The 19th General Assembly of Caritas International is taking place in Rome this week and is celebrating the 60th anniversary of the founding of the confederation. Over 300 delegates are working on plans to strengthen their service working alongside and on behalf of the poor. Caritas Aotearoa New Zealand is represented by Director Michael Smith Read more
A week or so ago the leaders of five New Zealand churches, those usually referred to as “mainline”, issued an election-time statement to the nation, urging voters to choose social justice It is entitled “Towards a Robust Society.” Garth George presents some excerpts from the essay. “Every three years,” they say, “the electoral cycle reminds us of the Read more
Catholic social justice agency Caritas has put the government ‘on watch’ for the true impact of ‘re-prioritised spending’ and welfare changes expected later this year, following the 2011 Budget. Caritas director Michael Smith said the Catholic agency had looked for a budget which would protect the human dignity of the nation’s most vulnerable people, while Read more
A far-right Christchurch group has been condemned for circulating flyers in Auckland claiming an “Asian invasion” is taking place. The group, which calls itself the Right Wing Resistance, has distributed “Stop the Asian Invasion” leaflets in suburbs with high Asian populations, including Pakuranga, Howick and Northcote. Police are concerned that the campaign could lead to “racially Read more
Effectively addressing climate change is a moral imperative according to the Vatican’s Pontifical Academy of Sciences. The Vatican body has listed numerous examples of glacial decline around the world and the evidence linking that decline to human-caused changes in climate and air pollution. “The widespread loss of ice and snow in the world’s mountain glaciers Read more
Father Terry Dibble, died on Easter Sunday and there was a big and varied congregation at his funeral in St Patrick’s Cathedral in Auckland on Wednesday “Father Terry Dibble was a truly dedicated social justice leader who contributed a lifetime of work for the recognition of Te Tiriti o Waitangi,” said Catherine Delahunty Green Party MP. “Terry stood alongside Ngati Read more
Increasing food prices, coupled with record high petrol prices and last year’s GST increase, were stretching family budgets beyond their limits according to Green Party co-leader Metiria Turei. She was responding to a news report about a mother living on a diet of two-minute noodles so that she can buy bread to feed her children. According Read more
A Vodafone Foundation grant to Te Waipuna Puawai will enable it to run a support programme for young mothers to enhance connectedness and life skills, increase understanding of parenting skills, provide support in planning for the future and increase awareness of Whare Tapa Wha. Te Waipuna Puawai is a flagship project of the Sisters of Read more