Canadian authorities are investigating multiple fires that destroyed four Catholic churches on Indigenous land in the past week. They are the latest in a string of recent events affecting the country’s Indigenous communities. The churches were destroyed as Canada confronts its history of systemic abuse of Indigenous communities. Recent discoveries of hundreds of human remains Read more
The Fiji Times reports that the Methodist Church has warned its leaders that it would take action against those influencing church members not to get vaccinated. Speaking during a virtual meeting regarding the church’s stand on covid-19 on Thursday, the church’s general secretary, the Rev Iliesa Naivalu has reminded pastors that they were answerable to Read more
The Vatican’s new liturgy chief has recommended the practice of adoration to help increase awareness of Christ’s presence in the Eucharist. In an interview with EWTN News, Archbishop Arthur Roche, prefect of the Vatican Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments, said that he was not pessimistic about the prospect of people Read more
A new study combining one week’s worth of wastewater testing with census data has shown methamphetamine use is associated with socioeconomic disadvantage. It’s also revealed cocaine and ecstasy use is associated with socioeconomic advantage. In a study published today in the New Zealand Medical Journal based on testing in Auckland, the Bay of Plenty and Read more
Ahead of the Vatican’s day of prayer for Lebanon on July 1, a senior Vatican official has expressed concern that the potential collapse of the country could jeopardize the Christian presence in the Middle East. Archbishop Paul Gallagher, the Vatican’s equivalent of a foreign minister, said June 25 that he believes that the Holy See Read more
Housing in New Zealand is viewed as a “speculative asset” rather than a home and has become a human rights crisis, according to a United Nations report. The report by UN special rapporteur Leilani Farha on adequate housing was tabled at the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva on Tuesday, following her visit to New Read more
Despite strong criticism from European bishops and pro-life groups, members of the European Parliament adopted a report that defines access to abortion as a human right. It also claims that doctors or hospitals that conscientiously object to performing abortions put “women’s lives in danger.” The report passed the European Parliament June 24 with 378 votes Read more
A defrocked Greek Orthodox priest was charged with multiple counts of causing grievous bodily harm over an acid attack that injured seven senior bishops and three other people. The 37-year-old Greek man was led to court in lay clothing, handcuffs, and under a heavily armed police escort. He was arrested by a police guard late Read more
A First Nations chief in southern British Columbia, Canada says there are mixed feelings in his community after a Catholic church burned to the ground in an overnight fire. It was one of two Catholic churches in the area that were destroyed in blazes that police consider suspicious. Chief Greg Gabriel of the Penticton Indian Read more
A few months after his inauguration, Bishop John Lee Juo-wang of Tainan, Taiwan has left the helm of the diocese. Pope Francis, who accepted the resignation of the 54-year-old prelate on Saturday, appointed his predecessor, Mgr Lin Chi-nan Wood, as apostolic administrator. The news took the diocese by surprise. Bishop Lee was ordained and installed Read more