Churches must be ready to challenge village councils when leaders act unjustly says the Archbishop of Suva Peter Loy Chong. He was speaking after a Justice and Development Commission Seminar entitled “Reading the Signs of the Times in Fiji – Catholic Social Teaching and Socio-Political Issues”. “There are times when the church will tell village Read more
On Thursday June 29 the Regional Assistance Mission to the Solomon Islands – RAMSI – comes to an end after 14 years. “What are we looking for? And where do we go from here? As we celebrate this service, do we have a goal? Do we have an aim? A saying goes ‘if we aim Read more
The Bishop of Pagopago, Peter Brown, has offered support to American Samoa’s Governor Lolo Moliga’s efforts to combat the territory’s drug problem. And he is hoping that churches will stand together in this fight. The bishop wrote to Governor Lolo last week offering the support of the Catholic Church for recent initiatives reported in the Read more
After recently meeting Archbishop Michael Byrnes Doris Concepcion believes him to be a “gift” to Guam. But that has not stopped her joining the weekly picket outside the cathedral in Hagåtña which is calling for the defrocking of the former Archbishop Anthony Apuron. Concepcion is the mother of a now deceased former altar boy who was allegedly Read more
The Samoa Observer Newspaper has filed a statement of defense against a $700,000 lawsuit for defamation brought against it by former EFKS Reverend Opapo Soanai Oeti and his daughter, Toaipuapuaga (Toa) Patrick. The matter was called before the Supreme Court last week. The lawsuit for defamation concerns the publication by the Samoa Observer of a Read more
Scores of Indonesian priests quit their posts after accusing a bishop on the Catholic majority island of Flores of embezzling more than US$100,000 of church funds for personal use. At least 69 priests from Ruteng Diocese submitted letters of resignation this week and demanded that Bishop Hubertus Leteng heed their calls for a complete overhaul Read more
The stated reason given for making Samoa a Christian state is to avoid religious tensions. But a political analyst, Grant Wyeth, says the change has the potential to actually create religious tensions. Samoa is no longer a secular state after its Parliament voted on bill which amends the Constitution to officially declare itself as a Christian nation. Read more
Papua New Guinea’s acting chief Immigration officer Solomon Kantha says he is waiting for a fresh visa application from a New Zealand religious layworker who was deported this month. His comment comes after the Catholic Church said it was poised to take legal action against Mr Kantha for contempt of court because he ignored a Read more
The Papua New Guinea Immigration Department is reviewing its decision to deport Catholic lay worker Douglas Tennent. Acting chief immigration officer, Solomon Kantha said Tennent’s visa was cancelled by Immigration and Foreign Affairs Minister Rimbink Pato because of his alleged involvement on landowner issues. He said the decision was based on a complaint from landowners Read more
Cardinal John Ribat of Papua New Guinea is all for policies of compassion and welcome for immigrants around the world. But he says immigrants for their part have to show respect for their host societies. “As a visitor to a country, or even to a home, you’re always conscious you’re a visitor,” he told Crux Read more