It is a poignant coincidence that Popes John XXIII and John Paul II will be canonized as Catholic saints on the eve of Yom Hashoah, the international day of Holocaust remembrance observed in Israel and by Jews around the world. These two popes’ personal narratives are inseparable from the Holocaust, and their reactions to the Read more
As I have mentioned in a previous posting, there are many different sorts of martyrdom–in the broad sense of bearing witness, at a high or ultimate cost, to an awkward truth or passionately embraced cause. Independence movements, environmental campaigns, investigative journalism, humanitarian missions to war zones. They all draw inspiration from sons and daughters who perished in Read more
New Testament scholars have spent an impressive amount of energy on the study of the historical Jesus and much of it in the last few decades has revolved around his Jewishness. Christian reawakening to the Jewishness of Jesus began in the late nineteenth century but received greater attention as Christians devoted increased attention to Jews Read more
A New Zealander, Archbishop Sir David Moxon, has played a key role in bringing about an historic interfaith accord against human trafficking. Eradicating modern slavery and human trafficking worldwide by 2020 is the goal of the newly-formed Global Freedom Network. An accord was signed at the Vatican on March 17 by representatives of Pope Francis, Read more
When Marvel Comics announced the debut of its latest superhero — a 16-year-old Pakistani-American Muslim from Jersey City, N.J. — it was correctly seen as a positive development. Created and written by two American Muslim women, Kamala Khan (aka Ms. Marvel) holds promise. But while Khan is a comic book character, she should not become Read more
Sometimes truth is so hard to stomach that even though it stares you in the face and shouts itself hoarse trying to be heard we remain oblivious to its presence. This may be because the emerging truth demands much of us. The truth I have to face is that the Christian religion I represent has Read more
The New Zealand Catholic Bishops’ Committee for Interfaith Relations has been the recipient of two awards in recent times The Committee was awarded one of nine annual diversity awards by the Human Rights Commission acknowledging individuals and organisations that have made outstanding contributions to the New Zealand Diversity Action Programme through projects and programmes. Last Read more
For the National Interfaith Forum, February 2012. The national interfaith movement received a shot in the arm from the largest ever national interfaith forum held in Hamilton on the weekend of 18-19 February.
The forum, which has been held annually since 2003, brings together regional interfaith groups, faith community leaders, academics and human rights advocates to tackle the issues of interfaith dialogue and cooperation. Over 200 people attended all or part of the forum, which also included associated forums for youth, men and women. Keynote speakers were Dr Anna Halafoff from Melbourne, and religious broadcaster Chris Nichol.
Read the article...The Week of Prayer for World Peace is an opportunity for people of all faiths to pray in their own gatherings or with people of other faiths for world peace.
The Week will be observed in New Zealand from 16-23 October. A leaflet has been produced by the New Zealand organising committee with prayers, readings and affirmations from many faiths to use each day.
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Give peace a chance. That was the message delivered by Victoria University School of Art head of history, classics and religious studies Associate Prof Chris Marshall when he delivered the Dunedin Abrahamic Interfaith Group peace lecture. “Be true to your tradition, but be open to discussions about goodness and beauty and other traditions. God is Read more