The head of an Irish support group for the children of Catholic priests says there are several in New Zealand – and the church has acknowledged it. Continue reading
New Zealand
NZ Catholic Church admits ‘a small number’ of children here were fathered by priests
Thursday, February 8th, 2018New Bishop of Ripon gets a rousing Maori welcome
Thursday, February 8th, 2018Maori songs and chants and the sound of a traditional church choir greeted Dr Helen-Ann Hartley as she was installed as Bishop of Ripon in a packed cathedral on Sunday. Priests from the Anglican Church in New Zealand who had made the 11,000-mile journey to be at her side, led her through the west door Read more
Palliative medicine physicians use morphine with great care
Monday, December 18th, 2017
A palliative medicine physician with 28 years experience in caring for patients and their families at the end of life has challenged ACT party MP David Seymour’s claim that doctors intentionally end peoples’ lives by giving them too much morphine. Dr Sinead Donnelly said she was affronted by the fact that “a politician would imply Read more
Christchurch diocese establishes a fund to help women and children
Monday, December 18th, 2017
Hoatu is an $8million dollar fund the Catholic Diocese of Christchurch has established to help women, children and families in Canterbury. The money became available when, in 2016, the Sisters of the Good Shepherd returned the proceeds from the sale of property in Halswell in the south-west of Christchurch. The diocese had given the land to Read more
Working with the Salvation Army brings great joy
Monday, December 18th, 2017Volunteering at the Salvation Army East City Corps helped Helen Yan find the meaning of life again. The Pakuranga resident came to New Zealand with her husband and young son in 2001 from China while pregnant with her daughter, and became a Christian not long afterwards. Continue reading
Review of Catholic Tertiary Education in New Zealand
Thursday, December 14th, 2017
Following an independent review, the New Zealand Catholic Bishops (NZCBC) are announcing a new entity for the delivery of Catholic tertiary education. The services provided by Good Shepherd College (GSC) and The Catholic Institute (TCI) are to be brought together under one governance structure. This will strengthen capacity for excellence in theological and religious studies, Read more
Voluntary euthanasia – public may get referendum
Thursday, December 14th, 2017
MPs are shaping up across party lines over a bill that would allow euthanasia. But as a result of MPs’ horse trading, it’s the public who may decide – in a referendum. MPs have voted by 76 to 44 to send the End of Life Choice Bill to a select committee. First, the committee will Read more
NZ Bishops call for prompt review of Roman Missal translation
Thursday, December 14th, 2017
The New Zealand Catholic Bishops Conference want the International Commission on English in the Liturgy (ICEL) to review the 1998 draft Roman Missal translation early next year. The conference’s president, Auckland Bishop Patrick Dunn, told the NZ Catholic their request seeks to balance demand for use of the missal while ensuring “unity is preserved with Read more
Photography exhibition – Lives of Auckland’s silent nuns
Thursday, December 14th, 2017When an Auckland photographer was offered a rare glimpse into the secretive world of a silent monastery, he didn’t expect the silent nuns to be as chatty as they were. Canadian-born, Cam McLaren spent six months documenting the lives of the contemplative nuns based at Mt Albert’s Carmelite Monastery earlier this year. Continue reading
Video reveals damage inside ChristChurch Cathedral
Thursday, December 14th, 2017The eerie world inside one of Christchurch’s most famous earthquake-ravaged buildings is showcased in new video footage from the Christ Church Cathedral. As central and local government discuss altering legislation to allow the cathedral to be restored, an anonymous videographer has sneaked inside the wrecked central city building. Continue reading