A Close Up item based on a Catholic school newsletter objecting to gay marriage has been found to be unfair and inaccurate by the Broadcasting Standards Authority (BSA). A complaint from Pompallier Catholic College in Whangarei about the televised item was upheld in a decision released this week. Close Up, which no longer screens on Read more
47 years after Jill Baird taught her first class, she says “it is time” to retire. “I have been doing this a long time . . . I did my first year’s teaching in 1965,” she said. On Friday Ms Baird finished her nine-and-a-half-year stint as the principal of three Southland Catholic primary schools at Read more
Cardinal Oscar Rodrigues Maradiaga, the archbishop of Tegucigalpa in Honduras, who is the Chair of the group of eight advisors, is to visit New Zealand next week shortly after their first landmark meeting concludes on Thursday, (Rome Time). The eight Cardinals, appointed by Pope Francis, who come from around the world will be looking to reshape the current Read more
Experienced educationalist Brendan Schollum, a former principal at Sacred Heart College in Auckland and the foundation principal at Aquinas College, Tauranga, is to travel to the Solomons in late September to work with and advise the archdiocese of Honiara’s education office. The education secretary for the archdiocese of Honiara, Cypriano Nuake, was in New Zealand Read more
“While the decision by Labour MP Maryan Street to withdraw her Euthanasia Bill from the Members Ballot today is welcomed, we understand that it arises from purely political motives – a wish to avoid a controversial debate in an election year – rather than out of concern for the dangerous social consequences of such a Read more
Fiji’s Prime Minister, Commodore Voreqe Bainimarama, has told religious leaders that they have a special responsibility not to spread misinformation and must uphold that responsibility. He was reacting to a comment made by the Catholic Archbishop of Suva, Peter Chong, which, he said, “clearly had the potential to inflame public opinion.” Bainimarama said that it Read more
In the race to be Auckland’s next mayor Rev Uesifili Unasa is asking voters to embrace the city’s diversity. He told Pacific Scoop his message to voters is to use the mayoral race as an opportunity to think differently about Auckland’s multiculturalism, and to “unite our differences”. He says he stands as an independent mayoral Read more
As reported by CathNews last week, Pope Francis is now the proud owner of a 1984 Renault 4. Donated by a priest in northern Italy who used it to visit poor parishioners, Associated Press reports he is going to use the 30 year old, manual shift, four-door car, with 300,000 kms on the clock, painted Read more
Home of Compassion Soup Kitchen manager Nance Thomson reacted positively to the news the Government is moving to allow supermarkets and restaurants to be more able to donate perishable food. “Our guests will benefit significantly from the change in law”, she told CathNews. “Our chefs are very creative but will welcome the opportunity to offer Read more
It is widely known that the newly elected Prime Minster of Australia is a Catholic who spent some time in a seminary and is some times called the “Mad Monk” – at least by those who wish to denigrate him. It is less well-known that his wife, Margaret is also a Catholic who was born Read more