The pandemic we are in the midst of is unique and it is dangerous. It is not the “common cold” that some people write to me about. Worldwide there have been over 250 million cases and just over 5 million deaths – this pandemic is unique and dangerous. As of last week, in New Zealand Read more
Was anyone surprised when New Zealand’s self-made Apostle Brian Tamaki courted controversy and arrest by participating in two anti-lockdown protests in Auckland recently? Or that during one of these events he declared he would rather live in “dangerous freedom than peaceful slavery” and likened the director-general of health to Hitler? This was, after all, the Read more
Assisted dying became legally available on Sunday, the first death may be next month and observers are looking out for the statistics on the new law’s take up. The End of Life Choice Act means people enduring unbearable suffering from a terminal health condition and have a life expectancy of less than six months may Read more
An estimated 5,000 people, Tuesday, took to Wellington’s streets protesting their freedom, and distrust of the government and media. The vocally loud and unmasked protesters took over the Capital’s streets and pavements as they snaked their way from Wellington’s Civic Square, through Mercer and Willis Streets and down Lambton Quay to Parliament. At one point Read more
The Catholic church will become ‘women-free’ in Britain and Ireland within 20 years and die out completely within a generation unless it reverses its “sexist and unbiblical” policy that only men can become priests, a leading academic and theologian has warned. Unless it revokes the doctrine, the Church will struggle to attract new followers and Read more
Providing equity of access for assisted dying without equity of access to palliative care is to completely undermine the goals of the End of Life Choice Act, says Professor Ben Gray. “The choice is distorted towards aid in dying and away from palliative care.” Gray – an associate professor with Otago University’s Department of Primary Read more
The Vatican has announced it will give dioceses more time to complete local consultations ahead of the 2023 Synod on Synodality. Dioceses are likely to welcome the extension as synod organizers have urged them to include “all the baptized” in the consultation process, not only churchgoers. “Special care should be taken to involve those persons Read more
Outgoing Children’s Commissioner Judge Andrew Becroft has harsh words to describe children’s wellbeing in New Zealand. Aotearoa New Zealand is a great place to be a child if you are rich, white and able-bodied. The reality for at least 125,000 children, however, includes abuse, neglect, poverty and poor health and education outcomes. Over the last Read more
Vaccination certificates and ‘traffic lights’ are coming soon to your church. Under the new COVID-management system, places of worship may legally choose to implement a vaccination entry requirement for congregants. Whether they do or do not has different consequences. Vaccine certificates will also apply to clergy. The government’s three-tier “traffic light ” framework will come Read more
The worldwide Catholic Church has now officially embarked on the “synodal process 2021-2023”. Pope Francis launched the project at the Vatican on October 10 with a Mass in St. Peter’s Basilica and bishops around the globe (though not all of them) inaugurated the process at the diocesan level the following Sunday with celebrations in their Read more