A former New Zealand Prime Minister who was until recently administrator of the United Nations Development Programme believes the role of religion and faith organisations in developing and securing peace is “absolutely critical”. – Originally published 7 August 2017. The Rt Hon Helen Clark ONZ PC said this in response to a question put to Read more
On his daily blog from the synod on the family, Archbishop John Dew has painted a picture of sharp divisions among synod members. – Originally reported 17 October 2014 On his October 15 posting from Rome, Archbishop Dew noted that there had been vigorous arguments in the small group discussions taking place this week. “The Read more
All Catholic bishops in New Zealand must resign, says respected Catholic theologian Dr Christopher Longhurst. – Originally reported August 22, 2024 Longhurst’s comments, reported in the widely read publication La Croix International, are strongly critical of the very people from whom he receives his daily bread. New Zealand’s Catholic bishops employ him to teach at Read more
Abortion was one topic New Zealand student Seamus Lohrey quizzed the Pope on during an online forum last Thursday. – Originally reported 24 June 2024 He was one of 12 students from the Asia-Pacific region who shared young people’s concerns with the Pope during the online “Building Bridges” forum. Organised by Loyola University Chicago, the Read more
A joint Catholic-Orthodox leaders’ gathering to celebrate the First Council of Nicaea’s 1,700th anniversary in 2025 is looking likely. On Sunday the Vatican published a personal letter Pope Francis wrote to Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew of Constantinople suggesting the leaders’ gathering. That same day Cardinal Kurt Koch — who heads the Dicastery for Promoting Christian Unity Read more
Australia’s outgoing ambassador to the Holy See, Chiara Porro (pictured), has credited Pope Francis with making significant strides in women’s leadership within the Vatican during her four-and-a-half years in the role. “When I arrived, it was a time when the pope started to put women into leadership positions” Porro told CNA. “What I’ve noticed over Read more
From now on bishops will be expected to follow up and report their progress on the proposals delegates presented at October’s Synod on Synodality, says Pope Francis. The Synod’s final document must be accepted since it constitutes church teaching, says Francis. “The Final Document participates in the ordinary Magisterium of the Successor of Peter and Read more
Speaking of genocide in the context of the Israeli army’s treatment of people living in the Gaza Strip is “disgraceful” says Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. He slammed the Pope’s call last week for the global community to study whether Israel’s military campaign in Gaza constituted genocide of the Palestinian people. The G word The Read more
Pope Francis said a Christian faith that does not disturb the powers that be and cannot generate a serious commitment to charity becomes an innocuous devotion. “Christian hope, fulfilled in Jesus and realised in his kingdom, needs us and our commitment, needs our faith expressed in works of charity, needs Christians who do not look Read more
Gaza should not be investigated to see if the conflict meets the technical definition of a genocide, Edith Bruck told Pope Francis (both pictured). The Pope can’t call Gaza a genocide. It isn’t, insists Bruck – a 93-year old Holocaust survivor. “Genocide is something else. When a million children are burned to death, then you Read more