After taking in its first students in 1936, Lower Hutt’s San Antonio Catholic School is focused on “making memories” and celebrating its history ahead of its likely closure at the end of the year. With just 20 students and predictions the Eastbourne school’s roll was unlikely to grow to a sustainable level in the short Read more
Four Nuns who were kidnapped in Nigeria’s southern Imo State on Sunday, 21 August, have been returned to their community. Sisters Johannes Nwodo, Christabel Echemazu, Liberata Mbamalu and Benita Agu were freed unconditionally – meaning without the payment of a ransom – according to a statement issued on 23 August by members of the Sisters Read more
A Vatican source has said Italian Cardinal Angelo Becciu’s apparent invitation to participate in a high-profile meeting of cardinals next week represents a personal gesture on the part of Pope Francis. But it does not necessarily mean Becciu’s rights as a cardinal, stripped by the pope two years ago, are being restored. Over the weekend, Read more
The Philippine education department has launched a probe after a series of schools shut down across the country allegedly over financial constraints stemming from the impacts of the Covid-19 pandemic. More than 860 out of 14,000 private schools in the Catholic-majority nation have closed their doors since the pandemic hit two years ago, according to Read more
Students Against Dangerous Driving (SADD) is helping Lena Dupu grow in more ways than one. The St Kevin’s College year 12 pupil has been selected as a national leader for Students Against Dangerous Driving (Sadd). Lena (17) received a phone call with the news nearly a month ago. She said she ‘‘didn’t expect’’ to be Read more
Half a million people took part in the diocesan phase of the synod on synodality in Italy, according to the country’s national synthesis document. The 13-page text, submitted by the Italian bishops’ conference to the Vatican on August 15, said that around 50,000 synodal groups were formed in the country “for a total participation of Read more
A journalist who wrote an article accusing the Nigerian government of failing to protect Christians threatened by armed militants was arrested and will be tried on charges of “cyberstalking”. Luka Binniyat, a Catholic human rights reporter, is facing prison after writing an article in which the Nigerian government was criticised for its inaction in the Read more
Employees at Google’s parent company are urging the search engine to suppress results for pro-life crisis pregnancy centres, according to a petition sent on Monday by the company union to Alphabet Inc CEO Sundar Pichai. In the wake of the Supreme Court’s decision to overturn Roe V Wade, more than 650 employees at Alphabet Inc Read more
Community and charity groups are dealing with plummeting rates of volunteering, and Charities Minister Andrew Leigh is on a mission not only to stem the drop-off but halt the crisis in community participation. Reports compiled by the Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission (ACNC) show the number of volunteers has been steadily falling each year. It Read more
Limits on the size of religious gatherings due to Covid-19 restrictions were justified, a judge has decided. Two groups of churches and mosques claimed a Covid-19 public health response order that took effect late last year was unlawful for breaching their rights to manifest their religious belief. The order limited gatherings depending on whether attendees Read more