Churches are considering a number of contingency plans while they weigh up if they will re-open only to vaccinated people when the traffic light system kicks in. Last month the government announced details of its Covid-19 Protection Framework, involving the roll-out of a ‘traffic-light’ system once all DHBs hit 90 percent full vaccination rates. Under Read more
Global Catholic charity, Caritas, joined other Catholic agencies and faith community pilgrims heading to Glasgow this week. Caritas NZ says the pilgrims are in Glasgow to pray and to press world leaders for strong action at COP26 – the 26th Conference of Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. Religious leaders representing Read more
New Zealand’s Catholic bishops have written a pastoral statement and a set of guidelines for those working with people choosing assisted dying. Chaplains, priests and other Catholic professionals are being given guidelines and pastoral help to work with people who decide to die under the End of Life Choice Act which takes effect on 7 Read more
Vaccination certificates and ‘traffic lights’ are coming soon to your church. Under the new COVID-management system, places of worship may legally choose to implement a vaccination entry requirement for congregants. Whether they do or do not has different consequences. Vaccine certificates will also apply to clergy. The government’s three-tier “traffic light ” framework will come Read more
Lawyers for New Zealand Churches and a Catholic bishop acting in a private capacity tried to push back on the scope of the Royal Commission of Inquiry into abuse in care, says the Royal Commission chair. The move infuriated a survivors’ group so much it has pulled out. This is a “final blow” to an Read more
A sharp increase in demand for mental health support has helped spur the University of Otago’s push to improve student support services. Counselling and chaplaincy services, especially for the university’s burgeoning Maori student population are in particular need of extra support. The costs of the additional services will be met from student fees. To achieve Read more
New Zealand’s only Legionaries of Christ priest, Simon Cleary told CathNews that he is sorry if the media coverage has caused distress in New Zealand. He is very concerned that New Zealand and international reporting around the Pandora Papers has painted a picture that is untrue, and while he is no longer in New Zealand Read more
Stuff reports Cardinal John Dew is seeking the Vatican’s permission to investigate the way a Catholic bishop responded to complaints of a sexual nature against former priest Sateki Raass. Dew, who is the Metropolitan Archbishop of New Zealand, addressed the letter to the Congregation for the Evangelisation of Peoples, which oversees ‘mission territories’, including New Read more
Trusts registered in New Zealand held nearly $300 million in assets for a Roman Catholic order caught in an international paedophilia scandal, according to leaked records contained in the Pandora Papers. The Mexico based Legionaries of Christ used the trusts in a complex financial arrangement that held assets in four continents, according to an analysis Read more
A “deep-seated dissatisfaction” with online worship during the Covid-19 pandemic has been identified by new research published this week. In a year-long joint project by the University of Chester and Manchester Metropolitan University, researchers held focus groups with hundreds of members of the public and clergy about their perceptions of religious life during COVID-19. “Rituals Read more