Earlier this year following Vatican advice, Bishop Michael Gielen instructed the Sons (aka Transalpine Redemptorists) to leave the Christchurch Catholic diocese. That order was later rescinded but others were not.

They may not, however, celebrate Mass or conduct any other "priestly ministry" for anyone outside their religious community.

Growth pains

Rather than follow Vatican instructions, the Catholic sect is in expansion mode. As CathNews recently reported, they're re staying in the Christchurch diocese where they have bought a church and land from the (blindsided) Anglican Church.

The Sons have also appealed Gielen's orders, saying they will take him to the Catholic equivalent of the Supreme Court.

With the new property, the cult's entire New Zealand property portfolio has a rateable value of $5 million.

Abusive power-hungry leaders

Former sect members fear the group's leadership will never cede control. The Church should do more to stop them, they say.

Fr Colin Marshall says his former superior, Fr Michael Mary, enjoyed having control over people.

One aspect of his management style is to isolate members from their families, he says.

Several former members - or their families - attest to this.

As an example, after not having a relationship with her child for several years, one mother recently discovered that might be because her child had joined the Sons.

Now, they have a family she is not allowed to see. The loss is "devastating" she says.

"They've been brainwashed and they need help."

Another former member says outsiders have no idea how extreme the Canterbury group has become.

"If you haven't been in there and heard Fr Michael talking, and heard his sermons and the way he communicates ... he has these people completely under his thumb."

She says the sect's defiant expansion ... "tells you it's about establishing power and control".

A man who left the sect after growing disillusioned with Fr Mary's leadership says the Sons' teachings grew increasingly extreme the more involved that priest became.

As a result members involve him in their personal decisions.

Even those who feel abused stay because most haven't experienced the Latin Mass outside the sect, a former member says.

"So it's like, because they offer the Latin Mass, it gives them this seal of authority and authenticity to anything and everything they say."

The Sons' deny all the pressure and abuse allegations, saying "There is no cult. There is no control".

Cult wants concessions!

Son's leader Michael Mary says he could be willing to do as he's asked - if a few concessions are granted.

He has written to Gielen saying his community will leave if three permanent replacement priests are found from one of three named traditional Church communities.

He says leaving would also be on the condition that it would involve no dereliction of duty on the Sons' part.

Liturgy expert and theologian Fr Joe Grayland has followed the drama surrounding the controversial Catholic sect. He says that the no dereliction of duty condition probably means the Sons want to be absolved of any alleged wrongdoing.

Source

• The Press

Now Rotorua Whakaora has set up a separate day for clients aged 60-plus to visit its free food store, where people struggling to feed themselves or their families can shop for donated groceries at no cost.

It comes as charities report more older people are seeking food support in the city

Rotorua Whakaora's free store was previously only open on Sundays but recently added open hours on Fridays for people aged 60-plus. Read more

The board of St Benedict's School, Khandallah says investigations into past events were undertaken and there were consequences where appropriate.

"The board, principal and staff remain committed to continual improvement in this space" said board presiding member Lucy Woollaston.

"We continue to welcome concerns, questions and feedback and will work through these carefully so that each family feels fully assured about what we have in place to safeguard health, safety and well-being for each and every child.

"This remains our highest priority."

Teaching good behaviour

The board introduced the Ministry of Education's Positive Behaviour 4 Learning framework to the school last year.

In addition, it introduced the Finnish-developed KiVa programme (an anti-bullying programme) this year.

"These programmes are challenging to introduce in part because they require a shared understanding and agreement as to what constitutes unacceptable behaviour and other defined terms" Woollaston said.

"This has meant, as a school, we have had to have robust discussions about these shared definitions and we believe this has made us stronger as a team."

A new framework providing shared definitions and consequences has been introduced to the school community, Woollaston said.

The framework enables the school to have open and honest conversations with families and foster partnership relationships with them.

"We rely on our families to trust us to look after and teach their precious children and we rely on our families to reinforce the values we teach in their homes, playgrounds and communities.

