Catholic Church
Monica Hingston - Lesbian ex-nun who stood up to George Pell
In 2004 former nun Monica Hingston took a stand against her second cousin Cardinal George Pell, by making public a letter urging him to reconsider his support of the Vatican's declaration that… Audio, Gallery
Ex-Pope Benedict XVI blames 1960s revolution for sex abuse
Retired Pope Benedict XVI has published a letter which blames clerical sex abuse on the "all-out sexual freedom" of the 1960s.
Shock at delay in removing paedophile priest's photo
A survivor of sex abuse by a Catholic school leader whose portrait is being removed years after his attacks, says he was "one of the most evil men operating as a paedophile".
Cost-cutting Catholic authorities to close churches
An ageing priesthood and increasing earthquake resilience costs have prompted Wellington's Catholic Archdiocese to begin a process to reduce its number of churches.
Wellington school to remove photo of ex-rector who abused boys
A Wellington Catholic high school has agreed to take down a portrait in its auditorium of a proven sex abuser of multiple boys.
George Pell to spend at least 3 years, 8 months in jail
Cardinal George Pell has been sentenced to six years' in prison for sexually abusing two choirboys when he was Catholic archbishop of Melbourne. Foreign Editor Graeme Acton reports. Audio
Cardinal George Pell sentencing today to be livestreamed
Former Vatican treasurer Cardinal George Pell will be sentenced today after his conviction for sexually abusing two young people in Melbourne in the 1990s.
Cardinal George Pell guilty of child sex abuse
Cardinal George Pell - the third most senior catholic in the world has been found guilty of historical child sexual abuse. The verdict is being celebrated by groups in Australia who have been pushing… Audio
Pope admits order's sex 'slavery' of nuns in France
Pope Francis has admitted that clerics have sexually abused nuns, and in one case they were kept as sex slaves.
PNG bishop calls for more respect for land
The Catholic Archbishop of Rabaul in Papua New Guinea says people need to use land in a respectful manner, consistent with the 'group ethic' of Melanesian society. Audio
DR Congo election: Officials delay result of presidential vote
Amid rising concern, a hold-up in the return of ballots has led to a delay in announcing the winner of the Democratic Republic of Congo presidential election.
Lyndal Roper: why religious rebel Martin Luther is not a hero
Lyndal Roper, Regius Professor of History at Oxford, is a respected historian and author of the 2016 biography "Martin Luther: Renegade and Prophet", a book described by Hilary Mantel s "smart… Audio
Former priest investigated: 'A conscious effort to make it go away'
An ex-Catholic priest living in Asia who was nicknamed "the Phantom Feeler" by boys at a leading Wellington Catholic school is being investigated by police.
'The process has upset me and re-traumatised me'
The Catholic Church has withheld its findings about a child sex abuse accusation for months from the man who laid the complaint.
Catholic Church won't break seal to report child sex abuse
The Catholic Church will not accept the Australian royal commission's recommendation to lift the seal of confession regarding child sex abuse.
Pennsylvania priests 'abused thousands of children'
The Pennsylvania Supreme Court has released a grand jury report detailing sex abuse in the Catholic Church, naming over 300 accused clergymen.
Dunedin man, abused as child in Australia, fights for redress
A Dunedin man who was sexually abused as a child in Australia is fighting an up-hill battle for compensation. Darryl Smith cannot get support for abuse that happened while he was a state ward in… Audio
Top Stories for Thursday 26 July 2018
Army chief defends actions over sexual misconduct claims; Nurses consider fifth pay offer from DHBs; Dunedin man, abused as child in Australia, fights for redress; Sage urges Matt Lauer to join land… Audio
Aus PM tells Pope to sack Archbishop
Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull has called on the Pope to sack Adelaide's Archbishop who has refused to resign after being convicted of concealing sexual abuse.
Mary O'Connell and Sister Margaret Mary Birgan - Sainthood in 2018
The Catholic church in Sydney this week began the formal process for the beatification of Australian Eileen O'Connor, who co-founded the religious order Our Lady's Nurses of the Poor - also known as… Audio