Papua New Guinea is the new frontier for the expansion of Islam in Oceania says Fr. Franco Zocca SVD, a missionary in Goroka and scholar of Islam at the Melanesian Insitute. Islam arrived in Papua New Guinea about 35 years ago, when a mosque was opened near Kimbe, West New Britain. Islam was officially registered Read more
New Zealand’s Catholic Bishops’ Committee for Interfaith Relations has sent a Chag Sameach to the NZ Jewish community. Chag sameach means “Happy holiday” in Hebrew. Chag is the Hebrew word for holiday, sameach is the Hebrew word for happy. Chag sameach is the traditional greeting among Jews before any holiday. The message reads: Dear Jewish Read more
A new Hindu Temple and community centre will be key to linking West Aucklanders with the local Indian community, says the president of the Shri Ram Mandir Charitable Trust. About 500 people witnessed the ground breaking and blessing ceremony at the site of the future community centre and temple on Brick St in Henderson. The Read more
A law and Religion conference was held in Samoa at the beginning of May. The main purpose of the conference was to look for ways to ensure the establishment of robust relationships that would promote religious freedom and tolerance and mutual respect for different churches and faiths, including, a sensitivity to and respect for, local practices. In his Read more
JAKARTA: A mob of 600 Islamic hardliners threw plastic bags filled with urine at an Indonesian Christians who were celebrating the ascension of Christ, a lawyer said on Friday. The attack, during which stones and dirt were also hurled, occurred on Thursday as around 100 Christians prepared to hold a service at a church in Read more
Sonny Bill Williams has so far not responded to a comment made by broadcaster Murray Deaker about his religion. Williams is a Muslim. In February, Deaker declared on Sky TV that he did not like Williams: “He is a Muslim, in a so-called Christian country, and that makes me uncomfortable.” Sky will not release the Deaker on Read more
The Federation of Islamic Associations wants to discuss religious holidays as part of the Government’s constitutional review. They are planning to petition the Government to make Christmas and Easter holidays transferable so that they can be taken on Muslim religious festivals Association president Anwar Ghani says at present, Muslims have to take up to four Read more
A multi-faith prayer service will be held in all of New Zealand’s Catholic dioceses to mark the 25th Anniversary of the Assisi Peace Meeting. The New Zealand Catholic Bishops Committee for Interfaith Relations is organising the events, which will take place on or around the 27 October 2011. The St Francis of Assisi Day of Read more
It was a busy time for Pope Benedict in Germany. Although not without some criticism and protest, Pope Benedict has received an exuberant welcome from his fellow countrymen. In his opening address the Pope said, “I have not come here primarily to pursue particular political or economic goals, as other statesmen rightly do,” he said, Read more
Do Muslims and Christians worship the same God ? Muslims claim that “There is only one God and Mohammed is his prophet.” while Christians claim that “There is only one God and Jesus is his Son”. Clearly we are in disagreement about Mohammed and Jesus, for even though Muslims say they believe in Jesus as a Read more