"We are in this together and we continue to strive to provide a safe and exciting learning environment so that our children leave St Benedict's as empathetic young people with perseverance, integrity and creativity."

The school featured again this week in the media after three more complaints about bullying were made public.

New Zealand's shameful bullying record

International research shows New Zealand has the highest school bullying rates in the developed world.

The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) PISA 2018 survey found 15 percent of Kiwi students reported being frequently bullied.

Bullying severely affects students' mental health and attendance, the OECD report points out.

Seatoun's School Principal isn't surprised at the report's findings "looking at our wider community and some of our leaders and how they behave".

A 2021 report - "He Whakaaro: What do we know about bullying behaviour in New Zealand?" - paints an even worse picture.

It says about 36 percent of Year 5 and 38 percent of Year 9 students reported that they were bullied on a monthly basis.

It also says about 33 percent of 15-year-old New Zealand students say they have never been bullied.

The most common forms of bullying are reportedly 'Being made fun of' and ‘being excluded on purpose from activities' He Whakaaro says.

Source

• NZ Herald
• 1News
• 1News
• Education Counts

The school board says it is taking its responsibilities around wellbeing and safety seriously and senior leaders and staff work hard to set and maintain a culture that is welcoming and safe. Read more

In the latest example of a bully is Minnesota Bishop Robert Barron's Word on Fire organisation threatened Commonweal magazine and theologian Massimo Faggioli over Faggioli's April 22 essay, "Will Trumpism Spare Catholicism?"

The commotion is too weird to behold.

Sticks and stones

It began like all schoolyard fights.

Barron, or someone who works for him, thought Faggioli, who teaches at Villanova University, called the bishop a name.

In best fourth-grade fashion, an unsigned "cease and desist" email went to Faggioli and to Commonweal editor Dominic Preziosi.

Apparently without a lawyer or even a dictionary nearby, the email claimed Commonweal and Faggioli were guilty of "slander,".

That name is usually applied to spoken defamatory statements, instead of published ones, which are libel.

Faggioli's opinion piece examined the influence of conservative, anti-Francis bishops.

He described them as the ones whose political alliances mix "ahistorical, magisterial fundamentalism in militant Catholicism with nationalistic impulses masquerading as concern for the ‘forgotten' common American."

He apparently included Barron in what he called the "'Trump-Strickland' axis,".

He was referring to former Texas Bishop Joseph E. Strickland, a named supporter of the pro-Trump "Catholics for Catholics" organisation.

That organisation counts among its supporters former Trump advisers Michael Flynn and Steve Bannon.

Barron's company complained about his inclusion, and Commonweal indulged him, writing in an editor's note:

"With the author's permission, the editors have removed a paragraph that originally appeared here because Bishop Robert Barron's media ministry, Word on Fire, informed us that they consider it slander for them to be in any way associated with Donald Trump or Trumpism."

Unwilling to take yes for an answer, Barron's folks sent another unsigned email, this time to the entire Commonweal staff.

It said that the retraction notice was "clearly malicious" and that the email was "a formal notice to preserve all records in anticipation of litigation."

Strange and bullying

To be clear, no Catholic, let alone a bishop, should want to be connected to Trump, whose ongoing legal entanglements and documented disrespect for women and migrants are outside the pale.

That Trump benefited from a strange Catholics for Catholics fundraiser at Mar-a-Lago is enough to warn anyone.

It was there a man identified as Father Dennis led what he called "the meal prayer" and former Trump national security adviser Flynn said they would "do the rosary,".

But bullying a 100-year-old liberal Catholic opinion journal emphasises the conservative bent of Barron's enterprises.

It smacks of the sort of "conservatism" Pope Francis recently called "suicidal" on CBS' "60 Minutes."

The "suicidal conservatism" Francis worries about stifles growth and, he said, leaves people "closed inside a dogmatic box."

Those U.S. bishops who cannot think out of the box — and there are many — daily damage the beliefs of Catholics who think Catholic social teaching is a good thing and who wish for less clericalism and more transparency in church matters.

