Joseph Fa’afiu is a popular church leader, particularly among youth, in South Auckland. But he shies away from his official title – pastor – preferring only to be known as Joe. “I always tell people to just call me Joseph or Joe. I want them to not think of me as higher than them, just Read more
Respected English financial magazine The Economist has accused Pope Francis of following Soviet Communism founder Vladimir Lenin. In a blog titled “Francis, capitalism and war: The pope’s divisions”, the British weekly accused the Pope of following Lenin in adopting an “ultra radical line” on capitalism. This followed the wide-ranging interview the Pope gave to Spanish Read more
Seattle Archdiocese has agreed to pay $US12.1 million to settle 30 sex abuse claims from former students of schools that were run by the Christian Brothers. One school is still operated by the archdiocese with involvement by the brothers; the other closed in the late 1960s. The most recent cases are nearly 30 years old Read more
Bill Orange, of Masterton, is the last founding member of a trust in the name of the Right Reverend Monsignor Nicholas Moore, 1887-1985. Mr Orange, an accountant, drafted the Monsignor Moore Education trust in 1971, as a way of supporting struggling parents to pay school fees for those who might otherwise struggle to pay them, Read more
A young Vietnamese priest has been excommunicated after accusations he taught false beliefs against the Catholic faith. Fr Peter Nguyen Van Tuong was excommunicated “latae sententiae”, the apostolic administrator of Vinh Long diocese announced. Administrator Fr Peter Duong Van Thanh accused Fr Tuong of “preaching false beliefs against the Catholic Church doctrine” and “being too Read more
The next Anglican Bishop for Waiapu says he intends to continue working as a St John Ambulance officer when he takes up his new role in Napier later this year. Bishop-elect Andrew Hedge is currently the Vicar of Cambridge and regularly works shifts as an ambulance officer. Last Sunday he Anglican church announced that bishop-elect Read more
Malaysia’s highest court has ruled that a Catholic newspaper may not use the word “Allah” to refer to God. The ruling upheld a lower court decision that banned The Herald from using then word, on the grounds that it would cause confusion in the community. The Herald editor Fr Lawrence Andrew, SJ, explained that “Allah” Read more
The Federation of Islamic Associations of New Zealand (Fianz) estimates more than two-thirds will be taking part in the fast, which is expected to start on Sunday or Monday. Muslims in New Zealand will this year be fasting just 11 hours during Ramadan while their counterparts in the Northern Hemisphere will be going without food Read more
American and South Sudanese diplomats have been summoned to Khartoum after Christian Meriam Ibrahim and her family were detained. On June 24, an appeals court overturned Ms Ibrahim’s death sentence and she was freed from prison. But Ms Ibrahim and her family were apprehended at Khartoum Airport and detained, reportedly over issues with travel documents. Her husband had Read more