Vatican decrees preventing priests from the Sons of the Most Holy Redeemer from exercising ministry in the Christchurch Catholic diocese remain in force. A notice on the Diocese website says a petition to have the Sons’ removal of priestly faculties overturned was denied. However a canon lawyer representing the Sons says, after lodging an appeal Read more
Declining and ageing congregations, crumbling buildings and fewer clergy mean some traditional Christian churches are reaching a crisis point. Earthquake-prone churches are common and so are smaller congregations. Declining attendance The most recent data on religious affiliation from the 2018 census shows 48.2 percent of us have no religion. The “nones” group is growing: the Read more
In a historic moment for New Zealand’s Māori, a 27-year-old and the youngest child of Kīngi Tūheitia, Ngā Wai hono I te pō, has been anointed as the new Māori Queen and leader of the Kīngitanga movement. Ngā Wai hono i te pō becomes the eighth Māori monarch, continuing a direct lineage from the first Read more
A Dunedin secondary school teacher has an alter ego that comes out to rock once the students have gone home. Trinity Catholic College’s Sophie Whibley is teaching a range of subjects this year — religious studies, drama, maths and integrated studies. However, when the last of the students file out of the classroom, she heads Read more
New Zealand’s End of Life Choice Act is deficient and the assisted dying law needs to be changed says Dr John Kleinsman from the Nathaniel Centre for Bioethics. His comments come as the Ministry of Health is conducting a mandated review of the End of Life Choice Act within three years of its implementation to Read more
New Zealand’s multicultural, multi-religious, multi-ethnic society is worth celebrating with a Te Tiriti-based public holiday says Multicultural New Zealand (MNZ) president Pancha Narayanan. We’re a multicultural nation At present, 28 percent of us identify as coming from a non-European migrant background Narayanan says. A 2021 MNZ initiative has already seen Multicultural Councils across the country Read more
Hamilton bishop Richard Laurenson expressed his sadness over the passing of King Tuheitia. On behalf of the Catholic bishops of Aotearoa, New Zealand, Laurenson extended his sympathies to the king’s family and assured the family of the bishops’ prayers for the repose of the King’s soul. Kingi Tuheitia became Māori King 18 years ago, and Read more
Christchurch’s internationally significant Transitional Cathedral will not be sold to fund reinstatement of the main Anglican cathedral. Architects are celebrating after Anglican bishop Peter Carrell confirmed the church will use the cardboard cathedral “for the foreseeable future”. “You can make the argument that the cardboard cathedral is one of the … most significant buildings in Read more
The Muslim community is being targeted by a pamphlet’s malicious misinformation, says the Federation of Islamic Associations of New Zealand (FIANZ). The pamphlet claims Wellington City Council wants mosques to broadcast the Islamic Call To Prayer throughout the city. The Better Wellington campaign group behind the pamphlet expected 80,000 of them to be delivered this Read more