The archbishop of Rabaul, Francesco Panfilo, says the church has agreed to drop legal action over the deportation of Doug Tennent from Papua New Guinea (PNG) in exchange for Mr Tennent promptly getting a new visa. Mr Tennent, who is a New Zealand lawyer, was removed nearly two months ago despite a court order stopping Read more
Churches in Papua New Guinea (PNG) engaged in health, HIV and AIDS and education projects and programmes are encouraged to continue to be accountable and transparent before God when dealing with public funds. They also must ensure the promotion of good governance “as we continue to provide vital basic services to our people in PNG.” Read more
The archbishop of Apia Samoa, Alapati Lui Mataeliga, was one of the many of his students that Robert Fallon, former maths and science teacher at Chanel College, met up with while in Samoa to celebrate the United State Peace Corps 50 years of service in that country. Other former students he caught up with included Read more
A split has emerged over the allegations of misappropriation of more than US$100,000 by Bishop Hubertus Leteng of Ruteng in Indonesia. In June at least 69 of 167 diocesan priests together with some lay groups, called on Leteng to resign. But, in recent weeks, some priests on Flores Island have been coming to the defence Read more
An innovative pilot project aimed at replacing diesel power with quiet and constant renewable energy systems has been established at The Bishop Koete Rural Training Centre on Nggela Sule Island in the Solomon Islands. For Rural Training Centres in the Solomons, the money saved by not having to buy costly diesel is a huge benefit. Read more
The Republic of Fiji Military Forces’s (RFMF) assurance that it will accept the results of next year’s election has been welcomed, but there remain concerns about its the RFMF’s impartiality. Since 1987, there have been military three coups in Fiji within a year after elections. In an interview last week, RFMF chief of staff Colonel Read more
Fiji’s Minister for Women and Poverty Alleviation, Mereseini Vuniwaqa, believes faith-based organisations have a strong impact on the protection of the rights of women and children She has encouraged these organisations to educate their various groups and family members to eliminate social ills and discrimination against women. Vuniwaqa said she is looking to work closely with Read more
There are plans afoot to introduce a Funeral Expenses Insurance plan to Samoa after recent focus group sessions recorded a positive response to the idea. But RNZ’s Samoa corespondent Autagavaia Tipi Autagavaia says families are more inclined to be traditional when it comes to funeral costs. “When you talk about a funeral in Samoa, every Samoan Read more
A priest in Jayapura has added his voice to the growing call for the Catholic church to speak out about human rights issues in West Papua. Father Nico Syukur Dister who is is Professor at the Fajar Timur School of Philosophy and Theology in Jayapura accepts there are a variety of opinions on the question Read more
Julianne Hickey, Director of Caritas Aotearoa New Zealand is making sure the voice of the Pacific is being heard on the world stage. She is in New York to represent Caritas Oceania at a week-long forum convened under the auspices of the Economic and Social Council. The forum included a three-day ministerial meeting. The theme Read more