To to start with, where, exactly, does the money go?

The ubiquitous Catholic bully

Bully clerics abound at every level, in the United States and around the world. And bullying Catholic lay initiatives is not new.

In the 19th century, Mother Cabrini, the champion of immigrants, had her problems with Archbishop Michael Corrigan, who wanted her out of New York.

In the 20th century, another archbishop of New York might have wished the same for Dorothy Day.

Now, in the 21st century, a group of lay Catholics suffers a legal threat come some 1,300 miles from Minnesota to a small office suite on New York's Upper West Side.

It may be a good thing that Barron wants to distance himself from Trumpism, because many of his followers may still think Trump is OK.

But bullying is not the way to do it.

• First published in Religion News Service
• Phyllis Zagano PhD is a Senior Research Associate in Residence at Hofstra University. She has written and spoken on the role of women in the Roman Catholic Church and is an advocate for the ordination of women as deacons. Phyllis is also an author at Religion News Service

In his prepared text, Pope Francis told group members that theology is "a significant and necessary ecclesial ministry".

This is because "it is part of our Catholic faith to explain the reason for our hope to all those who ask".

Hope is Jesus Christ

Pope Francis noted three reasons why theology is important today.

First, "It is part of our Catholic faith to explain the reason for our hope to all who ask".

The Pope noted that this hope is not an emotion but the very Person of Jesus Christ.

Then, the "epochal changes" faced by an increasingly pluralistic society must be "critically assessed" to foster human fraternity and care for creation.

Third, there is the rapid progress of science and technology.

The pope used artificial intelligence (AI) as an example.

He wrote AI raises questions about "what it means to be human, what is worthy of our nature as human beings, what aspect of our humanity is irreducible because it is divine, that is, made in the image and likeness of God in Christ.

"Here, theology must be able to serve as a companion to the sciences and other critical disciplines, offering its specific sapiential contribution to ensuring that different cultures do not clash but become, in dialogue, symphonic" he wrote.

Cross-disciplinary approach

Francis further stressed the importance of a cross-disciplinary approach.

He highlighted the reciprocal relationship between theology and other fields of knowledge, where Christian wisdom enriches and informs scientific inquiry.

The pope emphasised the collaborative nature of theological inquiry and called for collegiality and synodality.

He recognised the shared responsibility of theologians and scholars in navigating the complexities of the contemporary world.

Pope Francis concluded that a 'theology of love' must be marked by charity.

"Because 'whoever does not love does not know God, for God is love'" as the First Letter of John says.

Sources

UCA News

Vatican News

America Magazine

CathNews NZ

The newly-released Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) report paints a grim picture. Its PISA 2018 survey found 15 percent of New Zealand students reported being frequently bullied.

Bullying severely affects students' mental health and attendance, the OECD report points out.

The report noted certain anti-bullying programmes that some schools had actively and successfully introduced to curb bullying rates.

Working on the problem

An anti-bullying programme called KiVa is an option available to schools.

It was developed in Finland to promote positive interactions among students and empower them to be "upstanders rather than bystanders".

"We looked at all the research. Luckily we were able to tap into Victoria University at the time and see what the data told us, and we found a product that internationally, through 25 countries, actually makes a difference in these outcomes" one school principal using the programme says.

"We look at creating a culture where it won't start. And then if it does start or it does happen we address it front-on. We use a restorative approach where the students actually come up with the solutions, and then we follow that up and use surveys and data to ensure that number stays really low."

Feedback about the programme's positive effect on children is encouraging.

But schools, the community, parent involvement and policy need to work together to implement a good culture in schools.

It's a collective responsibility, the principal says.

"Schools work so hard to create cultures, but we reflect communities and we reflect the wider culture of the day so it is a wider responsibility as well.

"It's highly alarming. But possibly looking at our wider community and some of our leaders and how they behave, it [bullying prevalence] doesn't really surprise me unfortunately."

He said it is "hard enough these days" to be a young person, citing the influence of being constantly attached to social media through smartphones.

