New Zealand

Wellington City Mission opens beautiful new facility

Wellington City Mission

Wellington City Mission is celebrating Whakamaru, its beautiful, brand-new $50-million facility. The six-years of planning, contriving and building the facility is now at an end. City Missioner Murray Edridge says the result “… is way beyond our expectations and our dreams, our ambitions and our aspirations”. Whakamaru’s facilities The light, airy building stretches five floors Read more

Abuse-in-care survivors speak of millions in compo payouts

Abuse in Care

Abuse-in-care survivors are looking forward to next month’s apology from government leaders for the suffering they have endured. The apology is one thing. But some advocates say there are survivors who are expecting unrealistic payouts. Apology Erica Stanford, the minister leading the government response to the inquiry, has announced a Parliamentary apology on November 12 Read more

Analysis and Comment

Open letter to Winston Peters – Middle East war

I have appreciated comments you have made concerning the self-inflicted impotence of the United Nations, and so I feel sure you won’t mind hearing from one of the many New Zealanders who are distressed by what is happening in the Middle East, but who also feel a certain impotence which is why most don’t bother Read more

We know what holiness looks like—thanks to the real people in our lives.

What does holiness look like? We are supposed to have seen it. That is the point of the Solemnity of All Saints. We acknowledge and revere those not named in the church’s canonical roster of saints, men and women who nonetheless constitute what St John the Seer called: a great multitude, which no one could Read more

Vague synodality without boldness: Church power struggle pre-programmed

synodality

Up and down again, back and forth, forwards and back again. This is how the Synod on Synodality proceeded over two long years at the round tables, above all with the explicit non-dispute over the church’s controversial issues that had been removed from it. These are serious and will determine the real significance of the Read more

Dilexit nos: Why the tepid response to Pope Francis’ latest encyclical?

Encyclical

On October 24, Pope Francis released his fourth encyclical, titled Dilexit nos (“He Loved Us”), dedicated to the Sacred Heart. Unlike the widespread political and media interest surrounding Laudato si’ in 2015 or even Fratelli tutti in 2020, this encyclical received little attention beyond Catholic circles. An encyclical’s impact takes time. In 2015, Laudato si’ Read more

New Catholic support network for Oceania’s migrants & refugees

A new Catholic support network that will extend across the Pacific aims to take care of Oceania’s migrant workers, refugees and their families. The Most Rev. Anthony Randazzo of Broken Bay, Australia (pictured left), who is President of the Federation of Catholic Bishops Conference of Oceania, (New Zealand, Australia and the South Pacific Islands) says Read more

  • Oddly

    • Miracle in India

      Catholic tradition once held that sainthood was achieved only after the performance of three miracles. An unprecedented 3-0 clean sweep in India secured, a team of cricketing saints are heading back home. The Black Caps tonight completed their greatest series Read more

  • CathNews
    is free

  • World

  • Convicted cardinal says Pope should “no longer be head of state”

    Convicted Cardinal Angelo Becciu has suggested that the pope’s role in governing Vatican City should be reevaluated and that he should “no longer be head of state”. In a series of interviews aired on Belgian television, Becciu discussed Pope Francis’ role and his own conviction for fraud and embezzlement. Becciu, who served as the papal Read more

  • ‘Pope’s theologian’ backs women deacons as “pastorally sensible”

    Women deacons

    Cardinal Walter Kasper, a conservative voice in the Vatican – and often called ‘the pope’s theologian’ –  has publicly supported the inclusion of women deacons in the Catholic Church. Speaking to the German catholic journal Communio, Kasper noted that after considerable thought, he believes it “theologically possible and pastorally sensible” for women to be admitted Read more

  • African bishops block push for local doctrinal autonomy

    Doctrinal autonomy

    At the recent Synod on Synodality, African bishops were instrumental in blocking moves to grant greater doctrinal autonomy to national episcopal conferences. Archbishop Andrew Nkea (pictured) of Bamenda, Cameroon, confirmed the African delegation’s satisfaction with the synod’s final report, which Pope Francis adopted. African bishops sought to prevent any shift in doctrinal authority to local Read more

  • French bishop’s gourmet ham project at risk

    French bishop's

    A French bishop’s novel way of curing ham in the bell towers of Saint-Flour Cathedral is under scrutiny as national building preservation authorities voice concerns over potential damage to the historic structure. For two years, Saint-Flour Cathedral has doubled as a drying house for 60 succulent hams, maturing up to a year before being sold Read more

  • Many modern hymns banned by diocese and abusive composers dumped

    hymns

    Using Catholic hymns containing doctrinal inaccuracies, or those written by composers with credible accusations of abuse against them, is no longer allowed in one US diocese. “Lord of the Dance” is off the list the diocese says. So is “Let us Break Bread together on our Knees”. Guidelines Last week a decree from the Diocese Read more