A former New Zealand Prime Minister who was until recently administrator of the United Nations Development Programme believes the role of religion and faith organisations in developing and securing peace is “absolutely critical”. – Originally published 7 August 2017. The Rt Hon Helen Clark ONZ PC said this in response to a question put to Read more
God or Godde? He or she? Does it matter, so long as people are comfortable with whatever they decide? For those to whom God is an important concept, is there anything important at stake in the pronoun that refers to God? Fortunately, New Zealanders of all people have a solution right under their noses. In Read more
The National Centre for Religious Studies is providing guidance to Catholic schools throughout New Zealand on gender complexity. The guidance, endorsed by the New Zealand Catholic Bishops’ Conference, is for principals, boards of trustees, staff and whānau. It provides a point of reference in the support and accompaniment of children and young people who may Read more
St Patrick’s College Wellington was one of four schools Stuff journalist Rachael Thomas asked recently how they teach sex and sexuality. The Rector of St Patrick’s, Neal Swindells, told her the Catholic perspective still plays a huge part. However, he believes that creating a sense of guilt was ” the worst thing the Catholic church did in Read more
A working group set up explore how different strands of thinking on sexuality could be kept together in the Anglican Church in Aotearoa, New Zealand and Polynesia has published its interim report. In their interim report, the working group recommends that there should be “no alteration to the formularies of this Church” and that dioceses Read more
On Monday a report about same gender marriage was presented to the General Synod of the Anglican Church. The report upheld the “traditional doctrine of marriage”, which defined marriage as being “between a man and a woman … life-long and monogamous”. However it proposed a compromise solution which would allow the blessing of same gender couples Read more
Statistics New Zealand has introduced the term ‘gender diverse’ as a category to encompass people who do not identify as either male or female. Family First national director Bob McCoskrie is questioning the reasoning behind the move to introduce a new gender category. He says it only fuelled gender-identity politics. “I’ve seen even trans advocate 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
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
Earlier in the year, in Guam, a same gender couple launched legal action after being refused a marriage licence. Loretta M. Pangelinan and Kathleen M. Aguero, both 28, sued after the registrar refused them a license because Guam law defines marriage as a union between two people of the opposite sex. The Attorney-General said a Read more