Muslim leaders have reported a spike in racial abuse aimed mostly at women and children, many walking to and from school. In his address on Wednesday the Prime Minister of New Zealand, John Key, stressed that of those few individuals on a security watch list none are representative of New Zealand’s Muslim community as a Read more
A decision by the Environment Court confirming its ruling against the proposed demolition of the Harcourt’s building in Lambton Quay in Wellington is bad news for St Mary of the Angels Parish. Developer Mark Dunajtschik had offered to donate $5 million towards the restoration of St Mary of the Angels Church if he got consent Read more
Mother-of-two Mandy pays $375 a week for the one-bedroom caravan park cabin she shares with her two children aged 10 and 12. They moved to Western Park Village in Ranui, west Auckland, at Christmas as a last resort. “I hate it here,” she said. “I want to move out, I want my own place. There’s Read more
Fifty New Zealand charities made a total of NZ$1billion over and above what they spent in the last financial year. A report on TVNZ’s Seven Sharp drew an analogy with the game of Monopoly, and placed some churches in the top “Park Lane” category. These included the Salvation Army with a surplus of $24 million, Read more
Archbishop John Dew says the discussion at and after the synod on the family is ultimately about people’s lives and it is clear that people are hurting. In a summary statement on the synod, Archbishop Dew said “if the Church is to be a mother that consoles, encourages, reaches out, supports it must listen to what Read more
The final report from the synod on the family has narrowed down aspects of a “welcoming” preliminary report, especially concerning gay people. The preliminary report, issued half way through the synod, asked if the Church community was welcoming to gay people. It noted that gay people have “gifts and qualities to offer to the Christian Read more
Archbishop John Dew has contrasted the freedom of speech prevailing at the synod on the family with the atmosphere at a past synod. The Archbishop of Wellington told Vatican Radio that what is happening is very different from a synod on the Eucharist nine years ago. “ . . . I talked [then] about the possibility Read more
Pope Francis has stated that the Church “must not withdraw into dogma” and should recognise that “the world has changed”. In an interview with Argentine newspaper La Nacion, Francis indicated that he wanted clergy to be less judgmental and more understanding of those living outside Catholic norms. He told the newspaper: “The world has changed Read more
On Wednesday 24th September 154 pupils and 40 staff left St Bede’s College in Christchurch New Zealand on the start of the “Run For A Life” CanTeen fundraiser. When they crossed the finishing line last week each of them had run the equivalent of a half marathon each day for the past five days. Their Read more
A group of friends from South Auckland’s McAuley High School are using poetry to make sure their voices are heard loud and clear. “When you put yourself on stage, you’re putting yourself in a very vulnerable state,” says Annonica Mavaega, 16. “Anyone can just stand up and say: ‘Be quiet!’ They can mock you. “But Read more