A new wave of posters and stickers promoting a recently-launched white nationalist group have been spotted at Auckland university this week. A spokesperson for the university has described the group’s views as abhorrent but said they are protected by freedom of speech. Read more
New Zealand
Here’s real climate action: Cancel Christmas and…
Monday, September 30th, 2019
Columnist Duncan Garner is suggesting that one way of contributing to slowing climate change is to give up celebrating Christmas. “Christmas is killing us. Mad consumerism, rubbish by the planet load and dirty air travel that dumps pollution on us like no other industry. So no presents. No holidays. Just stay home and plan the future.” Read more
How many Catholics are there in New Zealand?
Monday, September 30th, 2019
Statistics NZ has released some data on religious affiliations from the 2018 Census. They have conceded that one in six people did not complete the census, which was run online for the first time. The data, therefore, may be understated. The raw data is somewhat confusing for those who are not versed in the art of Read more
Churches’ commitment to waiving confidentiality agreements questioned
Monday, September 30th, 2019
Advocates on behalf of people abused in church institutions say the churches are complicating the process of waiving confidentiality agreements RNZ asked the president of the New Zealand Catholic Bishops Conference, Bishop Patrick Dunn, whether bishops had shown a “lack of moral authority by not publicly repudiating the clauses and whether they had stepped up Read more
Caritas launching 2019 Oceania environment report
Monday, September 30th, 2019This week, Caritas Director Julianne Hickey will launch their 2019 report: State of the Environment for Oceania: Seeds of Hope. On Thursday, 3 October at 7 pm: there will be the launch of the report at St Mary’s Catholic Church, Papakura, followed by Liturgy for the eve of St Francis Day. The next day, Friday, Read more
First names and beanbags for prison inmates
Monday, September 30th, 2019Prisoners are called by their first name and there are beanbags instead of tables in the visitors’ room. There’s a change in the air at Waikeria Prison, with the feeling that a switch has been turned on the way the Department of Corrections facility is traditionally run. Read more
Get artistic and creative to show support for migrants and refugees
Monday, September 30th, 2019Calling us to create a ‘culture of encounter,’ Pope Francis asks us to reach out with open arms to migrants and refugees around the world and in our communities. In 2017, the Pontiff launched Caritas’ Share the Journey (STJ) international campaign from St Peter’s Square in Rome. Last Sunday marked the launch of a key Read more
More non-believers that Christians in New Zealand
Thursday, September 26th, 2019
The number of people identifying with Christianity has dropped dramatically from 47.65 per cent in the 2013 census to 37.31 per cent in the latest one. The data from last year’s census, released this week, shows that 48.59 per cent of New Zealanders indicated ‘no religion’ in 2018, up from 41.92 per cent in the Read more
Fertility rate threatening NZ’s economic growth
Thursday, September 26th, 2019
New Zealand’s total fertility rate has reached an all-time low. An average of 1.71 children per woman in New Zealand is well below population replacement level and threatens economic growth and the country’s social balance and structure. Population replacement and growth is only coming by way of immigration. The claims come in “Families: Ever Fewer Read more
Embryos and fetuses are genetically unique human lives
Thursday, September 26th, 2019
Catholics believe that embryos and fetuses are entitled to a place in the human family. They are, therefore, to be treated with the same respect as persons whatever their stage of development. This was was the issue highlighted in an oral submission made on to the abortion legislation select committee of the New Zealand parliament. Read more