When Amber-Rose Schneider first joined TikTok — the snappy, short-form social media app with more than 1 billion users worldwide — she wanted to see more young teenage creators like herself, who reflected her Catholic beliefs. A self-described “cradle Catholic” and graphic design student at Liberty University, Schneider, now 21, began using her TikTok as Read more
The principal of a West Auckland school with a student hit by coronavirus said her priority was to make sure that the affected student and her family “feel completely supported by us.” Anna Swann, the principal of St Dominic’s Catholic College, is strongly urging people not to lay blame on those who are sick after Read more
A proposal that could make hate speech a criminal offence has been stalled and is unlikely to pass before the election. The Government fast-tracked a review of hate speech legislation in the wake of the March 15 Christchurch terror attack last year. Justice Minister Andrew Little declared existing legislation on the issue “woefully inadequate.” Following Read more
The Vatican’s online Holy Week and Easter events reached millions of people around the world. New viewers, followers and fans inspired by Pope Francis’ words and gestures were among those taking part. “We have been struck by the many emails we have received, comments and posts on our social media from people, even agnostics and Read more
No investment is too big to spread the Word of God through media, Pope Francis says. On Monday he spoke to group of bishops and media professionals at the start of the plenary assembly of the Dicastery for Communications, which was held at the Vatican from Monday until Wednesday this week. Communication is a mission Read more
Australia’s Catholic bishops say tech giants like Facebook, Google and Twitter put profits before people. In their view, the companies should be fined for spreading fake news and offensive content. The conference points out that social media platforms’ core business is to sell advertising and maximise profits. The bishops want greater regulation of digital platforms Read more
The Online Crisis Intervention programme supports social media users who are experiencing mental health crises. It’s a world-first online project, run out of west-Auckland. “Reaching out for help in a moment of crisis can be hard, ” says Andrew Sutherland. Sutherland is the manager of Live for Tomorrow, a project of Zeal. He says that to assume Read more
Catholic Twitterers around the world have become increasingly curious about the author of the Twitter account Vatican Just Googled. The Catholic News Agency (CNA) says they have found him and he lives in New Zealand. CNA’s Joe Slama tweeted: “After months of mystery, the author of the account agreed to step out of the shadows Read more
Three-year-old Crew Long has been gone a little more than a year and a half. But his mom still talks to him. Sometimes Mandy Long speaks to her son, who died on Sept. 18, 2017, through prayer or in her journal. Other times she posts notes to her son on her family’s Facebook group page, Read more