"It's really scary. It's sad. If we can help one child go to school and not be bullied, then I think we've made a difference. And if we can drop it by a quarter or more then we've made a huge difference."

Source

• 1News

Nicola Cranfield alleged Genter grabbed her arm, giving it "quite a strong shake" after she approached the MP in Midland Park late last year to discuss plans by the council to remove public parking in the CBD.

The claim followed other allegations of what's been described as "bullying" by Genter recently — initially in the House when she crossed the floor to remonstrate with National's Matt Doocey last week, then by a Newtown florist claiming a heated debate over cycle ways. Read more

This period of reflection and dialogue, aimed at rejuvenating and reforming the Church, must fundamentally be rooted in love.

Central to this journey is the challenge to embody the greatest commandment—love.

Yet, as we delve into this transformative journey, we must ask ourselves: Are we truly embracing the radical nature of God's love, or are we confining it to fit our agendas?

The synodal discussions are meant to be transformative, grounded in the radical love that Jesus exemplified.

Reject bullying: Embrace active love

Synodality and Church reform is not about bullying.

Bullying wants to control, harm, or intimidate others; living away from the power of love has the capacity to turn people into bullies.

So, as we participate in this transformative Synodal process, let us remind ourselves frequently that the command to love is central to all our conversations, agreements, disagreements, and decision-making.
Without love, decisions made "for the food of all" are little more than decisions made for some.

So love is not passive; it is active, challenging, and inclusive, rejecting any form of bullying, manipulation or coercion.

Love - a way and an end

As Pope Francis reminded us on April 24, "Goodness is not only an end, but also a way."

Or as John 13:34-35 puts it: "Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this, everyone will know that you are my disciples if you love one another."

The Church, through the ages, has faced myriad challenges and reforms.

Today, as we stand at another crossroads, at least in the first world, the call for reform is clear in the corridors of ecclesiastical power and among the faithful in the pews and the faithful who were once in the pews.

Essence of true reform

True reform, as highlighted in the foundational teachings of our faith, is not merely about structural adjustments or doctrinal clarifications.

True reform involves a deep, personal, and communal return to the first and greatest commandment: to love God and to love our neighbour, even when we do not necessarily like the person, agree with them, think their theology is not correct, or agree with what they are saying.

How often is it that decisions, supposedly made for the "good of all," end up benefiting only a few, as prudence and respect give way to expediency and efficiency?

Applying love

How often do power struggles within the Church overshadow this love?

The synodal process challenges us to debate, decide, and live out the love we profess fundamentally. I suggest that if we as a Church cannot first live love, our testimony to the world will become hollow.

Love is not soppy or wet, naïve or impractical.

Love is challenging.

Love calls us to a way of living, transcending the mundane calculations of gain and loss.

As we engage in this synodal process, let us remember that love is not passive but active and engaging.

It demands that we look beyond our personal desires and the immediate needs of the Church to embrace a more inclusive and comprehensive vision of reform.

Love compels us to listen, particularly the marginalised, the forgotten, and those we might disagree with vehemently.

Success beyond the documents

Ultimately, the measure of our synodal journey's success may not be found in entirely the documents we produce or the changes we implement. Rather, it will be measured by how deeply we have allowed ourselves to fall in love with God and with all whom God loves.

This Synodal transformation ought to be visible, about bringing people out of their homes to be a listening and loving Church.

Synodality should not effectively ‘force' people to stay home because they are afraid to share and bare themselves just a little.

All the Church reform in the world is pretty much worthless if we cannot love and respect each other.

"Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonour others; it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, and it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres." 1- Corinthians 13:4-7

• Peter Roe SM has recently finished a term as a presbyter at St Francis Parish, Ohairu, Wellington. He now continues his ministry with Wellintown and in a range of workplace chaplaincies.

The incident occurred at the Mangere Town Centre after school hours and outside school premises, Marcellin College Board chair Bernadette Tovio (pictured) confirmed.

Police are investigating.

