Prior to the announcement that he is to visit Mayannar, Pope Francis has appealed for an end to the violent persecution of the minority population in Burma. “Sad news has reached us of the persecution of our Rohingya brothers and sisters, a religious minority,” the Holy Father told pilgrims and tourist in St Peter’s Square. “I would like to Read more
Thailand’s junta has removed the head of the national Buddhism office, after religious groups called on the government to sack him over his plans to clean up scandal-hit monasteries. But Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha said it wasn’t a punishment. Pongporn Pramsaneh, who joined the National Office of Buddhism in February, had vowed to reform Thailand’s Read more
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS) has given a donation of food to the Catholic Church in Tahiti. The food will be distributed to individuals and families who are going through difficult times. Elder Gary E. Stevenson of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Read more
A growing number of detainees is being transferred from Papua New Guinea’s Manus Island to Port Moresby with the understanding they will not be returning to the detention centre. The Australian-run facility is due to close by the end of October but the PNG government is worried it will be left to care for about Read more
Earlier this month the Executive Committee of the Federation of Catholic Bishops Conferences of Oceania called for quality education to empower people in Papua. Their call has been echoed by Papua’s Peace Network (JDP) coordinator. Father Neles Tebay says that prioritising only infrastructure will not be enough in developing Papua and must be balanced with the Read more
Last week Samoa’s Prime Minister Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi said he wants to protect local businesses from the increasing numbers of Chinese-owned businesses. He alluded to changing the regulations to keep smaller retail operations for Samoan business people only. He acknowledged there was growing resentment among local business owners over overseas operators, but he encouraged them Read more
A woman in Samoa has accused the government of being hypocritical because it is allowing construction work to be done on Sundays even though the constitution now says Samoa is a Christian State. “As a Christian country, our day of worship is on Sunday,” Tuilaepa Soiamoa Grey told the Samoa Observer. “I have nothing against Read more
A man who worked as a Catholic for priest for 28 years is the new Papua New Guinea’s Minister for Bougainville Affairs. Simon Dumarinu is a first time member of parliament. He narrowly defeated former Mining Minister Sam Akoitai in the Central Bougainville Open seat in the recent Papua New Guinea general election. A Barapang Read more
There is still a huge need for open dialogue on ‘taboo’ subjects and on the meaning of the ‘Samoan way of life’ (fa’asamoa) and ensuring women’s right to equality within the family. “This cannot happen without the leadership of government and other local stakeholders, including community and religious leaders, alongside women and men at all Read more
Legislation is being considered in the Cook Islands that could see sections removed from a 1969 Act that criminalise consensual sex between two men. The proposed Crimes Bill 2017 was presented after the Cook Islands Parliament established a committee to review public submissions about amending the Crimes Act. Some religious leaders are opposing the change. ”If Read more