A brazen topless protester from the Ukrainian women’s rights group Femen sneaked past security and partially stripped in front of St Peter’s Basilica just after the Pope’s Sunday Angelus message. Alexandra Shevchenko was arrested at the Vatican after dropping to her knees in St. Peter’s Square, holding up a sign reading “Freedom for Women” and removing Read more
When the Anglican Church moved to bar protesters from St Paul’s Cathedral in London the Wellington City Missioner, Susan Blaikie, was reported as saying says “Folk at the Newtown Drop In Centre say they are dismayed”. “Almost with one voice they expressed their dismay at St Paul’s closing their doors. But they, like a lot Read more
Women in Cost Rica took to the street to protest comments by senior Catholic clerics that women be creative at home, not emulate men and dress modestly to avoid being dehumanised. At a ceremony honouring Costa Rica’s patron Nuestra Senora de los Angeles (Our Lady of the Angels) Mexico’s Cardinal Francisco Robles, said women should Read more
A bride-to-be’s dream of being the fourth generation of her family to be married at a Welsh church has been shattered after it was announced the dilapidated building would have to close. Emily Morton is now staging a sit-in protest at All Saints Church, along with 50 villagers in Maerdy, Rhondda Valleys. Read the rest Read more
Two Catholic organisations who had been planning participation in Saturday’s post Budget rally in Auckland withdrew support following a New Zealand Herald story about the civil disobedience intentions of some participants. The Herald reported that Meredydd Barrar, spokesman for newly formed Coalition for Social Justice, said that they intended to take action during the World Read more
Many people were outraged when they read that a woman who had burnt the New Zealand Flag at an ANZAC day ceremony has escaped conviction. “It is extraordinarily hard to defend freedom when it insults something you revere” says Anthony Hubbard. The fuss over the Virgin in a Condom statue at Te Papa was a good Read more
Visitors outside the gate at Buckingham Palace were asked to support the call to give “disgracefully low-paid” royal cleaners a living wage. Amidst high security for the wedding of Prince William and Kate Middleton, the Public and Commercial and Services union was outside the gates of Buckingham Palace from 12 noon to 2pm on 28 April Read more