Cowardly and senseless

At least 10 to 15 Mangere College pupils were reportedly involved in the unprovoked 12 February attack.

In a statement condemning the incident, Tovio called it a "senseless and cowardly act of violence ... we will not tolerate any form of bullying or harassment in our school community.

"Our akonga (student) sustained serious injuries and was taken to the hospital, where they were cared for.

"We have been in contact with their whanau/family and are providing them with all the support they need."

Action taken and underway

Immediately after the attack, Marcellin's board and management increased security measures to ensure student/akonga and staff/kaiako safety.

The Ministry of Education was also informed of the incident.

Right now, Tovio says the Mangere College board chair, the acting Marcellin College principal, police and local authorities are working together to resolve the matter.

At Marcellin College "we are proud of our school's culture of respect, diversity and inclusion, and we will not let this incident undermine our values, Marist Pillars and achievements" Tovio says.

She wants anyone who witnessed the incident or has any information to contact the police or the school as soon as possible.

Counselling and care

Marcellin College says it is providing counselling and support services to any students/akonga or staff/kaiako who may have been affected by the incident.

Down the road at Mangere College, acting principal Melegaleuu Ah Sam has written to the school community informing caregivers the school is aware of the incident and the posts on social media.

"We would like to assure our community that we are working closely with the other college and the police to identify those involved and to resolve these matters as soon as possible" she wrote.

Community condemns

South Auckland community leader Alf Filipaina has also condemned the brutal attack, labelling the perpetrators "a bunch of cowards".

He noted all the students were from the same community - even if they went to different schools. "Whether you're from Marcellin or not, that doesn't make any difference" he said.

The bystanders who watched and did nothing don't deserve respect, he added.

"I just want to acknowledge the people who actually looked after the boy [and drove him to hospital]."

Filipaina says there are programmes like Genesis Youth Trust to help young people.

At the same time, he thinks police should charge the attackers if they're of age. "There has to be some accountability."

Agencies need to work with the schools to prevent a recurrence, he says.

Source

• NZ Herald
• NZ Herald
• NZ Herald

Francis commented on the issue while speaking to university students in Asia via a video link.

The pope was moved by a young woman from India who shared her experiences of feeling embarrassed and inferior due to her weight and body shape. This led to her being subjected to bullying.

"Regardless of you being fat, thin, short or tall, the important thing is to live in harmony, harmony in your hearts ... every man, every woman has their own beauty, and we really have to learn how to recognise it," the Pope emphasised.

Pope admits to bullying

In the lead-up to his answer to the woman, who also spoke of the pressures of social media, Pope Francis shared a personal anecdote from his youth.

"I recall a friend of mine who was a bit fat, and we actually mocked him, I dare say bullied him. We once shoved him, and he fell down," Francis admitted.

The Pope's candour continued as he recounted his father's response to the body shaming incident.

"When I got home, my father was informed about this, and he took me to this schoolmate's home to apologise," he said.

In a poignant twist, Pope Francis revealed that in recent years, he had reconnected with the friend he had once mistreated. The man had become an Evangelical pastor.

Sadly, the friend had recently passed away, underscoring the importance of forgiveness and personal growth.

The conversation also touched on the topic of cosmetic surgery, where Pope Francis offered his perspective, "Plastic surgery serves no purpose because its beauty is going to fade eventually."

To illustrate this point, he quoted the renowned 20th-century Italian actress Anna Magnani, who famously said, "Please don't retouch my wrinkles. It took me so long to earn them."

Sources

Reuters

From next year, Ashburton College's students won't be able to use them during school hours. Or see them. At all. Not even at lunchtime.

Principal Ross Preece (pictured) says the Board-approved new policy will address a number of concerns, including bullying.

Others include ensuring a better learning environment and reducing the amount of harmful content distributed through social media.

Parents and caregivers were informed of the new policy last week.

"If a phone is seen by a staff member, it will be confiscated", Preece has told parents.

