New Zealand

Disconnected or no-religion Catholics – an opportunity

Disconnected or no religion Catholics

Food for Faith podcast producer Fr John O’Connor is about to tackle a new opportunity presented by disconnected or no-religion Catholics. He’s starting by taking a sabbatical and collecting food for his faith. After more than a decade of providing written and audio reflections for the popular Food for Faith podcast, the Christchurch priest (pictured) Read more

Papal Nuncio Archbishop Novatus Rugambwa back in Rome

Papal nuncio

New Zealand’s Papal Nuncio, Archbishop Novatus Rugambwa, has returned to Rome. The archbishop left the country on Saturday and has arrived safely after a “smooth” journey, the NZ Catholic Bishops Conference says. Rugambwa (pictured) is recovering from a stroke he suffered in Wellington last October. He will continue his rehabilitation at a Catholic facility in Read more

Analysis and Comment

When it comes to geopolitics, Pope Francis is not infallible

Pope Francis

Pope Francis is good at pricking consciences. He does this regarding reconciliation and peace in the world, especially in Eastern Europe. For example, when he sends Cardinal Matteo Zuppi of Bologna – a leading figure from the Sant’Egidio Community who is skilled in peaceful conflict resolution – to meet with leaders of major powers. Or Read more

Pursuing the Common Good

Common good

The core responsibility of those entrusted to govern is to promote the common good. This doesn’t mean just what is best for most people. It means creating the social, economic and ecological conditions which enable all members of society – according to their capacity – to reach their human fulfilment and to contribute to the Read more

Kai for our bodies, spiritual food for our souls

spiritual food

It is late summer here we’re picking apples and bottling peaches, watering kawakawa so the leaves float and don’t droop, and harvesting lemon verbena. We’re flicking mosquitoes at dusk so they won’t bite and listening to noisy cicadas and hearty piwakawaka and spotting a ripening fig before a blackbird pecks at it. The Synod on Read more

Screen time robs average toddler of hearing 1,000 words spoken by adult a day

screen time

The average toddler is missing out on hearing more than 1,000 words spoken by an adult each day due to screen time, setting back their language skills, a first-of-its kind study has found. The research was published on Tuesday in the Journal of the American Medical Association (Jama) Pediatrics. It tracked 220 Australian families over Read more

Gaza humanitarian crisis – Government urged to take action

Gaza humanitarian crisis

Three major Catholic aid agencies are urging Australia, Canada and New Zealand’s leaders to take immediate diplomatic action over the “catastrophic” humanitarian crisis in the Gaza Strip The agencies working in the area are warning that starvation and famine threaten hundreds of thousands of Palestinian civilians. Catastrophic conditions in Gaza In a joint statement, the Read more

  • Oddly

    • Stephen Colbert to narrate Pope’s audio book

      Stephen Colbert, one of the most famous Catholics in the entertainment business, is moving one step closer to Pope Francis. The Late Show host will narrate Pope Francis’ audiobook Life: My Story Through History. He will narrate the six-hour audiobook, Read more
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  • Vatican reshuffles Synod process, pushes controversial issues to 2025

    Synod process

    The Vatican has postponed discussions on contentious doctrinal, ethical and pastoral issues until June 2025. It has redirected the focus of the upcoming synod towards synodality itself. The decision comes amidst growing anticipation about key matters such as women’s access to the diaconate and LGBTQ+ inclusion within the Church. Cardinal Jean-Claude Hollerich clarified that the Read more

  • Pope Francis has no plans to retire despite health concerns

    no plans to retire

    In his newly released autobiography “Life: My Story Through History” Pope Francis asserts that he has no plans to retire despite ongoing criticism and health challenges. The autobiography, co-authored with Italian journalist Fabio Marchese Ragona, delves into key moments of his life and papacy, shedding light on his stance amidst controversies surrounding his leadership. At Read more

  • Priest sues diocese over “false” sexual abuse allegations

    sexual abuse allegations

    A priest in Indiana, USA, is suing his diocese for fraud and defamation after he was suspended over what the clergyman claims were false sexual abuse allegations. Fr James DeOreo claims the Diocese of Lafayette-in-Indiana violated diocesan policy and committed both fraud and defamation when it said, in March 2022, that he had been accused Read more

  • Confession unaffected by new Hong Kong security law

    confession

    Hong Kong’s Catholic diocese says confession will remain confidential despite the city’s upcoming national security law change. The proposed legislation the diocese is referring to is Article 23, a locally developed national security bill that Hong Kong is fast-tracking into law. It follows the one Beijing imposed in 2020 after quashing pro-democracy protests in Hong Read more

  • Priest shortage – Spain considers options

    priest shortage

    An ongoing rural ministry priest shortage in the Spanish region of Castile has bishops, vicars and deans looking for new ways to serve. The problem is urgent, as what worked in the past when there were plenty of priests doesn’t work today. “We cannot expect things to change if we always do the same thing” Read more