Pope Francis now has his own mini popemobile which he plans to use to drive himself around the Vatican. He already uses a Ford Focus, but was recently gifted by Fr Renzo Zocca, an Italian priest, a 20-year-old white Renault 4. Vatican spokesman, the Rev. Ciro Benedettini, says Francis accepted the 1984 Renault 4, donated Read more
Supporters of the restoration of the quake-damaged Christ Church Cathedral say they are disgusted at the Anglican Church’s choice of a modern replacement, and are calling the decision making process un-Christian. The Anglican Church has decided to demolish the 149-year-old building and replace it with a modern, contemporary design. The Christchurch diocese says it was Read more
Happily employed intellectually disabled workers will soon be out of jobs if the Government removes employers’ subsidies, a New Plymouth cafe owner is warning. Peter Hardgrave of Espresso Cafe, who has regularly employed intellectually disabled workers for nine years, says he will now pull the pin because a Government policy to gradually remove the subsidy Read more
Project Turnaround, the provider of restorative justice in South Canterbury, has been given the green light to continue for another two years. Timaru District Council’s community services group manager, Sharon Matson, said yesterday Project Turnaround had been advised verbally that it had secured the tender for providing the service over the next two years. “Until Read more
Ella Dixon, 13, makes light work of spraying down a car at Marian College. She was one of many pupils who yesterday lent a hand for the school’s annual free car wash. Cars entered the school from Barbadoes St and drove through the school grounds and out in Moorhouse Ave, going through seven different “washing Read more
A former Catholic brother has won his appeal to have his extradition order to Australia reheard in the Christchurch District Court. Bernard Kevin McGrath has been fighting an application from police in New South Wales to extradite him since October last year. In a High Court judgement released on Tuesday, Justice Whata said he was Read more
Today the Vatican’s weekly schedule announced Pope Francis has called together all heads of the Roman Curia for an early morning meeting tomorrow. Though the pope always meets with them at the end of the year to look back on the last 12 months, this gathering mid-year is highly unusual. Vatican spokesman, Father Federico Lombardi Read more
The Vatican launched a rare review of a German Catholic diocese on Monday following accusations its bishop spent lavishly on a new residence, putting him out of step with the new “church of the poor” promoted by Pope Francis. The inquiry is officially called a “fraternal visit” to Limburg diocese by Cardinal Giovanni Lajolo, the Read more
The Archbishop of Westminster has attacked politicians’ “shameful” response to conflict in Syria as thousands of Christians around the country gathered this weekend to pray for peace. Speaking on BBC Radio Four’s Sunday programme Archbishop Vincent Nichols criticised the leaders of the G20 group of nations for failing to reach an accord when they met Read more
National Party MP Alfred Ngaro allegedly punched an atheist teacher at his son’s school for not bowing his head during a prayer. Ngaro, a list MP and former chairman of the Tamaki College Board of Trustees, was last week dragged into the Employment Relations Authority dispute between Tamaki College and former art teacher Christopher Scott Read more