New Zealand’s Catholic bishops are inviting all Catholics in New Zealand to join with them and others across the globe to pray with Pope Francis as he consecrates Ukraine and Russia to the Immaculate Heart of Mary. New Zealand’s bishops are asking Catholics to offer special prayers for everyone caught in the Ukraine war by Read more
Caritas is standing behind the government’s announcement to allow the reunification of families for Ukrainians living in New Zealand. “We welcome this announcement in that it provides a shelter from the storms of war. It’s a way out for vulnerable Ukrainians leaving a war zone and seeking to reunite with family members. “This expanded category Read more
Well over a million refugees have crossed the border from Ukraine into Poland since the Russian invasion began three weeks ago. The Catholic Church in Poland is among those stepping up to welcome and care for for them and is encouraging all Poles to do the same. Poles as one are responding with open arms. The Read more
The response of Catholic moral theologians to the Russian invasion of Ukraine has been universally negative. “The war in Ukraine is a spiritual, human and ecological catastrophe,” said Eli S. McCarthy, a peace activist at Georgetown University’s Justice and Peace Studies, in a recent email to me. The view is shared by Catholic pacifists as Read more
“May the Lord preserve the Russian land… A land which now includes Russia and Ukraine and Belarus and other tribes and peoples.” A Sunday sermon with very political overtones. It was delivered on February 27 at the Cathedral of Christ the Saviour in Moscow by Patriarch Kirill, head of the Russian Orthodox Church. The 75-year-old Read more
Good ethical practice has it that now’s the time to rid yourself of any investments in schemes that benefit Russia in any way. Early starters are KiwiSaver managers, some of whom have been selling millions of dollars in investments in Russian companies. Others, like the New Zealand Superannuation Fund, are reviewing their positions as Russia Read more
It was around 4 pm on Thursday when I checked the global news and saw the words of Vladimir Putin’s invasion speech coming through minute by minute; I had just finished an overnight tramp, something I had done in-part to escape the overwhelmingness of the local and global situation. I often check international news sites Read more
A Catholic bishop from eastern Ukraine said tensions remain high despite an announced withdrawal of Russian forces. “Nothing has changed — the great bulk of Russian forces are still here, as fighting flares intermittently and people still die,” said Bishop Stanislav Szyrokoradiuk of Odessa-Simferopol. “The east and south of Ukraine are areas of greatest Russification Read more