Latest from Catholic Church

Toby Manhire: Let marriage loose from the law

A genuinely secular state has no place in the finery and stresses of the weird and often wonderful ritual of a wedding, writes Toby Manhire.

Catholics elect Pope Francis

White smoke has billowed from a Sistine Chapel chimney to show that a new pope has been elected to replace the frail Benedict XVI as leader of the world's 1.2 billon Catholics.

Priest's bravery during IRA killing of soldiers at funeral revealed

"I felt I had done my best for them, but I failed. I felt it was a tragedy I had tried to stop and didn't".

Presbytery in danger

The 1888 Gothic revival presbytery beside St Patrick's Catholic Cathedral in Auckland CBD is an earthquake-prone building.

Cardinals need to act, and quickly

Yesterday was Pope Benedict's last day in office, but the words customarily used to announce that we have a new Pope, "Habemus Papam", are likely to be a long time in coming.

Cardinal forced to resign as Pope acts to quell sex scandal

Scandal hangs over cardinals

Three priests and a former priest in Scotland have reported the most senior Catholic clergyman in Britain, Cardinal Keith O'Brien, to the Vatican over allegations of inappropriate behaviour.

Monastery home for Benedict

Tucked away in the leafy south-east corner of the Vatican City, lies the small monastery where the Pope will spend the rest of his days in quiet prayer and contemplation.

Heartland of church in deep crisis

Whoever takes the helm of the Vatican after the shock resignation of Benedict XVI will inherit a problem on his own doorstep.