One of the coolest things about documenting the trials and tribulations of this whole experience is I’m never short of conversation or blog post topics. In the miniature kitchen in the newsroom, colleagues searching for an ice-breaker to break the silence while we wait for our lunches to heat, reach to my upcoming wedding with Read more
Cathedral high holy days are like magnificent theatrical productions but you need to be able to see the action to appreciate them. Squashed in just beyond the choir and slightly short of the sanctuary, my view of the ordination of Justin Duckworth, the 11th bishop of Wellington was stymied, so I had plenty of time to muse. Two Read more
It was no surprise when, last week, Bill Keller’s New York Times column declaring that progressive and liberal Catholics should leave the church, received a seemingly endless screed of online comments, as well as Facebook shares, tweets and recurring spins on blog rolls. It was easy for those feeling demoralized by the hierarchy’s condemnation of nuns, its thinly Read more
Walk into any preschool and you’ll find toddling superheroes battling imaginary monsters. We take it for granted that young children play and, especially, pretend. Why do they spend so much time in fantasy worlds? People have suspected that play helps children learn, but until recently there was little research that showed this or explained why Read more
A friend recently posted on Facebook “Sleeping in the lounge with the children to stay warm….Brrrr”. I wasn’t sure whether to laugh or feel sad about this. I can relate to the fact that it is a cold winter and my old 1950’s cottage is a challenge to heat up even with several heaters on Read more
Today’s startling, and sickening, news of the appointment of Archbishop Gerhard Müller as Prefect of the Congregation of the Doctrine of the Faith is just one more nail in the coffin of the hoped for inauguration of a new era of understanding between the Roman authorities of the novus ordo establishment and Catholic traditionalists. This marks a Read more
“Earthquake prone building – do not approach” warns the cherry-red notice. Through the wrought-iron gate the Reverend Mother’s Garden would have the good nun turning in her grave. Century-old pohutukawas spread splendidly above, but weeds smother the plantings, broken glass flecks the path. Even a water pipe has become a canvas for bored taggers. The Read more
Ultra-traditionalists aren’t the only ones in need of papal ‘solicitude’. On June 26, the Vatican announced the appointment of Archbishop J. Augustine Di Noia to a specially created post as “a sign of the Holy Father’s pastoral solicitude for traditionalist Catholics in communion with the Holy See and his strong desire for the reconciliation of those Read more
The concept of justice is a tricky one to grasp in this age of innumerable platforms for user-generated content on the internet. I’ve watched in fascination at the many responses that have been spawned by the ‘Bullied Bus Monitor’ story that’s been developing over the past few weeks, each with their own interpretation of justice. Read more
On Monday my friend Carl died – under the wheels of a train. He would not have meant to disrupt the lives of rush-hour commuters. Nor would he have wanted to cause distress to the train crew. Perhaps from the “other side” he will let me apologise on his behalf. Sorry. Perhaps it’s ironic that, Read more