Cardinal John Dew preached a message of religious tolerance, inclusion and acceptance when giving the homily on Waitangi Day. Dew, the Archbishop of Wellington, urged New Zealanders to recommit to protecting the beliefs of followers of all religions and of non-religious people. Preaching at the interdenominational church service at Waitangi on Thursday, Dew recalled the Read more
The National Centre for Religious Studies has produced a new framing document for Catholic Schools and the wider Aotearoa Catholic community on human sexuality education. The document is titled He Anga Whakamārama – Te Mātauranga Hōkakatanga: He puka ārahi mā ngā hapori Katorika o Aotearoa (Framing Document – Human Sexuality Education: A guide for Catholic Read more
Integrated schools are considering legal action against the Government after being left out of the $396 million funding package announced at the weekend to upgrade state school properties. Education Minister Chris Hipkins says state-integrated schools funding will go up as a result of an investment and he isn’t worried about potential court action. Association of Read more
In Samoa, fifty-three people are now dead, after having contracted measles. More than 3000 people have now been infected with the disease and doctors say the death toll is likely to rise. George Fa’alogo, Caritas Aotearoa New Zealand’s (CANZ) humanitarian coordinator, is in close contact with Caritas Samoa. He says, “We’re at a loss to Read more
Caritas New Zealand is shocked and deeply saddened to learn a convicted child abuser Luk Delft, (pictured), a Belgian Salesian priest, was appointed as the Country Director for Caritas Central African Republic (CAR). Caritas NZ has written to Caritas Internationalis expressing its deep concerns and asking how this was able to happen. “We have sought Read more
Mrs Rangi Davis has resigned her membership of Te Rōpū Tautoko, the Catholic Church group created to liaise with the Royal Commission of Inquiry into Historical Abuse in State Care and in the Care of Faith-based Institutions. Mrs Davis was newly appointed following the resignation of Bishop Charles Drennan last month. The chair of Te Read more
Hundreds of people have been identified by police as not having a drivers’ licence while attending church services in South Auckland. They have been offering the unlicensed drivers free courses instead of giving them tickets. Police say the campaign is necessary in order to reduce offending rates. More than a quarter of all court proceedings Read more
Pā Karaitiana Kingi, Marist priest, celebrated his 50th jubilee at Takitimu Marae Wairoa on Saturday 16th November. The venue was appropriate as Kingi was ordained at this marae by Bishop Snedden. It was the first time a Māori priest had been ordained on a marae. Various priests, religious Sisters and Brothers joined Fr Karaitiana and Read more
Next year New Zealanders will vote in a referendum on whether euthanasia should be legalised after a long-fought bill passed 69 to 51 in parliament on Wednesday. If endorsed by the public in a referendum the new law will allow those who are terminally ill to request assisted dying. Earlier in the day Stuff published an opinion Read more
The executive director of the Maori Council, Matthew Tukaki, has written to Pope Francis, calling for “an accounting of the trauma” the Vatican has caused and a repudiation of the doctrine of discovery. While not addressing the colonisation of Aotearoa specifically, popes have on several occasions repudiated and apologised for the doctrine of discovery going Read more