An alt-right group has emerged in the Catholic church that aims to purge it of LGBTQ members. “We haven’t seen anything like this before,” US Fordham University theologian Jason Steidl says. “I think they are part of a bigger cultural movement. These people have hitched their wagons to Trump’s presidency, to his tactics.” Read more
A new survey has found that more than in five Kiwis can’t afford to celebrate Christmas this year. The survey, commissioned by the Salvation Army, found when asked to disagree or agree with the statement “I can’t afford to celebrate the festive season”, 23 per cent of respondents agreed. Read more
Humanists in the UK say the BBC should open up Radio 4’s Thought for the Day to non-religious voices. Humanists UK has campaigned for 16 years to open Thought for the Day. Last year, the BBCs review of religious and ethics output rejected any change to the format. The corporation said Thought for the Day Read more
A New Zealander who was convicted of assisting his mother’s suicide is now facing two charges of murder in South Africa. In September Sean Davison was charged with murder after helping a quadriplegic friend die. On Friday he was charged with another killing of a man suffering from motor neuron disease. Mr Davison is a Read more
Pope Francis met with Israeli President Reuven Rivlin at the Vatican last week 15 for a private discussion that included the importance of building greater trust between Israelis and Palestinians. The Vatican says they spoke about the importance of mutual trust in negotiations “so as to reach an accord respecting the legitimate aspirations of both Read more
First published in 2016, Amoris Laetitia, which simply means ‘The Joy of Love’, is a post-synodal apostolic exhortation by Pope Francis addressing the pastoral care of families including marriage and the day to day challenges faced by families throughout the world. Amoris Laetitia encourages both clergy and members of the laity to accompany and care Read more
Religious freedom advocates are calling for an end to blasphemy laws across the globe. “Blasphemy laws are a way for governments to deny their citizens – and particularly those of minority religions – the basic human rights to freedom of religion or belief and freedom of expression,” the chairman of the U.S. Commission on International Read more
Scott Morrison also told Sky News sick children evacuated from Nauru for medical treatment would be sent back. Mr Morrison said about 30 children who remained on Nauru would be left there unless they needed medical attention in Australia or they were resettled in the United States. Continue reading
Yemen’s humanitarian crisis is alarming aid agencies and Catholic officials who are calling on combatants to end the civil war that began in 2015 to make badly needed assistance available. Yemen is facing the largest humanitarian crisis of this time, according to the United Nations. Read more
Wellington rugby club Marist St Pat’s (MSP) two Black Ferns, Monica Tagoa’i and Marcelle Parkes, are on tour with team’s historic tour to the United States and France where they are playing against the US in Chicago and France in Toulon and Grenoble. The Black Ferns are New Zealand’s senior women’s rugby team and the Read more