Posts Tagged ‘Democracy’

Basic church communities growing again in Brazil

Monday, July 31st, 2023
basic church communities

Small or basic church communities are back in vogue in Brazil, and Pope Francis is stepping in to revive them, cranking up young people’s support and interest. The once powerful Brazilian basic church communities have declined since the 1990s. Last week, 1,000 Brazilian basic church community leaders gathered to discuss Brazil’s most pressing issues, from Read more

How AI’s threatens our economies, societies, and democracies

Thursday, April 27th, 2023
AI

In six months, a year, or two, from now, the first wave of AI-made layoffs will hit the economy. A whole lot of execs, having figured out that a whole lot of people are beginning to use AI to do their jobs, are going to dispense with the middleman. They won’t care very much if Read more

Catholic defector wants NZ to understand democratic freedom

Monday, March 13th, 2023
Catholic defector

A Catholic defector granted asylum in New Zealand in 2018 says he wants New Zealanders to understand the importance of democratic freedom. When Dong Luobin, now 39, fled from Auckland’s Consulate for the People’s Republic of China nearly five years ago, he told NZ police he feared his Catholicism was putting his life in danger. Read more

The abortion fight has never been about just Roe v. Wade

Monday, May 24th, 2021
roe v. wade

This week, the US Supreme Court agreed to hear a case that could result in the overruling of Roe v. Wade. The case, Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization, involves a Mississippi law that bans abortion starting at the 15th week of pregnancy. Significantly, the statute draws the line before fetal viability—the point at which Read more

Myanmar steps back into darkness

Thursday, April 22nd, 2021
myanmar step back

Since the February 1 coup, the Tatmadaw – the official name of Myanmar’s armed forces – has escalated its crackdown on citizens protesting against the military takeover that ousted Myanmar’s democratically elected government. Unfortunately, this brutal reaction is only the latest in a series of repressive moves across Southeast Asia in recent years as political groups, backed by powerful Read more

Democratic values compete with Buddhist ones in Myanmar

Monday, February 22nd, 2021

The military coup in Myanmar has been difficult for many Westerners to comprehend. Why did the generals act when they had effectively been in control of the country since allowing elections in 2011? Why move against civilian leader Aung San Suu Kyi, when she had gone along with so much of their program, even defending Read more

Cardinal Bo: Let us pray for Hong Kong

Monday, July 6th, 2020
hong kong

On behalf of the Federation of Asian Bishops’ Conferences, I call on Christians of all traditions and people of all faiths, throughout Asia and the world, to pray for Hong Kong, and indeed for China and all her people, with great insistence. The government of China has imposed a new national security law on Hong Read more

The end of Hong Kong is being prepared

Thursday, June 4th, 2020
hong kong

History is repeating itself in Hong Kong. In 2003, after the SARS epidemic, attempts were made to introduce a national security law. Similarly, it is happening now as the coronavirus recedes. But this time we fear there will be no happy ending. It is difficult to find words that we have not already written to Read more

Abortion law rushed and undemocratic

Monday, October 14th, 2019
Andrew Little undemocratic behaviour

Submitters to the Parliamentary committee on abortion legislation are accusing Justice Minister, Andrew Little of undemocratic behaviour; rushing through liberalised abortion laws. They are angry their voices are denied a hearing by the special Select Committee taking public input on his Abortion Legislation Bill. Committee chair, Ruth Dyson, Wednesday, announced the committee would only hear Read more

NZ Parliament turns democracy on its head

Monday, July 1st, 2019
culture of life

I am writing to congratulate Members of Parliament who bravely defended the God-given right to life of every member of our community and voted against the End of Life Choice bill (EOLCB). By voting in favour of this bill at the second reading, Parliament has abandoned its commitment to upholding a culture of life and Read more