Church leaders in Kaikohe have voiced their opposition to a council plan that would allow an unlimited number of bottle stores in the Far North Town. The Far North District Council’s draft plan would also allow supermarkets to be able to sell alcohol from 7am to 10pm seven days a week. Of the 98 written Read more
Caritas Aotearoa New Zealand has pledged an initial $10,000 to help thousands of families affected by war and sectarian violence in Iraq. The funds will support the work of Caritas in Iraq to provide humanitarian aid to these families. Caritas is among the first organisations to supply food, water, bedding and essential living supplies, and Read more
Dunedin diocese has kept the increase in attendance dues per student at Catholic schools next year to $10 per annum for both primary and secondary schools. According to The Tablet, 2015 attendance dues for primary students (year 1 to 8) will be $420 per annum, while for secondary students (years 9 to 13) it is Read more
North Korea says its firing of three rockets shortly before Pope Francis arrived in the south Korean capital had nothing to do with the papal visit The short range rockets were fired from multiple launchers from North Korea and travelled 220 km, before landing in waters east of the Korean peninsula on August 14. The Read more
Members of a notorious American church plan to protest at actor Robin Williams’ funeral, over his previous portrayal of a gay man in a film. Although details of the funeral have not been made public, members of the Westboro Baptist Church in Kansas say they will picket the event over Williams’ role in “The Birdcage”. Read more
South Sudanese President Salva Kiir skipped Mass at Kator Cathedral in Juba on Sunday, one day after his forces shut down the Church’s Radio Bakhita FM. The president, who regularly attends Sunday Mass at the cathedral, was not seen there, according to a worshipper. Juba Archdiocese runs Bakhita Radio, which was closed by President Kiir’s Read more
The former Home of Compassion crèche on Buckle St in Wellington has reached its new home, but the future use of the building is undecided. The three-stage relocation involved moving the 200-tonne building 15 metres to the west and raising it 3m. Built in 1914, the creche continued the work that Mother Aubert began in Read more
Auckland’s St Peter’s College has fallen agonisingly short in a Moascar Cup rugby challenge against near neighbours Auckland Grammar. St Peter’s lost 22-24 to a last minute drop goal from Grammar, after battling back from an 11 point deficit with just 14 minutes remaining. The Moascar Cup is the equivalent of the Ranfurly Shield for school Read more
Family First has released a guide on how current MPs have voted on controversial family and conscience issues in the last 12 years. The resource, titled “Value Your Vote 2014”, was released in early August, about seven weeks before New Zealand’s general election. The issues covered include redefining marriage, the anti-smacking law, parental notification for teenage Read more
As he flew over China’s airspace on his way to Korea, Pope Francis sent a telegram to President Xi Jinping. Soon after crossing into Chinese airspace on August 14, the Pope dispatched the message which read: “I extend the best wishes to your excellency and your fellow citizens, and I invoke the divine blessings of Read more