"Refusal to hand over the phone will become a pastoral matter. Year 13 students will be allowed discreet use of cellphones.

"Our aim is to enhance both the social and academic curriculum."

Research

Preece says the Board chose to wait and consider evidence about the impact of cellphone use on student learning and ability to relate to others before banning their use.

The school therefore set about gathering evidence, It found phones are distracting and can impact students' ability to focus, which can have a negative effect on achievement rates.

Social interactions

Cellphones also negatively impact students' social interactions, Ashburton College found.

At present, Preece says staff see large numbers of students sitting at breaks and staring at their screens.

"Conversations are required in order to work together, to connect and collaborate. The ability to relate and engage positively with others also plays an important role in enhancing the culture of our school."

Bullying

A large portion of student bullying occurred on social media platforms, according to Preece.

The school has little jurisdiction over this due to privacy laws, he says.

"It's a real challenge for schools to deal with the influence of social media. Particularly when parents give their children unfettered access."

When it comes to bullying, if it happens at school, we can deal with it, he says.

"But the vast majority of stuff is online; it's actually quite rare to have a physical encounter … most of the damage is done via social media."

Preece emphasises Ashburton College is working to develop learners who are engaged in learning for life, collaborative, connected and creative.

This means providing an environment where students are encouraged to develop these skills, attitudes and attributes, he says.

Source

• ODT

The research published in Experiences of Workplace Bullying and Harassment in Aotearoa New Zealand showed 61% of disabled workers had been racially harassed in the previous five years, compared to 37% of non-disabled workers.

Nearly 60% of disabled workers had been sexually harassed in the same time period compared to 28% of non-disabled workers.

Meanwhile, 52% had been bullied in the previous 12 months, compared to 17% of non-disabled workers.Read more

On Monday it was revealed Uffindell had been asked to leave King's College as a 16-year-old after taking part in a group assault on a younger boy.

Speaking with media on Tuesday, Uffindell conceded he was a bully at school and "punched a few people".

"I was effectively a bully and I was a mean person and there will be other people at high school that I have hurt one way or another and for those people as well I just want to apologise for that. I'm not proud of it at all." Read more

"There's no reprieve for the victim, it's just ongoing, they can't get away from it."

It was much easier for online bullies to conceal their identities which made intervention harder, she said.

Schools were supposed to be a safe space for students, but if bullied, they were unlikely to have a sense of belonging and security. They were likely to internalise the feelings of rejection which led to mental health issues such as depression and anxiety.

And the depression and anxiety spiralled as they continued to be bullied, in what was a crucial development period of their lives, Swit said.

The bullying also impacted on the academic performance of the victims, as they struggled to concentrate on their work. Continue reading

• Dr Cara Swit has published a research review asking what is bullying and is entitled "Aggression and bullying in early childhood."

The fighters included both girls and boys.

Principal Patrick Walsh says John Paul College takes fighting seriously and is now in the process of disciplining the students involved.

"The students have been identified, we've notified the parents and we're working through a disciplinary process with them."

"The college has a dedicated and very responsive pastoral team who are managing the incident well," he says.

"These are isolated incidents but happen in every school from time to time."

However, a parent from the school says in her view Walsh's response is insufficient to prevent the "horrific bullying and fighting" she believes occurs daily on school grounds.

She says she only learned about the fights last week after another parent shared a video of the boys fighting in the toilet.

She doesn't think the John Paul College principal is going far enough in his disciplinary actions.

"I mean, other schools are expelling kids...

"If there's no consequence, then how are [the attackers] going to learn that it's not ok?"

Walsh disagrees.

"There are consequences, some are at the extreme end in terms of stand-downs and suspensions. We do treat the matter very seriously - we take a disciplinary approach to it but also there's a therapeutic and educative approach as well", he told the NZ Herald.

"We need to advise students why fighting is not a good idea and that they need to use other means to resolve conflicts."

Walsh said the conflicts usually began on social media.

"They generally have their genesis in inappropriate comments made on social media by students, which is a matter schools up and down the country grapple with.

