The biggest pokie charity in the country has accused the Anglican Church of hypocrisy and leadership failure and is rejecting a funding application by the Christchurch Cathedral because one Anglican organisation has spoken out against gaming machines. Pub Charity chief executive Martin Cheer said a submission by an Anglican body seeking Pokie reform was a Read more
Pharmac wants to know: Should young people be able to jump queues for costly drugs at the expense of older people who’ve already had a long life? Are poor people more deserving of help than rich people”? The proposals are among a raft of provocative questions being asked by Pharmac as it conducts a consultation Read more
Caritas Director Julianne Hickey says the generosity of New Zealanders will bring joy to the hearts of many, as this year’s Lenten Appeal tops one million dollars for the first time. The Appeal is run by Caritas on behalf of New Zealand’s Catholic Bishops to support the Church’s work of promoting social justice and full Read more
Kelston Intermediate principal Phil Gordon says the prayers (karakia) said at his school are “not a religious thing but a cultural thing.” Prime Minister, John Key says teachers in schools should be able to opt-out of delivering a karakia in schools if they wanted to. Maori Affairs Minster, Pita Sharples. says because there are a lot of Read more
For the the past three years, on the 4th Sunday of each month, Fr. Michael Mahoney, the parish priest of South Westland, makes the 750km round trip to Queenstown to celebrate Mass using the Portuguese language, for Brazilian people living and working there. After mass there is a social pot-luck meal. There are more than two thousand Brazilians working and living Read more
At his ordination on Saturday Archbishop Peter Loy Chong made a plea for unity and tolerance. “For on this day I will humbly serve you as Archbishop of the Archdiocese of Suva, and through his (God’s) light gather people of all races. “In this ordination I urge you all to put aside racial, religious, political barriers Read more
The Vatican has appointed New Zealander Father Peter Brown, as Bishop of Samoa Pago Pago. Bishop elect Brown is a member Congregation of the Most Holy Redeemer (Redemptorists – C.Ss.R). After being professed as a Redemptorist in 1979 Fr Peter’s first appointment was to their newly established mission in Samoa. In the community with him were Read more
On Sunday June 2 at 5pm, in Rome, Pope Francis will be presiding over a holy hour in St Peter’s, and the invitation has gone out for Catholics all over the world to join him in prayer. For Kiwis, it is a big call because 5pm Sunday in Rome translates in to 3am Monday June 3 in New Zealand. Read more
The NZ Apostleship of the Sea (AoS), the Catholic organisation serving visiting seafarers and fishers in NZ ports, held its AGM at the Pa Maria Retreat and Spirituality Centre in Wellington at the weekend. The organisation is reported to be “ship-shape” with sound management and financial reports as well as a boost to volunteer numbers. Read more
“God willing they’re going to learn from it,” is the reaction of St Bede’s College, rector, Justin Boyle to four year 10 boys who have been stood down for cyber-bullying. Boyle said cyber-bullying is even more insidious because the younger generation is on the whole far more adept in their use of technology than parents Read more