Not all rainbow youth are coping well, a new study has found. The Youth19 survey of close to 8000 secondary school students found that while some progress is being made, and about half of the rainbow students in the study are coping well, some – especially transgender and gender diverse young people – are struggling. Read more
News Shorts
Benedict XVI turns 94 years old
Monday, April 19th, 2021
Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI was born 94 years ago, April 16, in the town of Marktl, Bavaria. More than eight years after he announced his retirement from the papacy in 2013, Benedict continues to live a retired life in the Mater Ecclesiae monastery on Vatican grounds. Despite growing feebleness, the retired pope is in good Read more
Pope Calls for Lowering of Tensions in Eastern Ukraine
Monday, April 19th, 2021Pope Francis, delivering his Sunday address to a live audience for the first time in more than a month, called for a lowering of tensions in eastern Ukraine and expressed anxiety over a military buildup. “Please! I strongly hope that an increase in tension can be avoided. On the contrary, there is a need for Read more
Documentary says Benedict XVI’s secretary tried to convince him not to resign
Thursday, April 15th, 2021A documentary being released on Benedict XVI’s 94th birthday states that his personal secretary, Archbishop Georg Gänswein, tried to dissuade him from abdicating the papacy. “Benedict XVI, the Pope Emeritus,” directed by Andrés Garrigó, will be released April 16 by Goya Productions. The film will focus on Benedict’s papacy, and his time as prefect of Read more
Call to change Christchurch street names linked to child abuse cases
Thursday, April 15th, 2021A call has been made to change the street names and names of reserves in a Christchurch suburb with links to allegations of cases of child abuse. In a letter to the Spreydon-Cashmere Community Board, the writer says society should not honour places where children were harmed, calling for change. The names the writer says Read more
Polish church welcomes police ‘regret’ for intrusion
Thursday, April 15th, 2021Prominent Catholic clergy have welcomed a statement of regret by Metropolitan Police officials for a Good Friday raid on a south London church, during which the Polish congregation was threatened with fines and arrest for allegedly infringing coronavirus restrictions. “The word regret says a great deal – we feel the situation has been clarified, while Read more
RBNZ Survey: 69% Of Experts Predict Rents Will Rise Under New Housing Policies
Thursday, April 15th, 2021Experts are concerned that tenants will cop higher rents under the government’s new housing policies. In this month’s Finder RBNZ Official Cash Rate Survey, 14 experts and economists weighed in on future official cash rate (OCR) moves and other issues related to the state of New Zealand’s economy. The government recently announced a suite of Read more
Colorado seeks to legalize human composting
Thursday, April 15th, 2021Colorado might become the second state to legalize human composting and allow human remains to be composted after a person passes away. Colorado would come alongside Washington state in providing the ability for people to allow their bodies to be turned into soil after they die. The legislative move was attempted by lawmakers last year, Read more
Pope asks US bishop to resign after cover-up investigation
Thursday, April 15th, 2021A bishop in Minnesota resigned Tuesday at the request of Pope Francis after he was investigated by the Vatican for allegedly interfering with past investigations into clergy sexual abuse, officials said. The Vatican said Francis accepted the resignation of Crookston Bishop Michael Hoeppner and named a temporary replacement to run the diocese. Hoeppner is 71, Read more
Vatican statistics show Catholic numbers have grown by 16 million
Monday, April 12th, 2021The Vatican’s Statistical Yearbook shows that there has been a steady growth in the number of Catholics in every continent except for Europe. At the end of 2019, the worldwide Catholic population exceeded 1.34 billion or about 17.7% of the world’s population. This marked an increase of 16 million Catholics or 1.12% increase compared to Read more