An increasing number of businesses and government organisations are now getting certified for cultural capability through the CQ Tick. The CQ Tick is a measure of an organisation’s cultural capability as a critical competency for 21st Century leaders – and for their organisations to win diverse customers and to retain diverse staff – is the Read more
Posts Tagged ‘Culture’
Is it lawful in Fiji to have race-based church structures?
Monday, September 11th, 2017
Is it constitutional to have a race-based division in an institution in Fiji? That is the question being asked after the Methodist Church in Fiji recently decided that it will continue to have an Indian Division in the church. Last year the superintendent of the Indian Division of the Church, Reverend Dr Immanuel Reuben, tabled Read more
Spiritual lessons from Game of Thrones
Monday, August 28th, 2017
Every once in a while, it’s good to step back and scan the horizon of contemporary culture. It’s beneficial on many levels to recognize what’s popular, and to honestly discern: How is a particular cultural phenomenon affecting the life of Christian believers? How can this phenomenon be “baptized” and used to help people of faith? Read more
Can a parish priest make everyone happy in a multicultural parish?
Monday, August 7th, 2017
A wet knot on a pair of sneakers is hard to untie – even harder when they’re on your feet. As the pastor of a multigenerational, multicultural, and multilingual (Spanish, Vietnamese, and English) parish, I at times feel responsible for untying a lot of wet knots. Farm workers from Central Mexico founded the parish where Read more
Archbishop Chong – churches must be ready to challenge injustice
Monday, July 3rd, 2017
Churches must be ready to challenge village councils when leaders act unjustly says the Archbishop of Suva Peter Loy Chong. He was speaking after a Justice and Development Commission Seminar entitled “Reading the Signs of the Times in Fiji – Catholic Social Teaching and Socio-Political Issues”. “There are times when the church will tell village Read more
Having lost the culture wars, should Christians withdraw?
Monday, March 6th, 2017
Conservative Christians in America are enjoying fresh winds of political favor. In his first month in office, President Trump upheld his promise to nominate a conservative Supreme Court justice. Last week, his administration rescinded former guidelines allowing transgender students to use the public school bathrooms of their choice. And evangelical leaders report having direct access Read more
No one can be forced to attend church services
Monday, March 6th, 2017
The question of Sunday church attendance has been raised in Fiji, in the course of a consultation about village by-laws which is taking place there. Responding suggestions some villagers have made for a village by-law stating that everyone living in villages should attend church every Sunday Permanent Secretary for iTaukei Affairs Naipote Katonitabua says no one Read more
Catholic culture and the Nativity scene at the Vatican
Friday, December 2nd, 2016
ROME – Just as with department store windows in the United States, reminders in Rome that Christmas is coming seem to start popping up earlier and earlier ever year. Of course Italians don’t celebrate Thanksgiving, but it’s worth pointing out that Turkey Day just happened and it feels like Christmas season is here. This week, Read more
Pope slams culture of ‘perfect’ people shunning disabled
Tuesday, June 14th, 2016
Pope Francis has decried the obsession with perfect bodies, saying it leads society to hide the disabled to avoid offending the privileged. In a homily at a Mass at St Peter’s Square on Sunday for the Jubilee of the Sick and Disabled, the Pope called for mutual solidarity and acceptance. Francis criticised the modern “objections” Read more
Education from a Māori point of view
Friday, July 3rd, 2015
A book by the educator and anthropologist Dame Joan Metge was launched at the University of Auckland last week. Tauira – a word that in te reo (the Maori language) illuminatingly means both student and teacher introduces readers to Māori methods of teaching and learning. Tauira is based on extensive interviews with 25 Maori people in Read more