Conservative Catholic and Christian groups are condemning New York mayor Michael Bloomberg’s decision to ban clergy-led prayer at the 10th anniversary commemoration of the 9/11 terrorist attacks. Catholic League and the Family Research Council, say the event shows a prejudice against religion and ignores the central role religious groups played in the city’s 9/11 response. Read more
The All Blacks refused to be drawn into the controversial Backing Black abstinence campaign. Before the campaign was canned assistant coach Steve Hansen said “Please, let’s not go there,” in response to a query about abstinence. But Graham Henry is praying No 8 Kieran Read will heal in time for the quarter finals in the Read more
Pope Benedict XVI is dedicating the month of September to praying that teachers are able to hand on moral values to students and that Christian communities in Asia are able to share the Gospel. Pope Benedict’s general prayer intention for September is: “That all teachers may know how to communicate love of the truth and Read more
Praying for a sporting result is one of the oddest and most widespread religious behaviours in the world. The Welsh do it, the Irish pray to St Jude, Henry says we should do it. “Is it appropriate to pray for a win?” In May Wellington’s Marist-St Pats survived an almighty scare and fended off relegation. The win Read more
Pope Benedict braved thunder, lightning, strong winds and torrential rain to preside at the 2011 WYD vigil prayer service. “Be proud of the gift of faith which you have received, as it will illumine your life at every moment,” the Pope said to 1.5 million young people at Cuatro Vientos air base on the outskirts Read more
A traditional religious response in times of trouble is to pray. Not in expectation of divine intervention, instead it’s a way of expressing pain, recognising our shared humanity and dreaming of a hopeful future lived within the Earth, the only home we have. At one of the workshops during the ‘Let’s Pray – Kia inoi Tatou’ symposium hosted Read more
Most of us, at one time or another, send up a prayer and hope against hope for the answer we want. And more often than not, we wait and wonder, as we continually check our spiritual inbox for some sort of sign, if perhaps our prayer fell on deaf ears, or on any ears at Read more
Kate Middleton has been confirmed as a member of the Church of England. Clarence House announced that Miss Middleton was confirmed on March 10 in a private ceremony. The sacrament of confirmation was celebrated by the Bishop of London, Richard Chartres in a private ceremony. Bishop Chartres will give the address at the April 29 Read more
The Bible tells us to pray for our enemies. Now psychologists are saying the same thing. Saying a prayer may help calm anger and allow people to behave less aggressively towards those who have upset them, researchers say. “Prayer gets people to view the world in a very kind and gentle way and reduces feelings Read more
On a sunny afternoon in this quiet city in northern Iraq, a young veiled Muslim woman from Baghdad kneels to pray—at a Catholic church. The church keeper, a woman also from Baghdad, enters the sanctuary and welcomes the visitor. “Don’t worry, pray in your own way,” she tells the visitor. The Muslim woman removes her Read more