Almost one in four Kiwi kids have been reported to child protection services, a new study has found. The report, titled Cumulative Prevalence of Maltreatment Among New Zealand Children, followed the 55,443 children born in 1998 until 2015 when they would be 17. It determined the frequency of notifications, maltreatment cases and first entries into Read more
Japan’s bishops have written to Prime Minister Shinzo Abe. They want strict observance of the constitutional separation of state-sponsored ceremonies. They say these ceremonies should be clearly separated from the imperial family’s private religious ones when the change of emperors takes place in 2019. The bishops note this principle was “learned from reflection on history Read more
Modern expressions of Pelagian and Gnostic thought contradicting the belief that Christian salvation can come only through Christ and the Church are incorrect. A new letter issued by the Vatican’s doctrinal office to the world’s bishops clarifies how the ancient heresies of Pelagianism and Gnosticism are diffused in modern culture. It urges Christians to evangelise while Read more
A new book “Ethics and Practice of Conservation: Manual for the conservation of ethnographic and multi-material assets” has been released from the Vatican museums. The ethics and practice of conservation is the result of nearly a century of experience at the Anima Mundi Ethnological Museum. Read more
Scientologists have distributed Chinese-language flyers across Auckland during Chinese New Year in a move to boost attendance at its central Auckland premises. Flyers offer a free barbecue lunch, including dumplings, and Chinese services every Saturday and Sunday at the religion’s central Auckland headquarters on Grafton Rd. Continue reading
Christchurch city’s Diocesan Synod, Saturday, voted to support a proposal yesterday to bless same-sex marriages, following submissions both for and against the blessings. Bishop Victoria Matthews wished to assured gay people their voices had been heard. However, Auckland’s Rainbow Church is calling a move to bless same-sex marriage by Christchurch’s Anglican church a “pathetic, half-step Read more
The New Zealand Catholic Education office has provided an extensive list of successes achieved by students from Catholic schools in the fields of sport, arts and culture. They have represented New Zealand in synchronised swimming, taekwondo, archery, karate, paddle boarding, badminton, netball, ice-figure skating, athletics, basketball, cycling, sailing, air pistol, roller-skating, mountain biking swimming, sailing, Read more
Religion is slipping off the agenda in Irish schools. In a meeting with the Education and Training Ireland, concerned Church representatives said some community colleges were not spending enough time teaching religion. This was despite agreements and deeds of trust which stipulate that these schools should spend up to two hours teaching pupils religion each Read more
Construction is set to begin on the central Christchurch site where three people were killed in the February earthquake. Neil Stocker, Paul Dunlop and Scott Lucy died when Durham Street Methodist Church – one of the city’s oldest stone buildings – collapsed in the earthquake, burying them under rubble. The three men were recovering a Read more
The Catholic Church is aiming to be a model in terms of involvement in resolving sexual abuse issues. The goal is to find in the Church “a source of strength” that can offer its knowledge and expertise to the world. Read more