Pope Francis has said that the international community shouldn’t tolerate acts of violence like the air attack that recently struck a detention center for migrants in Libya. Francis prayed for the victims of the strike, which on Wednesday killed at least 44 people and wounded dozens, in what the UN said could amount to a Read more
News Shorts
Pope to canonise British Catholic luminary John Henry Newman
Thursday, July 4th, 2019Cardinal John Henry Newman, one of the most influential and controversial Christian figures of the 19th century and a leading Anglican before converting to Catholicism, will be made a saint, the Vatican said on Monday. Canonisation will take place at the Vatican on October 13, it said in a statement, after Pope Francis decreed recognition Read more
2019 winners of SINGout4JUSTICE
Thursday, July 4th, 2019Winners of the 2019 Caritas SINGout4JUSTICE songwriting competition have been announced from more than 82 students from throughout New Zealand. This annual competition provides a platform for intermediate and secondary school students to share concerns on issues of importance to them through the medium of song. Each winner also receives $500 in prizes that will Read more
Dalai Lama apologises for saying female successor must be attractive
Thursday, July 4th, 2019The office of the Dalai Lama has said that he is “deeply sorry” for again saying that his successor could only be a woman if she was also attractive. The Spiritual Leader of Tibetan Buddhism, 83, made the remarks in a wide-ranging interview with the BBC last week. In 2015, he first said that while Read more
Radio Rhema record collection sells for $5001
Thursday, July 4th, 2019The Christian radio station Radio Rhema has sold off its collection of about 7000 records at auction to a Hamilton couple for $5001. The records, collected over about 40 years, were not being used so went on sale on Trade Me with a $1200 reserve after the station decided it needed to free up space. Read more
Vatican says ‘no human power’ can compel priests to violate confessional seal
Thursday, July 4th, 2019As California is currently embroiled in a battle over whether to punish priests for not breaking the seal of confession in cases when child abuse is revealed, the Vatican has issued a statement reaffirming the “inviolability” of the confidentiality of confession, and saying political pressure in this regard is a breach of religious liberty. “Every Read more
Police to open Vatican graves in murder investigation
Thursday, July 4th, 2019
Two graves in a small Vatican cemetery will be opened in a renewed search for Emanuela Orlandi, a young woman who disappeared in Rome 36 years ago. Orlandi was a Vatican City resident and the daughter of a Vatican employee. She disappeared in Rome on 22 June 1983 when she was 15. In March this Read more
Watershed report on Māori health highlights racism
Thursday, July 4th, 2019A watershed Waitangi Tribunal report backs claims the system is racist, finding the Crown has breached the Treaty in failing to give Māori control over a primary health system that works for them. The report says the system is racist, Māori health is a humanitarian crisis, the government has failed Māori, and it should apologise. Read more
Pope Francis reinstates falsely accused Indian cardinal to diocese
Monday, July 1st, 2019Pope Francis has restored full administrative powers of the archdiocese of Ernakulam-Angamaly, in Kerala to Cardinal George Alencherry. The Cardinal was temporarily suspended following the start of a judicial proceeding that saw him involved in an alleged illegal sale of land belonging to the local Church. The Cardinal has been definitively acquitted of all charges. Read more
Burglaries under investigation
Monday, July 1st, 2019A string of recent burglaries in Oamaru appears to have ceased. Nine burglaries or attempted burglaries were reported to police between May 28 and June 8. Among the properties reported to have been unlawfully entered were three churches – St Patrick’s Basilica on May 29 or 30, the Orwell St Church between June 1 and Read more