"Nobody is perfect, and there are aspects of everybody's lives that they're not proud of. I would just say to the people that bring these things up is, 'let's just take a breath'."

He said it was very easy to attack individuals without considering their families who were impacted by the publicity.

"Where it's tough it's probably like any job where you are working away from home three or four days a week for the whole year.

The difference is probably that there's not 30 or 40 journalists camped outside your door the entire time and ready to keep scrutiny on you. That is the unusual aspect of the job."

Former Ministers have addressed "trauma and humiliation" during their valedictory speeches.

One revealed that they had even contemplated suicide due to the intense pressure of being an MP, and subsequent media criticism.

Iain Lees-Galloway, who was sacked from Cabinet by Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern two weeks ago, used his speech to apologise to his family.

He admitted that the relationship with the staffer was not appropriate, and acknowledged the power imbalanced involved.

But he said he and his family experienced "dehumanising trauma" after they were used for "headlines and clickbait."

Another former minister, Clare Curran was sacked from Cabinet by the prime minister in mid-2018.

She said her time as an MP was a privilege, but at times she was made a "public spectacle."

"Politicians should be held accountable. But we are not prey.

The accountability lacks perspective. If you don't believe me, go ask the public."

Source

• nzhearld.co.nz
• nzherald.co.nz
• nzhearald.co.nz
• Image: newsroom.co.nz

She said political reporting had evolved into a level of commentary that was destructive, and while MPs were reflecting on their own culture, she hoped the media would too.

"What is it going to take? Is it going to take somebody to die? That's what I am afraid of." Curran said. Read more

Migration has become a top political issue in many countries including the United States, Italy, Australia and Germany.

Francis's speech was released in the lead-up to the 2018 World Day of Peace which will be celebrated on New Year's Day.

In it he says politicians should realise migrants move out of desperation "when their own countries offer neither safety nor opportunity, and every legal pathway appears impractical, blocked or too slow".

He said he has noticed many countries accepting migrants and refugees have seen "the spread of rhetoric decrying the risks posed to national security or the high cost of welcoming new arrivals.

"Those who - for what may be political reasons - foment fear of migrants instead of building peace, are sowing violence, racial discrimination and xenophobia, which are matters of great concern for all those concerned for the safety of every human being."

Rather than take the negative viewpoint, Francis said nations should "welcome, protect and integrate" migrants.

Put into action, this would mean the world, and particularly Christians, must approach the issue with a "contemplative gaze".

This should go beyond polemics and be guided by justice and solidarity, helping to build peace at both the global and local level, he continued.

Using this perspective would help politicians, he pointed out.

"Those who see things in this way will be able to recognise the seeds of peace that are already sprouting and nurture their growth."

Francis also praised the "creativity, tenacity and spirit of sacrifice" displayed by the many people, families and communities ... who "open their doors and hearts to migrants and refugees, even where resources are scarce."

While Francis acknowledged immigrants can sometimes "compound numerous existing problems" and leaders have a "clear responsibility towards their own communities", he said practical ways had to be found to welcome newcomers.

Migrants can also enrich society with their cultures, skills and energy, he pointed out.

Francis also urged the United Nations to make "compassion, foresight and courage" the foundations for global compacts on migration and refugees that the world body is preparing for next year.

"Only in this way can the realism required of international politics avoid surrendering to cynicism and to the globalisation of indifference," he said.

Source

• Gulf Times
• Catholic News Agency
• The Daily Mail
• Image: ABC

They called the event "(Re)Thinking Europe." Pope Francis was one of the many speakers. A theme emerged from what they had to say: Religion is still essential to Europe. Read more

Sir John says "No one wants to see children that are hungry or families without homes."

He believes that his government did make improvements but he says the issues are long-term: "You can't click your fingers and achieve a solution to every problem."

Sir john says future governments will continue to work on pressing social problems.

His greatest achievement, he says, was leading New Zealand through the aftermath of the 2008 recession.

In the weeks before his knighthood, Mr Key said prime ministers usually receive honours. But he says the stories that touch the honours committee's heart the most are those like the 92-year-old nun who lives in Temuka and who gave her life to serving the people of that community, rather than those at the top of the tree.

Sources

• RNZ
• NZ Herald
• Stuff
• Image NZ Herald

Higgins died suddenly on the weekend and her body was taken home to her parents near Pawarenga, in Northland.

The 25 -year-old was a real estate agent for Barfoot and Thompson and member of the Franklin Local Board.

At 10:15 Sarah was taken briefly taken to Ngai Tupoto Marae and then carried up the hill and placed in the centre of the church, draped with cream-coloured flowers.

Catholic Catechist Anthony Rudolph led the service where he spoke of the love that was present in the church. Watch video

A candle burned that was left at the church as koha by the family of Pat White, who was Sarah's great aunty.

White had her funeral service at the same church around six weeks ago.

Higgins came originally from Pawarenga in the Far North and went to school at Whangarei Girls' High School.

In a Facebook post, Higgins introduced herself as "a young girl from Northland who left home and school at 16 because of dyslexia."

She became a successful real estate agent and one of the youngest ever local body politicians when she was elected to represent the Pukekohe subdivision of the Franklin Local Board in Auckland at the age of 22.

Her death has shocked fellow politicians who knew her.

Franklin Local Board chairman Andy Baker said the death left them devastated.

"This is a loss not only for the board but for the community. It's such a tragic waste of a wonderful young life with so much to offer. Our thoughts are with her friends and family."

