The Theologians examining Suzanne Aubert’s cause have accepted the writings, spirituality and goodness of Suzanne Aubert. In 1997 the New Zealand Catholic Bishops Conference agreed to support the first part of the formal process, called the “Introduction of the Cause of Suzanne Aubert”. Then a historical consultation (Posito) was completed and presented for theological consultation Read more
New Zealand
Deaf complain about Jehovah’s Witness church
Friday, October 9th, 2015New Zealand’s deaf community is fed up with unsolicited house calls, claiming the Jehovah’s Witness church is targeting deaf households. Deaf Aotearoa has received multiple complaints from around the country and says church members visited certain homes because they were aware a deaf person lived there. The organisation released a statement on Monday, saying it Read more
Former Catholic priest to go to trial on historic abuse claims
Friday, October 9th, 2015A former Catholic priest who worked at a Nelson school and Lower Hutt’s Sacred Heart College is to go to trial on sex abuse charges next year. Wellington District Court judge Bruce Davidson on Tuesday remanded him on bail until next month for a preliminary hearing day and set down a trial for May next Read more
New Zealander will raise issue of Contraception at Synod
Tuesday, October 6th, 2015
Sharron Cole, one of the delegates from New Zealand at the Synod on Families, will raise the issue of contraception in her three-minute speech and a written submission. “It has caused enormous angst [and anxiety], and probably the majority of Catholics, in the western world anyway, ignore the church’s teaching on contraception,” said Cole. “Even Read more
Sisters sleeping out for the night
Tuesday, October 6th, 2015
On Friday Sister Catherine Hannan and Sister Marcellin Wilson will be sleeping out overnight for World Homeless Day. The sleep-out is being organised by Wellington’s many agencies collaborating to help raise funds and awareness about the reality of homelessness in New Zealand. “We are both witnessing and fund raising as well, so I am asking Read more
Cardinal Dew to help prepare final synod document
Tuesday, October 6th, 2015
New Zealand’s Cardinal John Dew has been named to a 10-member committee responsible for drafting the final document from the synod on the family. The synod, which runs from October 4-25, has as its theme: “The vocation and mission of the family in the Church and the contemporary world.” Its final document is expected to Read more
Brian Tamaki wants Chris Brown to talk at church sessions
Tuesday, October 6th, 2015The question of letting singer Chris Brown into the country has been weighed in on by Destiny Church leader Brian Tamaki. Brown was convicted of domestic violence after attacking ex-girlfriend popstar Rihanna in 2009, with critics saying he should be banned from entering New Zealand. But Bishop Brian Tamaki thinks he should be given another Read more
Dawkins suspects religion in NZ is dying
Tuesday, October 6th, 2015
Well known rationalist Richard Dawkins, who is an expert evolutionary biologist, thinks religion is on the way out in New Zealand. “…Science is advancing all time and religion is not, and religion is slowly dying,” Dawkins told TV3 show The Nation on Saturday. “It’s dying much faster in some countries than others. It’s dying very Read more
Students raise $18,000 for Starlit HOPE
Friday, October 2nd, 2015
Fundraising by New Plymouth’s Francis Douglas Memorial College students has raised $18,000, for Starlit HOPE. That exceeded the target they had set themselves by $12,000. Starlit HOPE was started by 13 year old Gabby Devine who died in May from bone cancer. It is a charity designed to give cheer to children in hospital and Read more