Critics are saying the new anti terrorism laws are being rushed through Parliament too quickly. There was widespread support in parliament at the first reading stage of the Countering Terrorist Fighters Legislation Bill which passed its first reading on Tuesday by 107 votes to 14. There is some concern being expressed however at the limited time available for Read more
New Zealand cannot stand aloof from involvement in the Middle East when so many people are suffering and dying says Archbishop John Dew, President of the New Zealand Catholic Bishops’ Conference. He has written to Prime Minister John Key, offering the support of the New Zealand Catholic Bishops for the cautious and measured approach to making Read more
Muslim leaders have reported a spike in racial abuse aimed mostly at women and children, many walking to and from school. In his address on Wednesday the Prime Minister of New Zealand, John Key, stressed that of those few individuals on a security watch list none are representative of New Zealand’s Muslim community as a Read more
The president of the Federation of Islamic Associations (FIANZ), Anwar Ghani, is calling on the Prime Minister for a meeting after contacting his office 10 days ago. On Sunday Ghani told ONE News his organisation contacted the Prime Ministers office in hopes of a private meeting to raise concerns and to tell John Key to Read more
A magazine of the militant Islamic group ISIS has called for a war against the Catholic Church. With the headline “The Failed Crusade”, the photo-shopped cover of the latest issue of Dabiq shows a black ISIS flag at St Peter’s Square. The article issues threats against Rome and the Vatican, threatening to “conquer” Rome and Read more
A leader from New Zealand’s Assyrian Christian community is calling for New Zealand to help the hundreds of thousands of their kind displaced by Islamic State militants in Northern Iraq. Assyrian priest Father Aprem Pithyou, of the Ancient Church of the East in Strathmore, Wellington, says his people need more humanitarian aid and wants Immigration Read more
Moslem leaders have expressed disappointment about the backlash they are experiencing as a result of the activity of Moslem extremists. While they are disheartened by this they say the situation is not as bad in New Zealand as it is in other places. The constant association with radicals is disheartening, says the President of the Read more
Three years ago, the Islamic State (Isis) did not exist; now it controls vast swathes of Syria and Iraq. Showing off its handiwork daily via Twitter and YouTube, Isis has repeatedly demonstrated that it is much more than a transnational terrorist organisation – rather, it is an entity with sophisticated command, control, propaganda and logistical Read more
Convert, leave, or die. That’s the trio of awful options ISIS is giving to Christians in Iraq. Sadly, there’s an all-too-familiar ring to this ultimatum. These were the exact options given to all Catholic clergy in Ireland when England instituted the penal laws against Catholics several hundred years ago. When William of Orange defeated his Read more
Pope Francis says the international community would be justified in stopping Islamist militants in Iraq, but no single nation should decide how to do this. On his plane flying back from Korea, the Pope had an hour long conversation with journalists. Francis was asked if he approved of US strikes against ISIS insurgents who have recently Read more