New Zealand

Stephen Lowe new bishop of Auckland

Stephen Lowe

Pope Francis has appointed Bishop of Hamilton Stephen Lowe as the new Catholic Bishop of Auckland. The appointment was announced in Rome at midnight New Zealand time and means the dioceses of Hamilton, Palmerston North and Christchurch are without bishops pending Pope Francis announcing new appointments. Bishop Lowe replaces Bishop Pat Dunn, who has served Read more

Catholic Church leaders welcome Royal Commission Redress Report

The bishops and congregational leaders of the Catholic Church in Aotearoa New Zealand will closely study the interim Redress report of the Royal Commission into Abuse in Care and look at how they can implement the recommendations. The report — He Purapura Ora, he Māra Tipu; from Redress to Puretumu — was tabled in Parliament Read more

Analysis and Comment

If I had been a man, the question would not have come up

One of France’s most popular news and information magazines, Paris Match, has published a series of secretly taken photographs of Archbishop Michel Aupetit in the company of a young woman as part of an article titled “Lost for Love”. Pope Francis on December 2 accepted the 70-year-old Aupetit’s resignation as Paris’ archbishop after rumours intensified Read more

Christianity and society: Former Australian PM’s Kevin Rudd and Tony Abbott

christianity and society

Two former Australian Prime Ministers, Hon Tony Abbott and Hon Kevin Rudd join Australian Catholic University Emeritus Professor Greg Craven in a conversation about important issues facing Christianity and society. Rudd and Abbott are longer prime ministers but both now serve the nation in other ways. This conversation is to hear their views, as people Read more

Giving birth to Christ in the world

Christ in the world

Spiritually, we are all called to be pregnant with God and to give birth to Christ in the world. Men and women alike, this is our mission, and the mother of Jesus gives an outline of what that birthing is all about. Scripture doesn’t offer a lot of information about Mary. But if we look Read more

Hope and expectation

Hope and expectation

After a year of disruptions with severe social and economic impacts for us individually and collectively, we need to hold on to hope. We are all dealing with Covid—no one is excluded from this experience. We know the grief of these times; those with secure incomes have had greater security, while those without this have Read more

Caritas was prepared for an emergency in Tonga

Caritas prepared

Caritas was prepared for an emergency in Tonga and is already on the ground offering assistance. Confirmation of the Catholic agency’s involvement comes from Caritas Director Julianne Hickey, and follows Saturday’s eruption of the Hunga Tonga-Hunga Ha’apai volcano. “Together (with Caritas Tonga) we have completed the pre-positioning of emergency supplies at three locations in Tonga Read more

  • World

  • Pope’s Minister of Charity reportedly resigns

    peter turkson

    Cardinal Peter Turkson, who is considered one of Pope Francis’ top allies on humanitarian issues such as migrants and the environment, has reportedly resigned as prefect of the Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development (DPIHD), an office he’s led since 2016. Several Vatican sources confirmed reports of the cardinal’s resignation, which first appeared Thursday evening Read more

  • Pope Francis approves further restrictions on Latin Mass

    Latin Mass

    Pope Francis has approved further clarifications regarding restrictions on the traditional Latin Mass in an effort to ensure that liturgical reform is “irreversible” and that liturgical celebrations adhere to the changes made after the Second Vatican Council. The clarifications, published Dec. 18, ban priestly ordinations and confirmations in the old rite and limit the frequency Read more

  • Former Parish Archbishop to sue for defamation

    defamation

    Michel Aupetit, recently relieved of his duties as Archbishop of Paris by the pope, has indicated that he plans to sue a popular French magazine that published insinuating photos it secretly took of him and a young woman. The 70-year-old archbishop said this week that his attorney is drawing up papers to sue the weekly Read more

  • Pope: gossip the reason for Paris archbishop’s resignation

    Pope questioned over resignation

    Questions are being asked over the speed at which Pope Francis accepted the resignation of the Archbishop of Paris, Michel Aupetit. The unusually rapid acceptance has prompted speculation there is more to the issue than has been confirmed. Reporters on the pope’s flight from Greece to Rome asked the pope why he accepted the resignation Read more

  • Myanmar nun named one of 100 most influential women

    Myanmar nun influential women

    The BBC has named a Catholic nun from Myanmar among Nobel laureates, politicians and professors as one of the 100 inspiring and influential women from around the world for 2021. Sister Ann Rose Nu Tawng became a symbol of Myanmar’s nationwide protests against a military takeover when, in March,  she knelt in front of armed Read more