Abortion was one topic New Zealand student Seamus Lohrey quizzed the Pope on during an online forum last Thursday. – Originally reported 24 June 2024 He was one of 12 students from the Asia-Pacific region who shared young people’s concerns with the Pope during the online “Building Bridges” forum. Organised by Loyola University Chicago, the Read more
The Catholic Church in New Zealand has pledged to implement the recommendations of the Royal Commission of Inquiry into Historical Abuse in State Care and Faith-based Institutions. – Originally reported 30 September 2024 On 27 September, in the most detailed statement to date from any Church or the State, Catholic Church leaders expressed deep regret Read more
A woman who allegedly had separate sexual relationships with two Catholic clergy – a bishop and a priest – wants both men laicised. The two men are Bishop Charles Drennan, who resigned as Bishop of Palmerston North in 2019 but remains a priest and still holds the title of bishop, and Fr Larry Rustia who, Read more
Controversial Catholic sect Sons of the Most Holy Redeemer seems to be expanding rather than going away. Earlier this year following Vatican advice, Bishop Michael Gielen instructed the Sons (aka Transalpine Redemptorists) to leave the Christchurch Catholic diocese. That order was later rescinded but others were not. They may not, however, celebrate Mass or conduct Read more
Catholic Church leaders in Palmerston North have urged a District Court judge to take an empathetic approach to sentencing Tony MacDonald, who set fire to the Cathedral of the Holy Spirit in April 2023. MacDonald had been in prison since May 2023. He appeared in the Palmerston North District Court on Wednesday charged with arson. He Read more
New Zealand’s Jewish community has seen an increase in anti-Semitic incidents during the past 13 months, including death threats, and abusive behaviour. In a new report provided to the Herald by the New Zealand Jewish Council, figures showed in the 12 months from October 7, 2023, there were 227 recorded anti-Semitic incidents – a jump Read more
Groups will be able to go inside the quake-damaged Christ Church Cathedral this Christmas – and there will be a massive surprise waiting inside for them. Visitors will be greeted by a 10m steel City Mission Christmas tree which has been placed inside the cathedral for the ‘Twelve Days of Christmas’ event. Bookings will be Read more
Caritas Aotearoa New Zealand is joining others from the Catholic Church’s international aid agency’s call for climate debt to be erased in vulnerable Pacific countries. Some are struggling to pay for basic social costs due to crippling debt repayment, Caritas says. Caritas spokesperson Tony Sutorius says worsening cyclones and flooding have created severe financial burdens. Read more
Death is all around us really – but what to do when we’re responsible for what happens after a loved one dies often leaves us lost. What do we do? After experiencing exactly that sense of confusion having lost their spouses, a group of Palmerston North women created a free-of-charge practical guide to help others Read more
Lyn Tankersley says homeless people in Masterton will soon have a safe place to sleep. To that end, accommodation for 13 is being fashioned from a once-derelict hall near central Masterton and is being transformed into “a haven of hope”. “My father was a Presbyterian minister. My mother was a Presbyterian minister’s daughter. The motto Read more