A Catholic priest in Papua New Guinea has condemned the nation’s shocking child health statistics. Writing in PNG’s Catholic Reporter, Fr John Glynn of the We Care Foundation in Port Moresby pointed to United Nation’s statistics that he called “terrifying in their implications”. Fr Glynn wrote that 45 per cent of PNG children have stunted Read more
A Papua New Guinea lawyer says the influence of fundamentalist Christians from oversees is partly to blame for a proposed crackdown on sexting in PNG. Constitutional lawyer Tiffany Twivey-Nongorr has called the proposed PNG ban an outrageous breach of human rights. As part of a review of the Censorship Act, PNG’s Censorhip Board is considering Read more
Helping Melanesian Catholics better appreciate the Bible is one way of combating propaganda from sects and increasing fundamentalism in the region. That was one of the outcomes hoped for from a Bible Sunday organised by the bishops of Papua New Guinea and the Solomon Islands for August 3. The day was intended to move “the Read more
On 15 April Pope Francis authorised the Congregation of the Causes of Saints to promulgate a decree regarding the heroic virtues of Bishop Alain-Marie Guynot de Boismenu, the second vicar apostolic of Papua New Guinea. This is the first step in the process that leads to sainthood. His cause was opened in 1984 and was forwarded Read more
As soon as issues related to poverty, population growth and sexual behaviour arise, contraception is also called into question. At the moment this is also the case of Papua New Guinea. There is indeed a form of “voluntary” or natural contraception when people decide to avoid procreation by orienting their sexual behaviour; and a form Read more
Papua New Guinea’s justice minister has told parliament he will enforce the nation’s death penalty laws. Kerenga Kua told the chamber last Thursday a government task force had visited Texas in the United States, Indonesia and Thailand to gauge the mechanics of how to implement it, the Post Courier reported. “A full report has been Read more
Many former PNG missionaries, especially those from Aitape, were present at the funeral of Bishop Tony Burgess which took place in Sydney on 30 October. In the absence of Cardinal Pell, Archbishop Denis Hart of Melbourne was principal celebrant. There were also a good number of Australian Bishops present for the Requiem Mass. Priests from Read more
The validity of United nations report on Gender Violence has been called into question by the President of the Autonomous Region of Bougainville, John Momis. He says that since the Report has not yet been formally presented to the Government, he is not “prepared to go into a point by point rebuttal of the findings”. Read more
The retired Bishop of Wewak, Tony Burgess, died in Sydney on Sunday 23 October. He spent 40 years working in Papua New Guinea. Arriving in 1973 he was sent to Karaitem near Lumi in the Torrecelli Mountains. Lumi was a large government station and the parish was under the care of Franciscan Fr. Tom Ritchie. Read more
The Pacific Council of Churches wants to see more consultation over the asylum seeker deal between Australia and Papua New Guinea. The regional church body says with the possible resettlement of asylum seekers from different countries in Papua New Guinea, a policy of assimilation will have to be looked at to help the newcomers fit Read more