Posts Tagged ‘Church’

Saints, pigs and the Bishop of PNG

Tuesday, June 10th, 2014

Stepping over a pig about to be slaughtered while accompanying the relic of a potential saint may seem a somewhat unusual piece of Church business. But for Bishop of Papua New Guinea’s Kimbe province Capuchin Bill Fey such events are not especially unusual. “On that instance, I was part of a procession carrying a relic of Read more

Oceania Catholics’ strong community

Tuesday, June 3rd, 2014

Last month Wellington hosted the four-yearly plenary assembly of the bishops of the Federation of Catholic Bishops of Oceania (FCBCO). But it would be no surprise if anyone attending the opening Mass thought they had been carried off to the Pacific Islands, with the vibrant contribution of the Samoan and Tokelauan communities. It was one Read more

Love: listening and respecting

Friday, May 23rd, 2014
gay priests

Everybody knows that same-sex marriage and homosexual acts are contrary to Catholic moral teaching. Yet that same teaching also says that gay and lesbian people must be treated with “respect, sensitivity and compassion.” As more states pass laws legalising same-sex marriage, more gay and lesbian Catholics are entering into these unions. This leaves some Catholics Read more

Single mothers are saints

Tuesday, May 13th, 2014

These days any single mother who decides to keep her baby is a heroine … even a saint. Ironically, for those who identify as Catholic, greater courage may be required. Catholic bioethicist Bernadette Tobin writes: “In order to understand the teachings of the Catholic Church in relation to questions about the beginning of life, we Read more

Anglican commission considers separate church for gays

Tuesday, April 8th, 2014

Differences over the blessing and ordination of gays could see the Anglican church in New Zealand could split or even disintegrate. These are two of the options being considered by a church commission dealing with differing views over same-sex relationships. The commission, established two years ago, and chaired by former governor-general, Sir Anand Satyanand, was Read more

Adoption “made my life more full”

Friday, March 28th, 2014

It’s what they talk about in movies and soap operas; 15-years-old, Catholic and pregnant. The daughter of a well known policeman, to the son of a well known Catholic school principal. The shame. The embarrassment. The scandal. Well, that was me, the 15-year-old girl, and from the moment I snuck to the doctors to have Read more

Church change must come from the base

Tuesday, March 25th, 2014

The image that surfaces when Sr Teresa Forcades speaks is evocative of spiraling energy, bubbling in spirit, and of being on the ground with the needs of the people of God. Forcades — a Benedictine nun, activist, feminist theologian and physician from Catalonia in Spain — and Francis — a Jesuit pope from Argentina — Read more

Jury still out on Pope Francis

Friday, March 14th, 2014

March is a wet month in Rome. It was raining when Pope Francis was elected on 13 March 2013, and it was pouring raining again when I was back there last week in preparation for his first anniversary. But nothing seems to dampen media enthusiasm for Francis and his approach to what he calls his Read more

Buddhist charity helps rebuilds typhoon-hit church

Tuesday, March 4th, 2014

The world’s largest Buddhist charity is helping rebuild a Catholic Church in the Philippines that was badly damaged in Super-typhoon Haiyan last year. The Tzu Chi Foundation is donating US$670,000 for the reconstruction of the Santo Nino parish church in Tacloban City. This show of generosity has been warmly welcomed by the Church. As many Read more

Poland sees decline in public trust of Church

Tuesday, February 25th, 2014

Some 74 per cent of Poles think that religion is not always the source of morality and people should follow their own conscience first. The results of a poll by the Warsaw-based CBOS polling agency reveal a significant decline of public trust regarding religion in Poland. The poll showed a significant increase in Poles who Read more