Sexual exploitation of children has become rife in Fiji. And the problem is largely hidden from authorities and the public. These are findings in a joint survey by the NGOs Save the Children, and End Child Prostitution and Trafficking International. A recent UN report also revealed that abuse of children in Fiji is usually performed Read more
A self-described geopolitical analyst at the center of the most recent Vatican financial scandal is being held in an Italian jail pending extradition to the Vatican. Cecilia Marogna was arrested October 13 by Italian financial authorities after a warrant was issued by Vatican prosecutors through Interpol. Marogna has said she worked for the Holy See’s Read more
Mourners were banned from saying the Lord’s Prayer at a funeral as it could “spread the coronavirus”. Bosses at a council-run crematorium said if more than one person joined in, it counted as “chanting” and was not allowed. Minister Alison Davies, 53, was left in tears at the ban at the funeral of a 94-year-old Read more
The Bay of Plenty couple were married for 66 years and had just celebrated their wedding anniversary. But early on Monday Kevin and Maureen Gallagher passed away 20 minutes apart at home. Leah Tebbutt tells their story of life, love and devotion. “Where you go, I go.” These were the words Maureen Hollis told her Read more
Moneyval, the Council of Europe’s anti-money laundering watchdog, concluded its two-week on-site inspection of the Holy See and Vatican City on Tuesday, according to a Vatican statement. Moneyval arrived at the Vatican on Sept. 30 for the next phase of a regular multi-year evaluation of the institution’s compliance with European financial regulations. Meetings with the Read more
A reminder has been given regarding the rules concerning Catholic schools sending out material related to politics. This was sparked after a principal from a central North Island Catholic school sent parents a link to information from Family First about the upcoming End of Life Choice Act and Cannabis legalisation referenda. After widespread media coverage Read more
The vice-chair of the Democratic Party is calling on Joe Biden to commit to appointing, for the first time, Muslim judges to the federal bench if he were to win November’s presidential election. House Representative Grace Meng made the request in a letter to the Biden campaign last week, asking the former vice president and Read more
The president of Poland’s Bishops’ Conference has said the Vatican rejected his request to have St John Paul II declared a Doctor of the Church and patron saint of Europe. Archbishop Stanislaw Gadecki of Poznan said most bishops worldwide also ignored the proposal. He said: “The title of Doctor of the Church is reserved for Read more
Investors should remove their support from companies not committed to the environment, says Pope Francis. On Saturday he added his voice to calls from a number of world leaders for an more environmentally sustainable economic model. Speaking in a video message for an online event called “Countdown Global Launch, A Call to Action on Climate Read more
North Korean gulag prisoners are allegedly being forced to drink river water tainted with the ashes of their dead fellow inmates. The horrific reality of life within Kim Jong-un’s gulags was exposed by former prisoners who survived the living nightmare of Chongori concentration camp. North Koreans can find themselves locked up there for acts as Read more