# Roundup: Pokies, sex abuse, death penalty, sci-fi, Sudanese pastor, suicide

> Independent Andrew Wilkie is set to renew his push for poker machine reform in the wake of Peter Slipper’s decision to stand aside as Speaker.

26 April 2012 · News

Canonical: https://insights1.uca.org.au/articles/roundup-pokies-sex-abuse-death-penalty-sci-fi-sudanese-pastor-suicide/

## [Poll revives Andrew Wilkie pokie push](https://www.theaustralian.com.au/national-affairs/in-depth/poll-revives-wilkie-pokie-push/story-fndckad0-1226336598362)

Independent Andrew Wilkie is set to renew his push for poker machine reform in the wake of Peter Slipper’s decision to stand aside as Speaker.

## [A chance to heal unholy wounds](https://www.watoday.com.au/opinion/politics/a-chance-to-heal-unholy-wounds-20120420-1xcht.html)

For many years, religious organisations have grappled with the need to improve the ways they deal with abusive behaviour by their own clergy.

## [Push to widen sex abuse inquiry](https://www.theage.com.au/victoria/push-to-widen-sex-abuse-inquiry-20120422-1xf4s.html)

The Victorian state government has been urged to widen the inquiry into sex abuse by priests to consider how to make it easier for victims to sue the Catholic Church.

## [Study: No evidence that death penalty deters crime](https://sojo.net/blogs/2012/04/19/study-no-evidence-death-penalty-deters-crime)

In the more than three decades since the national moratorium on the death penalty was lifted, there is no reliable research to determine whether capital punishment has served as a deterrent, according to a review by the National Research Council.

## [Sci-fi brings Bible stories to life at Romsey church](https://sunbury-leader.whereilive.com.au/news/story/sci-fi-brings-bible-stories-to-life-at-romsey-church/)

A Uniting Church minister has resurrected a popular, but controversial, idea she hit on a year ago – basing a sermon on the Bible and its similarities to popular sci-fi and fantasy novels, films and television series.

## [Sudanese pastor a first for Uniting Church](https://news-review-messenger.whereilive.com.au/news/story/elizabeth-north-pastor-a-first-for-uniting-church/)

Sudanese refugee Amel Manyon says being involved with churches has helped her family settle into life in Adelaide’s northern suburbs.

## [Church has key role in preventing suicide](https://www.adelaidenow.com.au/news/south-australia/church-has-key-role-in-preventing-suicide/story-e6frea83-1226315910391)

Churches have an important role to play in assisting those affected by suicide and depression, Australian religious leaders say.

## [Child sex abuse in the Church: alliance demands full inquiry](https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/crime/child-sex-abuse-in-the-church-alliance-demands-full-inquiry-7661436.html)

Anglican and Catholic churches have lost the right to police themselves, say victims.