In a “very rare” ruling, the Catholic Church has found a nun guilty of sexually abusing a child in her care. Following an inquiry, the Catholic Church has ruled Mother Lucia guilty of historic sexual and physical abuse against a Christchurch schoolboy “on the balance of probabilities”. The prioress died in 1997, aged 90. Continue reading
New Zealand
Hato Petera College – Waitangi Tribunal submission questions land use
Thursday, June 29th, 2017
The Waitangi Tribunal has been told that if a Crown land grant had been used as it was intended Hato Petera College would not be facing closure. Hato Petera College stands on a portion of the of the Crown Grant of 376 acres given to the Catholic Church in Auckland’s North Shore in 1850 for Read more
College students’ youth justice report catches Children’s Commissioner’s eye
Thursday, June 29th, 2017
Students from St Thomas of Canterbury College in Christchurch have written a report that has caught the attention of the Commissioner for Children, Judge Andrew Becroft. The report, released at the Nga Hau E Wha National marae on Wednesday, looked at how those aged between 10 and 16 are faring when they fall foul of Read more
ACT’s euthanasia bill ‘dangerous’ – professor
Thursday, June 29th, 2017ACT’s euthanasia bill is dangerous a Welsh professor of palliative medicine and cross-bench member of the House of Lords says. Ilora Finlay has arrived in New Zealand to challenge David Seymour’s End of Life Choice Bill. Finlay said that going by what had happened in Oregon and Belgium, the legalisation of assisted suicide in New Read more
Cathedral Café serves breakfast made with love
Thursday, June 29th, 2017While the promise of a hearty breakfast for unbeatable value is enough to tempt anyone’s taste buds, the volunteer-driven Community Café at the Taranaki Cathedral Church of St Mary’s also serves up morning meals made with love. Everyone is invited to dine at the Café from 7.30 to 10am every Tuesday for a suggested one dollar donation Read more
Off-road pastor gets round disaster to deliver donations in Clarence
Thursday, June 29th, 2017A devoted church group with a fondness for four-wheel-driving is delivering donations to families still isolated by the 7.8-magnitude Kaikoura earthquake. The intrepid group from Blenheim’s Elim Church meet regularly to go out in their trucks to places out of reach to more conventional vehicles. The kind-hearted crew have decided to combine the best of both Read more
Church again promoting controversial healing oil… with disclaimers
Monday, June 26th, 2017
Three branches of the Universal Church of the Kingdom of God (UCKG) recently held events in Auckland where vials of olive oil in crucifix-shaped bottles were gifted, not sold, to churchgoers. The church’s bishop, Victor Silva who is currently in Fiji, said via email that the UCKG believed God could heal people. “We – like Read more
Sonny Bill Williams says fasting helps mind and body
Monday, June 26th, 2017
Sonny Bill Williams had only a small meal of grilled fish and steamed vegetables, and drank a glass or two of water, before he took to the field for the first test match between the British and Irish Lions and the All Blacks. The had the meal just after the sunset at 5.10pm. As a Read more
Government disputes Unicef report on child welfare
Monday, June 26th, 2017Ministers have disputed New Zealand’s shameful ranking near the bottom of a recently released child welfare report. The Unicef – Innocenti study ranked New Zealand 34th out of 41 OECD countries. A core reason for this was our adolescent suicide rates, the highest in the world, and high rates of teen pregnancy, baby mortality and Read more
Easter Trading: 71 per cent of Hamilton submitters say no
Monday, June 26th, 2017The prospect of retail tills ringing on Easter Sunday has Hamiltonians arguing the relative merits of convenience, commercialism, and Christianity. Hamilton City Council’s suggestion was for retailers to choose whether to open while employees would be able to turn down the work. But of 225 submitters, 71 per cent said no to the idea. Many Read more