The Human Rights Commission and members of the Secular Education Network have applied to join court action against religion in state schools. A case is being taken by Jeff McClintock against Red Beach School. He laid a complaint with the commission several years ago after his daughter was put in a corner when she opted Read more
Kiwi actor Cliff Curtis has described playing the role of Jesus in a new film as a very special experience. Curtis plays Jesus in the film “Risen”, which opened in New Zealand last week. The Kiwi actor was raised as a Catholic, but lapsed in his teens. “It’s a role I have jokingly always wanted,” Read more
Secondary Principals’ Association president Sandy Pasley has expressed concern over potential liability for principals under a new health and safety law. Mrs Pasley, who heads Auckland’s Baradene College, said schools were screaming out for advice over the Health and Safety at Work Act, which comes into force next month. Principals could be fined up to Read more
An atheist teacher who claimed he was fired for refusing to pray at school events has failed in his latest legal bid. Christopher Scott Roy, a former head of the art department at Auckland’s Tamaki College, took the school to the Employment Court. This was over a claim he was constructively dismissed because he is an Read more
Passports of the Sovereign Military Order of Malta, a Catholic organisation with diplomatic relations with 106 states, are not recognised by New Zealand. According to a Mail Online article, the Sovereign Military Order of Malta diplomatic passport is one of the rarest in the world, with only a few hundred issued at any given time. Read more
Wellington archdiocese’s departments are being re-organised to be better aligned to Cardinal John Dew’s priorities for the archdiocese. In a letter to parish priests and other parish bodies dated March 3, Cardinal Dew wrote about a consultation process with archdiocese departments last year. This has resulted in renaming departments as vicariates, so as to better Read more
One of New Zealand’s worst child sex offenders once got a job at a King Country school as a result of an alleged reference from a Catholic school. Robert Selwyn Burrett, 64, pleaded guilty to 21 child sex abuse charges last month. His 40-year career in New Zealand’s education system came to an end last Read more
A Rotorua Catholic school has had to cut back on teacher training after its decile rating was raised early last year. St Michael’s Catholic School lost $15,000 in funding annually as a result of its being changed from decile three to decile four. It was one of many schools hit by a decile review starting Read more
In a farewell message, the outgoing head of the New Zealand Catholic Education Office has said he is pleased integrated schools are not a political football. Br Sir Patrick Lynch said the integrated school system “is a New Zealand invention that suits our needs and what it more, it works”. “In the process it ensures Read more
An Auckland church had to call police after men with a loudspeaker shouted homosexual-related abuse that could be heard during a service. About 100 worshippers at the 10am service at the Anglican St Matthew-in-the-City on March 6 heard the shouting from outside, which included the word “abomination”. St Matthew’s is known for being supportive of Read more