New Zealand’s Catholic bishops have written a statement on the 2014 General Election, with particular emphasis on remembering the poor and vulnerable. According to the New Zealand Catholic Bishops Conference website, the statement is written for Catholics to read and reflect upon. It begins with a quote from Pope Francis: “The goal of economics and Read more
The New Zealand Catholic Bishops Committee for Interfaith Relations has sent a message to Muslim communities in New Zealand. Sent to mark the Muslim feast of Eid-al-fitr, which ends the Ramadan period, the message encourages prayers and work for peace. The text of the message reads: “Dear friends, “Eid al-fitr draws near. On behalf of the Read more
In October 2014, there will be a meeting of the Synod of Bishops in Rome to examine “Pastoral challenges of the family in the context of evangelisation”. To assist them prepare for the Synod the Bishops of New Zealand have asked Catholics across New Zealand to respond to a marriage questionnaire. The New Zealand Catholic Read more
The New Zealand Catholic Bishops Conference have written to the group calling themselves Catholic Action and instructed them to cease using the word Catholic in their name immediately. The bishops do not consider the language used by the group in its communications, and actions the group has taken, to be consistent with the way in Read more
New Zealand needs a greater commitment to measuring the children’s well-being say New Zealand’s Catholic Bishops. Responding to the release of the UNICEF Innocenti report into Child well-being in rich countries, Archbishop John Dew, speaking on behalf of the New Zealand Catholic Bishops Conference, said it was a matter of concern that New Zealand does Read more
On behalf of the Bishops, clergy, religious and lay faithful of Aotearoa New Zealand we send you our prayerful good wishes and congratulations on your election to the See of Peter. You are someone chosen to be Bishop of Rome from a country far away; we too are very far away deep in the Southern Read more
A Parliamentary Select Committee has recommended that a bill to legalise same gender marriage be passed into law. The Government Administration Committee said the private member’s bill should progress, but with an amendment to make it clear that no minister was obliged to marry someone against their own beliefs. New Zealand’s Catholic Bishops say they Read more
The New Zealand Catholic Bishops Conference have decided to integrate the operations and governance of Mahitahi – Catholic Overseas Volunteers – with that of Caritas, to improve and strengthen both organisations. Mahitahi will retain its own identity, profile and strategic direction, within and supported by the Caritas structure and administration. For the last two years, Mahitahi has Read more
The New Zealand Catholic Bishops Conference has announced they’ve appointed Louise Campbell as the incoming Director of the National Liturgy Office, commencing on 2 October 2012. Louise has been working as a Liturgy Advisor for the Auckland Diocese for the past thirteen years. While in this role she was an Auckland member of the National Liturgy Read more
It is true that we often speak of “sacred” vestments, books and objects but sacredness is not contained in the objects themselves. For centuries these were not blessed and churches were not consecrated because what makes objects sacred is what they are used for; the iPad is no exception says Liturgy professor, Mgr. Giulio Viviani, who was Read more