The defendant, who previously pleaded not guilty to murder, appeared in the High Court at Dunedin yesterday following the death of 16-year-old Enere McLaren-Taana on May 23.

Justice Lisa Preston reserved her decision on the issue of name suppression and electronically monitored bail.

The specifics of the arguments advanced by both parties cannot be published and the judge said she needed time to reflect on the material before her. Read more

They have both appeared in Court charged with murder - one appeared in person and the other via audio-visual link from a youth residence.

"Don't forget to pray, son!" the mother of the older defendant called out as he left the dock.

About 100 people gathered at Beach Haven Community House yesterday evening to mourn, before moving to the site of the incident for a karakia (prayer).

Residents lined one side of Beach Haven Rd while a small group prayed on the footpath on the other side, where flowers had been left. Read more

Judges at Spain's highest criminal court, the Audiencia Nacional, on Friday convicted Inocente Orlando Montano, 77, of the "terrorist murders" of the five Spaniards, who were killed along with a Salvadoran Jesuit and two Salvadoran women 31 years ago. Read more

In stark contrast to today, Robert Kennedy, a Democratic presidential candidate, gave the following speech in Indianapolis.

Kennedy's speech perhaps offers a lesson in leadership and reminds the United States, but also the world there are different ways to lead.

Robert Kennedy's speech

"I have bad news for you, for all of our fellow citizens, and people who love peace all over the world, and that is that Martin Luther King was shot and killed tonight.

"Martin Luther King dedicated his life to love and to justice for his fellow human beings, and he died because of that effort.

"In this difficult day, in this difficult time for the United States, it is perhaps well to ask what kind of a nation we are and what direction we want to move in.

"For those of you who are black—considering the evidence there evidently is that there were white people who were responsible—you can be filled with bitterness, with hatred, and a desire for revenge.

"We can move in that direction as a country, in great polarization—black people amongst black, white people amongst white, filled with hatred toward one another.

"Or we can make an effort, as Martin Luther King did, to understand and to comprehend, and to replace that violence, that stain of bloodshed that has spread across our land, with an effort to understand with compassion and love.

"For those of you who are black and are tempted to be filled with hatred and distrust at the injustice of such an act, against all white people, I can only say that I feel in my own heart the same kind of feeling.

"I had a member of my family killed, but he was killed by a white man.

"But we have to make an effort in the United States, we have to make an effort to understand, to go beyond these rather difficult times.

"My favourite poet was Aeschylus.

"He wrote: "In our sleep, pain which cannot forget falls drop by drop upon the heart until, in our own despair, against our will, comes wisdom through the awful grace of God."

"What we need in the United States is not division; what we need in the United States is not hatred; what we need in the United States is not violence or lawlessness, but love and wisdom, and compassion toward one another, and a feeling of justice toward those who still suffer within our country, whether they be white or they be black.

"So I shall ask you tonight to return home, to say a prayer for the family of Martin Luther King, that's true, but more importantly, to say a prayer for our own country, which all of us love—a prayer for understanding and that compassion of which I spoke.

"We can do well in this country.

"We will have difficult times; we've had difficult times in the past; we will have difficult times in the future. It is not the end of violence; it is not the end of lawlessness; it is not the end of disorder.

"But the vast majority of white people and the vast majority of black people in this country want to live together, want to improve the quality of our life, and want justice for all human beings who abide in our land.

"Let us dedicate ourselves to what the Greeks wrote so many years ago: to tame the savageness of man and make gentle the life of this world.

"Let us dedicate ourselves to that, and say a prayer for our country and for our people."

The Church in the Modern World

That the world, but particularly the United States still needs to address the issues of race, power, pain, privilege and violence remains a scandal.

A little more than 50 years ago, Pope Paul VI promulgated Gaudium et Spes, the "Pastoral Constitution of the Church in the Modern World".

"The joys and the hopes, the griefs and the anxieties of the men and women of this age, especially those who are poor or in any way afflicted, these are the joys and hopes, the griefs and anxieties of the followers of Christ.

"Indeed, nothing genuinely human fails to raise an echo in their hearts.

"For theirs is a community composed of men and women.

"United in Christ, they are led by the Holy Spirit in their journey to the Kingdom of their Father and they have welcomed the news of salvation which is meant for every man and woman.

"That is why this community realises that it is truly linked with humanity and its history by the deepest of bonds." (Paragraph 1.)

Sources

• Gaudium et Spes
• The History Place

Police made an unsuccessful court application to hold Muhammad Raheesh Isoof, also known as Kamal, for longer than 48 hours.

Authorities are currently obtaining a "stop departure order" to prevent Isoof and his wife from returning to New Zealand.

A second person, a woman known to both the family and Isoof, had also been questioned,

The five members of the Kumar family were found lying at the base of a mountain range, about 20 miles from where their car had been abandoned.

