Eritrean authorities continue to detain Catholic Bishop Fikremariam Hagos Tsalim of Segheneity, who was arrested at the Asmara International Airport ob 15 October. After the Catholic Church queried about the situation and his whereabouts, government authorities confirmed the bishop, who turns 52 on October 23, is in their custody. Bishop Tsalim was picked up soon Read more
News Shorts
China ‘gutted’ press freedom in Hong Kong, sparking exodus of journalists
Thursday, October 20th, 2022As ruling Chinese Communist Party (CCP) leader Xi Jinping lauded his government for bringing “order from chaos” with a citywide crackdown on dissent in the wake of the 2019 protest movement, an international journalists’ group said press freedom has been “gutted” in the former British colony. The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) said it was Read more
Mexican church suspends priest who advised carrying guns
Monday, October 17th, 2022Mexico’s Roman Catholic Church has suspended a controversial priest who has advised parishioners to carry guns to fight off drug cartels. Better known as “Father Pistolas,” Rev Alfredo Gallegos is a priest in the violence-plagued western state of Michoacan who has himself sometimes carried a weapon. A circular from the Archdiocese of Morelia, the state Read more
Highest jump in food costs in more than a decade puts Government under pressure
Monday, October 17th, 2022Soaring food costs in every supermarket aisle continue to batter families and put more pressure on the Government as new figures show food inflation is at a 13-year-high. Stats NZ figures released on Thursday show food prices jumped by 8.3% in September compared to the year before, while fruit and vegetables increased by 16%. The Read more
Bahrain activist group urges pope to speak out on human rights abuses
Monday, October 17th, 2022An American activist group promoting human rights in Bahrain has called on Pope Francis to either back out of his upcoming visit to the Gulf nation or criticise what they say are repressive and discriminatory government practices. In an Oct 12 statement, Americans for Democracy and Human Rights in Bahrain (ADHRB) said that certain acts Read more
Fred Hollows Foundation steps in to help critical PNG eye clinic
Monday, October 17th, 2022A critical eye clinic in Papua New Guinea can now undertake operations without the worry of power cuts after assistance from the Fred Hollows Foundation in New Zealand. Fred Hollows has set up a solar energy system at the Madang Eye Clinic involving 160 photovoltaic panels and six batteries all running from a 20-foot shipping Read more
Pope condemns ‘relentless’ bombing of Ukrainian cities
Monday, October 17th, 2022
Pope Francis has condemned Russia’s “relentless bombing” of Ukrainian cities, saying the attacks had unleashed a “hurricane of violence” on residents. Speaking to a large crowd at his weekly general audience in St Peter’s Square, Francis also appealed to “those who have the fate of the war in their hands” to stop. “My heart is Read more
Swiss bishop resigns at age 59 due to ‘inner fatigue’
Thursday, October 13th, 2022Pope Francis accepted the resignation of a 59-year-old Swiss bishop on Monday who said “inner fatigue” had made his office “unbearable” to him. Bishop Valerio Lazzeri was in charge of the Diocese of Lugano in Switzerland since 2013. During a press conference Monday afternoon, he said: “Sincerity and complete transparency compel me to tell you Read more
Auckland Catholic rest home ponders closure after losing $100,000/month
Thursday, October 13th, 2022Residents, and their relatives, of a 97-bed 100-staff Auckland Catholic rest home losing $100,000/month are being consulted about possible closure due to a critical staff shortage. But nothing is decided about the Ellerslie property founded by the Mercy order of nuns as a not-for-profit aged care facility. Arthur Morris, chairman of Waiatarua Mercy Parklands, said Read more