Series 24

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.