A new report, Wednesday, from World Vision shows the devastating impact of Covid-19 on girls in the developing world. The report, How COVID-19’s impact on hunger and education is forcing children into marriage, warns that an additional 3.3 million girls globally are at high risk of child marriage. The World Vison report reveals that the Read more
News Shorts
Three Swiss Guards quit over refusal to take COVID vaccine
Thursday, October 7th, 2021Despite an oath to give their lives defending the pope, three members of the Vatican’s fabled Swiss Guard have abandoned the small force due to refusal to comply with a recent mandate to possess either a COVID-19 vaccination certificate or the results of a negative COVID test within the past 48 hours in order to Read more
Re-education of Russian pastors likely
Monday, October 4th, 2021As of October 3 Russian authorities will verify the formation of pastors for faith communities, especially those who have studied abroad. The verification will be of the “religious formation received” by servants of the cult of all religions. The newly renewed Duma will have the power to approve or not “the activity of servants of Read more
Gloriavale leaders give community members option to have Covid-19 vaccine
Monday, October 4th, 2021The leaders of the isolated Gloriavale Christian Community have told its members they can choose to be vaccinated against Covid-19. This is a U-turn from its past anti-vaccination stance. The community has previously blocked the West Coast from hitting immunisation targets as its babies are not given vaccines. The community has a population of about Read more
Inquiry finds 3000 sex abusers in France Catholic Church
Monday, October 4th, 2021Around three thousand paedophiles have operated inside the French Catholic Church since 1950. The numbers were released, Sunday by Jean-Marc Sauvé, the head of an independent commission examining church sex abuse. The commission has been investigating for 2 1/2 years. 22 cases of alleged crimes have been forwarded to prosecutors and more than 40 cases Read more
Moderator identifies challenges
Monday, October 4th, 2021The Rev Rose Luxford of Oamaru, 30 September, was elected moderator designate at the Presbyterian General Assembly. For the first time the Assembly gathered online. Among the challenges Luxford identified are aging, shrinking congregations, and increased compliance issues for churches run largely by volunteers. “Our Church needs to be realistic about how things are, and Read more
As German Synodal Assembly begins, lay Catholics express anger at Vatican
Monday, October 4th, 2021Against the background of lay Catholics’ anger about a Vatican decision not to censure Cologne clergy for mishandling abuse cases, German Catholics — bishops, clergy and laity — gathered in Frankfurt for the start of the three-day Synodal Path Assembly. But before discussions began on the agenda, the leadership decided to allow an hour to Read more
Pope chooses ‘Listen’ as theme for World Communications Day
Monday, October 4th, 2021In the search for truth, Catholic communicators must learn how to listen above all else, the Vatican said. “Listen” will be the theme for the 2022 celebration of World Communications Day, said the statement released Sept. 29. A papal message on the theme should be published on or around the Jan. 24 feast of St Read more
Cardinal Burke: Steady but slow
Thursday, September 30th, 2021
Controversial vaccine denier Cardinal Raymond Burke describes his recovery from COVID as ‘steady but slow’. In a letter to his followers who are praying for him, Burke says he is experiencing difficulty in recovering from Covid-19 and is challenged to regain certain fundamental physical skills for daily living; among them, he lists general fatigue and Read more
Momentum slows in reducing child mortality rates; significant inequity found
Thursday, September 30th, 2021Efforts to reduce child mortality rates appear to have stagnated. That is the finding of the government’s Child and Mortality Review Committee, which analysed 2666 children aged between 28 days and 24 years, who died between 2015 and 2019. The committee, which is part of the Health Quality and Safety Commission, also found the mortality Read more