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.

What, in your opinion, is the greatest misconception about God?

Being English, making a fuss is as painful to me as losing a kidney.

A missile knocked a leading Northern Irish politician unconscious as sectarian tensions escalated into rioting in Belfast at the climax of the Protestant marching season.

The colourful vicar of St Matthew-in-the-City, Glynn Cardy, is leaving his Anglican church to lead a Presbyterian church in Remuera.

As millions of Muslim pilgrims prepare to converge on holy sites in Saudi Arabia this [northern] autumn, the global health community is anxiously monitoring an outbreak of a respiratory virus known as Mers.

Wellington's new Anglican Dean was surprised the church would want to hire him, as he was a "dodgy Baptist" pastor with criminal convictions.

Contrary to the claims of your columnist Rodney Hide last weekend, the self-described anti-theist, I don't believe prayer to be hocus-pocus.

Worshippers at about 500 British mosques have heard sermons condemning the sexual grooming of children after a number of paedophilia cases involving Muslim gangs.

A nun has admitted breaking the arm of a 9-year-old at Sunday School after the girl failed to get an action song right.

A nun accused of breaking a 9-year-old's arm told a Sunday School teacher "it was me'', a court has been told.

A nun broke the arm of a 9-year-old girl during a Sunday School class, a court has been told.

A former Catholic brother will be extradited to Australia to face 252 sexual abuse charges alleged to have been made against 35 complainants, a judge ruled today.

Peers from all parties have warned the House of Lords it would exceed its powers if it derailed plans to legalise gay marriage.

Of all European countries, you might have thought, France would have taken gay marriage in its stride.