Pope Francis announced that he was “postponing the usual catechesis,” given every Wednesday, to renew his plea in favour of welcoming migrants, “who – even at this moment – are crossing seas and deserts to reach a land where they can live in peace and safety,” he said. This new appeal, made August 28 in Read more
Posts Tagged ‘Migrants and Refugees’
Bishop condemns acts of violence and stands with those supporting migrants and refugees
Thursday, August 8th, 2024The Lead Bishop for Migrants and Refugees, Bishop Paul McAleenan, has condemned the riots that have taken place across the UK, saying such violence threatens the values of our society. “I condemn the appalling violence over the past week, especially that directed at migrants and their places of residence,” said Bishop McAleenan. “They demonstrate a Read more
Migrants and their pastoral care is key, say bishops
Thursday, June 6th, 2024
Migrants and their pastoral care throughout the Pacific and Oceania was a central discussion point last week. In Wellington that is, during the Federation of Catholic Bishops Conference of Oceania (FCBCO) meeting. Catholic Archbishop of Wellington Paul Martin and the Wellington Archdiocese hosted the three-day meeting. In recent decades migration has become the key to Read more
Pope welcomes migrant he’s been praying for
Monday, November 20th, 2023When Mbengue Nyimbilo Crepin told Pope Francis of his harrowing journey to Italy and about the deaths of his wife and 6-year-old daughter in the desert along the border between Libya and Tunisia, the pope told him he had been praying for them since July. Nyimbilo, known as “Pato,” sobbed Nov 17 as he shared Read more
Meanness toward migrants and refugees
Thursday, June 6th, 2019
“The signs of meanness we see around us heighten our fear of ‘the other,’ the unknown, the marginalized, the foreigner,” and thus many migrants seeking a better life end up as recipients of this meanness, said Pope Francis in his recently released 2019 World Day of Migrants and Refugees message. The Holy Father warned that Read more
Bishop asked how Vatican wall differs from US border wall
Thursday, May 2nd, 2019One of the most famous walls in history is the wall around the Vatican City. At a congressional hearing Clay Higgins, a member of the US House of Representatives asked Bishop Mark Seitz how this wall differed from the US border wall. Read more
NZ’s hypocrisy on family reunifications
Thursday, July 5th, 2018Peter Dunne argues New Zealanders angry about Trump’s family separations policy should look instead at our own racist policy on family reunifications. Continue reading
Palmerston North welcomes 160 refugees in 12 months
Monday, June 25th, 2018
Palmerston North settled more than 40 households of approximately 160 former refugees over the last 12 months, according to the Red Cross Service Centre. They include Burmese Muslim, Rohingya from Myanmar, Palestinians from Syria, Afghan Dari speakers, Karen from Myanmar, South Sudanese and Bhutanese Nepali. The centre trains over 100 volunteers to work in teams Read more
Polish priest wishing for Pope’s death rebuked
Thursday, March 22nd, 2018
A Polish priest who said in a homily last month he wished Pope Francis would die an early death has been called to account by his archbishop. Father Edward Staniek was evidently reacting to Francis’s call for Catholics to take in Muslim refugees because it was their Christian duty. “I pray for the Pope in Read more
Manus Island – the priest and the Major show everyday humanity and decency
Monday, November 27th, 2017
The decency and integrity of two Manus Islanders, a Catholic priest and a retired army major, has impressed Kon Karapanagiotidis from the Asylum Seeker Resource Centre. He said their story shows us the power of people’s everyday humanity and decency. “These men highlight an important story that has been missed by many.” The two Manusian Read more