Photos of three men who have been publicly accused of historical sexual abuse by multiple survivors have been removed from display by Kavanagh College. The three men, Brs Richard Glen, Francis Henery and Victor Sullivan, have died. In March, Dunedin bishop Michael Dooley (pictured) announced a name change for the College. Dooley’s move came after Read more
Staff shortages in rest homes with religious affiliations are forcing more homes to face closure. The latest Catholic facility to announce its imminent closure is Waiatarua Mercy Parklands in Auckland. Residents and their relatives of the 97-bed 100-staff rest home are being consulted about the closure. Besides lacking staff, the aged care facility, which was Read more
Pope Francis met with a group of young people and said that, despite COVID-19 weakening many parishes, parish life is irreplaceable and essential for the faith journey. The pope was addressing leaders of the young adult section of Italian Catholic Action, a parish-based programme of faith-building and social outreach. The parish is “the normal environment Read more
Ministers of religion in Western Australia are now legally required to report child sexual abuse, even if the information was gained during confessions. Under new laws now in force, failure to make a mandatory report is an offence with a maximum penalty of $6000. A minister of religion will not be excused from criminal responsibility Read more
The head of the German Catholic bishops’ conference said on Thursday that the global synodal process has already changed the Church. Bishop Georg Bätzing (pictured) said, “After only one year, this Synodal Process has generated a dynamic that has led to a new understanding of the dignity of all the baptised, to a broader co-responsibility Read more
“The schismatics” is not the name of a new Broadway musical, but it might as well be. Some senior cardinals, deeply unhappy with the 2021-2022 round of the Catholic Church’s worldwide Synod on Synodality, seem to want the entire project to go away. It will not. The synod is projected to be a new-old way Read more
Sister Mary Lembo says the sexual abuse of women religious by priests in Africa is a “gaping wound” in the Church. A native of the West African nation of Togo and member of the Sisters of St. Catherine of Alexandria, she’s done extensive research on this taboo subject, including her doctoral dissertation. Lembo is a Read more
A new survey of Catholic priests in the United States details a widespread distrust of bishops and a fear that if they were falsely accused of abuse, prelates would not help them clear their name. The study “Well-being, Trust and Policy in a Time of Crisis” by The Catholic Project, was written by Brandon Vaidyanathan, Read more
Māori Catholic boys’ school, Hato Pāora College, celebrated its 75th jubilee over Labour Weekend. Generations of former students gathered to reminisce about their time at the celebrated school. As one past pupil said: “We are unique. We are the only Māori Catholic Boys College in the world! So let’s remember; let’s celebrate; let’s build a Read more
According to Australian anti-poverty advocates, Australia should follow New Zealand’s lead and legislate to halve child poverty by 2030. Anti-Poverty Week executive director Toni Wren said poverty ripples across the country. It finds its way into the homes of 760,000 children and affects women disproportionately. “Our federal parliamentarians need to pass legislation to halve child Read more