The Salvation Army, as a likely buyer of state houses says it is reviewing its involvement unless it can get either more capital from the Government or a very low price for the houses. Salvation Army social policy director Major Campbell Roberts says the army has brought in consultants to crunch the numbers and found Read more
New Zealand
NZ born advisor criticises Pope’s support of smacking
Tuesday, February 10th, 2015A New Zealander who advises Pope Francis on combating sexual abuse has criticised the pontiff’s support of smacking children. Dr Krysten Winter-Green, who is based in Boston and works with abused young people, said there was no type of corporal punishment for children that was acceptable. Dr Winter-Green has served in dioceses around the world Read more
St Mary of the Angels needs another $700K before work can start
Tuesday, February 3rd, 2015
Stage one of the strengthening of St Mary of the Angels in central Wellington could begin very soon if another $700,000.00 is raised. The total cost of the first stage is $2,700,000.00. $2,000,000.00 has already been raised. A spokesperson for the parish, James Young, spoke at all Masses last weekend. He said the contractors have Read more
Mass in Te Reo may die out
Tuesday, February 3rd, 2015
The Mass in Te Reo was slowly dying because of a lack of priests who could celebrate it in Maori according to the Bishop Christchurch, Barry Jones. He voiced his concerns at the most recent New Zealand Catholic Bishops’ Conference. Jones believed he is the only priest in the South Island who can speak Te Read more
Brother Sir Patrick Lynch to step down as CEO
Tuesday, February 3rd, 2015
Brother Sir Patrick Lynch, Chief Executive of the New Zealand Catholic Education Office, will step down from his role later in the year, at a time to be determined, announced Geoffrey Ricketts, the Chairman of the Board of Directors of the New Zealand Catholic Education Office, last week. “Applications to replace Brother Patrick will now Read more
“Dumb Irish” stereotype gets yet another airing
Friday, December 19th, 2014
The Media have once again aired the common stereotype about the comic incompetence of the “Dumb Irish”, who are always good for a laugh. And the commentors have been quick to climb on board. Ireland, it seems, is inhabited by characters straight out of Fr Ted and Mrs Brown’s Boys, and now they are invading Read more
Judge limits children’s exposure to mum’s Jehovah’s Witness faith
Friday, December 19th, 2014
A judge has stopped two children, whose parents have separated, from attending Jehovah’s Witness meetings or church activities. After their separation in 2010, the mother became an adherent of the Jehovah Witness faith. Without the father’s knowledge, she introduced the children, then aged 4 and 6, to the religion. Justice Brendan Brown said his ruling Read more
Christmas grotto popular once again
Friday, December 19th, 2014The annual South West Baptist Church Christmas Grotto has once again drawn big crowds of wide-eyed children and festive parents. The grotto, a walk through a series of Christmas-themed rooms, started 14 years ago and gets bigger every year. This year there are some new windows for children to peep through at the Spreydon Christmas Read more
Auckland City Mission issues urgent request for help
Friday, December 19th, 2014The Auckland City Mission has raised only a third of the donations it needs for Christmas and the summer months. Auckland City Missioner Diane Robertson said the mission was desperately short of the donations it needed to provide emergency food parcels and presents to families in need. The mission projected it needed to raise $1.3 Read more
Bernard McGrath extradition: judge won’t intervene
Friday, December 19th, 2014A High Court judge has rejected the bid by former Catholic brother Bernard Kevin McGrath to overturn the Minister of Justice’s decision to grant his extradition to Australia to face sex charges. Justice Cameron Mander’s decision was issued at the Christchurch High Court today, two weeks after he spent half a day hearing submissions on Read more