Catholics in Kansas City are formally asking Pope Francis to conduct a canonical review of Bishop Robert Finn saying the church’s lack of response to his misdemeanour conviction has caused further spiritual harm to the diocese. “Civil law has done what civil law can do. The church has done nothing in terms of calling Bishop Read more
St Paul’s Catholic School in Richmond, New Zealand, is dedicating about half of its library budget to ebooks this year. Principal John Dorman said the electronic books were generally cheaper and the children engaged with them more. He said about half of the $4000 library budget would be used to purchase ebooks this year, which Read more
Fr Brendan Ward of the Diocese of Dunedin, has been appointed the new Rector of Holy Cross Seminary by the Congregation for the Evangelisation of Peoples. His appointment takes effect this time next year. The lead in time will allow him to prepare and visit other seminaries to observe formation processes. Source Archbishop John Dew’s Read more
The Fiji Council of Churches, ECREA and other churches came together in a condolence gathering for the late president of the Methodist Church in Fiji, Reverend Tuikilakila Waqairatu. And this move, according to the head of the Catholic Archdiocese of Suva, Archbishop Peter Loy Chong, was a sign of unity among the churches in Fiji. Read more
Sacked former Bishop of Toowoomba, Bill Morris, is expected to give testimony at the Australian Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse in Brisbane. Before being sacked by Pope Benedict over ongoing doctrinal issues, Morris, formally admitted Catholic Church liability, opening the door to a large compensation payout to 13 schoolgirls. The Brisbane hearing Read more
Pope Francis, Wednesday, urged the faithful to look after those who are going through a tough time. The pontiff was speaking against a background of recent floods in rome and the consequences of the global economic crisis. “We all go to Mass, because we love Jesus and want to share in His Passion and His Read more
The Vatican has declined to intervene on behalf of a priest whose bishop removed him as pastor of a parish in Bend, Oregon, in the fall and later barred him from public ministry. In a decision dated January 31 and reported to NCR on Friday, the Vatican Congregation for Clergy confirmed that Baker, Oregon, Bishop Read more
Radio New Zealand has reported that a doctor on Manus Island in Papua New Guinea has confirmed there was a “mass breakout” from an Australian detention centre for asylum seekers. An Australia-based refugee group had claimed some of the 13-hundred detainees escaped after a day of protests. Australia’s Department of Immigration would only say there Read more
Hundreds of children took part in the Weet-Bix Kids Tryathlon in Hamilton yesterday, but the achievement was extra special for one young swimmer. Sophie Ridgway, 9, couldn’t float in water let alone swim the length of a pool 18 months ago. The St Peter Chanel Catholic School pupil has cerebral palsy, which affects muscle development Read more
The New Zealander who heads Bethlehem University in the Occupied Palestinian Territories, spoke in Wellington last Thursday about providing education where curfews, travel restrictions and military checkpoints are all daily challenges faced by students and staff. Dr Peter Bray, a De La Salle brother from Auckland, has been Vice-Chancellor of Bethlehem University – the oldest Read more