Every priest and parish in Britain and Ireland is to receive a DVD defending Catholic teaching on marriage, the family and sexuality. The DVD comes from the British Confraternity of Catholic Clergy in collaboration with St Anthony Communications, which specialises in catechetical video presentations. It has been launched as the Church prepares for the synod Read more
A University of Notre Dame professor dubbed the father of US Latino religious thought has been accused of sexually abusing a boy more than 30 years ago. A lawsuit has been filed against Fr Virgilio Elizondo, a theology professor at Notre Dame, as well as against a former priest and San Antonio archdiocese. The lawsuit Read more
The Peace and Justice Commission of the Catholic Diocese of Auckland has joined in the Bishops’ call for transparency and democratic participation in the negotiations over the Trans Pacific Partnership Agreement. They say these negotiations and provisions raise ethical issues in terms of the kind of country New Zealand is and violate basic principles of Read more
A child is admitted to a New Zealand hospital every second day with injuries arising from either assault, neglect or maltreatment, research says. Nearly half of them are aged under five. The figures on child abuse, which are likely under reported, are contained in a 2012 report prepared for the Ministry of Health by the Read more
Melanie Hendriks who initiated sexual relationships with the St John’s College pupils when she was a drama teacher at the Hamilton schoolhas lost her teacher’s license. The disciplinary tribunal said her actions amounted to serious misconduct, and referred her to the police. The council’s decision said Hendriks “accepts the particulars” of the charge and that Read more
The president of the Pontifical Council for the Family is under investigation by Italian authorities for alleged financial irregularities. Archbishop Vincenzo Paglia is being investigated in connection with the sale of the historic San Girolamo castle four years ago. Two employees of Paglia’s former diocese of Terni-Narni-Amelia have been arrested. Prosecutors are probing Paglia on Read more
Nigeria’s Catholic bishops have spoken out against calls for mass abortions for some of the pregnant women rescued from Boko Haram. The bishops’ conference health committee chair Bishop Anselm Umoren told a press conference the life of every baby is distinct from that of the parents. Aborting the unborn children of the rescued women would Read more
The Vatican Bank’s profits increased twentyfold last year over the previous 12 months. The Institute for the Works of Religion earned NZ$106 million in 2014, compared to NZ$4.4 million in 2013. The bulk of the profit – NZ$84.4 million – was given to the Holy See for its operating costs. Releasing its annual report on Read more
New Zealand’s top medical body had called for a clampdown on our rampant boozing, including banning advertising, raising the drinking age, and increasing taxes. In a “briefing” published last week, the New Zealand Medical Association says the Government needs to intervene more heavily in the liquor industry for the nation’s collective health. “We consider it Read more
Swimming with stingrays and exploring the Rikoriko Cave were the top highlights for two St Pius X School pupils who have just got back from a trip to the Poor Knights Islands. Bethanie Luke, 9, and Catherine Butler, 10, of New Plymouth, joined children from around the country for a diving expedition in the islands’ Read more