New Zealand

Right to life petition opposes decriminalisation of abortion Comments 0

Right to Life petition

15,407 citizens have signed a petition opposing the decriminalisation of abortion and supporting the protection for women and the unborn. Right to life organised the petition. Representatives of the Society’s executive presented it to an assembly of invited MP’s on the steps of Parliament on Wednesday. The petition opposes abortion being taken out of the Crimes Read more

Nominations open for 2020 Delargey Awards Comments 0

nominations

The NZ Catholic Bishops Conference (NZCBC) is seeking nominations for the 2020 Delargey Awards, which recognise significant and outstanding contributions to Catholic youth ministry in Aotearoa New Zealand. Begun in 2008, the biannual awards are named in honour of Cardinal Reginald Delargey (1914-79), a former Bishop of Auckland and Archbishop of Wellington who was noted Read more

Analysis and Comment

Sex tourism, suicide, the death penalty, peace: Pope visits Thailand and Japan Comments 0

As Pope Francis beging the thirty-second trip of his pontificate Nov. 19 to Thailand and Japan, he will once again be visiting nations where Catholics are a small minority. In both countries, there’s one Catholic for every 200 people, as opposed to roughly one for five in the United States. The Nov. 19-26 trip will Read more

Medieval Catholicism explains the differences between cultures Comments 0

medieval Catholicism

A sweeping theory published early November in the journal Science posits a new explanation for the divergent course of Western civilization from the rest of the world: The early Catholic Church, medieval Catholicism, reshaped family structures and, by doing so, changed human psychology forever after. The researchers assert that they can trace all sorts of modern-day Read more

Japan’s ageing ‘Hidden Christians’ fear they may be their religion’s last generation Comments 0

hidden christians

His face weathered from years at sea, kimono-clad Japanese fisherman Masaichi Kawasaki kneels before an altar adorned with images of the Virgin Mary, crossing himself as he softly intones chants handed down through centuries. Kawasaki, 69, is one of a dwindling number of Japan’s “Kakure Kirishitan,” or “Hidden Christians,” descendants of those who preserved their Read more

Sr Graciela Colon: Immigration lawyer and nun Comments 0

In 2013, while volunteering in India, Graciela Colon first heard the inner stirrings of Jesus calling her to a religious vocation. For three weeks, she helped St. Teresa of Kolkata’s Missionary Sisters of Charity, minister to abandoned children, some of whom were severely disabled. They took the children off the streets and cared for them. Read more

Police ping unlicensed drivers while they are at church Comments 0

unlicensed drivers

Hundreds of people have been identified by police as not having a drivers’ licence while attending church services in South Auckland. They have been offering the unlicensed drivers free courses instead of giving them tickets. Police say the campaign is necessary in order to reduce offending rates. More than a quarter of all court proceedings Read more

  • Oddly

    • Pet service blesses all creatures great and small

      The Nelson Cathedral pews made way for paws as a pet service welcomed all things bright and beautiful. Dogs dominated the furry friends at the Sunday morning service where all animals were invited, but other four-legged friends included guinea pigs and cats. The one hour of worship had a theme of animals with many hymns, Read more

  • World

  • Unexpected: Vatican replaces financial watchdog head Comments 0

    Amid a brewing financial scandal over the Holy See’s investments in London real estate, Pope Francis, Monday, announced he will replace the Vatican’s top financial watchdog official. Announcing René Brülhart’s replacement, the Vatican said Pope Francis has chosen a new president but does not name him or her. The three-sentence announcement said Francis thanked Brülhart Read more

  • Religious fundamentalism is a plague, says pope Comments 0

    An important way to oppose the plague of religious fundamentalism is through interreligious dialogue, says Pope Francis. It is an effective means of countering accusations that religions sow division, he told representatives from the Argentine Institute for Interreligious Dialogue this week. In “today’s precarious world, dialogue among religions is not a weakness. It finds its Read more

  • Nuclear weapons “immoral” says Pope ahead of Japan visit Comments 0

    In a video message to the people of Japan, Pope Francis says he prays that nuclear weapons will never again be used. The message was released prior to Francis’ visit to Japan, November 23-26. Japan “is very aware of the suffering caused by war,” the pope said in his native Spanish. “Together with you, I Read more

  • Catholic deselected as UK election candidate Comments 0

    The Liberal Democrat (Lib Dem) Party, UK, deselected Robert Flello, a practising Catholic as an election candidate. Just 36 hours beforehand Flello was announced as the Lib Dem candidate for the Stoke-on-Trent South constituency. The Party concluded his values diverged for theirs. The British media report that Flello’s views on abortion and same-sex marriage are Read more

  • Chinese underground bishop on the run from authorities Comments 0

    Chinese underground bishop Msgr. Vincenzo Guo Xijin (Guo), is being hounded by public security agents to force him to sign up to an “independent Church” in exchange for government recognition. The Chinese Communist Party also wants Guo to attend a meeting of the “independent” clergy of the Fujian, where he is the bishop, after he Read more