The United Nations wants more Pacific nations to sign up to a convention against torture. The UN Human Rights Office regional representative, Nancy Robinson says only four nations in our region have ratified the convention so far – Australia, New Zealand, Nauru and Vanuatu. Palau has signed on, but hasn’t ratified it yet. Ms Robinson Read more
Former Catholic brother Bernard Kevin McGrath has avoided deportation – for now – by appealing against his extradition to Australia to face hundreds of sex-abuse charges. McGrath, 65, had until today to either lodge an appeal or voluntarily go back to Australia where 252 charges have been laid alleging that he raped, molested and abused Read more
In Wellington, New Zealand, a mother’s eulogy at her 15-year-old daughter’s funeral was interrupted as firefighters evacuated the church owing to fears it was unsafe. Alatauai Leota-Sasa, a netball ace from St Catherine’s College, Kilbirnie, was being farewelled at PIPC Newtown church yesterday when the pastor interrupted to say the building had been declared uninhabitable. Continue reading
Agreement in principle has been reached over the proposed merger of St Paul’s in Dallington and Our Lady of Fatima School in Mairehau. The merger is to proceed and the new school will be situated in Mairehau, on the site of Our Lady of Fatima in Innes Rd. Following the earthquakes and the red-zoning of St Paul’s Read more
The Vatican plans an apostolic visitation of the Church in Scotland, to probe charges of widespread corruption, according to The Scotsman newspaper. Though no word has come from the Vatican, the newspaper said a priest who accused the resigned Cardinal Keith O’Brien of homosexual conduct was told there would be an investigation in a meeting Read more
It’s Sunday in Cambridge, Massachusetts, and a rapt congregation listens to a chaplain preach about the importance of building a community. Outsiders could be forgiven for believing this service, with its homilies, its passing of the plate, its uplifting songs, belongs in a church. If so, it’s an atheist church without God — the brainchild Read more
An Israeli appeals court has asked Catholic bishops to join proceedings to help them decide a divorce case involving a Maronite couple. The court overturned a lower court ruling that awarded compensation to the husband because his wife refused to change her religion so he could divorce her. Maronites, founded in Syria, form the only Read more
The Hutt Valley’s 11 Catholic parishes could be reduced to six as the wider Wellington archdiocese struggles with a declining number of priests. Wellington archbishop John Dew has produced a discussion document for consideration by all church members detailing proposals for wide ranging structural changes. It includes amalgamating 47 regional parishes into 23. Proposals to Read more
Cashed-up Christ Church Cathedral supporters want to shell out millions of dollars to save the quake-damaged landmark, but their offer has been rebuffed. The Great Christchurch Buildings Trust, co-chaired by former MPs Jim Anderton and Philip Burdon, has offered to provide the $6.7 million it says is required to stabilise the cathedral. The restoration campaign Read more
More than 120 church leaders from across the Waikato region arrived at Waikato Hospital on 21 June to show their support for Waikato DHB’s chaplaincy service. The ‘Friends of Hospital Chaplaincy’ event was the first of its kind in New Zealand. It was organised by the DHB chaplaincy service so church leaders from a variety Read more