Posts Tagged ‘Papua New Guinea’

Having a local as their bishop was a big concern for Papuans

Monday, November 7th, 2022
local bishop

After years of prayerful waiting, Catholics in Indonesia’s Papua finally have what they want — a bishop from their own ranks. Nearly 70 percent or about 3 million of the total 4.3 million population of this underdeveloped province are Christians. Around 675,000 are Catholics. Additionally, there are around 90,000 Catholics in West Papua out of Read more

Fred Hollows Foundation steps in to help critical PNG eye clinic

Monday, October 17th, 2022

A critical eye clinic in Papua New Guinea can now undertake operations without the worry of power cuts after assistance from the Fred Hollows Foundation in New Zealand. Fred Hollows has set up a solar energy system at the Madang Eye Clinic involving 160 photovoltaic panels and six batteries all running from a 20-foot shipping Read more

PNG to be officially declared a ‘Christian country’

Monday, August 24th, 2020

The Post Courier newspaper reported the preamble to the Constitution said PNG was founded on two basic principles – of cultural heritage and Christianity. Prime Minister James Marape said PNG had more than 20 different Christian churches. “Many who claim to be Christian integrate their Christian faith with some indigenous beliefs and practices,” he said. Read more

Call for action over contentious new PNG emergency Act

Monday, June 22nd, 2020

Paul Harricknen, from the Catholic Professionals’ Society, said the Public Health Emergency Act was rushed through parliament without proper consultation and debate. He said he wants the Ombudsman to either speak directly to the government or challenge the new law in the Supreme Court. “In many respects the act was unconstitutional,” Mr Harricknen said. Read Read more

PNG urged to discuss Manus Island refugees with NZ govt

Monday, February 24th, 2020

Papua New Guinea (PNG) should discuss resettling Manus Island refugees in New Zealand, says the Catholic Church in PNG. The general secretary of the Catholic Bishops Conference of PNG, Giorgio Licini, wrote to PNG’s Prime Minister James Marape in January about this. In the letter Licini reminded Marape of New Zealand’s long standing offer to Read more

Six PNG men jailed for abusing women accused of sorcery

Monday, July 8th, 2019

Six men in Papua New Guinea who tortured three women they claimed had practised sorcery have been sentenced to eight years each in jail. Justice David Susame told a National Court hearing in New Ireland, that it is becoming a practice in some parts of the country to round up people, accuse them of sorcery, Read more

Bishops attack government over corruption

Thursday, March 14th, 2019

Catholic bishops of Papua New Guinea have attacked the government for failing to take action on corruption. They have also attacked it for what they call its general incompetence. Read more

Bishops tell government to do more for refugees, asylum seekers

Monday, February 25th, 2019

Papua New Guinea’s (PNG’s) bishops are urging the government to do more to help resettle the country’s refugees and asylum seekers. Besides pushing for a definitive end to the detention of refugees on Manus Island, the bishops are also highlighting the plight of various groups in the country who have not gained refugee status. In Read more

Manus Island detainees – depression, self-harm, suicide attempts

Monday, February 11th, 2019

Manus Island detainees must be released. Mental illness among those incarcerated on the island are rife, says the bishops conference of Papua New Guinea (PNG). The general secretary of the Catholic Bishops Conference of PNG, Giorgio Licini, has written to Prime Minister Peter O’Neill saying PNG leaders should negotiate a deadline with Australia to release Read more

Poor medical care kills thousands

Thursday, November 15th, 2018

Poor medical care is causing thousands of Papuans to die needlessly. Many die in government-owned hospitals. Three months ago a document on patients who have passed away at Jayapura Public Hospital was circulated among journalists in Papua. It recorded 1,275 deaths from 2008 to 2012. Read more