Pell in ‘sparkling form’ before death
Cardinal George Pell died in Rome aged 81, less than a week after attending the funeral of Pope Benedict XVI.
religion and belief
Australian Catholics mourn Benedict
Cathedrals in Australia are hosting special masses to mourn the late Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI whose funeral is being held in Vatican City.
Death of Benedict shades Vatican new year
While tributes to Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI continue to flow from world leaders and conservative Catholics, others are highly critical of his pontificate.
Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI dead at 95
The Vatican has announced the death of Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI at the age of 95.
Uncertain response to former Pope’s death
Former Vatican press officer Joanne Bergamin thinks tradition might be discarded in order to pay larger tribute to Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI.
Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI to lie in state
Pope Francis has remembered his predecessor as a noble, gentle person, as Catholics worldwide mourn the loss of the former Pope Benedict XVI.
‘Right thing’ not reporting abuse: Houston
Hillsong founder Brian Houston told churchgoers of "a serious moral accusation" against his father without revealing he molested a child, a court has heard.
Houston grilled whether dad deserved jail
Hillsong founder Brian Houston has faced questions about whether he thought his father should have gone to jail for sexually abusing an underage boy.
Houston calls dad a ‘serial pedophile’
Hillsong founder Brian Houston has told a court he believes his father was a "serial pedophile" and that the extent of his crimes may never be known.
Hillsong founder accused of abuse cover-up
Many people knew about Frank Houston's sexual abuse of a child and did not tell police, Hillsong founder Brian Houston's lawyer has told a NSW court.
Ex-Catholic brother faces child sex charge
A former Catholic brother accused of carnal knowledge of a child has been committed to stand trial after appearing in a Brisbane Magistrates Court hearing.
Satanic powers claim made in lawsuit
A woman has failed to stop a defamation lawsuit alleging leaders of a prophetic ministry were portrayed as having used satanic powers to steal away her daughter
Archbishop of Canterbury to visit
Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby will visit Australia just weeks after leading the Queen's funeral service at Westminster Abbey.
Dozens die in fire at Egypt church
At least 41 people are dead and 14 others injured after a fire ripped through a church in Cairo.
Pope sorry for ‘evil’ schools in Canada
The Pope has apologised for the 'evil' perpetrated in indigenous residential schools in Canada run by the church.
Father of ex-choirboy sues Pell, Church
Cardinal George Pell and the Catholic Church are being sued in Victoria's Supreme Court by the father of a deceased former choirboy, for psychological harm.
Nazi speech to send ‘powerful’ message
A principal says he gave a speech to school assembly that included racial slurs and his family's Nazi connections to discuss the Christchurch terror attacks.
‘Nothing done over anti-Semitic bullying’
Victoria's education department has been criticised for failing to remove a school principal after allegations of anti-Semitic bullying at the school.
‘Nazi salutes, swastikas’ at Melb school
Five former Brighton Secondary College students are suing the school, alleging a culture of anti-Semitic discrimination including Nazi salutes and swastikas.
Satanist group founder may face charges
A man may face prosecution over a bid to have Satanism taught at Queensland schools after failing to explain why he should not be charged for allegedly lying.
Calls for Tasmania conversion therapy ban
There are calls for Tasmania to join Victoria, Queensland and the ACT and ban conversion practices aimed at changing people's sexual identity.
US churchgoers tie up gunman after attack
A gunman killed one person and wounded five at a California church before parishioners detained him and bound his legs with an electrical cord, police say.
HK holds Catholic cardinal on ‘collusion’
Hong Kong authorities have reportedly arrested a Roman Catholic cardinal, a singer and two others for alleged "collusion with foreign forces".
The devil they shouldn’t know: Satanic teachings disallowed in Queensland schools
A Noosa Temple of Satan founder has been ordered to front court, while another leader of the group has lost legal action against the Queensland government.
breaking_news
church (organisation)-deprecated
people - human interest
religion and belief
sexual assault
Hillsong founder Brian Houston resigns
Pastor Brian Houston, who founded the global Hillsong Church, has resigned following allegations of his mistreatment of women.
Russian forces shelled mosque: Ukraine
A mosque sheltering 80 adults and children in the southern port city of Mariupol has been shelled by Russian forces, Ukraine's foreign ministry says.
Retired pope asks pardon for abuse
Retired Pope Benedict XVI is asking forgiveness for any "grievous faults" in his handling of clergy sex abuse cases.
Protections for trans students rejected
The coalition has agreed to greater protections for gay students, but not transgender children, as part of a contentious religious discrimination package.
Qld principal stands aside ‘to reflect’
The principal of a Brisbane school at the centre of a controversy over gender and sexuality clauses in its enrolment contracts has announced he will step away.
Labor backs faith protections with caveats
Labor politicians have backed the coalition's religious discrimination bill, albeit with caveats, in two parliamentary inquiries into the contentious laws.
PM talks up protections for gay students
Two parliamentary committees are due to hand down reports into the Morrison government's bid to boost discrimination protections for religious Australians.