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
News Shorts
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
UK diocese survey seeks feedback from lapsed Catholics
Tuesday, October 6th, 2015An English diocese has launched an online survey aimed at finding out reasons why baptised Catholics have drifted away from the faith. Portsmouth diocese is working with St Mary’s University on the scheme called “share your story”. The survey will be conducted between October 1 and January 1 and will ask questions such as whether Read more
Missionary priest believed to have hanged himself in Ghana
Tuesday, October 6th, 2015A German priest with the Society of African Missionaries has been found hanging from a tree at a spiritual renewal centre in Ghana. Fr Thomas Schwiedessen had been sent to the centre for counselling after reportedly behaving strangely. He had been referred to a psychiatrist and was scheduled for a review. The priest was connected with 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