A post mortem showed the deceased had ingested a toxic substance.

Before moving to New Zealand, the man questioned and the Kumar family had been neighbours in Legalega, a subdivision near Nadi airport.

Kamal now lives with his partner in a flat in the east Christchurch suburb of Linwood.

A close friend of the family whom Stuff spoke to said Kamal was a healer who was highly sought in the Legalega community for his "special" abilities.

The informant said the Kumars had used Kamal at least three times to heal his wife's abdominal pains.

Kamal could "fix a problem" by praying for people from all walks of life who came to him for healing, the informant said.

"Headaches, sores on the leg, any type of pain - he had this special power to fix it by praying for people.

And he knew about herbal medicine - sometimes he would give that too."

Many communities in Fiji use healers to help with a medical problem by the use of prayer, rituals and traditional or herbal medicine, he said.

A family friend said Kamal was a good man and the whole Legalega community was in shock over what had happened.

The funeral for the family was held in Votualevu, near Nadi, on Saturday.

Source

• stuff.co.nz
• thesun.co.uk
• stuff.co.nz
• rnz.co.nz
• Image: fbcnews.com.fj

"This blessing ensured that our school was prepared properly for the safe arrival of our tamariki and their whanau," she wrote.

Crouch said pupils and parents were given the opportunity to come together with staff and the board of trustees before school to add strength to the healing process.

"A representative from almost every whanau was present," she said.

"Additionally, we were supported by a number of parishioners from our Catholic community.

"Deacon Ben Pomare lead our karakia which saw our entire community praying the rosary, walking together around our school and sprinkling holy water over our grounds and buildings. Deacon Ben again blessed our whenua, the children, staff and whanau."

She said the school community collectively prayed with love and compassion for the "beautiful woman who tragically lost her life".

Lynace Parakuka was found dead 11:40pm Friday in the St Michael's school grounds.

Police have arrested a 19 year old man in conjunction with the murder. He is known to Parakuka.

• Source: Rotorua Post

The 16-page pastoral letter, 'A Call For A New Era In Malawi', was read out in Catholic churches last Sunday.

The letter lists a number of ills afflicting the nation. It echoes issues raised in a recent civil society petition covering the public service, nepotism and the lack of transformational leadership.

Malawi's Muslim community also noted the letter fails to address the arrest of a Catholic priest who with several others has been connected with the recent murder of McDonald Masambuka. The murder victim had albinism.

Albinos are often targeted by witch doctors throughout sub-Saharan Africa. They are murdered for their body parts which are used in black magic rituals.

"We feel the Catholic Church could have assured Malawians, through this pastoral letter, of measures they have put in place to protect people with albinism," the Muslim Council of Malawi stated on Sunday.

"The nation may wish to know that Machinga district has registered the highest number of killings of people with albinism.

"We feel that the Catholic Church could have included the missing and brutal murders of people with albinism," they continued, noting Muhosha had been arrested.

Although their pastoral letter did not address albinism, the bishops have responded separately to Masambuka's murder and distanced themselves from the accused priest.

"The Catholic Church defends the sanctity of life at any point of a person's life and the killing of albinos is a direct violation of the sanctity of life.

"To our brothers and sisters living with albinism, we assure you that we continue to support, defend and see to it that you are protected by all means," the bishops said.

"As Catholic bishops in Malawi, we express our deepest sympathy to the family and relatives of McDonald Masambuka and all relatives of victims of a similar nature."

Source

• Crux Now
• All Africa
• Image: The Guardian Nigeria

The exact number of dead and wounded is not clear. Between 15 and 19 people are said to have died while numerous others were shot.

The Ayar-Mbalom community is located in Nigeria's "Middle Belt" where the Muslim north meets the Christian south.

Muslim Fulani herdsmen are suspected of being responsible for the attack.

Over the past few years, the herdsmen have mostly attacked Christian farmers. There are both religious and ethnic undertones to the violence.

In a recent Facebook post one of the dead priests, Fr Joseph Gor, wrote: "Living in fear. The fulani herdsmen are still around us in Mbalom. They refuse to go. They still go grazing around us. No weapons to depend on ourselves."

Father Moses Iorapuu, the Director of Communications for the Diocese of Makurdi, said the herdsmen attacked "in their classic style," burning down homes, destroying food, and killing people.

"The police seem to know nothing of the attacks which have been going on in other villages within Benue State since the Anti-Open Grazing Law came into effect last year" he said.

Over 100 people have been killed by Fulani herdsmen since the beginning of the year.

Iorapuu said in a statement given to the press that "It has been the goal of the jihadists to conquer Benue and Tiv people who resisted their advance into the middle-belt since 1804."

The priest accused the rest of the country of having little sympathy for the Benue people, and expressed his fears that the violence will cause thousands of people in the state to be displaced.

