The horrific photographs of Charles Saatchi apparently strangling his celebrity chef wife Nigella Lawson have rekindled memories for Timaru Herald features editor Claire Allison. It was his explanation that was just about the end of the iPad. Charles Saatchi explained, suavely and confidently, that the photographs were misleading. That he and his wife, Nigella Lawson, Read more
“A playful tiff”? Give us a break, Charles Saatchi. The hand around the throat, the pinching of a nose – in public view in a big city – you can’t help wondering what Mr Saatchi’s last wife meant when she divorced him for “unreasonable behaviour”. As painful as it must be for Nigella Lawson to Read more
This week Nigella Lawson was photographed with her husband’s hand round her throat. How can we make sure children never have to experience abuse from a partner when they grow up? Plus, the warning signs of a controlling relationship. When I became the mother of one, then two, girls I would occasionally think about the Read more
The Catholic Church has had little trouble finding its way onto the front pages of Australian newspapers in recent weeks and months, though it’s usually been — not unlike many other Western countries — to report on something related to the sexual abuse of minors. With two state inquiries and a national Royal Commission all Read more
Without so much as mentioning a word, the moment Rolf Harris’ name made it to the press, his reputation was vaporised by speculation and condemnation. As with charges about inappropriate flesh pressing, notably with the underage, anyone’s reputation that comes within a bull’s roar of it finds a career ruined. That is specifically so if The Read more
Brother Dennis of the Little Brothers of Mary, as they were originally known, was buried at a cemetery near Melbourne in March, 1992. His two families — the one he grew up with, and the clergy that he made his adult life with — were both present, and separate. The coffin lowered, the mourners were Read more
The Catholic Church in Scotland has come in for further criticism of its child protection procedures, with a former consultant revealing that the Church has been unable to produce the annual audits of abuse claims that it promised in 1996. The former child protection consultant, Alan Draper, who worked for the Motherwell diocese for seven Read more
The English diocese of Portsmouth is contemplating an appeal to Britain’s Supreme Court following a judgement that it can be held vicariously liable for alleged wrongdoings of a priest. The diocese says the decision, by two out of three judges in the Court of Appeal, has “far-reaching implications” for faith and other voluntary organisations. The Read more
1. Are you sure members of the Church hierarchy are worse than anyone else? When people cite the pedophilia scandals as a key reason for abandoning the Church, I worry that they’re setting themselves up for deep disappointment. The fact that priests abused children is an idea so horrific that one can hardly bear to Read more
Organisers had initially expected 200 to turn up at the Association of Catholic Priests (ACP) meeting in Dublin this month. In fact over 1000 showed up. The size of the crowd in part was a response to the recent silencing of Irish priests. One of those silenced, Fr Tony Flannery, was part of the leadership Read more