A Brazilian cardinal has escaped injury during a carjacking in Rio de Janeiro by several gunmen. Police say Cardinal Orani Joao Tempesta was travelling in a chauffeur-driven vehicle with two friends when the attack occurred on Sunday. The thieves made off with the vehicle. Brazilian media say the cardinal was returning from Mass when the Read more
Cardinal George Pell has warned lay people against fleeing from the world and becoming preoccupied with church services and tasks of the priesthood. Speaking in Ireland, the cardinal said the so-called culture wars “are entering a new phase of political struggle which can only be fought by laypeople”. He urged young people to get involved Read more
The Parihaka story is set to be shared in schools across the country. The 26-page booklet was the brainchild of the Bishop of Palmerston North Diocese Charles Drennan, who wanted to ensure the Maori account of the injustices suffered by the people of Parihaka were acknowledged. The resource contents were put together by Caritas Aotearoa Read more
Charging for police vetting has been given the green light despite concerns from charities and volunteer groups about crippling new costs. A select committee has recommended a law change that will allow police to recover costs for “demand services” such as criminal checks be passed into law. The committee made minor changes to the bill, Read more
Housing charity Habitat for Humanity has asked the Government to consult state house tenants before selling up to 1600 state houses in Tauranga and Invercargill. Habitat chief executive Claire Szabo said she had asked the head of the Treasury’s transactions unit managing the sale, Stacey Wymer, to “give tenants a voice” in the process. Continue Read more
Pope Francis has said the Catholic Church should not have “leaders for life” in its ranks. Otherwise it would risk being like a country under a dictatorship, he told 30,000 people at a rally in St Peter’s Square on July 3. “There should be a time limit to positions (in the Church), which in reality Read more
Up to ten bishops in England and Wales would support the Church discerning if ordaining married men is a way forward, a retired bishop says. This is because those bishops are in charge of diocese where there is a significant shortage of priests, said Bishop Crispian Hollis. The former ordinary of Portsmouth diocese said he is increasingly Read more
Rome’s Pontifical Gregorian University is to offer a diploma programme on the safeguarding of minors and the prevention of sex abuse by clergy. Starting next year, the one semester course will be offered by the Center for Child Protection at the university. The diploma will be awarded at the close of a residential course. The Read more
The Church hasn’t valued higher education in the way it should have, says a prominent New Zealand artist and academic. In an address given at the Good Shepherd College graduation in Ponsonby on June 5, Lady Mary Barker said that, as a body, the Church has generally been suspicious of new thought and ideas. It Read more