Church officials in New Zealand say the earthquake-damaged iconic cathedral in central Christchurch will be deconsecrated and partially torn down. Anglican church officials say the 120-year-old building is unsafe after February’s 6.1 magnitude quake that killed 182 people and wrecked large parts of the city. But before any demolition work is carried out, the church […]
Quake-Damaged New Zealand Cathedral to be Deconsecrated
Anglican Archbishop Visits Zimbabwe, Criticizing Mugabe’s Government
The Archbishop of Canterbury, Rowan Williams, traveled on Sunday to Zimbabwe, where he expressed his regrets to thousands of Anglicans that the end of colonialism has failed to bring peace and freedom to the southern African nation. Speaking to a crowd in a packed Harare stadium, Williams said the country is now facing another kind […]
Indonesian Police Confirm Link Between Church, Mosque Bombings
Police in Indonesia say DNA testing has confirmed the identity of a suicide bomber who killed himself and injured 22 worshippers at a church on Sunday. They said Tuesday the bomber was 30-year-old Pino Damayanto, who had been wanted in connection with a previous suicide bombing that injured 30 policemen at a mosque in April. […]
Irish Foreign Minister Rebukes Papal Ambassador Over Sexual Abuse Cases
Ireland Foreign Minister Eamon Gilmore met with Vatican ambassador Giuseppe Leanza Thursday, a day after a government-sponsored report condemned the country’s Roman Catholic Church for its inadequate response to allegations of the sexual abuse of children. Gilmore rebuked the papal ambassador for the Vatican’s behavior in the case and Leanza said he was “very distressed” […]
Irish Report Condemns Catholic Church for Concealing Abuse
A government-sponsored report condemns the Roman Catholic Church in Ireland for what it describes as the church’s “inadequate” response to allegations of sexual abuse of children, and says high-ranking clergy helped conceal the abuse. The report by an independent commission Wednesday says the rural diocese of Cloyne in southern Ireland and its bishop, John Magee, […]