In an interview with Fox News released during the Republican National Convention, former president Donald Trump reasserted his stance that abortion is exclusively a state issue and said that it “will never be a federal issue again.” “By getting rid of Roe v Wade, I was able to get it back into the states, and Read more
The Vatican has said that two women have been hired for the specialised maintenance crew of St Peter’s Basilica for the first time in its 500-year history. While women have worked for the Fabbrica di San Pietro — the department that oversees maintenance, restoration, and repairs of the Vatican’s papal basilica — before, it is Read more
A newly released podcast presented in the Samoan language aims to reduce stigma around mental health. Called Fau Gagana – a Samoan nurse’s perceptive on mental health, provides general information, as well as interpretations on mental wellbeing from a Samoan perspective. Auckland University of Technology’s nursing lecturer, Dr Ioana Mulipola, says the idea for the Read more
A delegation of Church leaders met with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on July 12, a month after he was elected to power for the third consecutive term, and expressed concerns about the increasing hostility Christians face in the country. Archbishop Andrews Thazhath of Trichur, president of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of India, led the Read more
A Dunedin city councillor has apologised to the family of slain teenager Enere McLaren-Taana for her role in organising a public vigil against their wishes. Enere, 16, a pupil at Trinity Catholic College, died after being stabbed at the Dunedin bus hub on May 23. About a week later, the Dunedin City Council scheduled a Read more
A suspect in a vandalism incident at a New York City parish has been charged with a hate crime after beheading a statue of the Christ Child in Queens. Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz said in a press release on her website that Jamshaid Choudhry “has been charged with criminal mischief as a hate crime Read more
A relic of St Mary Magdalene was stolen from the Cathedral of the Madeleine on the morning of July 10. The theft was discovered at about 7 am when one of the cathedral staff members found the broken reliquary on the floor beneath the crucifix. According to Father Martin Diaz, the cathedral’s rector, this appears Read more
As Iraq’s Nineveh Plains marks the 10th anniversary of the invasion by the so-called Islamic State (ISIS), the Christian community continues to live with the trauma of the tragic event. Yet despite the efforts of the Islamist group to eradicate the Christian population, they are slowly rebuilding their presence in the area. “Words cannot describe Read more
Samoan Church Ministers from the EFKS denominations are stepping up as key players in public health. Reverend figures like Rev Elder Victor Pouesi from Ekalesia Faapotopotoga Kerisiano Samoa (EFKS) Magele I Sasa’e I Puaseisei, have long been vocal advocates for their communities, especially during the Covid-19 pandemic. Rev Pouesi said Faifeaus (church ministers) are essential Read more