A plastic figurine of Martin Luther has sold tens of thousands of copies within days of being put on the market. Playmobil’s Luther toy sold out, with 34,000 copies being snapped up in 72 hours. Most were sold in Germany, and 5 per cent went to international buyers. The German toymaker released the “little Luther” Read more
The Anglican Church has demoted the bishop who offended visiting Jews and Muslims at an inter-faith meeting last month. A statement issued by the Anglican Church of Aoteoroa said Archbishop Brown Turei, the head of Pihopatanga, (the Maori Anglican Church in Aotearoa New Zealand) had appointed Bishop Te Kitohi Pikaahu as his Vicar General. Bishop Read more
Cardinal John’s message to participants at the 2015 Valentine’s Day Mass, Cathedral of the Sacred Heart, Wellington. In recent years there has been a Mass celebrated in Wellington’s Cathedral on Valentine’s Day. Because Cardinal Dew was in Rome to be made a Cardinal he pre-recorded his message. Watch Youtube video
James Haggett the principal of a new charter school, Middle School West Auckland, resigned on February 3 – the students’ first day – after it surfaced he was dealing with a probe by the Teachers Council regarding the administration of examination entries from 2013. A mandatory report was laid in December by Haggett’s former employer, Read more
A priest in Switzerland has been forced to resign after he blessed a lesbian couple in a ceremony he said was similar to a wedding. Fr Wendelin Bucheli blessed the couple in his parish church in Burglen in October last year. Bishop Vitus Huonder of Chur diocese said the priest must now resign and return Read more
Pope Francis is to address a joint meeting of the United States Congress on September 24 in Washington, DC. House speaker John Boehner announced the “historic visit” by Francis. This will be the first time a Pope has addressed a joint meeting of Congress. Francis will speak to members of the US Senate and House Read more
Te Rūnanga o te Hāhi Katorika ki Aotearoa chair Sr Tui Cadigan has expressed hope that Rome will be able to find a way to appoint a Maori bishop to help boost the faith of Maori. She said: “We have to be mindful of the fact that Takuira has been gone now for about 10 Read more
Blueswoman Laura Collins will open and close the second annual Voices of Faith event at the Vatican next month with a hauntingly beautiful ballad penned by fellow Kiwi musician Steve Cournane and accompanied on piano by Wayne Mason, writer of the 1960s pop hit Nature. “The whole thing is pretty surreal. I’m kind of humbled really. Read more
The religious movement founded by Maori prophet Te Kooti Arikirangi Te Turuki is exploring how it can entice followers back to church and increase the expertise of its tohunga (ministers). About 30 Ringatu followers and tohunga went to a wananga at the University of Waikato last weekend, where falling church attendance and the abilities of Read more