Aleppo and the conditions people have to live in are still “dire” says a Syrian priest. Father Ziad Hilal said “Previously, the dollar used to be worth 50 Syrian pounds, today it is equivalent to more than 520 Syrian pounds. Ten times more! The people of Aleppo lack money to live on, few people have Read more
The Maori advisor to the New Zealand Catholic Bishops Conference says Maori have a vital role to play in the church’s future, particularly in reaching out to young people and migrants. Catholics are the largest denomination in New Zealand with nearly half a million members, almost 70,000 of whom are Maori. Deacon Danny Karatea-Goddard says Read more
Malta’s Archbishop says seminarians who don’t agree with Pope Francis can leave the seminary. Church sources in Malta say the Archbishop is also having “a heavy-handed crackdown” on any ecclesiastic unwilling to subscribe to the Maltese bishops’ interpretation of Amoris Laetitia. The bishops say their interpretation is identical to the Pope’s. Read more
Research clearly shows that New Zealand men and women involved in team sport are likely to drink alcohol in a dangerous pattern. The results are so often injurious, physically as well as socially to the drinker and those around. Let’s cut the crap and man up about our sport and alcohol problem in New Zealand Read more
The Catholic and Jewish communities in Rome have collaborated to create an exhibition of menorah, the seven-candled Hebrew lamp. The menorah is an ancient symbol of faith. Rome’s Rabbi Riccardo Di Segni said the unprecedented joint exhibition, more than three years in the making, showed the “evolution in the dialogue between Jews and Catholics”. The exhibition Read more
Family First NZ says that people applying to be marriage celebrants are having their applications rejected if they do not want to officiate at same-sex ‘weddings’ due to their personal beliefs or convictions, despite assurances by politicians that this would not occur. In response to a request by Family First NZ to the Department of Read more
Fast for Lent and reduce your carbon footprint. The Archdiocese of Bombay has asked Catholics to observe a ‘carbon fast’ during the season to create awareness about global warming and the importance of a sustainable lifestyle. Carbon footprint is a term used to describe the emission of greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide generated by Read more
Six days and nights of fasting and prayer in solidarity with drone assassination victims and families have been arranged to promote Drone Awareness Week. It will take placein wellington between 26 February and 3 March and will be centred in a Vigil Bus. Anyone is are welcome to join the bus at any time, day or Read more
Ghana will be re-consecrated to the Sacred Heart at celebrations marking the 40th anniversary of the establishment of Diplomatic Relations between the Republic of Ghana and the Holy See. The celebrations will also encompass the 60th Independence Anniversary of the Republic of Ghana. Pope Francis has appointed Giuseppe Cardinal Bertello, President of the Governatorate of Read more
Police Commissioner Mike Bush wants to see if there is a case for hate-crimes legislation in New Zealand, and is prompted by an incident in Huntly. A woman threatened and abused a Muslim woman sitting quietly in her car. Bush wants more research to establish whether there is a need for hate-crimes legislation. He is Read more