Religion

Cecilia Gentili's family deny deceiving New York's St Patrick's Cathedral, after her funeral there was deemed a "scandal" by the pastor.

From Australia to the US, these South Asian women share what being in an interracial relationship has cost them.

A former primary school student is suing the Toowoomba Catholic Diocese for $1.7 million in damages for alleged abuse dating back to the late 2000s.

Today millions of Indonesians headed to the polls to elect a new leader. Here's a look at who's in the running and the issues that could have swayed voters.

A Pakistan court has sentenced former prime minister Imran Khan to a further seven years in prison along with his wife, after a ruling that their 2018 marriage violated the law.

Kezia Whitton was abused by her brother when she was five years old. Years later, her former church declined to report him to West Australian police — but in a different state, they may have had to.

People once wore eyeliner for more than just its aesthetic, with Ancient Egyptians believing it could protect them from the 'evil eye'. Now, people are using it to connect them to their heritage.

Four days after being charged with fraud by the Colorado Securities Commissioner, televangelist Eli Regalado decided to come clean to his supporters.

One of the most divisive chapters in India's history has come to an end with the opening of a new Hindu temple on the site where an ancient mosque was torn down. While Narendra Modi's supporters see it as a victory, Muslim Indians are fearful it could stoke old tensions.   

Authorities say Paul Mackenzie, the head of the Good News International Church, ordered his followers to starve themselves and their children to death so that they could go to heaven before the world ended.

In the 19th century, Australia was home to Magdalene "retreats", Catholic-run institutions to reform wayward women. For some, the path to penitence was a brutal one.

Police say 35-year-old Phillip Gordan Ronald Salt met two of his alleged victims through a youth engagement role at a church.

For some African migrants to Australia, religion can be an essential part of finding acceptance, support and community.

Police say 10 people were arrested during a scuffle with officers after a secret passageway was discovered.

Organisers worldwide have readied for large-scale New Year's Eve celebrations, offering a hopeful start to 2024 even as the globe's ongoing conflicts raised concerns.

Making a promise to the gods was once seen as the way to secure a happy new year. Now, resolutions revolve around self-improvement, which may make them all the harder to keep.

New age spiritualism is not new, but it morphed during the COVID pandemic and appears more popular than ever. The first detailed Australian study examines what happens when spirituality and wellness intersect with conspiracy theories.

The rapper Ye, formerly known as Kanye West, has issued an apology in Hebrew to the Jewish community for his past antisemitic remarks, saying he sought forgiveness and regretted any pain that his words had caused.

The prime minister and opposition leader have wished Australians a merry Christmas and expressed their gratitude to those giving up their day to help others.

Christian leaders have reflected on cost-of-living pressures, natural disasters and conflicts abroad as they share their 2023 Christmas messages.

St Nicholas's generosity and gift-giving inspired the Christmas legend of Santa Claus. But instead of climbing down chimneys to deliver presents, the real-life bishop from ancient Greece would secretly leave bags of gold on windowsills and doorsteps.

While tradwives emerge across the political spectrum, a small subculture use their platforms to promote the dark ideas of the far-right — including in Australia, write Kristy Campion and Kiriloi M Ingram.

The Vatican's ruling will allow priests to decide on blessing same-sex couples on a case-by-case basis, as long as they are not part of regular Church rituals or liturgies.

The new sculpture is a symbol of resilience of the cathedral, which was destroyed by a fire in 2019 and is being built back to its original state.

The cost-of-living crisis, Australia's changing demographics, and the greater mobility of the country's population mean the way we celebrate Christmas is now very different to how we did 50 years ago.