Seattle Archbishop Paul Etienne will move from a parish rectory into a newly purchased $2.4 million home in an upscale waterfront neighbourhood. Archdiocesan officials say the relocation is necessary to accommodate guests better, but the decision has also garnered criticism. “The move is breaking a promise that the archbishop made to us in a pretty Read more
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Seattle Archdiocese criticised for buying $2.4 million home for archbishop
Monday, December 5th, 2022Pope Francis’ watch auctioned for world record price
Monday, December 5th, 2022A watch worn by Pope Francis was sold Wednesday at a charity auction and set a new world record for the brand. The LaViolette Scholarship Foundation auctioned off a Swatch Once Again watch on Nov 30 that Francis had worn for much of his pontificate. The watch, which can be found at the brand’s official Read more
Pope critical of Russia: Vatican website hacked
Thursday, December 1st, 2022
A Vatican spokesman said Wednesday that the Holy See has taken down its main vatican.va website amid a series of apparent attempts to hack the site. “Technical investigations are ongoing due to abnormal attempts to access the site,” Vatican spokesman Matteo Bruni told Reuters Nov. 30, without elaboration. The perpetrator and motives of the alleged hacker or Read more
Pope Francis meets Jewish leaders as they launch initiative to strengthen Catholic-Jewish bonds
Thursday, December 1st, 2022Pope Francis met with international Jewish leaders on Tuesday as they launched an initiative to strengthen Catholic-Jewish bonds. “This visit testifies to and strengthens the bonds of friendship uniting us,” the pope told members of the World Jewish Congress at the Vatican Nov 22. Francis spoke with the executive committee of the international federation of Read more
Housing strategy launched to boost home ownership for Pacific people
Thursday, December 1st, 2022Pacific people looking for affordable, safe and culturally suitable quality housing will have something to look forward to with the launch of New Zealand’s first housing strategy specific to their needs. The Fale mo Aiga: Pacific Housing Strategy and Action Plan 2030 was launched on Monday by the Minister for Pacific Peoples Aupito William Sio Read more
Liturgy dispute: Protesting Catholics prevent apostolic administrator’s cathedral entry
Thursday, December 1st, 2022The liturgy dispute in a Catholic archdiocese in Kerala, southern India, took an ugly turn on Nov 27 when its administrator was prevented from forcibly entering the cathedral church to offer Sunday Mass. Archbishop Andrews Thazhath, the administrator, came to St Mary’s Basilica Cathedral Church escorted by police to offer Mass in the synod-approved format Read more
New Kaipara mayor shuts down karakia at first council hui
Thursday, December 1st, 2022Conflict has erupted at a Kaipara District Council meeting over a mayor’s decision to shutdown a wahine Māori councillor wishing to recite karakia, before the opening of business. The Council met for the first time Wednesday under new Mayor Craig Jepson, elected at October’s local body elections. As is customary in councils, the opening of Read more
UK Catholic bishop speaks out after woman with Down syndrome loses abortion law appeal
Thursday, December 1st, 2022The Catholic Church in England and Wales has spoken out against the UK’s abortion law, branding it “illogical and unjust,” after a woman with Down syndrome lost a legal challenge to the law relating to abortion and disability. In a ruling on Nov 25, the Court of Appeal ruled that the UK abortion law did Read more
First online parish office opens in Poland’s Catholic church
Monday, November 28th, 2022Poland’s first online parish office has opened in the western city of Poznań, allowing Catholics to book a confession or arrange a baptism, wedding or funeral without leaving their homes. The IT system used by parishioners in the city’s Łacina district has been hailed by its developers as the future of the church at a Read more
Cross replacement mission ends on a high
Monday, November 28th, 2022A feature piece on top of a Port Chalmers historical landmark is rock solid thanks to a helicopter which flew in a replacement after the original was blown off in a storm. The Iona Church has been closed to the public for repair work, and is scheduled to reopen in February following an extensive three-stage Read more