A group of Italian rabbis and other prominent Jewish leaders have struck back against Pope Francis’s referral Wednesday to the ongoing war in Gaza as “terrorism.” The group asserts that he’s falsely equating the aggressors with the victims, while the pope’s aides insist he’s not “overlooking” the Hamas attack that launched the conflict. In a Read more
A record number of medical graduates have signed up to train as general practitioners from next year. The Royal New Zealand College of General Practitioners said 239 doctors would start the three-year training programme in January to specialise in family medicine. Its president, Dr Samantha Murton, said that was a 25 percent increase on previous Read more
The Church and the government in Vietnam have extended aid to thousands of people hit by severe floods that were caused by unnoticed discharge of water by private hydropower plants. Heavy rains have battered the central province of Thua Thien Hue which has been facing floods since Nov 13. The flood claimed the lives of Read more
New Zealand’s law enforcement agencies say the internet is increasingly putting kids at risk of of online sexual exploitation. New Zealand Customs Service, New Zealand Police and the Department of Internal Affairs (DIA) work in partnership to identify child victims and target offenders involved in the online sexual abuse of children, in New Zealand and Read more
Pope Francis has appointed a coadjutor bishop to a French diocese whose priestly ordinations were suspended by the Vatican in 2022 following a “fraternal visit.” Bishop François Touvet of Châlons will serve alongside the current bishop of Fréjus-Toulon, the 71-year-old Dominique Rey. Touvet will automatically succeed Rey upon his resignation after he reaches age 75. Read more
A messy dispute broke out on Wednesday over whether Pope Francis used the word “genocide” to describe events in Gaza, with Palestinians who met with him insisting that he did and the Vatican saying he did not. The opposing versions emerged at an afternoon press conference with 10 Palestinians who met the pope on Wednesday Read more
Caritas Australia will host a virtual Service of Solidarity in recognition of the human suffering in the Holy Land, serving as a place for the community to come together in hope and healing. All are welcome to the service, which will take place via Zoom on Monday, 27th November, from 4:30 to 5:00 pm AEDT. Read more
Moira Gardener had recently come out of hospital, was settling in to eat her dinner and had flicked on the television when she received a notification on her mobile phone that would haunt her. It was a message asking if Mrs Gardener, a Redcliffe-based Catholic, wanted to approve a payment of $349 to a business Read more
A 12-month run that’s delivered record-breaking deluges and dramatic marine heatwaves has proven New Zealand’s warmest period since observations began more than 150 years ago. That’s according to a prominent climate scientist’s analysis, as global agencies report that 2023 looks likely to go down as the planet’s hottest in recorded history. In assessing the local Read more