A fire that has ripped through well-known Christchurch heritage mansion Antonio Hall overnight is being treated as suspicious. Fire and Emergency New Zealand were called to Antonio Hall on Riccarton Rd after 3.30am and found it ablaze. Antonio Hall is a Category 2 Historic Place and firefighters remain at the site today dampening down hot Read more
New Zealand
End of life equity for assisted dying but not palliative care
Thursday, November 4th, 2021
Providing equity of access for assisted dying without equity of access to palliative care is to completely undermine the goals of the End of Life Choice Act, says Professor Ben Gray. “The choice is distorted towards aid in dying and away from palliative care.” Gray – an associate professor with Otago University’s Department of Primary Read more
Survivors encouraged to come forward
Thursday, November 4th, 2021
The dates for hearing evidence about abuse at Christchurch’s Marylands School, co-located St Joseph’s Orphanage and the Hebron Trust have been announced by the Royal Commission into Abuse in Care. The Commission is encouraging survivors to come forward, as is St John of God survivor, Darryl Smith. Smith says his traumatic story with St John Read more
Caritas joins faith community pilgrims to COP26
Thursday, November 4th, 2021
Global Catholic charity, Caritas, joined other Catholic agencies and faith community pilgrims heading to Glasgow this week. Caritas NZ says the pilgrims are in Glasgow to pray and to press world leaders for strong action at COP26 – the 26th Conference of Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. Religious leaders representing Read more
Destiny Church denies making profit from protest group’s anti-lockdown merchandise
Thursday, November 4th, 2021Destiny Church admits it’s at the centre of the anti-lockdown group organising protests in Auckland and other parts of the country, but denies it’s making money from selling the group’s merchandise. The website for The Freedoms and Rights Coalition (TFRC) doesn’t offer much information about those behind the organisation, often referring to the coalition as Read more
COP26: Boris Johnson’s cows remark puts Kiwi science on global stage
Thursday, November 4th, 2021A tossed off comment from UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson about belching cows has put work by clever Kiwi scientists onto the world stage at COP26. It was a characteristically florid speech from Johnson, who is also the COP26 host. Amid apocalyptic warnings about the cost of inaction on climate change, there was a sweet Read more
Diocese releases new business ethics guide
Monday, November 1st, 2021
The Catholic Diocese of Auckland’s new business ethics guide reflects what the diocese is about, says the diocese’s general manager Mr James van Schie (pictured). Van Schie told NZ Catholic the guide limits the diocese’s business transactions to companies and organisations that share its “commitment to good ethical standards and social responsibility”. We are trying Read more
Report into Bishop Kavanagh’s response to abuse complaints completed
Monday, November 1st, 2021
A draft report has been completed into Bishop John Kavanagh’s response to sexual abuse complaints. It has been alleged that the late Dunedin bishop (pictured) failed to deal properly with complaints of abuse. As an example, the Otago Daily Times (ODT) alleges the transgressions of former Catholic priest, Magnus Murray, who offended against boys in Read more
NZ Catholic bishops’ guide for helping people choosing assisted dying
Monday, November 1st, 2021
New Zealand’s Catholic bishops have written a pastoral statement and a set of guidelines for those working with people choosing assisted dying. Chaplains, priests and other Catholic professionals are being given guidelines and pastoral help to work with people who decide to die under the End of Life Choice Act which takes effect on 7 Read more