A US archbishop has urged priests, scout leaders and other Catholics to sever ties with the Girl Scouts of the USA. St Louis Archbishop Robert Carlson stated in an open letter that the organisation promotes values “incompatible” with Catholic teachings. The archbishop urged parishes that host Girl Scout meetings to consider alternative programmes that are Read more
Obscene graffiti has been daubed across Wellington College buildings and its artificial sports turf, apparently by rival students from St Patrick’s College. Staff and students Wellington College found the graffiti on Monday morning. It included one-metre-high male genitalia and “F… you” scrawled on the new $1.4 million turf, which was partly funded by Wellington ratepayers. Read more
A new roof for Dunedin’s Dominican Priory, considered one of New Zealand’s most important and at-risk historic buildings, is a big step closer following a $100,000 grant. Dunedin City Council’s Dunedin Heritage Fund had committed the money from its 2016-17 budget. The 139-year old priory was built to house the city’s Dominican nuns and provide Read more
Forty religious leaders want a possible Australian plebiscite on same-sex marriage dropped because bitter debate could do widespread harm. A group of Buddhist, Baptist, Anglican and Uniting church leaders sent a letter to Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull on Tuesday. The religious leaders warned that a public campaign on the issue could polarise people in Read more
Dublin archdiocese is trying to improve access to St Mary’s Pro-Cathedral on Easter Sunday this year, after a traffic cordon was imposed. The city centre will be closed to all vehicles from 6am on Easter Sunday until 8pm that night, as events take place to commemorate the 1916 Easter rising. A spokeswoman for the archdiocese Read more
A member of the Pontifical Commission for the Protection of Minors has detailed two instances where she believes the Roman Curia has frustrated reform. Marie Collins, an abuse survivor, referred to commission’s proposal that a Vatican tribunal be set up hold bishops to account for their handling of abuse cases. This was approved by the Read more
The latest report from the Social Policy & Parliamentary Unit examines how even just a small dip in economic fortunes could see many more Kiwi families fall into poverty and severe social distress, despite recent economic upturn. December 2015 job figures paint an encouraging picture of the resilience of the New Zealand economy. But just Read more
The Anglican Church plans to get a fresh assessment of Christ Church Cathedral amid concern the Valentines Day earthquake has further damaged the building. Sunday’s 5.7 magnitude earthquake appeared to cause more of the historic cathedral to crumble and fall away from the steel props that have held up the front of the building for Read more
Father Noel Delaney died in Wellington last Saturday. He was 93. Fr Noel’s death brings to 4 the number of priests, who had a long association with the pastoral care of Maori Catholics, that have died in recent months. He was ordained in 1942 and worked in a number of the Society of Mary’s schools Read more