Bono, the U2 frontman offered some advice for Christian musicians. “I find in Christian art a lot of dishonesty, and I think it’s a shame,” Bono said. “I would love if this conversation would inspire people who are writing these beautiful… gospel songs, write a song about their bad marriage. Write a song about how they’re Read more
News Shorts
Where will 800 asylum seekers from Manus go?
Friday, April 29th, 2016Papua New Guinea said on Wednesday it will close an Australian immigration centre on a northern island after its Supreme Court ruled it unlawful, but Australia ruled out accepting more than 800 asylum seekers detained there A spokesperson for Dutton did not immediately respond for requests for comment on the closure but Dutton said in Read more
Statue of Our Lady untouched by huge Equador quake
Tuesday, April 26th, 2016A statue of Our Lady and the glass case in which it was housed remained intact amidst the devastation of Equador’s huge earthquake this month. The statue of Our Lady of Light was housed in a school that collapsed and was reduced to rubble in the April 16 quake, which left at least 600 people Read more
Austrian bishop bans anti-refugee fence on church lands
Tuesday, April 26th, 2016An Austrian bishop has refused to allow an anti-refugee border fence to be built on church lands. Bishop Aegidius Zsifkovics of Eisenstadt has ensured the fence being built along Austria’s border with Hungary will have at least two large holes. The bishop said that fences weren’t the answer to Europe’s refugee crisis and allowing them Read more
Norway church seeks to pull out of state wedding role
Tuesday, April 26th, 2016Norway’s Catholic Church is to seek the Vatican’s permission to have its clergy withdraw from officiating at marriages on the Norwegian state’s behalf. The move comes after the governing synod of Norway’s predominant Lutheran Church voted to allow gay marriages. Catholic Bishop Bernt Eidsvig of Oslo said “it’s clear we must distinguish our own church Read more
Attitudes change towards Easter trading
Tuesday, April 26th, 2016There were a mere handful of complaints made nationwide about stores trading over Easter – and business leaders around the country say a law change is long overdue. The Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment was notified 15 times about businesses breaking trading laws over Easter weekend – well down on the 42 complaints lodged Read more
Wage gaps described as economic apartheid
Tuesday, April 26th, 2016A new study has found large wage gaps between expatriate and local staff in developing countries reduces the effectiveness of aid delivery. The report said some Pacific Island countries had taken to calling the dual salary system ‘economic apartheid’, with the ratio of expat to local salaries ranging from 2:1 to 10:1 for staff with Read more
Showdown in church over lesbian couple and baptism
Friday, April 22nd, 2016
A priest has reportedly told the lesbian partner of a woman whose baby was being baptised not to be on the altar at the ceremony. The baptism took place in the Church of Santa Rita de Cassia in Telde, Gran Canaria, in the Canary Islands. The women were married in a civil ceremony in 2012 Read more
Trevi Fountain to be dyed red for Christian martyrs
Friday, April 22nd, 2016The Trevi Fountain in Rome is to be dyed red in recognition of Christians who even today give their lives for their faith. The April 29 event is being organised by Aid to the Church in Need and seeks to “call attention to the drama of anti-Christian persecution”. Continue reading
Vatican inquiry into sodality founder’s abuse
Friday, April 22nd, 2016An inquiry ordered by the Vatican into abuse by the founder of a 20,000-member Catholic sodality is expected to report soon. The Congregation for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life ordered an inquiry concerning the “Sodalitium of Christian Life” from Peru. The movement’s superior general has admitted that allegations against its founder, Read more