Last month, Dr John Owens, a lecturer at Good Shepherd Theological College in Auckland, spoke at an Auckland University conference entitled Is Religion Really Bad for Science? Reflections on Dawkins and Other New Atheists. Owens’ topic was metaphysics, and he compared the approach of Dawkins on fundamental questions of reality with the approach of Aristotle. He said Read more
An immigration advisor has accused Immigration New Zealand of discriminating against Indian students. Arunima Dhingra says there has been a tightening up which has not been acknowledged. 14 per cent of Indian applicants for the employer-assisted work visa were rejected last year compared to 4 per cent for Chinese applicants. In the essential skills work visa category, Read more
The three strikes law will be repealed in two weeks, Newshub can reveal – and Justice Minister will also push for sentences shorter than two years to be served as home detention. This comes after Newshub Nation obtained a dossier of documents that gives the biggest insight yet into radical plans to overhaul the justice Read more
New Zealand representative at the pre-synod meeting Isabella McCafferty from Wellington said she was struck by “the uniqueness of the opportunity”. “For the first time, the Pope had called a meeting of young people from all over the world in Rome to talk about what really matters to us and how the Church can accompany Read more
Teenagers wanting to have a civil union or de facto relationship will soon require approval from a judge. Parliament is considering a bill in the name of National MP Joanne Hayes which is designed to protect 16 and 17 year-olds from forced marriage in New Zealand. Continue reading
National Party leader Simon Bridges says he would be “loath” to take abortion out of the Crimes Act. On Monday, Jack Tame on TVNZ and Susie Ferguson on Morning report challenged his position. Bridges said his position on abortions was that they should be “rare, safe, legal” – with an emphasis on rare. He said Read more
A former member of parliament and cabinet minister is asking whether any Government has the moral fortitude to do anything serious about reducing our growing rate of imprisonment. Peter Dunne says that for at least the last 30 years it has been virtually impossible to have a rational political debate about law and order. And he says that, Read more
70-year-old Brother Denis O’Brien was farewelled from Ōtaki last weekend. He has been there only for a short time but now he is off on a mission to Thailand. He is planning to stay in Thailand for two years and then he will come back to New Zealand. O’Brien celebrates his 50th Jubilee of Marist Religious Read more
Marie Skidmore, Marcienne Waite and Liz Hickey have known each other for 60 years as members of a Catholic Josephite order. They share their possessions in common. Since the early 1970s they haven’t worn a black and white habit, but what drives them is unchanged. Read more
Parliament has extended the period for submissions on a euthanasia bill by six months, till March next year. “The committee could not have done the submitters justice if we had refused to travel or hear everyone who asked to be heard. It was therefore essential we had the six-month extension to allow us to give Read more