Vatican City is providing a third dose of the COVID-19 vaccine, with priority given to the vulnerable and those over 60 years of age, a press release said Wednesday. The city state’s health and hygiene office started administering the third dose in the second half of October, according to a Vatican statement. The Vatican has Read more
News Shorts
Pregnant women delaying getting vaccinated playing ‘Russian roulette’
Monday, November 1st, 2021Up to 50 per cent of pregnant women in parts of Auckland remain unvaccinated despite being at high risk of hospitalisation, complications and having a premature baby if they catch Covid-19. Doctors and midwives around the country are gearing up for an influx of unvaccinated pregnant women infected with the virus as Delta continues to Read more
Vatican says Pope Francis willing to visit Canada; Indigenous leaders seek apology
Monday, November 1st, 2021Indigenous leaders say Pope Francis must be ready to deliver an apology for the Catholic Church’s role in residential schools if he visits Canada. “An apology is the beginning,” said Cowessess First Nation Chief Cadmus Delorme. “An apology is required, and the rebuilding of a relationship would follow the apology.” The Saskatchewan First Nation made Read more
Samoa govt keen to repeal controversial law taxing church ministers
Monday, November 1st, 2021The Samoan Government is preparing to repeal the controversial law introduced by the previous administration in 2018 to tax church ministers. The Minister of Customs and Revenue, Tuala Ponifasio, has been instructed to consult with the church ministers – as is required for any amendments to laws. Removing the tax was an election promise by Read more
Disability community welcomes ‘groundbreaking’ changes to sector
Monday, November 1st, 2021A raft of “groundbreaking” changes to disability support systems have found overwhelming support in the disability community who welcome the chance to be more independent and included in society. The government announced on Friday that it will establish of a Ministry for Disabled People, expand disability support services and introduce legislation to make New Zealand Read more
Catholic leader says his archdiocese won’t take part in global synodal process
Thursday, October 28th, 2021A Catholic leader has said that his archdiocese won’t take part in the two-year global synodal process, saying that it would run “the risk of becoming ideological.” Archbishop Wolfgang Haas of Vaduz, Liechtenstein, announced his decision on Oct. 15, reported CNA Deutsch, CNA’s German-language news partner. “I am of the opinion that in our small Read more
Man who stole charity’s Christmas food parcels gets present from court
Thursday, October 28th, 2021Some may have labelled Bishop Bayden Poipoi a Grinch after he stole Christmas food parcels set aside for people in need, but he has been given a gift from the High Court – a shorter sentence. In a recently released High Court judgment, Justice Simon France shaved Poipoi’s sentence for a range of offences from Read more
Terry Jordan elected St Vincent de Paul president
Thursday, October 28th, 2021
Long-time Wellington Vincentian Terry Jordan has been elected as the Society’s new National President. Terry has been a member of the Conference in Waiwhetu, Lower Hutt, since 2008 and has held leadership roles at Conference, Area Council and National Board levels. “I see my membership of the Society as a practical expression of my faith,” Read more
Catholics urged to get involved in climate response
Thursday, October 28th, 2021Caritas says recent government announcements on climate response recognise the urgency of making deep far-reaching changes across all sectors of New Zealand society, and the need to provide climate finance for the poor; but do not go far enough in aiming to cut New Zealand’s emissions sooner. The New Zealand government recently put out a Read more
Fiji vaccination of teens going strong
Thursday, October 28th, 2021With most of its eligible adult population covered, Fiji’s Covid-19 vaccine rollout for teenagers is gaining pace. The health ministry says 28,965 children aged 15 to 17 have received a first vaccine dose – and 3,892 teenagers have received a second. The rollout was recently extended to this age bracket, after vaccination rates covered almost Read more