Not all religions and their followers are equal in New Zealand, a Herald investigation into the state of faith has found. A University of Waikato Islamic studies review on patterns and disparity of New Zealand Muslims found Muslims to be more educated and qualified than Christians. However, Muslims are three times more likely to be Read more
The prefect of the Congregation for Saint’s Causes has dismissed claims that there is more to the secrets of Fatima than has been made public. Cardinal Angelo Amato told a Rome conference: ““There is no fourth secret and there are no other hidden secrets.” Cardinal Amato said he had “the privilege” of reading the original Read more
A US appeals court has ruled an 85-year-old nun and two men did not commit sabotage when they broke into a defence site for storing enriched uranium for bombs. Sr Megan Rice and two men had their convictions for sabotage overturned. But their convictions for damaging government property were upheld. The court ordered they be Read more
Campaigners are arguing for return of the body of St Bernadette Soubirous to Lourdes, where she reported seeing visions of the Virgin Mary in 1858. An association, which has the support of several of the saint’s descendants, want her body to be returned from a chapel in Nevers in Burgundy. The association argues that the Read more
Generous donors helped raised the $3.1 million required to begin the earthquake strengthening of St Mary of the Angels in March. Another $6.2m is needed by 2027
Auckland neighbours are involved in a religious battle after a giant 6.4m statue of Hindu god Shiva was erected in a backyard. Ravin Chandar installed the 30-tonne statue for him and his family to pray to, but that’s irked his Catholic neighbour, Bryce Watts. Erecting the giant statue was something Chandar “had to do”. “That Read more
Environmental campaigner and former US vice-president Al Gore has said he could become Catholic because of Pope Francis. At an event at the University of California, Berkeley, Mr Gore said he thinks Francis is “quite an inspiring figure, really”. “I’ve been startled with the clarity of the moral force that he embodies,” Mr Gore said. Read more
The Australian Catholic Council for Employment Relations is pushing for the nation’s minimum wage to be increased by A$28.70 a week. The Catholic council lodged a claim in Australia’s Fair Work Commission that the national minimum wage be set at A$669.60 a week. The council’s proposed increase is more than double the amount major employer Read more
The Vatican under Pope Francis gave out aid worth 1.5 million euros (US $1.6 million) in 2014, an increase of 25 percent over the previous year. Refugees, prisoners, the homeless, the sick and the elderly benefitted from the aid. Direct Vatican aid helped 8000 people in 2014, along with religious communities which used it for Read more
As Caritas’ emergency response in Nepal moves into its second week and reaches ever more remote villages, initial Government estimates are that up to 500,000 houses may have been destroyed across the country – making shelter a top priority before the torrential monsoon rains arrive in a few short weeks. Thousands of much-needed tarpaulins and Read more