The Australian Bishops’ Delegate for Migrants and Refugees says the Australian government should accept New Zealand’s offer to take detainees on Manus Island. “It is time to find an alternative and conscionable solution, including accepting New Zealand’s offer of resettlement and bringing the remaining detainees on Manus Island to Australia,” said Bishop Vincent Long Van Read more
A spokesman for President Rodrigo Duterte has responded to the launching of a 33-day period of religious activities aimed at stopping extrajudicial killings in the country, by expressing a desire to build a better relationship with the Catholic Church. Harry Roque said that as of September 30, authorities have been investigating 2,243 incidents with “drug-related motives”. He added Read more
A group of faith-based organisations in Fiji have come together to draft and promulgate the COP23 Multi-Faith Charter. They have committed themselves to do more to help address the effects of climate change within their own faith communities, as well as make specific calls for increased ambition and action by Parties and non-state actors. The Read more
Caritas Samoa’s Project Manager Fuatino Muliagatele-Ah Wai says it is a privilege to receive an Honour Award from the Apia Samoa Central Stake of the Church of Jesus Christ of the Latter-Day Saints (LDS). The award was one of a number made by the LDS to organisations, church members and government ministries in recognition of Read more
Today, only 34% of Tokelauans speak their heritage language. This is why the Bible Society’s Tokelau Bible translation project is so important – it allows Tokelauans to read the Bible in their own language and helps preserve their language and the culture. The project began in the 1990s when members of the Tokelaun expatriate community Read more
The churches in Papua New Guinea are divided over the issue of whether or not to accord dead loved ones a burial or cremation. Father Victor Roche from the Catholic Bishops Conference of PNG and the Solomon Islands said although they prefer burial, the church also accepts cremation. But pastor Peter Dege from the True Read more
A pastor in Samoa feels he has been duped over a Bill taxing pastors that was signed in July this year. He has discovered that the Bill legalising the taxing of church ministers is not limited to the “alofa” or contributions made by members. “I am sad because we were not informed about this during Read more
A New Zealand-based commissioner on Samoa’s Commission of Inquiry on Domestic Violence says that country’s vision for a non-violent society heartens her. Tagaloatele Peggy Fairbairn-Dunlop said people had been saying old family values of fa’asamoa have weakened and it’s now time to go back to traditions like evening family prayers. She said the Commission would Read more
“The government of Timor-Leste recognises the Catholic Church as its partner in serving the people for development,” says Virgilio do Carmo da Silva, the Bishop of Dili. He said that, at times of political tension, political leaders listen to the voice of the Church. The government has recognised the Catholic Church as a civil society Read more
The spirit of Deepawali unites families, friends and neighbours, enabling people to cross boundaries of ethnicity and religion. says the Catholic Archbishop of Suva, Peter Loy Chong. He has sent a message of greeting to “all our Hindu brothers and sisters as you celebrate one of the most important and brightest celebrations, “Deepawali” or “festival Read more