The city of Houston has issued subpoenas demanding a group of pastors turn over any sermons dealing with homosexuality, gender identity or Annise Parker, the city’s first openly lesbian mayor. And those ministers who fail to comply could be held in contempt of court. “The city’s subpoena of sermons and other pastoral communications is both Read more
Posts Tagged ‘Tolerance’
Tolerance — a moral virtue
Friday, September 19th, 2014
We hear a lot about tolerance these days. Tolerance is a moral virtue best placed within the moral domain – but unfortunately it is often confounded with prejudice. Much of the psychological research about tolerance generally and about the development of children’s understanding of tolerance of others who are different from them has been examined Read more
Western tolerance has led to ‘ghettoisation’ of immigrants
Tuesday, May 20th, 2014Western society has reduced the Christian command to “love thy neighbour” to mere secular tolerance, Templeton Prize winner Fr Tomáš Halík has warned. On May 14, the Czech philosopher priest was presented with the award, which honours a living person who has made exceptional contributions “to affirming life’s spiritual dimension”. The prize is worth about Read more
Bishops’ Committee earns two awards
Friday, August 30th, 2013
The New Zealand Catholic Bishops’ Committee for Interfaith Relations has been the recipient of two awards in recent times The Committee was awarded one of nine annual diversity awards by the Human Rights Commission acknowledging individuals and organisations that have made outstanding contributions to the New Zealand Diversity Action Programme through projects and programmes. Last Read more
First Muslim conference to be held in NZ in November
Friday, August 30th, 2013Ethnic Affairs Minister Judith Collins says plans are underway to hold New Zealand’s first Muslim conference in November. She says not only will it celebrate the different ways the Muslim community contributes to New Zealand society but will also discuss contemporary challenges. Continue reading
Muslim women rally for a rare council candidate
Tuesday, August 20th, 2013Anjum Rahman will never forget watching a man wave his fists in front of her as she drove down a street. She hadn’t done anything wrong – the Muslim mum-of-two was just wearing her headscarf. Instances of verbal abuse followed the intimidating experience, as some Kiwis reacted angrily to Muslim protests about cartoons published in Read more
Auckland exhibition aims at a better understanding of Islam
Friday, August 16th, 2013
To mark the the feast of Eid al-Fitr Pope Francis called for “mutual respect” between Christianity and Islam and an end to “unfair criticism.” “We are called to respect the religion of the other, its teachings, its symbols, its values,” he said. The Ahmadiyya Muslim Community hopes that an exhibition it is putting on will Read more
Hindu Council promotes ‘Unity in Diversity’ through Deepawali festival
Friday, September 28th, 2012Rotorua will once again celebrate the richness of Deepawali festival on Saturday, 6 October 2012 at the Rotorua Convention Centre. This year the theme of the festival is ‘Unity in Diversity‘. In the first year, a message of healthy lifestyle and care for the environment was promoted through Smoke-free, Alcohol-free and Meat-free festival, which is also in accordance Read more
NZ Muslim, Jewish and Christian leaders condemn The Innocence of Muslims and violence
Friday, September 21st, 2012
Christian, Muslim and Jewish faith leaders spoke out on Wednesday to condemn unreservedly ‘The Innocence of Muslims’ and the violence that has led to tragic deaths around the world. The joint statement was issued by Archbishop John Dew (Catholic), Archbishops David Moxon and Brown Turei (Anglican), Bishops Justin Duckworth and Richard Randerson (Anglican), Federation of Islamic Associations Read more
- NZ Muslim group slams video, violent reaction
- New Zealand Website attacked over antimuslim movie
- Statement on religious diversity
- Christchurch Muslim Leader urges calm
- The problem of fanaticism
- The importance of interfaith respect and dialogue should overcome hatred
- International freedom report gives NZ thumbs up
- What is really behind Muslim protest?
- Anti-Islam cartoon in French magazine leads to embassy and school closures
Law and Religion Conference in Samoa
Tuesday, May 22nd, 2012
A law and Religion conference was held in Samoa at the beginning of May. The main purpose of the conference was to look for ways to ensure the establishment of robust relationships that would promote religious freedom and tolerance and mutual respect for different churches and faiths, including, a sensitivity to and respect for, local practices. In his Read more