Abuse survivors are asking for an independent redress agency for both state and faith-based abuse to be set up immediately. The Royal Commission into Abuse in Care should recommend the government establish such an agency they say. While the Anglican Church told the Royal Commission it is open to the idea, its bishop of Christchurch Read more
Survivor groups are not hopeful that the Royal Commission into the Abuse in Care will bring around change in churches. A spokesperson for the Network of Survivors of Abuse in Faith-Based Institutions, Liz Tonks, told RNZ that “victim-survivors were not hopeful because their experiences of churches is they have not been able to trust them Read more
A court hearing over state-integrated schools being left out of a $396-million funding package for upgrading state school properties has been delayed for several weeks, reports NZ Catholic. The funding package was announced in late 2019 but applied only to state schools. Last year, state-integrated schools’ proprietors filed papers in the High Court seeking a Read more
The distribution of what is being described as a book of extreme propaganda and religious rhetoric is causing concern around the country. The book, National Sunday Law by A Jan Marcussen, is connected with an independent group of the Seventh-Day Adventist Church. It is not endorsed by the New Zealand church. Originally published in 1983, Read more
Pope Francis says his four-day visit to Iraq was a “pilgrimage of peace.” The first Catholic pope to visit Iraq, Francis’s history-making four-day trip began in Baghdad last Friday. His key message stressed peace in Iraq where wars, terrorism and sectarian conflicts have plagued it over several decades. “May there be an end to acts Read more
Masses cancelled, funerals with just ten people, marriages postponed, sacramental programmes delayed, no shared chalice, and a new way to exchange the sign of peace, touchless ashes on Ash Wednesday, no ashes on Ash Wednesday are a few of the now-familiar marks of what has been termed a Liturgical Disruption. Add to them, the lengths Read more
In a new book Pope Francis hints at possible retirement, saying he’ll either be in office or emeritus when he dies. Regardless of whether Francis dies in office or emeritus, he intends staying in Rome and wants to be buried there. He does not want to be buried in Buenos Aires, where he spent most Read more
Oranga Tamariki’s new youth justice bill is getting some hefty opposition from the Archdiocese of Wellington EJP Commission, Challenge 2000 and the Attorney General’s Office. Their submissions challenge the Oranga Tamariki (Youth Justice Demerit Points) Amendment Bill’s proposal that a system of demerit points be assigned by police to young offenders. This system would enable Read more
Ninety-four New Zealand schools – including at least 11 Catholic schools – are at risk of flooding. Niwa says sea level changes could create flooding around school buildings and roads. Then it would be difficult for children to get to and from their classrooms. Infrastructure would be affected. Seawater in pipes would cause school toilets Read more
A newly-released report says a reality of the COVID pandemic’s effect can be seen in soaring poverty rates throughout New Zealand. Rising unemployment and corresponding increases in people relying on government income support is concerning. Then there’s food insecurity, housing insecurity, increasing child poverty, increasing drug use and increasing debt levels. All these issues are Read more