The Danish parliament is scheduled to consider a bill proposing a ban on non-medical circumcisions. Henri Goldstein, the president of the Jewish Community in Denmark, says the measure represents “the worst threat since World War II” to the country’s Jews, who traditionally circumcise baby boys on their eighth day of life, a ritual known as Read more
One of the country’s top scholars says he is considering leaving the University of Waikato over what he calls ongoing “systemic and casual racism.” Māori astronomer Professor Dr Rangi Matamua, who this year received the Prime Minister’s Science Communications Prize and has been a leading proponent of making Matariki a public holiday, told the Herald Read more
When Jimmy Macdonald found himself drowning in the waters of Lake George in New York next to his tipped kayak, he thought he might die. He had been enjoying a relaxing August day on the lake with his family, meditating and snapping pictures. He kept his lifejacket in the boat – he didn’t think he Read more
Schools have been told to let students choose their own gender identities and names. New relationships and sexuality education guidelines issued by the Ministry of Education say that schools must “uphold the human rights of all people.” “All people have the same rights and freedoms, regardless of their sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, and Read more
Preparations for World Youth Day – WYD 2023 – in Lisbon resumed on Saturday, marking the beginning of the new pastoral year. According to Archbishop Américo Aguiar, auxiliary bishop of Lisbon and president of the “WYD Lisbon 2023 Foundation”, Pope Francis is following the preparations for World Youth Day “quietly” and with “excitement.” Last Wednesday, Read more
The first international organ festival will be held under the nearly 2,000-year-old dome of Rome’s Pantheon and above the relics of early Christian martyrs. The melodies of Johann Sebastian Bach and other composers will be played on the organ this month in an effort to use beauty to reconnect people with the mystery of God. Read more
A Uyghur woman who worked as a doctor in China has told a British news network that she participated in forced abortions and sterilizations at the behest of the Chinese government. The woman, who was not identified but was seen from behind on camera, told ITV that she was sharing her story in an effort Read more
In 2006, lecturer in philosophy at Te Kupenga – Catholic Theological College Fr John Owens, SM, set about reading everything he could about American philosopher Richard Rorty. The Kiwi academic ended up publishing a book in 2019. The book, “Rorty, Religion and Metaphysics” was launched on August 5, at the Catholic Theological College on Ponsonby Read more
Tens of thousands of people protested across Pakistan on Friday against French magazine Charlie Hebdo’s reprinting of cartoons mocking the Prophet Mohammad, chanting “Death to France” and calling for boycotts of French products. “Decapitation is the punishment of blasphemers,” read one of the placards carried by protesters. The cartoons sending up the Prophet Mohammad triggered Read more
A victim of historic child sex abuse by two former Marist brothers is still waiting to hear from the church. But the Catholic Church says it is making progress with the independent review and will be in a position to comment further soon. Read more