A husband and wife who eloped in 1942 and were married for more than seven decades died hours apart this week at a hospice in northern Illinois. Family members say Robert and Nora Viands were inseparable during their marriage, which included three separate wedding ceremonies. Together, they raised five children. “They were really never apart,” Read more
Self-labelled “gay affirming” Christchurch church Crave MCC is reaching out as a church willing to perform same-sex marriages. The church will next month hold a two-day event entitled “God wants more gay weddings? Marriage equality and the church.” Australian preacher Karl Hand, an openly gay theologian, will give talks at the event on sexual diversity Read more
Cardboard cathedral architect Shigeru Ban says reaction to the transitional building has been “unexpectedly big” after it broke the prejudice that it would be either humble or cheap. Ban, from Japan, has designed buildings all over the world and is noted for his innovation with paper-based designs. He was in Christchurch to see the cathedral Read more
On Monday, 26 August, at the Palmerston North Public Library Sound and Vision Centre at 7:00pm members of the Jewish, Christian, Muslim and Baha’i faith traditions first acknowledged their common ancestry in Father Abraham and then branched out to discuss how each unique Abrahamic tradition contributes to making peace today. Continue reading
The personal secretary of former Pope Benedict XVI denied that the pontiff resigned as a consequence of a “mystical experience” in which God “told me” to step back from the papacy. The Catholic news agency Zenit published a story on Aug. 19 reportedly based on the account of one of the former pope’s few visitors; Read more
Churches and other Christian properties around Egypt had already been looted, so when Catholics in Berba were tipped off that their southern village could be next, they acted fast. They and other Christian leaders got on their phones and called their Muslim friends, neighbors and colleagues who all had the same message: “They were told, Read more
The number of aspiring priests in Ireland is finally on the rise with 20 students enrolling to be clerics when the new college year begins next month. Maynooth College in County Kildare will admit the wannabe priests in September as 37,500 students begin third level education in Ireland. The college will welcome 20 clerical students Read more
Under the new constitution, all three main languages in Fiji, English, i-Taukei and Hindi, will be compulsory subjects in primary schools. The General Secretary of the Fijian Teachers Association, Masika Namudu, is reported as opposing the teaching of Hindi, but declined to be interviewed when approached by Radio Australia. Continue reading
A Government report on the status of human rights in New Zealand says improvements have been made in areas of concern highlighted by the United Nations, such as discrimination, inequality and family violence. Justice Minister Judith Collins has released a draft report on changes made in areas singled out by the United Nations Human Rights Read more
Ethnic Affairs Minister Judith Collins says plans are underway to hold New Zealand’s first Muslim conference in November. She says not only will it celebrate the different ways the Muslim community contributes to New Zealand society but will also discuss contemporary challenges. Continue reading