Abortion was one topic New Zealand student Seamus Lohrey quizzed the Pope on during an online forum last Thursday. He was one of 12 students from the Asia-Pacific region who shared young people’s concerns with the Pope during the online “Building Bridges” forum. Organised by Loyola University Chicago, the forum was designed to enable Pope Read more
Global Catholic charity Caritas Internationalis is appealing for help. It needs to raise US$7 million to aid Rohingya refugees. The refugees are victims of conflicts in Myanmar. “We must not forget the Rohingya people or take the support of the Bangladesh Government for granted” says Alistair Dutton, Caritas’s secretary general. Help the most vulnerable Rohingya Read more
What being deemed earthquake-prone means to Wellington’s Catholic marae is a question owners, trustees, occupants and visitors want answered. Trustees say there’s a lack of clarity about the marae building’s earthquake-prone status. Processes and priorities vary throughout the country it seems, with various councils managing engineering inspections and subsequent instructions differently. Under the earthquake-prone building Read more
The Vatican press office says a document it is releasing about the papacy could have far-reaching consequences for relations between Christian churches. They say the hot-off-the-press document will be released sometime today, New Zealand time. The document Entitled “The Bishop of Rome – Primacy and Synodality in Ecumenical Discussions and Responses to the Encyclical Ut Read more
A packed Sacred Heart Cathedral in Wellington reopened on Friday with Archbishop Paul Martin leading a Mass of Thanksgiving. The Cathedral had been closed for six years for earthquake strengthening and extensive renovations and was a significant moment for the local church community. The Mass also marked three days of celebrations. Hope for the future Read more
Some 29 Community Law Canterbury (CLC) staff say they are concerned about the appointment of new chief executive Lawrence Kimberley, a former Anglican priest. CLC provided legal services to many survivors who gave witness statements to the Royal Commission of Inquiry into abuse in faith-based institutions. It also acted for clients in claims against faith-based Read more
Pope Francis has apologised for what has been taken as a vulgar, homophobic slur. He “never intended to offend or express himself in homophobic terms, and he apologises to those who felt offended” says Holy See press office chief Matteo Bruni. The remarks are at odds with the pope’s track record to date. He has Read more
An independent review into Kāinga Ora raises several concerns, says Catholic community housing provider Monte Cecilia. The review – which former Prime Minister Sir Bill English led – found the state housing agency has not been responsibly managing the billions of dollars it is allocated. It’s a very strong critique of Kāinga Ora, says Monte Read more
Pope Francis seems to have changed his mind about female deacons. This week, in a CBS TV interview, he explained that ordaining women has never been on his agenda, but non-ordained female deacons could be. Female diaconate supported In February, one of Francis’ theological advisers, Sr Linda Pocher, said while the Church wasn’t considering women’s Read more
Some planned parish closures and mergers in the US St Louis archdiocese have ground to a halt following appeals and a Vatican directive. Pastoral planning The proposed parish closures and mergers were part of a major archdiocesan pastoral planning initiative. Archbishop Mitchell Rozanski announced the parish closures and mergers a year ago in a plan Read more