The Destiny church’s Bishop Brian Tamaki is shocked by Catholic stronghold Ireland’s decision to legalise gay marriage. Tamaki thinks he might have to “move to Limerick next after this”. A whole generation of children will be bisexual because the “perversion of homosexuality is leading the charge,” he says. “Gaypower, that spirit is so powerful it’s Read more
News Shorts
Former BBC head says Vatican needs to update its media
Friday, May 29th, 2015The Vatican media needs to “up its game” for the digital age and more towards a more streamlined operation, said a former BBC head. Lord Patten, head of a Vatican Media Committee formed to recommend reforms, said the Holy See needs better capability to respond to a constant news cycle and in different languages. “What Read more
Early copy of Ten Commandments on public display
Friday, May 29th, 2015One of the earliest known copies of the Ten Commandments is making a rare public appearance. For 14 days over the next seven months, the Ten Commandments scroll called 4Q41 will be shown at the Israel Museum. It is part of an exhibit called “A Brief History of Humankind”. This copy of the commandments was Read more
CofE asked for baptism-like service for transgender people
Friday, May 29th, 2015A Church of England vicar has formally called for a new liturgy akin to baptism that would celebrate a newly transgender person’s new identity and name. Rev. Chris Newlands has put forward a motion for the church’s General Synod to consider. The vicar said he was asked about re-baptism by a church member who had Read more
Lecretia Seales: Wait for decision begins
Friday, May 29th, 2015A judge has reserved his decision on whether terminally ill Wellington lawyer Lecretia Seales gets the end she wants to her life. Seales returned to court for the final session of the third day of her court case, in which she seeks to end her life peacefully with the help of her general practitioner. Justice Read more
Church volunteers make a big impact
Friday, May 29th, 2015Josephine was facing a cold, wet winter with no glass in the windows of her home. That was until City Impact Church volunteers heard about her situation. The home the Otara woman shares with her daughter and baby granddaughter has been in the family for decades but was badly in need of repair. Continue reading
Three new Hindu temple opened in Auckland this year
Friday, May 29th, 2015
Auckland’s third new Hindu temple this year will open in Henderson next month. Community worker Pravin Patel said there were now 17 Hindu temples across Auckland. The city’s Hindu adherents increased by more than any other religion between the 2006 and 2013 censuses, from 45,324 to 61,458, and are now 4.3 per cent of all Read more
US bishop tells Catholics to abstain from yoga
Tuesday, May 26th, 2015A retired US bishop has advised Catholics to abstain from doing yoga, as it could be an occasion of serious sin. Comments from Bishop Fabian Bruskewitz, who used to lead the diocese of Lincoln, Nebraska, were published last week on a US blog for women. “ … The practice of yoga, if it does not begin Read more
Pope nixes Vatican Bank Luxembourg investment fund plan
Tuesday, May 26th, 2015The Pope has rejected a proposal that the Vatican Bank has a variable share capital investment fund based in Luxembourg. The proposal had the approval of the Institute for the Works of Religion’s board and was put forward by its president. Having this type of investment fund would have helped IOR managers manage a portion Read more
Parolin warns nowhere to hide from environment impact
Tuesday, May 26th, 2015The Vatican’s Secretary of State has warned there are no political barriers behind which people can hide from environmental and social degradation. Cardinal Pietro Parolin sent a message to a conference on “The New Climate Economy” in Rome. “When the future of the planet is at stake, there are no political frontiers, barriers or walls Read more