András Heisler, the president of the Federation of Hungarian Jewish Communities (Mazsihisz), has returned a state award in protest against the same award being given to Zsolt Bayer, a journalist known for his openly anti-Semitic views. Heisler, who is also a vice president of the World Jewish Congress, wrote on his Facebook page that he was giving back Read more
The $30m development of Erskine College has drawn a mainly positive response from about 100 people at an Island Bay Residents’ Association meeting. Island Residents association president Vicki Greco said people were generally happy with the design and the chapel restoration while concerns around stress on schools and infrastructure were seen as surmountable. Continue reading
The Scottish Catholic church hierarchy is flatly denying that it is lending its support to advancing a pro-homosexual curriculum in Catholic schools, despite secular as well as gay news sources claiming the opposite. Last month the Herald Scotland published a piece showcasing what it called a “radical new school curriculum which will put LGBTI issues Read more
The crowd quietens as various religious heads say prayers of thanksgiving for our victorious 7s heroes and the people of Fiji at the ANZ Stadium in Suva. The prayer session was led by Catholic Archbishop Peter Loy Chong. Source Tens of thousands of Fijians cheered and many openly wept as they braved heavy rain to Read more
Pope Francis will return to Assisi next month for the closing day of a gathering of religious leaders, aimed at promoting dialogue and peace. It will be his second visit to the birthplace of his namesake in two months, after his ‘private pilgrimage’to Assisi’s Porziuncula Chapel on 4 August. The upcoming visit will form part Read more
Former Prime Minister Helen Clark, a well-known agnostic, has named the Pope as the most inspirational leader in the world at the moment. In an interview with the Campaign for a Woman Secretary General, Clark was asked how important it was for the Secretary General to be an inspirational figure. She replied that it helped Read more
Same sex marriage isn’t likely to be an option anytime soon in Australia. It’s unlikely Australians will be asked this year to vote on whether to allow same-sex marriage, but the Turnbull government won’t publicly confirm a February referendum. The Australian Electoral Commission has strongly recommended the government not hold a national vote on the Read more
A dental initiative has allowed 850 low-income people to get free dental care this week. The Smile New Zealand programme set up by the Dental Association and the Southern Cross Health Trust gives basic dental care for community card holders needing urgent attention. Project manager Deepa Hughes said professional dental care was out of the Read more
Vietnamese Catholics were blocked and assaulted by police on Monday as they attempted to march to township offices to protest government inaction over their loss of livelihood following a massive pollution-linked fish kill in April, sources say. The April spill caused an estimated 70 tons of dead fish to wash up on the shores of Read more
Wellington’s first “club hub” has been launched at Kilbirnie Park, but it has failed to put to bed the Eastern Suburbs rugby club rivalry. Marist St Pat’s Rugby Football Club said it was not ready to join the new Toitu Poneke Sports Hub that brings seven different sports clubs together to share clubrooms and an Read more