Jurors retire to consider Malka Leifer abuse verdict
Jurors have retired to consider their verdicts on 27 sexual abuse charges against former ultra-Orthodox Jewish principal Malka Leifer.
religion and belief
Archbishop claims $1.9m altar boy payout ‘excessive’
Archbishop Peter Comensoli is appealing a $1.9 million payout to a victim of a pedophile priest, arguing factors outside the abuse caused some of his injuries.
Leader warns of risks in early release of voice model
Co-chair of the Uluru Dialogue says the referendum is a vote on the principle of the voice to parliament, with finer details to be worked out by parliament.
Mosque bombing kills 28 in Pakistan
At least 28 people are dead and scores more are wounded after a suicide bomber struck inside a mosque in northwestern Pakistan.
Church member in court over child abuse
A 36-year-old Geelong man who is a member of the Geelong Revival Centre has faced court accused of child sexual abuse offences.
Cardinal Pell farewelled at the Vatican
Australian cardinal George Pell has been farewelled at St Peter's Basilica by the same pope whose papacy he described as a "disaster".
Pell in final journey home to Australia
The body of Cardinal George Pell is being brought home to Australia ahead of his interment in the crypt at St Mary's Cathedral in Sydney this week.
‘Difficult day’ following Pell’s death: PM
Cardinal George Pell has been hailed by a former prime minister as a "saint for our times", while Anthony Albanese has passed on the nation's condolences.
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.
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".