A first-time fundraising effort by the Archdiocese of Philadelphia has raised more than $1 million for over 100 beneficiaries – all in a single day. As part of the #GivingTuesday effort Dec. 1, area faithful were urged to direct their contributions to the #iGiveCatholic campaign. The initiative – in which more than 40 dioceses and Read more
Work to demolish the Barbadoes St frontage of the earthquake-damaged Catholic cathedral in Christchurch started on Wednesday. The $1.8 million demolition project began in September. Bishop Paul Martin announced in August last year that he wanted to demolish the cathedral, which was completed in 1905. He said the building was too expensive to restore and Read more
The Vatican has announced that Pope Francis will not visit Rome’s Piazza di Spagna this year for the traditional veneration of Mary on the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception due to the pandemic. Instead, Francis will mark the feast day with “an act of private devotion, entrusting the city of Rome, its inhabitants and the Read more
An historic Nelson church was targeted by burglars over the weekend. When Pastor Andy Marr opened the doors of his church on Sunday, he witnessed a scene of destruction. Almost everything not nailed down had been taken from the main building of the at St Paul’s Lutheran Community Church in Upper Moutere, a rural settlement Read more
Nearly 1500 academics in Poland have written an appeal against “slandering and rejecting John Paul II” after the publication of the McCarrick report by the Vatican on November 10. The report documented the rise of disgraced former Cardinal Theodore McCarrick, who was laicized by Pope Francis in 2019 after he was credibly accused of abusing Read more
Seventy-six Catholic nuns have tested positive for COVID-19 after an outbreak at a Franciscan convent in northwestern Germany, church authorities said Tuesday. Another 85 nuns received negative test results at the monastery in Thuine, not far from the Dutch border, the convent’s Mother Superior told The Associated Press. “We are grateful that so far nobody Read more
Despite restrictions on hate speech on social media in Spain, a trending hashtag calling for Catholic priests to be burned alive was not removed for violating rules against posting calls for violence. The invitation to #FuegoAlClero, or set fire to the clergy, was first issued by several pro-Marxist accounts, originally in defense of a bill Read more
Stuff has introduced a new company charter with Te Tiriti o Waitangi at its core, after a major internal investigation uncovered evidence of racism and marginalisation against Māori. The media organisation issued an historic public apology on Monday following the Our Truth, Tā Mātou Pono investigation which saw around 20 Stuff journalists scrutinise the company’s Read more
Pakistan’s Christian transgender people, often mocked, abused and bullied, say they have found peace and solace in a church of their own. Shunned by other churches, they can raise their voices high here. During a recent service, transgender women, flowing scarves loose over their long hair, conducted Bible readings and raucously sang hymns, accompanied by Read more
More than 200 people attended a White Ribbon barbecue in Timaru to show their support against family violence. Free barbecue food was provided to members of the public, and served by the Rapid Relief Team, in a tent outside Mitre 10 Mega on Friday. Te Rito Collaboration co-ordinator Michelle Thew said some people at the Read more