A group of Indonesian Islamic extremists have attacked and disrupted a scout camp organised by a Protestant group in Yogyakarta, central Java. According to the extremists, the Protestant group was not authorised to organise any public activity, especially, they claimed, since Ramadan had begun on 18 June, and public activities that violate the sacred nature Read more
American Samoa is the only U.S. territory to hold out against the recent Supreme Court ruling that legalised gay marriage. Legal observers and gay rights advocates are saying it should go into effect immediately. American Samoa Attorney General Talauega Eleasalo Ale hasn’t been ready to take that step. “We’re still reviewing the decision to determine Read more
Fr Michael Tondicop died suddenly in the Autonomous Region of Bougainville on July 4. He had just returned, on Saturday evening, from visiting small Christian communities at Tohatsi, Hanahan parish, hearing confessions of school children preparing for first communion. Michael was the superior the Koromira Marist community on Buka in Bougainville. He had previously been Read more
The Prime Minister of Tonga, ‘Akilisi Pohiva, says the issue of ratifying a United Nations Convention CEDAW which recently led to protests in the country, will be put to the public, after the coronation celebrations end. Cabinet announced earlier this year its intention to join the Convention on the Elimination of All forms of Discrimination Read more
The union between a man and a woman and its definition predates the state and church but now the bond had been defined as “marriage” said the Archbishop of Suva, Peter Loy Chong. He was speaking on the issue in the light of the United States Supreme Court decision upholding same gender marriage. “Firstly, it’s Read more
What started off as a small dream has turned into a pilgrimage to Tonga for six ladies from Gladstone’s, Australia, Star of the Sea Catholic Church. The trip came about when Tongan-born Father Aliki Langi was in discussion with the ladies over dinner one evening. “We got to talking about Tonga,” he said, “and I Read more
Manu Samoa have prepared for their battle against the All Blacks with hymns and prayers at a service at Our Lady of The Rosary church on Sunday. The magnificent Catholic church in Siusega, on the outskirts of Apia, is in the parish of Prime Minister Tuilaepa Sa’ilele Malielegaoi. After the team entered the church to Read more
Parliamentarians from five Pacific nations met in Wellington on 29 June to consider how better to involve boys and men in sexual and reproductive health in the Pacific. Presenters at the hearing included the United Nations Population Fund (UNPFA), International Planned Parenthood Federation (IPPF), the Tonga Family Health Association, the Kiribati Health Association, and a male Read more
The Tonga Privy Council says the Government’s plan to ratify the Convention on the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) is unconstitutional. King Tupou VI, with his Privy Council, was responding to petitions from groups in Tonga who have sought his help to stop the ratification process. The Government has committed to ratify CEDAW but Read more
On Saturday Tonga began 11 days of celebrations to mark the coronation of monarch King Tupou VI with an ancient kava ceremony and gifts of pigs and yams from the country’s chiefs. In the ceremony an ancient Tongan title called Tu’i Kanokupolu, that pre-dates the monarchy by centuries, passes to Tupou VI. The coronation will Read more