Ecumenical history has been made with the appointment for the first time of a Catholic priest as chair of the Dublin Council of Churches. Fr Damian McNiece is the first Catholic priest to hold the position in the 50 year history of the DCC. The Catholic Church only became a full member of the council six years ago, Read more
News Shorts
Prominent atheist asks Pope to bless his family
Tuesday, October 7th, 2014The 90-year-old Italian atheist who twice interviewed Pope Francis has revealed that he asked the pontiff to bless his family. Eugenio Scalfari, one of Italy’s most prominent atheist intellectuals and for 20 years the editor of the newspaper La Repubblica, said the Pope had visited his family and blessed them following his request. Speaking to Read more
1000 cheats sign up for ‘marriage saving’ site
Tuesday, October 7th, 2014More than 1000 cheating Northlanders have signed up to a dating website designed especially for married or attached people. The operators of European-based Victoria Milan claims it has 15,000 Kiwi members and 1020 registered as being from Northland. The founder, Norwegian Sigurd Vedal, claimed the cheater’s portal did not ruin marriages, but saved them. Continue Read more
Shortland St: Mixed reaction to suicide episode
Tuesday, October 7th, 2014Shortland Street’s episode addressing youth suicide has been met with mixed reactions online, with some praising how the show dealt with the sensitive topic, while others indicated it had gone too far. Last Thursday’s episode saw the character of 15-year-old Kane Jenkins (played by Auckland teenager KJ Apa) attempt to end his life after a Read more
Destiny charities slow to file annual returns
Tuesday, October 7th, 2014Destiny Church has been issued overdue notices after 14 affiliated charities are late filing their annual returns. The church’s tax-exempt status is under the microscope after the late filing. Previous returns from the charities totalled several million dollars. Six Destiny charities, which received a combined $5.5m in donations in the most recent returns, are more Read more
Vatican slams UN committee report on abuse
Friday, October 3rd, 2014The Vatican has accused a United Nations committee of sowing confusion in its report on the Holy See’s record on child abuse. The Vatican released its formal response to a February report by the UN committee on the rights of the child. The committee concluded that the Vatican maintained a “code of silence” that enabled Read more
Kenyan nurse gets death sentence after botched abortion
Friday, October 3rd, 2014A male nurse in Kenya has been sentenced to death after a botched abortion ended the lives of a woman and her unborn child. Clinic owner and nurse Jackson Namunya Tali testified that Christine Atieno had asked for his help after a botched abortion. She died in his vehicle as he drove her to another Read more
Roman Curia reform not revolutionary, papal advisor says
Friday, October 3rd, 2014The reform of the Roman Curia is not a revolution, says one of the senior cardinals advising Pope Francis. Honduran Cardinal Oscar Rodriguez Maradiaga, who co-ordinates the council of nine cardinals advising the Pope, said reform of the curia is a normal response to changing times. The current process may feel different because Pope Francis Read more
Sunday Assembly not anti-god
Friday, October 3rd, 2014
Those responsible for bringing the Sunday Assembly to New Zealand are keen to dispel any preconceived negative ideas people may have about their movement. Just like any church service, there is singing, service sheets and meaningful readings. But unlike others, the Sunday Assembly is a godless congregation focussed on inspiring guest speakers. “We don’t say Read more
Anglican Church officials want cenotaph gone, RSA claims
Friday, October 3rd, 2014A public spat has erupted with the Anglican Church rejecting claims it approached the Christchurch RSA about plans to remove the cenotaph from Cathedral Square. Returned and Services’ Association (RSA) president Peter Dawson says Anglican Diocese Church Property Trustees want the cenotaph moved from Cathedral Square so a contemporary cathedral can be built. In a Read more