During his recent trip to Belgium at the end of September, Pope Francis announced plans to start a beatification for the country’s late King Baudouin, a devout Catholic who once resigned the throne for a day rather than sign a law legalising abortion. “Upon my return to Rome, I will start the beatification process of Read more
News Shorts
Cardinal to Pope over beatification for late Belgian king: ‘Not so fast!’
Monday, November 4th, 2024Pope asks Vatican media to reduce spending as they share the Gospel
Monday, November 4th, 2024Pope Francis told members and staff of the Dicastery for Communication that the Vatican and the Catholic Church need their expertise to share the Gospel. Still, he also asked them to find creative ways to do it while cutting their expenses. “I dream of a communication that is heart to heart, letting ourselves be touched Read more
Syukur renounces appointment as cardinal
Thursday, October 31st, 2024The Vatican announced last night that Pope Francis had accepted the renunciation of the appointment as cardinal of Msgr Paskalis Bruno Syukur, bishop of Bogor. The announcement was greeted with great astonishment in Indonesia. Syukur was one of the 21 new cardinals who were announced on 6 October last and who will be created in Read more
Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Tolaga Bay marks 100 years with special mass
Thursday, October 31st, 2024
Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Tolaga Bay celebrated 100 years this month with a special mass of thanksgiving led by Bishop Richard Laurenson from the Hamilton Diocese. About 70 people attended the mass including the Filipino choir which led the singing. Parish priest Mark Field said it was a good turnout on a perfect spring Read more
Catholic Church refuses admission to Notre Dame Cathedral
Thursday, October 31st, 2024Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris should remain free for visitors, the church asserted on Thursday, following a call from Culture Minister Rachida Dati for a five-euro entrance fee for tourists. According to the Archdiocese of Paris, free access to churches and cathedrals is rooted in a 1905 law separating church and state. Additionally, the church’s Read more
Catholic-owned gravel pit to be upgraded after council threatens enforcement
Thursday, October 31st, 2024A Catholic-owned “gravel pit” – one of central Christchurch’s last remaining rogue gravel car parks – may be upgraded by Christmas, after threats of enforcement action by the city council. The car park, on the corner of Armagh St and Colombo St, which is owned by the Catholic diocese but operated by Wilson Parking, has Read more
The Czech Republic signs a treaty with the Vatican
Thursday, October 31st, 2024On Thursday, the Czech Republic signed a treaty on its relations with the Vatican, becoming one of the last European Union countries to do so. The lower chamber of Parliament rejected the treaty in 2003, saying the Catholic Church would receive preferential treatment over other churches and that it would be disadvantageous for the country, Read more
Pakistan police arrest father of Christian girl abducted and converted
Thursday, October 31st, 2024Shakeel Masih was asking for justice. Instead, the father of Roshani Shakeel, a 13-year-old Christian girl abducted, forcibly converted to Islam, and given in marriage against her will in March, was taken into custody last Friday and held for three days on the order of Judge Farooq Latif. Such an episode represents yet again justice Read more
University will not revoke Greta Thunberg’s honorary doctorate
Monday, October 21st, 2024Despite recent statements by Swedish activist Greta Thunberg that have been widely criticised as anti-Israel and anti-Semitic, the Faculty of Theology at the University of Helsinki has no plans to revoke the honorary doctorate awarded to the 21-year-old last year. The awarding of honorary doctorates falls within the autonomy of the faculties and is carried Read more
Trinity Catholic College student’s frog animation wins national competition
Monday, October 21st, 2024A Trinity Catholic College student with a flair for telling stories took home first place in a nationwide animation competition. Tom Davis, 18, was named the Future Designers Champion of the Future Frames Competition, a competition run by Victoria University of Wellington School of Design Innovation. The competition only allowed competitors 48 frames to create Read more