The Royal Solomon Islands Police Force (RSIPF) has recognised the roles played by local cultures and churches in the implementation of the Family Protection Act 2014. Gwen Ratu, who represents the office of the Police Commissioner, told a media conference on the Family Protection Act that culture and church have valued roles in the implementation processes Read more
Last week 23 bishops made a rare visit to Indonesia’s most easterly province, West Papua. Catholic Bishops of Papua New Guinea and Solomon Islands have been meeting at St.Anthony’s Pilgrim House, Vanimo, for their Annual General Meeting from 4 to 15 April 2016. The bishops had a meeting with 4 of the 5 bishops of Read more
The validity of the of last years’ Tonga National Form Seven Certificate (TNFSC) examination results is being widely challenged. A leaked government report on a rushed reform of Tonga’s education system in 2015 reveals confusion and concern within the Ministry and raises questions about the validity of the examination results. It says because of the Read more
The Catholic Church is backing efforts to fight drug abuse in Indonesia’s Kalimantan provinces, which has had illicit drugs even spreading into remote areas. “All the strength of the Catholic Church must be used to support the fight against drug abuse,” said Archbishop Agustinus Agus of Pontianak, based in the capital of West Kalimantan province. Read more
A Samoan woman claiming to have suffered stigmata wounds has told of a vision she has had of heaven and hell. Toaipuapuaga Opapo Soana’i, 23, spoke during a Mass at the Catholic cathedral at Apia last week, the Samoa Observer reported. She delivered a message that heaven and hell are real. The young woman spoke Read more
The Pacific Conference of Churches has asked governments and donors not to attach conditions to relief efforts in the region. The call came as Indonesia’s Co-ordinating Minister for Political Affairs, Law and Security visited Fiji. Luhut Binsar Padjaitan was reportedly delivering Fiji an assistance package worth up to US$5 million, plus a contingent of engineers, Read more
A young woman claiming to have received stigmata wounds is sparking vigorous debate in Samoa. A woman named in Samoan media as Toaipuapuaga Opapo Soana’i, 23, played the part of Jesus in a Sunday School Easter play. People noticed wounds appearing on her body. She had wounds on her feet and hands, as well as Read more
Concerns have been raised over the appointments by Pope Francis of cardinals from very small nations like Tonga. In an article in the National Catholic Register, Rome correspondent Edward Pentin wrote that Francis’s choice of cardinals is among the indicators of his pontificate’s direction. Pentin noted that Francis has chosen not to award “so many Read more
Health services run by the Catholic Church in Papua New Guinea are under pressure after a major funding cut by the PNG Government. The facilities provided by the Church cover a third of PNG’s health services, through more than 200 sites around the country. Catholic Church Health Services of Papua New Guinea runs five rural Read more
The Catholic archbishop of Suva was among the church leaders who attended a combined Easter Sunday event at a Suva park. Archbishop Peter Loy Chong was one of the leaders at the event at Ratu Sukuna Park titled “Rise with Christ: A Vision of Hope for the Future”. Among the other church leaders present were Read more