Destiny Church’s failed attempt to set up a charter school was blocked in part because of Ministry of Education fears about students being pressured into joining the church. The ministry discovered irregularities between Destiny’s claim that they were open to non-church members, as school-goers were also expected to attend the church. In a stinging debrief Read more
The largest Roman Catholic geographical district in Brazil, located deep in the Amazon along the Xingu River, has more than 800 Catholic congregations but only 27 priests. Bishop Erwin Krautler, prelate of Xingu (pronounced Shin-goo), has argued that the situation calls for drastic measures. In April, he took his case to the Vatican, where he Read more
It’s long been accused of adopting an at best ambiguous role in the fight against organised crime in Sicily, but the Catholic Church has now taken a symbolic stand against the Mafia in its Palermo heartland by refusing to give the sacraments to the son of a notorious Cosa Nostra crime lord. Despite protests from Read more
At a small Hanoi cemetery, Catholic farmer Nguyen Van Thao opens a fridge and pulls out a bag of bloody fetuses to prepare for burial — a grim reminder that Vietnam has one of the highest abortion rates in the world. Around 40 percent of pregnancies in the country end in abortion, according to a Read more
Christmas cheer will be coming to Russell once again this year at the annual Carols @ Pompallier concert at Pompallier Mission, the Heritage New Zealand property in Russell, Bay of Islands. Local groups and soloists will perform traditional festive favourites as well as modern Christmas songs as part of the show, which takes place on Read more
Caritas has developed an 80 page guide for teachers in ways to nurture kaitiakitanga (stewardship) of the Warawara Forest in Northland. The Warawara Forest resource aims to teach students to be protectors of the environment resource aims to teach students to be protectors of the environment. It is called Te Warawara: Te Wairua o te iwi Read more
Catholic Church leaders in the Philippines will seek to limit expenses for Pope Francis’ January visit to the country to US$1.5 million. The move is in response to concerns from the Vatican over the potential cost of the visit in a country where millions of its citizens live below the poverty line. Cardinal Luis Antonio Read more
At Mass on 21 November in St. Martha’s House, the Pope spoke out strongly against priests, lay people and secretaries who serve in the Church acting like businessmen. “The people of God cannot forgive this. “Price lists for baptism, blessings, Mass intentions need to go. “Churches must never become businesses. “Ever. “God’s redemption is free. “Always”. Pope Francis Read more
Pope Francis tenderly embraced children with autism spectrum disorders, some of whom avoided meeting his gaze, during an audience Saturday aimed at offering solidarity to people living with the condition. The pope urged governments and institutions to respond to the needs of people with autism to help break “the isolation and, in many cases also Read more
The Race Relations Commissioner has condemned a “cowardly” hate crime against a small boy in Auckland. Dame Susan Devoy said she was disgusted to hear of an attack on a four year-old Jewish boy who was walking home from pre-school in Mt Eden. The boy was traumatised after a man approached him, then slapped him Read more