Short answer – anything up to a fortnight’s supplies is fine. Anything beyond that leads you into a moral minefield. Read more
New Zealand
Calls to change ‘outdated’ adoption law in New Zealand
Monday, March 23rd, 2020There are renewed calls to change New Zealand’s “outdated” adoption law which has been described as “discriminatory and not fit for purpose”. The Adoption Act – which has not been updated since 1955, has been criticised by the Human Rights Commission, which wants to make the adoption process more accessible for people and relevant to Read more
All public Masses suspended
Sunday, March 22nd, 2020
New Zealand’s Catholic Bishops have announced the suspension of all celebrations of Mass until further notice. The move come in response to the strong Government restrictions on public gatherings to counter the Covid-19 coronavirus pandemic. Bishop of Auckland Patrick Dunn, President of the NZ Catholic Bishops Conference, said the bishops met this morning to carefully Read more
Abortion law change does not change hearts and minds
Sunday, March 22nd, 2020
The New Zealand Parliament has passed legislation which has removed abortion from the Crimes Act. It also removes the legal test for the procedure up until 20 weeks. The New Zealand Catholic Bishops are deeply disappointed with the abortion law changes. “This Bill totally ignores the fact that there are always at least two human Read more
Lay led video Sunday reflection launches in NZ
Sunday, March 22nd, 2020
Pray Today NZ, a service of the Word using the Sunday readings began on the Internet in New Zealand yesterday. The lay-fronted reflection is designed for use on social media and is very ‘home-grown’ and ‘raw’. Work on the initiative ‘Pray Today NZ‘ began early last week, however, the decision to record and release the Read more
It’s OK to be politically incorrect about religion
Friday, March 20th, 2020
Religion as a whole is “ruthlessly mocked” in the musical comedy The Book of Mormon which has begun playing in Auckland. Richard Hunter, communications director for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints in the Pacific region has questioned why Mormons were frequently the butt of jokes about religious groups. “The opportunity for the Read more
Sister Catherine Hannan RIP
Thursday, March 19th, 2020Sister Catherine Hannan, a well-known Sister of Compassion, passed away last Friday after a short illness. Her funeral took place at the Sisters’ motherhouse in Island Bay on Monday. In the New Year Honours List, she had been awarded the Queen’s Service Medal for services to the community. Read more in NZ Catholic
Shaping the Mission conference postponed because of Covid-19
Thursday, March 19th, 2020The Takirua 2020: Shaping the Mission conference planned for Wellington from 24 to 26 April has been postponed till later this year because of uncertainties caused by the Covid-19 coronavirus pandemic. The decision to postpone has been made before setting a new date, to provide clarity and certainty for people around the April dates in the face Read more
Virus causes cancellation of Sunday Mass
Wednesday, March 18th, 2020
With Sunday Mass suspended at least one venue more suspensions are likely to follow as the Catholic Church responds to the coronavirus. The dean of St Patrick’s Cathedral in Auckland, Father Peter Tipene has already announced that he is suspending all Sunday Masses. He says the 7 am and 12.15 pm weekday Masses will continue Read more
Masses continue: parishioner with Covid-19 presented minimal risk
Monday, March 16th, 2020
On Saturday The Catholic Bishop of Auckland, Bishop Patrick Dunn, confirmed he had been advised that a parishioner at St Mary’s Church in Papakura was diagnosed with the Covid-19 coronavirus. Dunn said the 5 pm Vigil Mass at St Mary’s on Saturday and the 8.30 am and 10.30 am Masses on Sunday would go ahead Read more