Kim Barwell, 50, also known as Kym, was charged with 60 counts of obtaining by deception last month after he “borrowed” $92,760 from 82-year-old Christchurch primary school caretaker Frederick Adams. Police had received two new complaints about him after publicity about Adams’ case appeared on Stuff last month. Barwell allegedly approached a parishioner at St Gregory’s Read more
New Zealand
Queenstown loses its last Dominican sister
Friday, April 8th, 2016
Queenstown’s only Dominican sister is leaving, 133 years after members of the religious order first arrived in the town. Sr Mary Anna Beard, OP, leaves for new pastures on Saturday, reported the Otago Daily Times. “There is a sadness in our presence not being here, but the people will carry this charism on,” Sr Mary Read more
Worksafe man with Catholic school link knows new law fears
Friday, April 8th, 2016
A Worksafe manager who is also on the board of trustees at a Wellington Catholic school says he understands concerns about a new health and safety law. Worksafe communications general manager John Tulloch said the new legislation reflected modern workplace conditions, the Southland Times reported. Mr Tulloch is on the board of trustees at St Read more
Priests in early Pacific cultures gained by human sacrifice
Friday, April 8th, 2016
Priests and chiefs in early Pacific cultures, including New Zealand, used ritual human sacrifices to reinforce their power, a study has found. Research involving two New Zealand universities has discovered such acts were used by social elites to maintain their power, the Stuff.co.nz website reported. The study came from researchers from the University of Auckland, Victoria University Read more
Akld eucharistic convention told of ISIS forgiveness
Friday, April 8th, 2016A US woman who spoke at Auckland’s Eucharistic Convention this month has forgiven the ISIS killer who beheaded her son. Diane Foley, whose son James was executed in 2014, said she took no satisfaction from the killing by drone strike of her son’s killer, the man dubbed “Jihadi John”. “How can it give me joy Read more
VIP farewell for Br Sir Patrick Lynch
Friday, April 8th, 2016Politicians, cardinals, bishops and educationalists gathered in Wellington on April 3 to farewell Br Sir Patrick Lynch. Br Sir Patrick is leaving the New Zealand Catholic Education Office after 22 years at the helm. Speakers at the function included Education Minister Hekia Parata and Cardinal John Dew. Ms Parata praised Br Sir Patrick’s “immense contribution Read more
Helen Clark says NZ can provide model of religious tolerance
Tuesday, April 5th, 2016
Former Prime Minister Helen Clark says New Zealand can provide a model of religious tolerance for the rest of the world. Miss Clark, who is head of the United Nations Development Programme, said this at the opening of the new Religious Diversity Centre in Wellington last week. She is to be patron of the centre. Read more
Bishop Tamaki outrages with tweet about money
Tuesday, April 5th, 2016
Destiny Church leader Bishop Brian Tamaki has caused a stir in social media with a tweet referring to both Jesus and money. On March 23, Bishop Tamaki put out the following tweet. “Jesus spoke to a tree/fish/wind/water [a]nd other things … i spoke to a $100 bill early in my life [a]nd said ‘you [a]nd Read more
Questions over Catholic MP chairing end of life inquiry
Tuesday, April 5th, 2016
The suitability of a Catholic MP to chair a parliamentary select committee’s inquiry into ending one’s life in New Zealand has been questioned. National MP Simon O’Connor is chair of the Health Select Committee, which is considering the issue in response to a petition by former MP Maryan Street and others. Mr O’Connor once studied for Read more