(RNS) Pope Francis leaves on Monday (Oct. 31) for an overnight trip to Sweden, a historically Protestant country that today is one of the most secular in the world. The visit is to mark the start of observances of next year’s 500th anniversary of the Reformation, which traditionally dates from Oct. 31, 1517, when Martin Read more
A former president of Ireland has said that an entrenched clericalism in that country used to view any opposition to itself as militant secularism. Speaking in an interview on the Crux website, Mary McAleese said Ireland had, at least in part, been dissuaded from anti-immigrant movements because of its rich Christian culture. She was asked Read more
A Catholic bishop in Ireland has accused politicians and media of seeking the destruction of the Church. Bishop William Crean of Cloyne said the goal of such people seems to be the elimination of the Church from public debate. “Ireland through its political and media establishment seems determined to eliminate the engagement of the Catholic Read more
The general-secretary of the Catholic Bishops Conference of Papua New Guinea Victor Roche, says in the 1970s, the Catholic Education Services joined the Government to form an association of equals in a unified system of education in PNG. He said this partnership had lasted but now there was little respect shown to the church by Read more
A groundbreaking New Zealand decision has led to a few disturbances in the fabric of religious time and space. The registrar-general of births, deaths and marriages Jeff Montgomery has approved the Church of the Flying Spaghetti Monster as an organisation to solemnise marriages. Massey University professor of history Peter Lineham has questioned the decision by the registrar-general and Read more
Asked how many people in 100 they believed did not affiliate with any religion, New Zealanders responded 49 people. In fact, 37 out of 100 people do not affiliate with any religion. Religious affiliation was one of the 11 features surveyed. This response is just one of the questions posed in an Ipsos MORI Perils of Read more
The Auckland Regional Migrant Services (ARMS) Trust is not doing away with Christmas, says its chief executive Dr Mary Dawson. “To those who celebrate Christmas, we wish you a very happy Christmas. To those who do not, “season’s greetings”. The Anglican Bishop of Auckland, Ross Bay, says “All very laudable in a way, though an Read more
The $3 Christmas stamp issued by New Zealand Post features one of three windows portraying the Nativity story in St Benedict’s Church in Auckland. The window portrays the three wise men from the east, the Magi, being lead to the Christ child in the stable in Bethlehem. Other stamps feature stained glass windows from St Read more
Expectant parents are registering their unborn children with Waikato church-run schools in a bid to ensure a place for them when they turn five. Hundreds of non-Catholic children are already registered on Catholic school waiting lists in Hamilton city alone and this has Hamilton Diocese planning a new primary school north of the city. The Read more