Church leaders in the Philippines have opposed the idea of arming priests as a protection measure in the wake of recent attacks on members of the clergy. Calls have come from several quarters for priests to take advantage of a 2014 law allowing journalists, priests, lawyers, doctors, nurses, accountants and engineers to carry firearms outside Read more
Over a 3 year period, the social action arm of the Catholic Church has helped about 1.8 million people affected by the destruction caused by the super typhoon Haiyan that struck the central Philippines in 2013. The church’s recovery and rehabilitation programme has become one of its largest and far-reaching natural disaster responses, amounting to about Read more
The Tongan Catholic community in Australia is growing and active, and enriching the local church with its music and traditions. In an interview with Jordan Grantham in the Parramatta dioceses’ newspaper, Catholic Outlook Fr Alatini Kolofo’ou said more and more people are coming to the Tongan chaplaincy. Some Tongans are coming back to the faith and some Read more
Police in Timor Lesté have issued warnings about potential attacks by Islamic extremists on churches and even on Dili’s bishop Virgilio do Carma da Silva. Last week there was a heavy police presence around churches, at the bishop’s palace and Sunday Masses. Both uniformed and plain-clothed officers armed with machine guns were in evidence “I got Read more
Catholic schools in Samoa have received a government grant of $2 million talā. Making annual grants to church schools began in 1983 when government allocated $50 to $60 thousand talā in recognition of the church schools’ significant contribution to providing education. This year the annual allocation for private schools has reached $6 million talā. Consideration is Read more
Researchers from the Papua New Guinea Institute for Medical Research and the Kirby Institute at the University of NSW say expanded health services are needed to tackle high rates of HIV, hepatitis and sexually transmitted infection among key populations in Papua New Guinea. The study, Kauntim mi tu (“Count me too”) was released on 16 May in Read more
Australian missionary Sister Patricia Fox has claimed a temporary victory over the Department of Justice (DoJ). It has agreed to extend her stay in the Philippines and review her appeal against an order from the Bureau of Immigration (BI) to forfeit her visa. Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra has announced Fox now has until June 18 to leave the Read more
The stand-off between the Congregational Christian Church of Samoa (CCCS/EFKS) and the Samoan government over taxation is getting worse. The General Assembly (Fonotele) of the church has rejected outright the government’s new law which imposes taxes on all church ministers. One speaker at the Fonotele has gone so far as to predict that Government’s decision Read more
The Congregational Christian Church of Samoa (CCCS) is making an annual payment of $1.7 million to the Samoa National Provident Fund (SNPF) on a $15.11 million loan. The loan from the was taken out to assist with the building of their $17.39 million Jubilee Church and for and other developments. The Church’s Komiti o Feau Eseese Read more
In Fiji, people gathered at the ANZ National Stadium in Suva on Sunday to attend a Eucharistic Celebration to mark the launch of the Archdiocese’s Synod Year. The last synod took place 27 years ago. The theme of this year’s synod year is Connecting in Jesus. A pamphlet given out at the ANZ Stadium said: Read more