He also noted the good the local Catholic Church has been doing in the area.

"The diocese has been active in providing relief materials including education and skills-acquisition lessons," Iorapuu said.

"To go for the priests means total destruction of everything we stand for and believe in!"

Source

• All Africa
• Crux Now
• Image: Crux Now

The judge said, "Your acts of assistance were acts of pure compassion and mercy." Read more

Their bullet-riddled bodies were found in the southern Mexican state of Michoacan.

The victims - four young men - are in the latest killings in the region.

They were Jesus Aguilar Alejandro Ayala, 22-year-old day laborer; Wilibaldo Hernandez, 21, a farmer; Jesus Alberto Lopez, 24, who raised pigs; and Adam Valencia, 25. Read more

The priests were working in Poza Rica, which is a city in Veracruz state.

In all, 14 priests have been murdered in Mexico since 2012.

Pope Francis has expressed "profound sadness" for the murders.

He condemned the attacks on the lives and dignity of the people involved.

He also urged the clergy and all members of the diocese to continue to pursue their mission

Mexico's Catholic bishops also condemned the killing.

"We express our pain and indignation at the violence committed against them," the Bishops said in a statement.

"In these moments of pain and powerlessness in the face of the tragic violence we pray to the heavens for the eternal rest of our brothers and ask Our Lord for the conversion of their killers.

"From the authorities, we expect an investigation clear up these acts and that those responsible be brought to justice."

Poza Rica and its surrounding territory has been the scene of drug-related gang violence and trafficking for many years.

But it is unclear why the Catholic priests were targeted, Vatican Radio says.

Pope Francis offered prayers for the Mexican priests at the Angelus.

He also put his support behind the ongoing pro-family and pro-life efforts of the Mexican Bishops.

Source

• Global Pulse
• Vatican Radio
• Image:foxnews.com

Khalid Jabara's killing has caused concern about attitudes in the U.S.

"Here, in the United States, Mr. Jabara and his family became targets of violence and hatred not because of their faith, but because of their Middle Eastern identity and culture," In Defense of Christians executive director Kirsten Evans said Aug. 17.

"Sadly, Middle Eastern Christians caught in the crossfire of the sectarian conflict plaguing the Middle East have also become vulnerable scapegoats for hatred and violence born of political and cultural tensions here in the United States."

On Aug. 12, Jabara called police to report that his neighbor, Stanley Vernon Majors, had a gun in his hand and that he was scared about what might happen, his sister Victoria Jabara Williams said in a statement.

The police said there was nothing they could do because the man had returned to his home.

Soon after police left, Jabara stepped out of his house. Police say his 61-year-old neighbor was waiting for him, according to a CNN and Washington Post report.

Majors fatally shot Jabara, 37. The assailant was arrested and will be charged with first-degree murder.

Jabara's sister said the man's history was well-known.

"This suspect had a history of bigotry against our family. He repeatedly attacked our ethnicity and perceived religion, making racist comments.

"He often called us ‘dirty Arabs,' ‘filthy Lebanese,' ‘Aye-rabs,' and ‘Mooslems'," said Williams.

The man also commented against Mexicans and blacks, she said.

"Our brother's death could have been prevented," she added. "This man was a known danger."

Source

• Crux
• Image: blogbalardi.com

The 21-year-old was detained Monday in the area of Toulouse, a city 500 miles south of the church of Saint-Etienne-du-Rouvray where the attack took place in late July, a spokeswoman for France's antiterror prosecutor said on Saturday.

The prosecutor filed preliminary charges on Friday and ordered the man to remain in detention during the investigation, she said. Read more

Taleni Asuega said he had just arrived at the church when he heard a loud bang and saw that his uncle had been shot near a second-floor classroom at the Samoa Tokelau Seventh-Day Adventist Church on Banyan Street in Kalihi. Read more

Brigadier General Sitiveni Qiliho said it is about time this happened.

The commissioner also said parents should accompany their children to church services and other gatherings.

He said police are working on strategies to ensure children do not become targets of sexual predators.

The commissioner expressed concern about the number of cases under investigation in which parental negligence was a factor.

Concerns have also reportedly been raised about the people going to religious meetings while leaving their children at home alone.

Meanwhile, murdered 14-year-old Lomary Catholic Primary School student Mere Ailevu was laid to rest on Saturday.

The Year 7 student from Lepanoni had gone for Palm Sunday rehearsal at a nearby church last Sunday afternoon.

She then told her parents that she was going to a church crusade that evening.

The 14‑year‑old girl was missing from Sunday night.

Her body was found at Deuba Beach on Monday afternoon.

A 33‑year‑old man remains in custody in relation to her murder.

Post mortem results indicate that Mere died from a brain haemorrhage.

Sources

• Fiji Village
• Fiji Village
• Fiji Times
• Image: Fiji One

Ten people, including six priests, have now been accused of being involved in the death of Fr K.J. Thomas.

