Most Catholic-educated young people in New Zealand are not encountering Jesus Christ through their schooling, New Zealand’s Catholic bishops say. The bishops have published The Catholic Education of School Age Children In this document the Bishops discuss a number of problems with faith education and the likely solutions. It is based in large part on Read more
Minutes after Bishop Victor Silva called on Jesus to cast out “the spirit of sickness” causing pain to the lives of the hundreds of people packed into the “holy oil” healing service in Auckland on Sunday, a young man was helped on to the stage claiming his sight had been improved. Gaby Dean, 27, who Read more
On Friday, March 21st, in Auckland, Accent Publications launched its latest title: “But is it fair?” Subtitled Faith Communities & Social Justice, the book is edited by Neil Darragh, and explores a faith response to inequality in using 31 people’s stories about faith communities that promote fairness in New Zealand. Darragh has divided the book into five sections: Sources and traditions, Read more
The Anglican Church has criticised the group stopping it from deconstructing the earthquake-damaged Christchurch Cathedral, saying its review of the church’s decision omitted facts and ignored escalating costs. An advertisement published in The Press laid out the Church Property Trustees’ (CPT) argument against restoring the Christchurch Cathedral after the Canterbury earthquakes. The notice, headlined “important Read more
In its just-released decision, the Employment Relations Authority has ordered Susan Hagai to repay the Hibernian Society $547,000. She was also made to repay interest on the money of $3695.61, plus $2000 in costs. Originally convicted by Judge Susan Thomas of defrauding the Hibernian Society, Judge Thomas, did not order Hagai to repay the $1,242,750 she Read more
Plenty of onlookers were bemused by his presence when Connor Bellet joined the St Peter’s College Samoan Group ahead of this year’s Polyfest. Bellett was the sole white kid in the Samoan culture group. He said he had trouble persuading some people he was serious when he decided to join his Samoan friends in the Read more
Members of Wellington High School’s feminist club have staged a reciprocal protest against a Catholic pro-life group demonstrating near the main entrance of Wellington Hospital. Family Life International is holding a 40 day anti-abortion prayer vigil outside the Wellington Hospital. As part of it’s 40 days for life campaign, Family life international the vigil is Read more
A coalition, assembled to oppose the legalisation of euthanasia and assisted-suicide in New Zealand, was formally launched last Thursday to at a function at Parliament. The Care Alliance is an umbrella organisation that brings together a wide range of voices from across the palliative, medical, youth, elderly, disability, bioethics and faith sectors who are opposed Read more
Twenty-two families from overcrowded homes finally have room to breathe in a new housing scheme opened by a Tongan princess in Mangere. Storeman Sione Leha’uli, his wife Fitalika and what were then their two children were living with Mrs Leha’uli’s parents, grandparents, her brother and his wife and two children – 12 people in a Read more
Over 400 sixteen to eighteen year olds recently took part in the annual Caritas: Justice Leadership Days across every diocese in New Zealand. The young people, identified by their colleges and peers as leaders, came together to find out more about Caritas and the upcoming Caritas Challenge, 4-6 April. The days focused on Caritas’s work Read more