"There were no serious injuries and I think it's boys getting a bit testosterone-inflamed over things. Social media has its benefits but it obviously has its downsides as well. People will say things on social media that in the cold light of day they regret saying."

He said he was pleased with how quickly other students reported the fights to school staff.

On Tuesday, CathNews reported an independent review said allegations of racism, bullying and elitism at Rotorua's John Paul College are "false or incorrect".

Earlier this year the college's board of trustees ordered an independent investigation "by its own choice".

Source

• NewsHub
• NZ Herald
• Image: TVNZ

The Board of Trustees and principal ordered the review after the Bishop of Hamilton, Stephen Lowe, received a complaint via email regarding alleged "systemic racism" resulting in Maori whanau either withdrawing or choosing not to enrol at the college.

But the college believes the allegations are not supported by evidence and are factually incorrect.

Board of Trustees chairman Jean-Paul Gaston said the board "by its own choice" had started an independent review into the alleged matters raised in the complaint in the interest of transparency and objectivity. Read more

The man, who lives in the Wairarapa, said while most of the community had been supportive, he has also been the target of harassment. Read more

"We must all unite against this culture of bullying and learn to say ‘Enough!'

"It is an epidemic, and together you can find the best medicine to treat it."

"Bullies are afraid, and they cover their fear by showing 'strength'" the Pontiff said.

He made the comments while talking with students in Japan, and was responding to testimony from students who recalled the pressures they face in a hyper-competitive society.

The students described their feelings of inadequacy and the cruelty they sometimes face from their classmates, saying bullying and cruelty sometimes drive young people to suicide.

An alarming rate of suicide is one of the significant issues facing Japan, and Francis again returned to the topic when visiting with the country's bishops.

Francis urged the country's bishops to cater to young people in particular since they are the most prone to commit suicide and are "thirsting for compassion."

"Try to create spaces in which the culture of efficiency, performance and success can become open to a culture of generosity and selfless love, capable of offering to everyone — not only to those who have ‘made it' — the possibility of a happy and successful life," he said.

"With their zeal, ideas and energy, young people — when well-formed and accompanied — can be a deep source of hope to their contemporaries and bear vital witness to Christian charity."

The suicide problem started in Japan in the late 1990s and reached a peak in 2003 when 70 people committed suicide each day.

Although suicide rates have fallen, now the subject of discussion within the country is the issue of secondary school students and also younger primary school students who commit suicide.

Last year in Japan, more than 300 students took their own life.

Government data shows that depression, the pressure of family life and work-life, and bullying are the main causes.

Sources

• RNS
• AP News

Peter Boshier said the school had "failed to ensure the student was safe."

He called the Board of Trustees' response to the complaint Siobhan Harvey made about the bullying of her son "unreasonable".

Boshier recommended the Board of Trustees apologise to Harvey for the way the school handled the complaint.

And he called on them to review the school's harassment and bullying policies.

He was highly critical of an "independent review" into Harvey's complaint against the school.

The review had an anonymous author, was not signed or dated and did not inform parents or seek their input.

The Board of Trustees accepted the findings of the "independent review" and reported to Harvey they were "comfortable" with the way the college acted.

The ombudsman said it was regrettable that this is the third complaint that the office has dealt with in recent times.

"There appears to have been a failure by the college to deal effectively with this behaviour, with the result that it has taken a toll on the health of a student."

On Friday evening the new principal of Sacred Heart College, Stephen Dooley, admitted: "the situation in 2016 was not well-handled".

"We can reassure our school community that new initiatives will continue to be implemented to develop a much stronger and caring college."

He said a raft of changes had been introduced since 2016, including updated and clearly defined procedures for reporting, documenting and managing student and parent concerns.

He said there was now a network of support structures in place to ensure students felt they were learning in a safe environment.

"A more prominent emphasis is placed on anti-bullying messages, and creating more channels for students to report incidents of concern," he said.

Source

• nzherald.co.nz
• tvnz.co.nz
• Image: rnz.co.nz