On Tuesday, at the High Court in Wellington New Zealand, Ewen Macdonald was found not guilty of murdering his brother-in-law, Scott Guy. Rural Dean of the Anglican parish of Oroua, David van Oeveren, is one of the church leaders who have been giving both the Guy and Macdonald families spiritual guidance and comfort during their long draw-out public ordeal. He Read more
The traditional code of conflict solution known as the peace ceremony is PNG’s most equitable and timeless alternative justice system. In peace ceremonies, the aggrieved parties come together in a public gathering to a neutral location with money and goods like animals, food stuffs etc. The money and goods are exchanged between the aggrieved parties Read more
Vatican spokesman Fr Federico Lombardi announced that further discussions were to be held in an effort to achieve reconciliation between the traditionalist St Pius X Society and the Vatican. Recent talks were held after the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith examined the latest response from the Society, to the “doctrinal preamble” presented to Read more
Labelling the situation in Syria as “Desperate”, Archbishop El-Sayeh of Antioch has called for negotiations in order to prevent War. As conflict between the Syrian government supporters and opponents is being compared to last year’s fight for control of Libia, the archbishop is pleading for an end to all violence. “Everybody is suffering in Syria Read more
The Vatican is urging the international community to help find peaceful ways for those in Syria to live together. Archbishop Silvano Tomasi, the Vatican’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations in Geneva, said the UN needs to look at what might happen in the near future in a country that’s made up of Suni and Read more
Chances of reconciliation between the traditionalist Society of St Pius X and the Vatican look slim. Father Paul Morgan, a district head in Britain, said in a November newsletter that despite recent talks between society leaders and Vatican officials, the group is far from agreeing to Rome’s proposal. On September 14 at the Vatican presented Read more
A two-year dispute was ended when a Catechist knelt before Matai to ask forgiveness in Afega village in Samoa. Confirming this, Assistant Police Commissioner, Le’aupepe Fatu Pula, said: “The complaint has been withdrawn and both parties have agreed to reconcile.” He said the complaint was lodged in 2009 by the village matai council’s Tu’ua or Village Read more
Penance or confession, is the sacrament of the forgiveness of sin. You can’t beat it for convenience. It’s available practically whenever. Tell a priest you want to go to confession and you’ll get his attention. Sr Mary Ann Walsh relates that a bishop was cornered on an airplane. Another passenger figured out what was going on and Read more
Commentators on both sides of the Irish Sea are unanimous in declaring the Queen in Ireland was an extraordinary triumph, one that opened hearts and shifted attitudes, laying ghosts to rest and opening up a new era of friendship for both nations. Three of the key moments occurred on visits to historically resonant places. At Read more
Religious leaders are hailing Queen Elizabeth II’s historic state visit to Ireland this week as a sign of reconciliation following centuries of sectarian hatred and violence. They hope it will help heal divisions. Arriving in Dublin on 17 May for a four-day visit, the queen will be the first British monarch to set foot in Read more