The chairman of Vanuatu’s Christian Council, Bishop James Ligo, says they are a Christian group and bribery would go against its principles He says the government should set up a commission of inquiry after it accused the Council of bribing opposition MPs to oppose the country joining the World Trade Organisation. The country’s MPs are Read more
Fiji’s P J Twomey Hospital celebrated 100 year of existence on Tuesday. The hospital which was originally built on Makogai Island in the Lomaiviti Group has been the destination for the treatment of leprosy since 1911. Two new leprosy wards, the Karuru Ward and the Mother Mary Agnes Ward were opened as part of the Read more
Reports from Samoa say there have been two priests suspended for alleged misconduct. It has been reported that one of the priests is facing allegations he had had a sexual relationship with a young woman parishioner, a claim he denies. According to Le Weekender, the leader of the Catholic Church in Samoa, Archbishop Alapati Mataeiliga is leading Read more
A sixteen-day campaign against gender violence is being supported by the Pacific Conference of Churches. A Recent AusAID report on violence against women in Melanesia and East Timor, and a UN report, provides the backdrop. In Papua New Guinea, 67 per cent of women are beaten by their husbands – 100 per cent in the Read more
The Methodist Church in Fiji needs some of its practices reformed to suit 21st Century believers, says Education Minister Filipe Bole. Mr Bole, who was chief guest at the Davuilevu Methodist Theological College graduation on Wednesday, told the gathering many Methodists were joining Pentecostal churches which, according to him, was an indication of “something missing”. Read more
APIFO’OU College, Tonga’s third oldest secondary school is to mark its 125th anniversary with week-long celebrations, that are expected to draw in thousands of ex-students from the outer islands and abroad to Nuku’alofa from December 23-30. The celebrations are scheduled to begin on Friday, December 23 with a presentation to the Queen Mother at Tufumahina Read more
The church in Fiji is still waiting for the announcement of a successor to Archbishop Mataca. Archbishop Petero Mataca will visit the Holy See next month on his “ad limina” visit which is made every five years. Archbishop Petero said “Last March, I sent my report covering the last five years. When Rome receives that, Read more
In Papua New Guinea the Catholic Bishops’ conference has expressed concern over the conflict between the executive and judicial arms of government. The Chief Justice, who is heading a Supreme Court panel which is to decide whether the election of the prime minister is constitutional, was suspended on allegations of mismanagement, a move which triggered the arrest of Read more
Two Year 11 students, age 16, from St Joseph’s College in Apia, Samoa were charged with assault and released on bail last Wednesday. The arrest followed a school brawl on Friday. Ten others were taken into Police custody. Assistant Police Commissioner Le’aupepe Fatu Pula said ten students were arrested from Fugalei Market after a fight Read more
Challenging the disparity between beliefs and practice in Christian churches is an issue that needs to be addressed according to The Anglican Bishop of Polynesia, the Most Reverend Dr Winston Halapua, who was keynote speaker at the opening of the National Network Meeting on the Elimination of Violence Against Women in Suva. “I do not pretend Read more