complexities of dying in Australia today. Geraldine Doogue is joined by five guests to grapple with this highly topical issue.
Part one goes inside Cessnock and John Moroney Correctional Centres in NSW where two very different chaplains help offenders meet the challenges of incarceration and find meaning in their lives.
Chaplain Suzie Johnson is an Evangelical Christian with a big heart who works at the Dillwynia Correctional Centre. Zoe and Lesley are inmates who have been profoundly affected by Suzie's support.
Chaplain Kim Miller visits James who will soon be released from Lithgow Correctional Centre. To help James adjust to life on the outside Kim offers him a place at Friendship House. But will James turn up?
Geraldine Doogue
Self - Presenter
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