The Facebook group set up by a former Act MP for political think tank New Zealand Centre for Political Research has several threads taking aim at Muslim candidates standing in the local government elections. Muriel Newman says she was unaware of derogatory and xenophobic remarks towards Muslims on a Facebook group. Read more
An LGBTQ-friendly Italian archbishop has been promoted to cardinal in the Roman Catholic Church, and right-wing Catholics are losing it. Pope Francis announced Sunday that Archbishop Matteo Zuppi of Bologna and 12 other clerics were being elevated to cardinal, a rank that gives them great influence in the church and, for those under age 80, Read more
Sacred Heart College declined a place for an autistic boy. Initially, it cited “high numbers of applicants”. Later it changed its explanation and said the boy wasn’t offered a place because he was not Catholic enough. Read more
A “vulgar and confronting” painting depicting the Virgin Mary holding a male appendage is on public display at a Queensland university, sparking outrage from religious leaders. Sky News host Peter Gleeson described the artwork as “disgusting”, saying “this is not art, it’s a middle finger to the Catholic Church”. “Imagine if this was the prophet Read more
Two teenagers having a religious discussion in a Picton cafe were shocked after they were scolded by a member of the public. The woman, who was also dining in the cafe, told them their discussion wasn’t appropriate and they should consider other people’s “comfort zones”. Anna Amos, 17, who is homeschooled in Waikawa, said she Read more
A Catholic school in Nashville is receiving a lot of “undesired attention” over a decision to remove the Harry Potter book series from its shelves. On August 28, Rev. Dan Reehil, the pastor of St. Edward Catholic School, sent an e-mail to school staff explaining his reasoning for removing the books from the school’s library. Read more
A new organiser is being sought for the Nelson Santa parade after organisers quit following the Māori Santa backlash. Nelson councillor Gaile Noonan said a new organiser for the parade would be announced this week. Read more
Medical advancements do not help if they treat people as objects or when they are applied only to those people who are not considered a burden and “deserve” to be helped, Pope Francis said. In addition, euthanasia, which is legal in a number of places, “only seemingly promises to promote personal freedom; in reality it Read more
Work to stabilise the earthquake-damaged Christ Church Cathedral will begin in the first three months of next year and could take 18 months. Christchurch Cathedral reinstatement Project senior project manager Tim Anthon said the work would prop up the walls of the historic Christchurch building to make it safe for restoration workers to go inside. Read Read more
Greta Thunberg’s high-profile “eco” crossing of the Atlantic hit choppy waters tonight when it was revealed a crew will have to fly to New York to bring her boat back. The Swedish climate activist, 16, is crossing the giant ocean in a racing yacht to join protests in the US and take part in a Read more