For more than 13 years, Ursula Rakova has been battling to relocate her people from the Carteret Islands in Papua New Guinea, which are slowly being swamped by the sea. They don’t want to give up the way of life of generations before them, but they have no choice. More than 3000 people are stuck Read more
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
In a motel’s car park in the balmy air of two-seasons tropical Port Moresby, I had an invigorating conversation with a man who asked me about snow. ‘Does it snow in Melbourne? I have not seen snow in six years. Where I am from there are seasons, and a foot of snow in the winter.’ Read more
Last month I joined with Rural Australians for Refugees (RAR) to speak at a series of public forums around the country to discuss the future for asylum seekers who remain in limbo in Papua New Guinea and Nauru. So far I have spoken in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Hobart and Launceston, Adelaide, Perth and Benalla in Read more
The Catholic Church in Papua New Guinea has turned housing developer in an effort to provide homes for migrant workers. In exchange, the local community will get voluntary help such as cleaning hospitals. The Saint John XXIII housing project is in the town of Kokopo, capital of East New Britain province. Although Kokopo’s population is Read more
Nuns in East New Britain are setting up the first safe house for victims of family violence in the Papua New Guinea province. The Daughters of Mary Immaculate Sisters (FMI) Sisters are setting up the safe house because of a local family violence problem.. They’re working in partnership with the Archdiocese of Rabaul and non-governmental Read more
Family planning advocates in Papua New Guinea have accused the Catholic Church of restricting their work. The Church has contracted with the government to run health clinics. The contract requires that full family planning clinics be part of the service. Critics say the church is failing to prove full planning services. The Church advocates natural Read more
A man who worked as a Catholic for priest for 28 years is the new Papua New Guinea’s Minister for Bougainville Affairs. Simon Dumarinu is a first time member of parliament. He narrowly defeated former Mining Minister Sam Akoitai in the Central Bougainville Open seat in the recent Papua New Guinea general election. A Barapang Read more
This year’s discussion at the Synod on Family tended to be reduced in Western media to two issues: communion for divorced-and-civilly remarried, and Church teaching and pastoral care regarding homosexuality. Actual topics brought up during meetings were much broader. As well as the ‘Western’ topics, Synod fathers also developed themes such as domestic violence, violence against Read more
Mohsen is late, but effusively apologetic as he sits down. “I can’t sleep at night for the nightmares,” he says. “In the dark I am back in that prison in my country,” – a middle-eastern country Guardian Australia has chosen not to name for fear of consequences for his family – “so instead I sleep Read more