The Vatican has underlined that lay Catholics may not participate in the election of a bishop and has thus turned down another of the German synodal path initiative’s reform proposals. Last September, the German archdiocese of Paderborn took up the synodal path initiative’s reform proposal titled “Involvement of the faithful in the appointment of the Read more
Persistent child poverty rates in Aotearoa New Zealand signal a failure to recognise the legal rights of the child consistent with the Articles of the UN Convention, according to a report by Child Poverty Action Group (CPAG). CPAG is concerned groups of children have been ‘left behind’ in recent attempts to reduce poverty, and more Read more
New research from the University of the Philippines Diliman has found the hormone doses in some common contraceptives could be lowered by as much as 92% and still be effective in preventing pregnancy. The results have raised hopes that people could one day take “the pill” without suffering as many side effects. Hormones in oral Read more
Inflation pressures are probably prompting a growing number of people to take on a second job or start a side hustle, commentators say. Inland Revenue has released data under the Official Information Act showing the number of New Zealanders working more than one job has increased by more than 40,000 in six years. In the Read more
Notre Dame Cathedral will get its spire back by the end of 2023, more than four years after it was devastated by a fire. But to reopen the beloved symbol of France by Dec. 8, 2024, three conditions need to be met. These conditions are currently being carried out: cleaning and restoration of the interior Read more
Euthanasia is to be extended to primary school-age children in the Netherlands, the Dutch government has announced. Health Minister Ernst Kuipers said that children aged five to 12 years can obtain lethal injections if “life termination is the only viable option to end the child’s hopeless and unbearable suffering”. The country already allows the euthanasia Read more
Holy Rosary Catholic Church in Branch, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada, sits atop a hill at the end of a dirt road overlooking the rural community. Last month, local parishioners assembled a vehicular barricade, blocking a potential buyer from viewing the church. The property is one of many churches being sold by the Roman Catholic Episcopal Read more
A mother of four has been plunged further into debt after her government-provided home was ruined in the Auckland floods. Jayde Jones’s Kāinga Ora home was built on a flood plain, and lifted off its foundations when a historic deluge swept across the city. Jones believes the state housing agency should pay to replace her Read more
Paul Simon has announced his first new album since 2018, the new album, Seven Psalms is out May 19. Describing the album as a journey, Simon says that the album is about an argument he is having with himself about belief or not. A video offers a brief behind-the-scenes look at the album’s creation, in Read more
There has been no real improvement to the proportion of our tamariki living in poverty according to the recently released 2021/22 Child Poverty Statistics for Aotearoa. About one in 10 children experience material hardship where their households cannot afford things like regular healthy food, doctors’ visits or to pay their power bills on time, according Read more