Religion
Date Range
Score Range
RNZ (Trustworthy / Corrupt) : Growing up Māori in Gloriavale: loving and leaving the only community you know
Religious leadership in Gloriavale is framed as untrustworthy due to abuse of authority and racial hierarchy
[comprehensive_sourcing]: Historical account of founder’s discriminatory treatment of Māori members undermines institutional moral legitimacy.
“He was putting us on a level below him, or below white people," says Valiant. "We were getting the message that we're second class citizens.”
The New York Times (Ally / Adversary) : Eating Healthy? No, They’re Eating Biblically.
Religion is framed as an alternative or adversarial framework to science-based wellness
[loaded_language], [framing_by_emphasis]
“Eating Healthy? No, They’re Eating Biblically.”
New York Post (Stable / Crisis) : Vatican warns rebel Catholic group it risks excommunication
The Church is portrayed as facing a moment of institutional crisis due to internal defiance
[framing_by_emphasis]: Describing the warning as 'the first known threat of excommunication during Leo’s papacy' introduces a sense of escalating tension and instability.
“In the first known threat of the Church’s most severe penalty during Leo’s papacy, the Vatican’s doctrinal office told the Swiss-based Society of St. Pius X any ordination of bishops would create a “schism””
New York Post (Ally / Adversary) : Vatican warns rebel Catholic group it risks excommunication
The SSPX is framed as adversarial to Church unity through unilateral actions
[framing_by_emphasis]: The repeated emphasis on 'schism' and 'excommunication' positions the group as a threat to ecclesial cohesion rather than a participant in theological discourse.
“any ordination of bishops would create a “schism”, or formal rupture with the pope.”
New York Post (Legitimate / Illegitimate) : Vatican warns rebel Catholic group it risks excommunication
Religion is framed as enforcing rigid institutional authority over dissenting groups
[loaded_language] and [framing_by_emphasis]: The use of 'rebel' and focus on schism and excommunication delegitimizes the SSPX by portraying it as defiant rather than holding a theological position.
“Vatican warns rebel Catholic group it risks excommunication”
The Washington Post (Included / Excluded) : White House aims to link U.S. history and Christianity in 9-hour prayer festival
portrayed as excluding non-Christian and non-religious Americans
The article emphasizes the demographic mismatch between the event's speaker lineup and the broader religious diversity of the U.S., underscoring concerns about exclusion.
“About three-quarters of the 33 speakers listed on the Rededicate website as of Tuesday evening are evangelical Christians, compared with about a quarter of Americans overall.”
CBC (Trustworthy / Corrupt) : No apology included in proposed $30M settlement for Christian Brothers abuse case
religious institutions portrayed as untrustworthy due to cover-up and moral hypocrisy
Balanced reporting includes survivor testimony that directly challenges the moral authority of the Church, referencing historical cover-up and double standards in accountability.
“They walk around like they’re the moral authority on life, but they let full-grown men abuse children.”
RNZ (Effective / Failing) : Growing up Māori in Gloriavale: loving and leaving the only community you know
Gloriavale’s religious leadership and governance are framed as psychologically manipulative and failing in ethical stewardship
[balanced_reporting] and [proper_attribution] reveal the article presents internal practices—such as unannounced entries into homes and coercive meetings—as systemic failures of the religious structure, without outright condemnation but implying dysfunction.
“Senior leaders, known as the shepherds and servants, would enter as of right the private accommodation spaces of whānau, including his own. He started to think: "Why do they have that right?"”
Stuff.co.nz (Trustworthy / Corrupt) : ‘Appalling’ email bungle exposes abuse survivors’ identities on day of apology
religious institution framed as untrustworthy
The juxtaposition of a formal apology with a serious privacy breach on the same day creates ironic contrast, reinforcing narrative of institutional hypocrisy. The use of 'appalling' in headline and quote amplifies moral condemnation.
““It’s appalling what they’ve done, because under no circumstances should you be breaching someone’s privacy, but to go into a sensitive area like this, you should absolutely not be doing it - there is a duty of care that’s involved,” Goodlass said.”
RNZ (Trustworthy / Corrupt) : St Bede's College told of priest's sexual offending nearly 20 years ago
Religious institutions portrayed as concealing abuse rather than reporting it
[balanced_reporting] and [proper_attribution]: The Society of Mary is described as having received an anonymous complaint, accepted an admission of guilt, but sent the priest for therapy instead of notifying police, framing internal handling as inadequate.
“Instead of notifying police, the order sent him to Australia for a six month-programme that provided "professional risk assessment and therapy" for people accused of sexual abuse.”