The launching of the Catholic Voices project in Australia has raised the prospect of this media initiative being extended to New Zealand. Catholic Voices, whose aim is to improve the Catholic Church’s representation in the media, began in Britain in 2010 with the training of 24 lay people and a priest in preparation for the Read more
Intolerance and discrimination against Christians is increasing across the European continent, a conference of the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe has been told. “In Europe, we have identified 14 laws that are likely to negatively affect the religious liberty of Christians in 15 countries,” said Massimo Introvigne, of the Italian foreign affairs ministry. Read more
While Cardinal Timothy Dolan of New York spearheads the fight against a new health care law that requires employers to cover birth control in employees’ health insurance, his archdiocese is already paying for contraceptive coverage for thousands of unionised employees. When a New York Times report drew attention to this situation, the archdiocese insisted it Read more
A long-awaited agreement between the Vatican and Israel on the status of Church institutions in the Holy Land appears to be near finality, with Israeli sources indicating that the Cenacle in Jerusalem — on the site of the Last Supper — will return to Catholic control. The same sources say that the tax status of Read more
A gay teacher who was fired by Cincinnati archdiocese after she became pregnant through artificial insemination has told a jury she did not know the procedure violated Catholic doctrine. Christa Dias is suing the archdiocese over her dismissal, saying she was fired simply because she was pregnant and unmarried. Dias said she and her same-sex Read more
A mother of two who calmly confronted the men who hacked to death a British soldier in London has attributed her courage to her Catholic faith. Ingrid Loyau-Kennet, who formerly lived in Auckland, told the Daily Telegraph: “I live my life as a Christian. I believe in thinking about others and loving thy neighbour. We Read more
An apologetic Cardinal George Pell has appeared before a Victorian parliamentary inquiry into child abuse and vehemently denied personally covering up offending by priests. “No. Never,” the Sydney cardinal told the inquiry. He said the offending had largely escaped the view of Church officials who didn’t know what a “mess” they were presiding over. Cardinal Read more
People who approach the Church should find the doors open and not have their way blocked by Catholics who invent an eighth commandment of “pastoral customs”, Pope Francis has warned. The Pope was giving his homily on the May 25 Gospel reading from Mark 10 in which the disciples rebuked people who were bringing children Read more
Delegates at a Vatican conference have been told that forced labour on industrial fishing vessels is occurring in New Zealand as well as in Russia, Turkey, South Korea, Ireland and Scotland. The conference of the Pontifical Council for Migrants and Itinerant Workers heard that fishing crew are particularly susceptible to exploitation by certain ship owners, Read more
A young monastic order of nuns in the United States has for the second time released an album that has debuted in the top position on Billboard magazine’s classical traditional music chart. “This is an unprecedented accomplishment for … a group of contemplative nuns, this devoted, hidden prayerful group who do not tour and remain Read more