Palmerston North based man, Danny Karatea-Goddard, will be ordained a Deacon this weekend. He will be ordained by Bishop Charles Drennan, the Bishop of Palmerston North, on Saturday, at 11am, at the Cathedral of the Holy Spirit, Broadway Avenue. “Danny and [his wife] Maru are already widely involved in serving the Maori Catholic community as Read more
The former Catholic girls’ school, Erskine College, in Island Bay is listed as a Category One historic place by the Historic Places Trust, declaring it has “special or outstanding historical or cultural heritage significance or value”. There is graffiti on the gothic stonework, windows and doors. There’s graffiti in places that would have involved a Read more
Hundreds of priests in Portugal have reportedly left their vocations recently, to get married or take up secular lives, often without being laicised. Portuguese television station TVI 24 reported comments from a former cleric that six priests in one diocese all walked away from their vocation on the same day. “Young priests – and some Read more
Funeral directors argue proposed changes to the rules around burials and cremations in Auckland are insensitive. The proposed amendments to the Auckland council’s Cemeteries and Crematoria Bylaw include restricting the time when burials can take place, allowing only a person authorised by the council to fill a grave, removing flowers from graves two weeks after Read more
Clergy in the Church of England have been banned from joining or promoting two extreme right-wing political parties. The church’s House of Bishops has deemed the constitution, policies, activities and statements of the National Front and the British National Party incompatible with the Church of England’s teachings. This is in relation to the church’s teaching Read more
The Catholic Maori boys college, Hato Paora College, Feilding, was highlighted in a recently-released auditor-general’s report for not having completed their 2012 audits by the due date of February 28 this year. It said the school had been extra vigilant after problems in its audit last year, which may have caused delays. Board chairman Peter Read more
Italy’s Catholic bishops have condemned a proposed law that would fast-track divorce in their country. Legislation to allow divorce in 6 months where both parties agree, and 12 months where they don’t, has passed in Italy’s lower house of Parliament. It now heads to Italy’s Senate, where it is expected to pass. “Speedy divorce will Read more
A group of Anglicans in a small Canterbury community are vowing to take the battle for Christ Church Cathedral to the court of public opinion after a judge lifted a stay on a planned demolition of the 110-year-old building. Justice Graham Panckhurst released findings on Friday lifting the stay on demolition of the cathedral. However Read more
A priest was among at least 18 people killed in a grenade and gunfire attack on a church in the Central African Republic. The attack on the church of Our Lady of Fatima in the capital Bangui on May 28 was blamed on the Seleka militia group. Those in the church were sheltering from violent Read more