In an op-ed published by the New York Times on Thanksgiving, Pope Francis defended some of the social distancing restrictions that have been enacted in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Francis applauded governments that have been “acting decisively to protect health and to save lives” by “imposing strict measures to contain the outbreak.” And some Read more
According to the leaders of the ‘House of One’ project, the aim is to “make tangible that religions can be an asset – putting a model of a peaceful coexistence opposed to all atrocities committed in the name of religion.” The ecumenical project has not only received the support from personal donors and private companies Read more
Everything from class streaming to racism, “sown throughout” the system, could be kicked out the school gate in a $42 million programme launched by Associate Education Minister Kelvin Davis. The Minister launched Te Hurihanganui at Takapūwāhia Marae in Porirua – kicking off an anti-racism initiative for schools and communities, aiming to help Māori students. Davis Read more
China has criticised Pope Francis over a passage in his new book in which he mentions the suffering of China’s Uighur Muslim minority group, saying his remarks have “no factual basis at all.” “People of all ethnic groups enjoy the full rights of survival, development, and freedom of religious belief,” Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Zhao Read more
Paolo Gabriele, the Vatican butler who was convicted of stealing and leaking Pope Benedict XVI’s private papers in 2012, has died aged 54. Vatican News, the Holy See’s media portal, said Mr Gabriele died on Tuesday after a long, undisclosed illness. Mr Gabriele’s case kicked off the first of two Vatileaks scandals, exposing the internal Read more
Emergency housing group Monte Cecilia Trust’s Bernie Smith says the Government promised “transformational change,” but that hasn’t happened. Instead, the housing crisis has worsened. “At the moment we’re getting 20 to 30 calls per day. A year ago, it was 10 to 15 calls per week,” he told TVNZ’s Breakfast this morning. “A year ago, Read more
In a year when most meetings have switched to an online format, the fall assembly of the U.S. bishops was no exception. The Nov. 16-17 virtual meeting involved about 300 bishops on Zoom and many viewers watching the livestreamed public portions. The two days of discussions went off without a hitch, save for the occasional Read more
Waimate’s former convent building is headed for auction as the St Patrick’s Parish looks to downsize. The parish’s finance committee chairman Peter Hughes said the 55-year-old building on a 1793 square metre section and a neighbouring 2583 sq m section were “surplus to requirements” and would be auctioned on November 26. Read more