Rio Olympics are a “huge missed opportunity” to improve the lives of the country’s poorest, the Catholic Agency for Overseas Development (Cafod) has said. With all eyes on Brazil this summer for the Olympic and Paralympic Games, Cafod said that the plight of Brazil’s indigenous peoples and the Amazon should be centre stage.Read more
Earlier in the year the Sunday current affairs programme provided a rare glimpse into the Carmelite Monastery in Christchurch and the life of prayer and solitude of the sisters there. It’s a challenging life and young Sister Catherine, a novice, had much to consider as she decided if she could fully leave behind her life Read more
Instagram Pope: When most people think of the role of a pope, breaking records on social media sites, like Instagram, is usually not the first thought that comes to mind. However, Pope Francis not only takes selfies with the younger generations, but also has beaten them all at their own game: social media. Despite not Read more
The All Blacks are among a number of Kiwi household names sporting white armbands in support of child charity Cure Kids. The charity, which has a vision to “find cures for kids”, has launched a campaign, in partnership with the national team and New Zealand Rugby, to raise awareness around the need to invest in Read more
Lourdes security measures are being stepped up for next week’s feast of the Assumption after a series of recent terrorist attacks in France. The prefect of the Pyrénées region, Beatrice Lagarde, says the authorities even considered cancelling the Mass and procession next Monday, which is normally attended by 25,000 people. Read more
New Zealand has the worst rate of family and intimate-partner violence in the world. Eighty per cent of incidents go unreported — so what we know of domestic violence in our community is barely the tip of the iceberg. More than 12,000 Kiwis have repeatedly breached court orders to stay away from their victims, and Read more
Refugee Olympic Team members have received a letter from Pope Francis as they prepare to compete in the Olympic Games 2016. Wishing each of them success, the letter – written in Spanish and dated 26 July 2016 – is addressed to all refugee athletes, calling each by name. Pope Francis writes of his own research Read more
The inclusiveness of St Andrew’s Presbyterian Church on The Terrace is now clear for all to see thanks to their new rainbow themed mural. The church has created the mural along a temporary wall beside the walkway into its conference centre. Its purpose is to make the access way, which is next to the NZ medical association Read more
A halal supermarket in Paris has been ordered by local authorities to sell pork and alcohol or face closure. The Good Price mini-market in Colombes has not followed the conditions of its lease, which states the shop must act as a “general food store”, the local authority has said. It argues that members of the Read more
The life and very public death of a Wellington lawyer and euthanasia advocate is revealed in a book written by her widower, Matt Vickers. Writing Lecretia’s Choice – A Story of Life, Death and the Law had been an emotional ride, Vickers said from his base in New York, where he moved this year. “It’s Read more