The pope’s key clergy abuse reform effort is not working, says a papal consultant. Jesuit Fr Hans Zollner made the admission last Thursday to a group of clergy survivors of sexual abuse. Speaking in an online session, Zollner was asked if there is recourse for those who feel their cases have not been properly handled. Read more
Upset, disappointment and, for some, ‘resigned understanding’ has greeted the announcement that the March edition of the Marist Messenger is the final edition. “What a shock and great disappointment! I appreciate commercial realities to which we are all subject, but it does not dull the pain,” one reader wrote. “The Marist Messenger has been an Read more
Catholic MP Simon O’Connor (pictured) has cancelled a controversial religious event he was hosting at Parliament. He said he was asked a couple of months ago by former MP Alfred Ngaro to host a prayer event. “I was happy to book the room,” O’Connor said. The ‘Jesus for NZ’ group was also happy. It posted Read more
Caritas Aotearoa New Zealand has confirmed it is not leading the post-cyclone Catholic relief effort for the New Zealand Catholic Bishops Conference (NZCBC). It told CathNews that Caritas’ focus was not New Zealand, but on helping fund development and emergency relief work worldwide. However, Caritas’ comments seems to run counter to the information the charity Read more
In the wake of Cyclone Gabrielle, Pope Francis has expressed his closeness to the people of New Zealand. Renewing his appeal for Turkey and Syria earthquake victims, Francis also turned his attention to New Zealand. “I am close to the people of New Zealand, who have been hit in recent days by a devastating cyclone. Read more
Pope Francis is urging people to pray and offer concrete support for earthquake victims in Turkey and Syria. A 7.8 magnitude earthquake rocked both countries last week, toppling buildings and killing tens of thousands. Hearing the call, the pontifical foundation Aid to the Church in Need (ACN) will be providing at least NZ$800,000 of immediate Read more
The Oceania region’s Catholic bishops have finished their week-long assembly in Fiji on a high note. “It has been a great joy for the bishops to gather this week to pray for and consider their shared mission as the Chief Shepherds of the region,” the concluding statement from the Federation of Catholic Bishops Conferences of Read more
There’s a long recovery ahead for Auckland, says Catholic Caring Foundation manager, Ann-Marie Parker. “Homes have been totally destroyed, leaving many families literally with just the clothes on their backs. They will have to begin to rebuild their lives from zero,” she says. But, besides being left with nothing, Parker is concerned that many will Read more
The Catholic Church in Australia has known few more extraordinary figures than George Pell. A product and priest of the rural diocese of Ballarat, he rose to be not only Archbishop of Melbourne but, extraordinarily, Archbishop of Sydney as well. It was unthinkable then that the Archbishop of Melbourne would be moved to Sydney. As Read more
Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI died at 9:34 PM on Saturday evening (NZ time) in his residence at the Mater Ecclesiae Monastery. “With sorrow I inform you that the Pope Emeritus, Benedict XVI, passed away today at 9:34 AM in the Mater Ecclesiae Monastery in the Vatican. Earlier in the week, Pope Francis asked for prayers Read more