Statements by the Dalai Lama against conversions and the work of missionaries are causing confusion and opposition among many Christians in Asia. Attempting to condemn bad proselytism, the spiritual leader of Tibetan Buddhism spoke against conversions and changing from one religion to another. His position was seen as support for the policies of the radical Read more
The Pontifical Council for Culture has been tackling the problem of “emotional illiteracy” — also known as “analphabetismo” — among younger generations. Pia De Solenni, an American consultant who has theology degrees from two Vatican-chartered universities, was asked to speak to the council about the “emotive alphabet of youth”. “If people learn how to experience Read more
The Congregational Christian Church of Samoa (CCCS) supports the initiative by Justice Vui Clarence Nelson to register all sex offenders but is against castrating the offenders. The General Secretary of CCCS Rev. Dr. Iutisone Salevao told Talamua that whilst the move by Vui is applauded, he does not agree with the view of the Secretary of the Read more
The Vatican has stalled an attempt by the Archbishop of Lima, Cardinal Juan Luis Cipriani, to prevent members of the theology department in the Catholic University of Peru to continue teaching theology. The prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, Cardinal Gerhard Müller, is reported to have written to Cardinal Cipriani, lifting Read more
Frustrated prospective parents say using the current system feels like taking part in a lottery, reports Charles Anderson. Adoptions have dropped to an all-time low as thousands of children remain in state care and the list of prospective parents continues to grow. Just 21 children were adopted to people outside the family in the 2011/12 Read more
West Papuan freedom fighter Benny Wenda is on his way to New Zealand, and while he’s spoken at parliaments around the world, he won’t be allowed to here. Mr Wenda is a colourful character. He starts his talks with a traditional greeting, and then a song. He’s done this all around the world – at Read more
The Exclusive Brethren Church wants to set up its new home on a rural Papakura road but residents are vowing to fight it. Council hearings start tomorrow to decide whether to grant a resource consent for the church, under the name of the Papakura Gospel Hall Trust, to build a 788-seat building at the end Read more
The world’s tallest statue of the Virgin Mary has been unveiled in the city of Oruro, Bolivia. Standing 45 metres high, the tallest Marian statue is on a 3650-metre mountain south of La Paz, the country’s second largest city. Dedicated to Our Lady of Socavon, it stands nearly 7 metres taller than the Christ the Read more
Not so fast, Leicester Cathedral — Richard III was a Catholic, and his last resting place should be in a Catholic church. So argues Elena Curti, deputy editor of the London Tablet, following the news that archaeologists have confirmed the discovery of the king’s missing remains under a car par in Leicester. “The ‘appropriate’ rites Read more
A complaint about an Auckland church billboard questioning whether Jesus was gay has been dismissed on the grounds it wasn’t offensive. The St Matthew-in-the-City billboard featured an image of baby Jesus in a manger with a rainbow coloured halo and the words: “It’s Christmas. Time for Jesus to come out.” The complaint to the Advertising Read more