A senior pastor who founded the Korean Presbyterian Church of Auckland will be struck off the ministerial roll after an internal church investigation found him guilty of sexual misconduct and abuse.

A former Catholic brother today has an appeal hearing against a judge's decision to have him extradited to Australia to face 252 sexual abuse charges.

For most of us, the sunset at 6.03pm tonight will be unremarkable, but not so for the 450 families who make up the Auckland Hebrew Congregation.

A photo of the Pope posing with young fans at the Vatican has gone viral on social media, with gleeful reports that it was the first ever "Papal selfie".

A former Scientologist has claimed she was one of several women "auditioned" as a potential wife for the actor and Scientology stalwart Tom Cruise.

Egypt's descent into violent chaos entered a new phase yesterday as the military-backed Government suggested it planned to ban the Muslim Brotherhood.

Anjum Rahman is gaining support in her bid to become the first Muslim woman elected to public office in New Zealand.

The head of New Zealand's third-largest church has asked its ministers to consider a temporary ban on gay marriages to preserve the church's "peace and unity".

Auckland mayoral candidate the Rev Uesifili UNasa may be looking for some divine intervention, having launched his campaign at church.

Professor Richard Dawkins has been forced to defend controversial comments he made online after saying the last time Muslims contributed something worthwhile was during the Middle Ages.

It's the shoes at the foot of Bishop Brian Tamaki's impressive all-black ensemble that catch the eye as his delegation sweeps up the library stairs at Massey University's North Shore campus.

A week or so back London officials banned the use of the phrase "in sickness and in health" in civil registry wedding vows as "too religious".

As more Kiwis describe themselves as having no religion, it's hardly surprising that the teaching of Christianity should rub against modern concepts of rights.

Sweating nervously from his bald head the American soldier gathered enough composure to deliver an extraordinary presentation.

Religions do a little good and a lot of bad, says Paul Little.

The chief of the Churches Education Commission, Simon Greening, and survey author David Hines present their views on the debate over religious education programmes in schools.

Schools are going through the "hurtful" process of choosing to drop religious instruction, with boards of trustees working through passionate arguments from parents on both sides of the debate.

A survey shows one in three state primary and intermediate schools teaches religious instruction, triggering a debate about what kids are being taught.

A Muslim sect is taking its faith to the streets of Auckland this Ramadan month to counter "Kiwi ignorance" of Islam.

In just over a week, Muslim faithful around the world will be celebrating Eid ul-Fitr, the breaking of the fast to mark the end of the fasting month of Ramadan.

A wrong turn sent a humble Fiat carrying Pope Francis into the thick of a frenzied Rio crowd, in his first minutes back in South America since becoming Pontiff.

Religious hardliners have declared a jihad against the television talent shows that have taken Afghanistan by storm.

It is 8.30am in the favela in Rio de Janeiro that will receive Pope Francis on Friday, and men carrying weapons walk along what will be the Pontiff's path.

Investigators in Rome are combing through the 19,000 accounts held by the Vatican's bank in search of money laundering and other crimes.

A team of Israeli archaeologists thinks it has found the ruins of a palace belonging to the biblical King David, but other Israeli experts dispute the claim.

Paul Charman reckons Taniwha are scarier than Zombies.

Radical Buddhist nationalism is sweeping Burma, and at the forefront of the movement is a group more commonly associated with peace and tolerance: monks.