On Ash Wednesday the Bishop Patrick Dunn of Auckland New Zealand published a pastoral letter to mark the beginning of Lent. In his pastoral letter the Bishop invited parishes to open their churches on a Wednesday evenings so people can gather and simply “‘be still’ with the Lord” before the Blessed Sacrament PASTORAL LETTER FOR Read more
Some African clergy have likened foreign criticism about gay rights on their continent to a new wave of Western colonialism. Support for government legislation criminalising homosexual acts and levying harsh penalties is widespread among Christians in Africa. A Kenyan religious scholar said homosexuality is not new in Africa, but open promotion and marketing of it Read more
Some Church teachings on sexual morality are poorly accepted and disconnected from real-life experiences of families, say Irish respondents to Vatican questions. Feedback from Dublin and Tuam archdioceses reveals a distinct gap between Church teaching and practice. Continue reading
Ulf Ekman, the founder of the Word of Life mega-church in Sweden, is to become Roman Catholic. Ekman called his conversion a “personal journey” and said it was not his agenda to unite Word of Life with the Catholic Church. Continue reading
The Archbishop of York, Dr John Sentamu, is to visit New Zealand from the 9th to the 29th of March for a time of study and public engagements. The Archbishop, with his wife Margaret Sentamu, will be based in Dunedin at the University of Otago as the Harold Turner Visiting Fellow at the Centre for Read more
Religious instruction policies will not be altered, despite some schools making changes after complaints from parents, the Ministry of Education says. Parents at four schools in Auckland and Palmerston North have raised concerns about Christian Religious Instruction (CRI) being taught and three of those schools have since made changes to their classes. However, ministry spokeswoman Read more
The Anglican church says a British multimillionaire’s suggestion that it hand over Christ Church Cathedral for restoration is “completely bizarre”. UK businessman Hamish Ogston yesterday announced he would fund an independent survey to find out what residents wanted to see happen to the ill-fated Cathedral Square centrepiece. Shortly after the February 2011 earthquake Ogston pledged Read more
A Vatican cardinal has criticised Uganda’s anti-gay law and called for the repeal of its severe penalties. Cardinal Peter Turkson of Ghana, president of the Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace, said on March 4 that “homosexuals are not criminals” and shouldn’t be sentenced for up to life in prison. Continue reading
Pope Francis has opened the private papal gardens at Castel Gandolfo, south of Rome, to the public. People who want to visit the gardens at the traditional summer residence of popes can buy a ticket to go on a tour. Modest dress is mandatory, so those wearing shorts, mini-skirts or tank tops will not be Read more
A weekly magazine focused entirely on Pope Francis has hit Italian newsstands. “Il Mio Papa” includes stories about people and events that inspire the Pope and background information on papal remarks and a collection of international cartoons about the Pope. The first edition came out on March 5. Continue reading