The Government would do well to rethink how it selects refugees coming to New Zealand says Pastor Michael Hewat While he agrees impartiality is regarded as one of the fundamental principles of humanitarian action, he believes that in the current situation in the Middle East and North Africa, need and religious belief are inextricably linked. Continue Read more
A retired Irish bishop was punched in the face during a train journey last month. The former Bishop of Kerry, Bishop Bill Murphy, 79, was assaulted by a drunken passenger on the Killarney-Dublin train on August 6. According to reports, the bishop was punched while praying his office. The man who did this reportedly complained Read more
Pope Francis will use the Spanish language in celebrating the canonisation Mass for Blessed Junipero Serra in Washington, DC, later this month. Cardinal Donald Wuerl of Washington said that this is in recognition of the US’s large Hispanic population and the fact that Serra spoke Spanish. Spanish is also the Pope’s native tongue and Francis Read more
A Sydney priest is appealing against being found guilty of common assault after he allegedly smacked a child who was misbehaving in church. Fr Terrence Millard denies smacking a nine-year-old boy at St John Vianney church in Greenacre last year. No conviction was recorded against the priest, but Fr Millard went on leave from the Read more
Demand for Catholic education across Auckland has sparked multi-million-dollar plans for four new schools, one earmarked to take up to 1000 pupils. Kerry Coleman, Auckland Catholic Diocese general manager, said the new schools at Hillsborough, Drury, Takanini and Riverhead would each cost more than $5 million to build. Mr Coleman said the first of the Read more
If John Key wanted an example of how difficult it is to get Kiwis enthusiastic about the flag debate, he could have a chat with the boys at St Bernard’s College. The Lower Hutt school provided five intelligent and articulate senior boys aware of the push for a new flag. It is a topic they Read more
Pope Francis has congratulated a single mother on her decision to give birth to two daughters, telling her not to be ashamed. The exchange took place during a video link up between the Pope and people from Chicago, Los Angeles and McAllen, Texas. Single mother Rosemary Farfan told the Pope she had made some mistakes Read more
Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI has testified in proceedings for the beatification of Pope John Paul I. This was reported by Italy’s Famiglia Cristiana (Christian Family) Catholic magazine last week. No pope has ever testified for the beatification of another, the magazine stated. John Paul I died 37 years ago after being pope for just 33 Read more
Foreign Minister Murray McCully has suspended the funding New Zealand provides to Nauru each year for its justice system because of ongoing concerns about civil rights abuses. New Zealand had been giving Nauru $1.2 million a year, paid out quarterly. Mr McCully said several incidents had caused him concern, including the removal of senior members Read more