Higgins had just started learning golf, was an avid gym-goer and a dog-lover.

She had been working tirelessly on a new Bill which would ensure tenants are told if they are living in a meth-contaminated house.

She presented the policy idea to a National Party conference in 2015.

If passed, it would mean landlords can enter a tenanted property to test it for meth contamination as long as they give sufficient notice.

Source

• nz.news.yahoo.com
• nzherald.co.nz
• newshub.co.nz
• stuff.co.nz
• nzherald.co.nz
• Image: nzherald.co.nz

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Bishop Thomas Tobin of Providence, Rhode Island, said the challenge for the Church is to maintain and proclaim Jesus' teaching about the indissolubility of marriage, while providing spiritual care for those who fall short of the ideal.

Referencing Jesus' upholding his disciple's picking and eating corn on the Sabbath, contrary to Mosaic law (Mark 2:23-28), Bishop Tobin said this is the starting point for his thinking.

While not denying the validity of the law, Jesus placed it in a "pastoral context," exempting its enforcement due to the human needs of the moment, Bishop Tobin wrote in his diocesan newspaper.

"Could we not take a similar approach to marriage law today? Could we not say, by way of analogy, that "matrimony is made for man, not man for matrimony'?"

Bishop Tobin said he understood arguments for the status quo.

But he often agonises over the many divorced Catholics who have "dropped-out" of the Church, as well as those who attend Mass every Sunday, sometimes for years, "without receiving the consolation and joy of the Holy Eucharist".

"And I know that I would much rather give Holy Communion to these long-suffering souls than to pseudo-Catholic politicians who parade up the aisle every Sunday for Holy Communion and then return to their legislative chambers to defy the teachings of the Church by championing same-sex marriage and abortion," he added.

As a start, Bishop Tobin proposed a simplified annulment process, handled at diocesan level with the oversight of the local bishop, as happens for dispensations for marriages.

He suggested relying on the conscientious personal judgment of spouses about the history of their marriage and their worthiness to receive Holy Communion.

"And don't we already offer Holy Communion to other individuals whose relationship with the Church is impaired, such as Orthodox Christians?" he asked.

Bishop Tobin cautioned that any "pastoral approaches" should be adopted by the Universal Church and not attempted at the level of national, diocesan or parish churches.

Meanwhile, in England, Cardinal Vincent Nichols said that "the importance of mercy as the path to reconciliation and forgiveness in human relationships and in relationships with the Church will be, I believe, an important and recurring theme in the reflections of the Extraordinary Synod".

Sources

• Rhode Island Catholic
• Independent Catholic News
• Image: Emmaus Road

Cardinal Raymond Burke, said it is impossible to reconcile the Catholic identity of a Catholic college with decisions to honour political figures who have taken positions in support of abortion rights and same-sex marriage.

"You cannot reconcile it — it is a contradiction, it is wrong, it is a scandal, and it must stop!" Cardinal Burke said.

Continue reading

Archbishop Allen Vigneron of Detroit said that Catholic politicians who advocate legal recognition of same-sex marriage should not receive Communion.

The archbishop's statement closely followed a similar opinion from a widely-read canon law commentator, Edward Peters, who is an adviser to the Apostolic Signatura, the top judicial authority in the Catholic Church.

Archbishop Vigneron said the Church wants to help Catholics "avoid this personal disaster".

He said: "For a Catholic to receive holy Communion and still deny the revelation Christ entrusted to the Church is to try to say two contradictory things at once: 'I believe the Church offers the saving truth of Jesus, and I reject what the Church teaches.' In effect, they would contradict themselves.

"This sort of behaviour would result in publicly renouncing one's integrity and logically bring shame for a double-dealing that is not unlike perjury."

In a post on his "In the Light of the Law" blog, Peter said Catholic teachings make it clear that marriage is between one man and one woman.

Therefore, he said, "Catholics who promote ‘same-sex marriage' act contrary to canon 209 § 1 and should not approach for holy Communion per canon 916. Depending on the facts of the case, they also risk having holy Communion withheld from them under canon 915, being rebuked under canon 1339 § 2, and/or being sanctioned under canon 1369 for gravely injuring good morals."

He said Catholic politicians lending support to same-sex marriage were in a similar situation, "with special attention being paid to the heightened responsibility that civil servants have to protect the common good".

Peters said the Church would regard any attempt by persons of the same sex to marry, regardless of their religious affiliation or lack thereof, as null.

Sources:

Detroit Free Press

In the Light of the Law (Edward Peters)

Image: The Michigan Catholic

Neither believes he is going to heaven. Goff believes there is "a force that is beyond mankind" - but "I don't believe in an afterlife." Key said "I can't tell you what happens the moment you die but I don't believe you go to another form." I do think you have a spirit that moves to the next - it's part of you and it lives on in your children. But I just don't believe you go off to dancing around in the clouds."

Both leaders submitted to 45-minute interviews with Family First director Bob McCoskrie in front of 220 people at the annual Forum on the Family at Mangere's Life Convention Centre on Friday. But on the moral issues that concerned Mr McCoskrie, they were surprisingly akin.

Both were prepared to look at same-sex adoptions, both supported a split drinking age of 20 at bottle stores and 18 in pubs, both were sympathetic towards euthanasia, and neither had any stomach for changing the laws on smacking or abortion.

Source:

• NZ Herald
• Image: TV3