(RNS) In the West, the idea that religion is inherently violent is taken for granted by everyone from academics to cab drivers, says British religion scholar Karen Armstrong, the former Roman Catholic nun who wrote the best-selling “A History of God.” Her new book, “Fields of Blood: Religion and the History of Violence,” picks at the Read more
The week before our Prime Minister promised to “shirt-front” the president of Russia, I was at the gravesite of a man who hit his wife so hard she went through a door. The man was my grandfather, on my father’s side, and the woman he assaulted was his wife, my beloved Nana. When this man Read more
Pope Francis has told Albanian religious leaders that distorted forms of religion that promote violence must be firmly refuted as false. During a one day visit to the former communist nation on September 21, the Pope said authentic religion is a source of peace. “To kill in the name of God is a grave sacrilege. To Read more
It’s a “national tragedy”, a “dirty secret”, an “outrage”. But within the hyperbole surrounding the issue of domestic violence in our country are countless stories of individuals and families who have felt its impact first-hand. My own family has such a story – but we’re ‘lucky ones’, who ‘got away’. My sister and I escaped Read more
Sister Mary Brigid Perez has been nominated by Archbishop of Agana in Guam, Anthony S. Apuron, for the Catholic Extension’s Lumen Award. Sister Brigid spent nearly 50 years as an educator in Catholic schools in the Archdiocese. After she left teaching, she became program manager of the Alee Family Violence Shelter. “Alee” is the nautical Read more
A priest was shot and killed with a gun owned by a fellow priest during a robbery in downtown Phoenix, in the United States. Gary Michael Moran, 54, who had only been out of jail for six weeks, has been arrested following the shooting of Fr Kenneth Walker, FSSP, and the beating of Fr Joseph Read more
I have just read a headline in the New Zealand Herald (6 June 2014) in which All Black coach Steve Hansen describes Jerome Kaino as “a caged animal” who will be doing all that he can to prove that he is at home among the big beasts of the international game.The names given to men’s rugby and Read more
On Friday night I felt like I was playing a part in a movie. I’d come to Santa Barbara six months ago from Wellington on a student exchange. I was really excited to become immersed in the Californian lifestyle. I wanted to go surfing, to drink Californian wine, and have fun at the “Number Two Read more
Argentina’s Catholic bishops have spoken out about violence that is besetting their nation. In a statement released at their recent annual conference, the bishops said “We notice with pain and concern that Argentina is sick with violence. Some symptoms are clear, others more subtle”. “Criminal acts have not only risen in number, but in aggressiveness; a Read more
We live in a violent society. You can see it in popular movies, our favourite sports, the occasional spectacular act of violence that captures our collective imaginations. Wondering if David Bain did it is still a national hobby; I’ve even chatted about it over a flat white and scone at morning tea. Somehow, it’s an easy conversation. Read more