Analysis and Comment

Fifth Gospel Living – book review

Thursday, November 21st, 2024
Fifth Gospel Living

Simple, sweet, sometimes heart-breaking, and always invigorating, Fifth Gospel Living is the latest publication from Fr John O’Connor and his Food for Faith ministry. It comprises stories of personal encounters with God. The 96 reflections are the result of a call from O’Connor, whose blogs on the Food for Faith website have, for about 10 Read more

Treaty of Waitangi should be considered as a covenant relationship

Thursday, November 21st, 2024

A hīkoi opposing the Treaty Principles Bill has made its way to Wellington. Those who took part in the hīkoi, along with supporters around the country, both Māori and non-Māori, consider the Bill to be a betrayal of the commitments made at the signing of the Treaty of Waitangi. The Waitangi Tribunal has voiced its Read more

There is reliable evidence social media harms young people – debates about it are a misdirection

Thursday, November 21st, 2024
social media

The Australian government is developing legislation that will ban children under 16 from social media. There has been a huge public debate about whether there is sufficient direct evidence of harm to introduce this regulation. The players in this debate include academics, mental health organisations, advocacy groups and digital education providers. Few step back to Read more

Christianity stands on threshold of new Reformation

Thursday, November 21st, 2024
Christianity

Keynote speaker Tomáš Halík (pictured) a leading Catholic intellectual and author from the Czech Republic, says Churches must transcend national, religious, cultural boundaries A new reformation for the 21st century must transcend “the current forms and boundaries of Christianity,” resist simplistic answers to contemporary challenges and contribute to uniting into ‘One Body’ all of humanity, Read more

The Treaty Principles Bill is already straining social cohesion – a referendum could be worse

Monday, November 18th, 2024

With the protest hikoi from the far north moving through Auckland on its way to Wellington, it might be said ACT leader David Seymour has been granted his wish of generating an: “important national conversation about the place of the Treaty in our constitutional arrangements”. The hikoi is timed to coincide with the first reading Read more

Abuse, bishops, apology, litany, lament and Sunday Assembly

Monday, November 18th, 2024

The Bishops’ Pastoral Letter and Litany of Lament at last Sunday’s masses are another example of Church leaders’ persistent inability to take full responsibility for the institution’s decisions. The inability to take full responsibility for these decisions has been a constant complaint of survivors and victims of abuse. However, in this action, the episcopal and Read more

The Church after Gaza

Monday, November 18th, 2024
The Church

The Church must confront its silence on the Middle East conflict and recognise the suffering of all victims, especially Palestinians. Addressing this is essential for maintaining moral credibility, supporting interfaith dialogue, and continuing the path set by Nostra Aetate. While global attention was focused on the U.S. elections, people continued to die in the most Read more

Australia will impose a ‘digital duty of care’ on tech companies to reduce online harm. It’s a good idea – if it can be enforced

Monday, November 18th, 2024
digital duty of care

In an escalation of its battle with big tech, the federal government has announced it plans to impose a ‘digital duty of care’ on tech companies to reduce online harms. The announcement follows the government’s controversial plans to legislate a social media ban for young people under 16. The plans also include imposing tighter rules Read more

Archbishop of Canterbury: who next?

Thursday, November 14th, 2024
Canterbury

When former Archbishop Rowan Williams announced in March 2012 that he was standing down as Archbishop of Canterbury, bookmakers started taking bets on his successor. Bishop John Sentamu, then Archbishop of York, was the clear favourite with the Bishops of London, Liverpool and Bradford among others in the running. One of the front-runners said to Read more

Religion in the workplace is tricky, but everyone loses when it becomes a taboo

Thursday, November 14th, 2024
religion

Since we spend so much of our lives at our jobs, it’s only natural that conversations with colleagues go beyond the work in front of us. People share interests and hobbies, family struggles, health concerns, and hopes or goals, from the silly to the serious. The topic of religion, however, can provoke anxiety. Many people Read more