Waiariki MP Tamati Coffey supports a review of New Zealand’s abortion laws while National MP Todd McClay said he would seek views from the Rotorua electorate before casting his vote. Continue reading.
New Zealand
Basketball drops church-goer
Thursday, July 12th, 2018
An under-17s basketball team has dropped one of his members because he put Sunday morning church ahead of his sport, his family says. Mosiah MacDonald had expected to be at the national basketball championships in Wellington this week. Instead his Manawatu basketball teammates are playing without him. The 15-year-old says his team dropped him because Read more
Musician Fr Chris Skinner tours Dunedin diocese
Thursday, July 12th, 2018
At the beginning of July, well-known musician Fr Chris Skinner completed a tour of the Dunedin diocese using his music to teach people about the liturgy. The tour began on Monday 2 July in Queenstown. Children from St Joseph’s School Queenstown sang, listened and learned the actions for Chris’ music. His sense of fun and real Read more
MPs condemn support for Hezbollah
Thursday, July 12th, 2018
Two opposition MPs have visited an Auckland mosque to protest against the mosque’s public support of Hezbollah. Members of the Islamic Ahlulbayt Foundation’s Pakuranga mosque demonstrated in Aotea Square in support of the Lebanon group. Chris Finlayson and Pakuranga MP Simeon Brown told mosque members of their concern at the support. Mr Finlayson says Hezbollah Read more
Trust in churches continues to decline
Monday, July 9th, 2018
A recent survey suggests that, in the last 2 years, New Zealanders’ trust in churches has continued to decline. The same survey shows that the perceived change in personal trust in churches in the same period to be greater than the participants’ answers actually indicate. The results indicate a score of 7 for reduced net trust. The Read more
Religious worker visas are being used to exploit migrant workers
Monday, July 9th, 2018
Newsroom reports that last year three priests laid a complaint with the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE) about the way a North Island organisation is using the Religious Worker Category (RWC) visa. The priests allege some religious organisations are using RWC visas to bring migrants to New Zealand for ulterior motives. The allegations are contained in Read more
Pacific voices heard at Vatican Climate Change Conference
Monday, July 9th, 2018
New Zealanders and people from Pacific Island nations were among representatives from all over the world attending the International Conference “Saving our Common Home and the Future of Life on Earth” at the Vatican July 5-6 to commemorate Pope Francis’s encyclical on the Care of Creation. The conference was attended by faith leaders, youth activists, Read more
Evangelical activities not welcome at lakefront park in Taupō
Monday, July 9th, 2018Loud” and “raucous” evangelical activities are not suitable for a highly visible Taupō lakefront park, councillors say. A “Winning Souls to Jesus” programme run by the New Methodist Christian Fellowship requested a licence to occupy Northcroft Domain for five months. Continue reading
Euthanasia: Doctor says let MPs or mayors end lives
Monday, July 9th, 2018A senior doctor has written to Parliament suggesting that MPs and mayors could carry out euthanasia since doctors are ethically barred. Dr Ross Boswell, a chemical pathologist and former chair of the New Zealand Medical Association which represents doctors, is among 35,000 submitters to the Justice select committee on David Seymour’s End of Life Choice Read more
Ringatu faith commemorates 150 years
Monday, July 9th, 2018Next week marks the 150th anniversary of the founding of the Maori religious movement by the prophet Te Kooti Arikirangi Te Turuki in 1868. A special commemoration day, a ‘Ra Whakamaumahara’ of Te Haahi Ringatu will be held on Tuesday at Rangiwaho Marae just south of Gisborne near the area commonly known as Bartletts. Read Read more