After much debate, prayer and waiting, the site for the new Christchurch Catholic Cathedral has been announced. On Sunday, Christchurch diocese’s Catholic bishop, Michael Gielen, announced the decision to use the Barbados Street site. It will be on the same site which the beautiful Petrie-designed Cathedral of the Blessed Sacrament occupied until the 2011 earthquake destroyed Read more
In addressing the critical concern of mental health in adolescents, the role of school belonging has emerged as a focal point of contemporary research. Despite the increasing recognition of its importance, a comprehensive understanding of how school belonging impacts long-term mental wellbeing has remained elusive. New adolescent mental health study Our new study investigating school Read more
Sister Josephine – both a person and a movie about the boy she taught to box – is coming to a screen near us one day soon. Their story is being turned into a short film for the New Zealand Film Commission under the direction of long-serving police officer, film director and author Stef Harris. Read more
What is a Catholic, from a contemporary perspective? The stereotype is that he or she is a sort of reactionary simpleton, a bit mean, a bit senile, obsessing over abstruse texts, preferring Mass to sleeping in on Sundays, and insisting on obeying an antiquated sect whose main activity is covering up sexual abuse. This pious Read more
Streaming the Eucharist online for the world to watch or broadcasting it on television is an abomination, akin to showing video of people eating a meal to starving people. A video experience of the Eucharist might have value if it makes people hunger for the real thing, but as an alternative for showing up to Read more
Renowned British atheist Richard Dawkins, widely known for his book “The God Delusion,” revealed in a recent interview his self-identification as a “cultural Christian”. Dawkins said he had a preference for Christianity over Islam, although he clarified that he does not believe “a word” of the Christian faith. In conversation with Rachel Johnson on LBC, Read more
Christchurch Diocese General Manager Simon Thompson told CathNews that a decision as to where Christchurch’s new Catholic cathedral will be located is still some way off. Consultation phase complete A wide range of views has been sought to provide the diocese with the means to make a well-supported decision. Some of these came from technical Read more
Women are leaving the Catholic Church at an alarming rate, many citing “irreconcilable differences.” In a world waking up to the reality of sexism and sex abuse at every level of seemingly every institution, the church’s slowness to adapt and engage with feminist demands has weakened its hold, with some women leaving the faith altogether. Read more
Inside one of the many skyscrapers in the center of Manhattan, James Martin (pictured) heads to his office at America, the Jesuit magazine where he is an editor. Martin’s workspace is filled with objects that evoke his personal journey as a Jesuit priest who has worked with gang members in Boston as well as refugees Read more
A Vatican cardinal stated that advocating for married priests is not the solution to addressing declining vocations in Ireland. Cardinal Lazzaro You Heung-sik, Prefect of the Dicastery for the Clergy, suggested fostering a true witness to the Faith could reverse the trend. Cardinal You was visiting Knock for the National Conference of Diocesan Vocation Directors. Read more