The Catholic Diocese of Auckland performed better than expected in 2020 in terms of mission, as well as financially. This was despite two major lockdowns last year as the country was in the grip of the Covid-19 pandemic. At the first of series of Bishop’s Forums to be held around the diocese, Auckland Bishop Patrick Read more
A man accused of possessing Isis propaganda material took the stand to defend his actions in front of a jury on Monday. He said he was only learning about his religion, and he was put in jail because he is a Muslim and his religion is not liked. The Auckland man, who has name suppression, Read more
Four civilians were killed, and eight more were injured in an attack by the Myanmar army on a Catholic church in Kayan Thar Yar village in Kayah (Karenni) State. The incident on 24 May marked the latest in a series of attacks on Christians and churches which have taken place amid a wider crackdown on Read more
Pope Francis has kissed the tattoo of an Auschwitz survivor during a general audience on Wednesday. Lidia Maksymowicz, 80, a Polish citizen who was deported to Auschwitz from her native Belarus by the age of 3, showed the pope the number tattooed on her arm by the Nazis, and Francis leaned over and kissed it. Read more
Father James Altman, pastor of St. James the Less Parish in La Crosse, Wisconsin, told Mass attendees that Bishop William P. Callahan has asked him to resign because he is “divisive” and “ineffective.” Altman — who told his congregants that he is being singled out for preaching “the truth” about “all the evil that confronts Read more
After placing restrictions on churches that were blocked by the Supreme Court, the state of California owes $1.3 million to a Pasadena congregation. A U.S. district judge last Friday released an order “permanently” enjoining the state from issuing or enforcing “any capacity or numerical restrictions on religious worship services” that are prohibited by recent Supreme Read more
Research commissioned by the Health Ministry shows that in March 59 percent of Pasifika people were prepared to be vaccinated – but a month later, the figure had jumped to 79 percent. A GP with the Pacific health provider Fono, Malia Funaki, said health officials and churches have been working together. “The church leaders have Read more
Authorities in Taiwan have placed capital Taipei and surrounding areas on high alert and restrictions for two weeks following an upsurge in Covid-19 cases, forcing the closure of businesses, offices and worship places including churches. Taiwan has recorded more than 1,000 new cases in the past week, triggering new curbs from the government to limit Read more
The Laura Fergusson Brain Injury Trust has bought the former Marian College campus in Richmond and will centralise its South Island services in a new facility there. New facilities for people with brain and spinal injuries will be built on a Christchurch school site cleared after the earthquakes. The Laura Fergusson charity runs a residential Read more
An unapologetic Israel Folau says he has no regrets about his controversial religious views as he aims to resurrect his sporting career at an amateur Gold Coast rugby league club, with backing from billionaire mining magnate Clive Palmer. The former rugby union and rugby league international has signed with Southport Tigers, who play in Gold Read more