The bishops of the Church of England have declared they are determined to enable women to be ordained bishops. Following a meeting to consider the rejection of women bishops at the recent general synod, they “acknowledged the profound and widespread sense of anger, grief and disappointment felt by so many” and expressed their commitment to Read more
A “grey pragmatism and mediocrity” has infiltrated Christianity in America, according to an official of the Vatican’s Latin America commission. Professor Guzman Carriquiry, secretary for the Pontifical Commission for Latin America, said there is a growing tendency for Americans’ faith to be lived with a lack of enthusiasm, lukewarmness and ignorance. “How many Christians today Read more
Family-oriented countries like Hungary, Poland and the Philippines are being targeted by population control groups because of their beliefs and pro-life culture, says Human Life International. HLI president Father Shenan Boquet said the groups that take issue with pro-family countries have a “perception that you must lessen the number of children and introduce contraception, sterilisation Read more
Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris — a religious, cultural and historical landmark on an island in the River Seine — is being spruced up to celebrate its 850th anniversary. The graceful and inspiring Catholic church that has dominated Paris since the 12th century, survived the Hundred Years War, the French Revolution and two world wars Read more
The Southern Institute of Technology has produced its own small slice of heaven – a mass approved by the Catholic Church. The mass was composed by the head of SIT’s music department, Peter Skerrett, and has been accepted as an official piece of music for the church. Mr Skerrett said the piece was composed in Read more
Whanganui prison chaplain, Home of Compassion Sister Litia, and local volunteer, John Scudder, have helped a group of inmates at the prison record a CD of original music. While assisting the men spiritually, Sister Litia recognised they had musical talent and thought that talent could be used to address their behaviour. The nine prisoners, using the name Urban Read more
The country’s largest provider of religious instruction in schools has stood down three volunteers for teaching pupils their own beliefs. Churches Education Commission (CEC) chief executive Simon Greening said he removed the three volunteer teachers for deviating from the organisation’s strict code of expectations, and that there may have been others around the country. In Read more
Monsignor Georg Gänswein, Pope Benedict XVI’s personal secretary, has been appointed Prefect of the Papal Household and named an archbishop. According to Vatican journalist Andrea Tornielli, the decision to give Archbishop-elect Gänswein control of the papal household should be seen in the context of the Vatileaks scandal, in which confidential documents from the Pope’s desk Read more
The National Catholic Reporter, a widely-circulated United States newspaper, has called for the ordination of women to the Catholic priesthood. “Barring women from ordination to the priesthood is an injustice that cannot be allowed to stand,” the paper said in a December 3 editorial. Continue reading
Unfortunately the Southern District Health Board has refused to listen to the overwhelming displeasure of the local community in having its precious “health dollar” spent providing a “service” that harms women and takes the life of the innocent and vulnerable in our society. Therefore, Southlanders for Life are calling on the community to defend the Read more