An Iranian Christian was denied asylum in Great Britain after a government official in the Home Office used the Bible to argue that Christianity was violent. The man wrote in his request he had converted to Christianity because it is a peaceful faith. However, the Independent reports Britain’s Home Office’s refusal letter cited several biblical Read more
A Catholic high school will get a new permanent home 12 years after its original site was damaged in the Canterbury earthquakes. A new Marian College will be built on a 3-hectare site bordered by Vagues, Main North and Northcote roads in the Christchurch suburb of Papanui. Continue reading
A southern Chinese city is offering cash rewards for information about “illegal religious groups” as the ruling Communist Party continues to tighten its grip over faith communities. A notice posted on the official website of the Guangzhou Department of Ethnic and Religious Affairs said up to 10,000 yuan ($15,000) would be paid for verified information Read more
A long-planned Muslim chaplaincy service for the University of Otago will be officially launched today. Two chaplains are taking up part-time, voluntary roles providing pastoral care and spiritual support to Muslim students – retired political lecturer Dr Najib Lafraie, a former Afghanistan foreign minister who fled the Taliban, and Salmah Kassim, a former diplomatic officer Read more
Cardinal Joseph Zen Ze-kiun has denied an apparent accusation by the apostolic administrator of Hong Kong Diocese that he is disobedient toward Pope Francis. Read more
Fairly and otherwise, the media often gets criticized for not speaking truth to power, especially on human rights issues. At this week’s post-Cabinet press conference, PM Jacinda Ardern gave us a glimpse into how formulaic the raising of such concerns has become. Read more
President Rodrigo Duterte’s attacks against God, the Church and its bishops are driving Filipino Catholics to cast votes for candidates not allied with the administration. Duterte earlier drew flak for calling God “stupid”, for cursing at Pope Francis and for issuing death threats against Roman Catholic bishops who allegedly plotted to oust him. By attacking Read more
A Bible verse written on a tribute wall for victims of the Christchurch shooting has been removed after a member of the public flagged it as “really inappropriate”. The verse, Luke 19:27, reads: “But those mine enemies, which would not that I should reign over them, bring hither, and slay them before me,” according to Read more
A Chilean court has ordered the country’s Catholic Church to pay compensation to victims in a sex abuse case against influential former priest Fernando Karadima. A unanimous ruling says the Church must pay 100 million pesos ($146,000) for “moral damages” to each of his three victims. Read more
Elders of New Zealand’s most revered symbol of peace have strongly rebuked Brian Tamaki for using Parihaka to endorse his church. Tamaki, who founded Destiny Church with his wife Hannah in 1998, visited Parihaka Pā on Saturday as part of his Tu Tangata Riders Tour of Duty Taranaki hosted by Man Up New Zealand. Read Read more