Gaza should not be investigated to see if the conflict meets the technical definition of a genocide, Edith Bruck told Pope Francis (both pictured). The Pope can’t call Gaza a genocide. It isn’t, insists Bruck – a 93-year old Holocaust survivor. “Genocide is something else. When a million children are burned to death, then you Read more
A new initiative aims to provide tailored support to people who have been sheltered in emergency housing for over a year, helping them transition to permanent accommodation. Wellington City Mission and Emerge Aotearoa in Waikato are the first organisations to deliver the two-year trial. Associate Housing Minister Tama Potaka announced that up to 100 participants Read more
To combat abuse and protect vulnerable people, France’s Catholic bishops adopted new guidelines last week for priests hearing confessions and giving spiritual counselling. The new measures follow recommendations from the Independent Commission on Sexual Abuse in the Church (CIASE) which three years ago urged the Church to implement strict directives for confessors. The guidelines specify Read more
After formally banning several “doctrinally problematic” hymns last week, a Missouri bishop, Shawn McKnight, changed his tune, rescinding his original decree in favour of a 12-month synodal process. In his 5 November decree, McKnight wrote “It is now clear that an authentically synodal process of greater consultation did not occur prior to its promulgation”. He Read more
In an unexpected move, the contentious Transalpine Redemptorist Order asked to leave the Christchurch Catholic diocese earlier this year has taken over an historic church – in the Christchurch Catholic diocese. Last Friday the Order – also knows as the Sons of the Most Holy Redeemer – announced on its “Latin Mass Chaplaincy Christchurch” Facebook Read more
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
Catholic Bishop Jean Baptiste Pompallier’s question to Governor William Hobson – and his response – concerning the Crown’s care of Māori should be enshrined as the Treaty of Waitangi’s fourth article. So theologian Alistair Reese told Parliament’s Petitions Committee last week. The written text of the Treaty – Te Tiriti o Waitangi – includes a Read more
Success in Wellington was celebrated on Friday at the 2024 Wellington Address at Pipitea Marae. Brian McGuinness, the Wellington Company, Erskine Chapel Restoration, Doug Hauraki and Adrian Orr were acknowledged. The event acknowledged the exceptional contributions of four of the city’s most influential business leaders who have helped Wellington’s business community prosper. Lifelong dedication to Read more
The Dunedin diocese has blocked a proposal to transform the historic Holy Cross Mosgiel Seminary into a natural health and sustainability centre. The move ends efforts by a local charity to revitalise the 150-year-old complex. The plan, developed by Taste Nature Social Enterprise and chaired by Clinton Chambers, sought to use the site for organic Read more
Miss Kingi – Dame Georgina, that is – has been at St Joseph Māori Girls’ College just about forever. Several generations … as a pupil, as a teacher, as principal. She took over as principal in 1987 when the Sisters of Our Lady of the Mission stepped away from running the school. Always known as Read more