The New Zealand Catholic Bishops’ Conference has come out in support of Pope Francis, who has widely quoted recently as supporting same-sex civil unions. Civil unions for same-sex couples have been available in Aotearoa New Zealand since 26 April 2005. Bishop Patrick Dunn, Bishop of Auckland and President of the NZ Catholic Bishops’ Conference has Read more
This week the South Dunedin St Vincent de Paul Shop put no limit on what people can take. “No one has gone over the top, they only took what they need”, St Vincent de Paul area president, Lynlea Forbes told CathNews. “The generosity of people abounds”, she said. Forbes told CathNews that because it is Read more
A man living in the same Vatican residence as Pope Francis has returned a COVID-positive test. The Vatican says those with whom the symptomless man had direct contact are in quarantine, as is he. The man is the first to test COVID-positive at the Santa Marta residence – which has about 130 rooms and suites Read more
A $220 million increase in funds for free school lunches looks set to divide communities, with some schools joining the scheme while nearby schools miss out. About 640 schools have been invited to join the scheme next year. At present 221 schools are benefiting from the scheme. Sixty are in the pilot regions of the Read more
Pope Francis’ repeated non-use of a face mask is again in focus as Four Swiss Guards test positive for COVID-19. The four are in isolation while their contacts are being traced, the Vatican said Monday. The Swiss Guards provide ceremonial guard duty during papal Masses, man the Vatican gates and help protect the 83-year-old Pope Read more
Concern is mounting that people voting in the euthanasia referendum may not realise what they are voting for. In an interview on Magic Talk on Monday National Party Leader, Judith Collins, seemed to blur the line between managing pain and a deliberate choice for a person to end their life. Asked how she reconciled her Read more
Aotearoa New Zealand’s Catholic bishops are seeking an artist to create artwork commemorating Bishop Jean-Baptiste Pompallier’s 1838 dedication of the country to Mary the Mother of Jesus. The bishops’ National Liturgy Office has begun advertising for an artist who will create a work incorporating Mary for a special commemoration next August 15, the Feast Day Read more
Andrew Murray is the new principal of St Mary’s College in Thorndon, Wellington. He is the first man appointed to the role in the 170-year history of the Catholic girls’ secondary school. Murray, pictured above with his wife Benita and their daughter Charlotte, will start his new role at St Mary’s at the beginning of Read more
A cardinal sacked by Pope Francis says he is “devastated,” he did not commit any crimes and has had no communication with the Vatican magistrates. Cardinal Angelo Becciu called his downfall “surreal.” Becciu, former ‘substitute’ (No 2) at the Vatican’s Secretariat of State and until Friday, prefect for the Congregation for the Causes of the Read more
Parishes risk reducing sacramental acts to commodities when they bow to pressure to rush through First Communion and Confirmation ceremonies. “Some efforts, often well intentioned, run the risk of reducing the administration of sacramental acts almost to the level of a supermarket in which you can drop in and ‘get the sacrament done.’ “This would Read more