His body was found inside St Peter's Pontifical Seminary in Bangalore.

Police have filed charges in a Bangalore court.

According to the police investigation, Fr Thomas was killed because of an ethnic rivalry between the Kannada-speaking minority and a Tamil-speaking migrant majority.

The priests will be arrested when a court issues warrants.

To date none of the accused priests have been defrocked and are still free to celebrate Mass.

Archbishop Bernard Moras of Bangalore said that he "knows nothing" about the progress of the case.

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Br. Tolbon Diwaero was killed late last Tuesday night or early Wednesday morning (Sept. 15-16) by unidentified persons on his way back to Domara Household, the church reported via Facebook.

Br. Kelliot Betu, regional secretary of the Papua New Guinea Melanesian Brotherhood Region, said that it appeared Diwaero was "mistakenly murdered" as he passed a village where there was a clash between two groups. Further details about the incident are unknown at present.

Last year another member of the Melanesian Brotherhood was killed, and two others were badly beaten in a street attack in Honiara, the Solomon Islands.

The Melanesian Brotherhood are an Anglican religious community based primarily in the Solomon Islands, but which is expanding into other parts of the world.

It was founded in in 1900 by Ini Kopuria, a Solomon Islander on the Island of Guadalcanal.

Source

• episcopaldigitalnetwork.com
• anglicannews.org
• Image: anglicannews.org

Heather Davidson, 54, has been sentenced to life imprisonment after she smothered cancer victim David Paterson, 82, with a pillow, only hours away from his natural death.

Prosecutor Jonathan Sharp said Mr Paterson had "previously firmly expressed his opposition to any intervention in the dying process and at the care home he had never asked anyone to help him end his life".

"As a devout Christian he had strong ethical objections to euthanasia.

"He directed a DNR (do not resuscitate) instruction on his medical records be removed.

"He said it would be God's decision and only God's when it was his time to meet his maker."

Before ending Mr Paterson's life, Davidson called a cancer support line and told the handler she was planning to kill Mr Paterson because she could not bear to see him suffer.

Davidson said her friend could not eat or drink, was "skin and bone" and was in a "dreadful state".

She told the operator: "I just think it would be better if I just put a pillow over his head."

She went on to ask: "Would I be a murderer if I did that?" and was undeterred by the response: "Yes in the eyes of the law you would."

Davidson could be heard on the recording protesting: "If he was a dog he would have been put down months ago."

The call was referred immediately to the police, but could not be traced as it was made on her mobile phone.

The recovering alcoholic then took a pillow and pushed it down on Mr Paterson's face, even though he struggled against her, injuring himself in his fight to breathe.

Davidson and Mr Paterson both attended the same Church of England parish.

Davidson's counsel said if she knew Mr Paterson was so close to death, she would never have killed him.

She shows remorse and is ashamed, her counsel said.

Sources

• The Telegraph
• The Guardian
• Image: WRPI

A man, who has name suppression, was convicted of Gotingco's rape and murder at the High Court in Auckland on Friday.

Gotingco went missing on a Saturday night in 2014 after catching a bus to her Birkdale home from her work in Auckland's city centre. Her body was found several days later at Eskdale Cemetery.

Gotingco family spokeswoman Ruth Money said the family was "celebrating Blessie's life as their faith allows."

"They're a very strong faith-based family and they have a very strong Filipino community around them, so they have New Zealand-based family as well as the international family who have arrived to support them through the trial, so there will be traditional Filipino and faith-based celebrations of her life and for her."

Blessie's husband Antonio Gotingco has spoken before about the family's strong Catholic faith.

Last year he said he believed everything happened for a reason, and that his wife's death was "an instrument to awaken the whole country that the environment is changing and that we need to start making an effort to protect our neighbours."

He acknowledged that faith in his only public words since the trial.

"May the grace of the Lord be with you all," he told media gathered outside Auckland's High Court on Friday.

After the trial, Money said the family were "extremely relieved" the trial was over.

"We wish to remember her for who she was rather than the evil that happened," she said.

"Her smile would light up your heart and will continue to do so."

Source

• Stuff.co.nz
• m.nzherald.co.nz
• Image: odt.co.nz

A north Italian priest has been removed from office after allegations he looked for gay lovers on the Internet and had been involved in gay orgies.

The priest admitted online to sexual relationships with other religious figures - as well as members of the Vatican's elite Swiss Guard - and to using the Internet to find new partners.

After local Church authorities failed to act following an official complaint, the complainant went to the media with the story.

After the facts had been reliably established, the priest was removed from office with his archbishop saying his behaviour had been "absolutely incompatible with the priestly ministry".

And a priest in southern Italy is under investigation on suspicion of murdering one of his female parishioners.

The second priest has asserted his innocence.

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