New Zealand

Research shows New Zealanders think life is getting too complicated Comments 0

complicated

A campaign by Sanitarium Weet-Bix has been designed to encourage New Zealanders to celebrate a simpler approach to life. The company’s research shows that along with feeling their children’s lives were becoming too complicated, many parents felt increased pressure to provide for their children and were disappointed about the impact digital devices were having on family Read more

Does prime minster Ardern pray? Comments 0

ardern

Does Jacinda Ardern talk to God? “No. But I have a real respect for people who have religion as a foundation in their lives, ” she told Pathos in a recently published interview. “And I respect people who don’t. I’m agnostic. “I don’t spend a lot of time trying to figure it out. “I do Read more

Asia Pacific

Accusation of colonialism “sounds like something a fa’afafine would say” Comments 0

Fa'afafine

The claim by the General Secretary of the Congregational Christian church (EFKS) Church, Reverend Vavatau Taufao, about the Government bringing back the colonialism mentality sounds like something a fa’afafine would say. That’s what Prime Minister Tuilaepa Dr Sa’ilele Malielegaoi said, in response to the General Secretary in the ongoing tax dispute between the Government and Read more

Don’t mix religion with politics – Bainimarama Comments 0

religion with politics

Fiji’s prime minister prime Josaia Voreqe Bainimarama says it is inappropriate to mix religion with politics. He said some other political parties are engaging preachers in campaigns and also electing them as proposed candidates but this will not happen in the FijiFirst party. “To see a talatala (church minister) talking or backing a political party, Read more

Opinion

Catholic Church should not be shocked at McCarrick situation: It should be ashamed Comments 0

Cardinal McCarrick

The Catholic Church cannot pretend to be shocked about the pattern of sexual abuse of adult seminarians by Cardinal McCarrick, recently detailed in a comprehensive story in The New York Times. As The Times made clear in its reporting, many Read more

Pope’s Climate Warning to Oil-Gas Executives: ‘There is No Time to Lose’ Comments 0

oil executive

Challenging world oil executives to recognise the urgent environmental need to quickly transition from fossil fuel extraction and burning, to clean energy production, Pope Francis called them to take to heart that “Civilization requires energy, but energy must not destroy Read more

Poor families feel pressured to tithe Comments 0

tithe

An Auckland councillor says churches in his area need to re-think the way they tithe low-income residents. Manukau Ward Councillor Efeso Collins told The AM Show some residents have been forced to take out loans to keep up with the cost of tithing. A tithe typically involves giving 10 per cent of a person’s income to Read more

  • Features

  • Using church buildings to address housing crisis

    housing crisis

    Helen McIlvaine gets excited when she sees a church. Driving around her hometown of Alexandria, Va., on a bright and sunny morning last week, McIlvaine slowed the car at white spire after white spire. She turned her head, cocked an eyebrow and scrutinized each red-brick square on its grassy plot. “I sort of go past Read more

  • Enzo Luciani: from inmate and homeless to cardinal’s aide

    Enzo Luciani

    Twice a week a black van full of volunteers leaves the Vatican and goes to one of Rome’s train stations to serve dinner to the poor. Behind the wheel, a cardinal dressed in a simple grey shirt. When the van returns to the Vatican after serving meals to approximately 300 homeless, migrants and others in Read more

  • World

  • Communist tax plan upsets religious groups Comments 0

    A Communist Party plan to tax the compensation the state must pay religious groups in the Czech Republic is upsetting church leaders. Seventeen religious denominations – Christian and Jewish – are legally entitled to recover or be compensated for assets confiscated during the post-World War II Cold War. As the largest denomination, the Catholic church Read more

  • Proposed changes to Religious Education syllabus Comments 0

    Proposed changes to the Religious Education (RE) syllabus have been met with outrage in the UK. The Catholic Education Service (CES) and the Bishop with special responsibility for RE say they are “not happy” with a report calling for urgent reform of religion in schools in England and Wales. The say it is “a direct Read more

  • Missionaries of Charity childcare homes scrutinised after baby sale Comments 0

    Childcare homes run by the Missionaries of Charity in India will be inspected after employees at one shelter were accused of selling babies for adoption. Sister Konsalia Balsa and social worker Anima Indwar were arrested after allegedly trying to sell a baby for UK£1,325 (about NZ$2,500). They have also been accused of having already sold Read more

  • Environmental protection should be in canon law Comments 0

    Environmental protection is an issue the Vatican’s former top legal advisor says should be included in canon law. Cardinal Francesco Coccopalmerio, president emeritus of the Pontifical Council for Legislative Texts, says caring for the environment is “one of the most serious duties” for the faithful today. Christians should not only “not harm” but “improve” the Read more

  • Vatican should change birth control rules says Cabinet minister Comments 0

    A cabinet minister in Britain’s Conservative Party wants Catholic Church leaders to change Catholic teaching on birth control. Penny Mordaunt, the International Development Secretary, met with Archbishop Vincenzo Paglia, President of the Pontifical Academy for Life, Archbishop Paul Gallagher, Secretary for Relations with States, and the head of the Dicastery for the Promotion of Integral Read more