New Zealand

The hīkoi was important say Catholic and Anglican leaders

hīkoi

The hīkoi against the Treaty Principles Bill was important, say two senior Catholic and Anglican clergy. Vicar General of the Catholic Archdiocese of Wellington Monsignor Gerard Burns and the Anglican Bishop of Wellington the Most Reverend Justin Duckworth both walked alongside thousands of others protesting the Government’s Treaty Principles Bill on Tuesday. Both church leaders Read more

Churches are hot property, especially the converted

Churches

Churches appear to be the latest thing on the real estate market. They make highly sought after living spaces, especially if someone’s already converted the ecclesiastical into the domestic, property agents say. One Roof Editor Owen Vaughan says there will always be a market for quirky spaces with a sense of reverence. Some are converted Read more

Analysis and Comment

Fifth Gospel Living – book review

Fifth Gospel Living

Simple, sweet, sometimes heart-breaking, and always invigorating, Fifth Gospel Living is the latest publication from Fr John O’Connor and his Food for Faith ministry. It comprises stories of personal encounters with God. The 96 reflections are the result of a call from O’Connor, whose blogs on the Food for Faith website have, for about 10 Read more

The Treaty of Waitangi should be considered as a covenant relationship

The Treaty

A hīkoi opposing the Treaty Principles Bill has made its way to Wellington. Those who took part in the hīkoi, along with supporters around the country, both Māori and non-Māori, consider the Bill to be a betrayal of the commitments made at the signing of the Treaty of Waitangi. The Waitangi Tribunal has voiced its Read more

There is reliable evidence social media harms young people – debates about it are a misdirection

social media

The Australian government is developing legislation that will ban children under 16 from social media. There has been a huge public debate about whether there is sufficient direct evidence of harm to introduce this regulation. The players in this debate include academics, mental health organisations, advocacy groups and digital education providers. Few step back to Read more

Christianity stands on threshold of new Reformation

Christianity

Keynote speaker Tomáš Halík (pictured) a leading Catholic intellectual and author from the Czech Republic, says Churches must transcend national, religious, cultural boundaries A new reformation for the 21st century must transcend “the current forms and boundaries of Christianity,” resist simplistic answers to contemporary challenges and contribute to uniting into ‘One Body’ all of humanity, Read more

Gaza is not a genocide a Holocaust survivor stresses to Pope

Gaza

Gaza should not be investigated to see if the conflict meets the technical standards for a genocide, Edith Bruck told Pope Francis (both pictured). The Pope can’t call Gaza a genocide. It isn’t, Bruck –  93-year old Holocaust survivor – insists. “Genocide is something else. When a million children are burned to death, then you Read more

  • Oddly

    • Racist tirade on way to church sees man convicted

      A South Otago man, who was on his way to church, engaged two service station workers in a racist tirade! Robert Graham Mathieson, 62, a Clinton pensioner, represented himself at a judge-alone trial before JPs Drewe Carran and Judy Smart Read more

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  • Vatican approves Indigenous traditions in Mexican Mass

    Indigenous elements in Mass

    The Vatican has approved integrating Indigenous traditions into the Catholic Mass in Mexico’s Diocese of San Cristóbal de Las Casas. The adaptations include new roles for lay leaders and cultural expressions during worship, reflecting the traditions of local Indigenous communities. According to a decree issued by Cardinal Arthur Roche, the Dicastery for Divine Worship granted Read more

  • Catholic schools launch first Catholic-focused AI chatbot

    AI Chatbot

    Brisbane Catholic Education (BCE) has unveiled a world-first Catholic-focused AI chatbot to support teachers and integrate religious values into education. The AI, known as the Catholic CoPilot, is already in use across 146 schools and saves teachers up to 10 hours a week by automating lesson planning, marking and administrative tasks. The chatbot was built Read more

  • Vatican pressured to apply US clergy abuse policy worldwide

    US clergy abuse policy

    Survivors of clergy abuse are calling on the Vatican to adopt a global zero-tolerance policy for predator priests, similar to the rules implemented in the US Catholic Church in 2002. The survivors argue that such measures are necessary to protect children worldwide. The US policy, often referred to as “one strike and you’re out”, requires Read more

  • Archdiocese staff laid off to pay for Church sex-abuse scandal

    archdiocese

    Archdiocese staff have been laid off to help cover the costs the Catholic Church sex-abuse scandal in the New York. It is possible even more staff may have to leave, Cardinal Timothy Dolan is warning. Before dismissing staff, however, the Archdiocese sold its First Ave. in Manhattan office headquarters building for US $100 million. It Read more

  • Rail Pastors show how to take Church’s message to the people

    Rail Pastors

    Rail Pastors are taking the the Church’s message to the people in Scotland. Among those working with the pastors is Scotland’s new Catholic bishops’ conference  president Inverclyde’s John Keenan. After taking part in the local Rail Pastors’ evangelising mission, Bishop Keenan had this to say: “It is the Church on the streets where the Spirit Read more