At first, this seemed like the routine lies that press offices tell.

During the recent visit of the new president of Argentina, for example, the Holy See Press Office said that the Holy Father had discussed abortion with the president, who advocates liberalizing the nation's abortion law.

But they hadn't discussed it.

Pope Francis hadn't raised it.

It was clumsy spin, a bit of easily corrected dishonesty. Embarrassing, but business as usual.

But after nearly three years, the "utmost respect" was more difficult to understand.

Across the depth and breadth of the Roman Curia how many people are there who have anything approaching even passing familiarity with Australian criminal justice?

In what was this "utmost respect" rooted?

I would hazard that the only Australian criminal case most curialists have even heard of would be that of Lindy Chamberlain - the "dingo" case.

That was a massive miscarriage of justice which saw an innocent mother falsely imprisoned for three years for the murder of her child.

The Australian justice system finally got around to fully exonerating her in 2012, thirty-two years after the death.

It is a false and dangerous thing for the Holy See to express "utmost respect" for judicial systems in regard to particular cases.

What the Holy See likely means is that the Australian - or Italian, or British, or American - system at least aims at justice, unlike that of China or Saudi Arabia.

But no matter how fine a criminal justice system may be in theory, it can be bent to unjust ends in a particular case.

Italians should know this more than most, given that for decades accusations that the criminal justice has been corrupted for partisan ends have been made at the highest levels.

It's enough to recall that former prime minister Giulio Andreotti was convicted of complicity in murder in 2002 even as the actual alleged killer was acquitted. The Italian supreme court acquitted him in 2003.

Thus to repeatedly express "utmost respect" for any system in relation to a particular case is to create confusion.

This is not just harmless diplomatic blather.

If a particular case treats a particular defendant unjustly, repeated assertions of "utmost respect" make it difficult, if not impossible, for the Church's canonical process to arrive at a different, honest result. And that would be the situation for any defendant who did not have the capacity to appeal his convictions, as Cardinal Pell did, to the High Court.

In the Pell case the professions of "utmost respect" became absurd bordering on the grotesque, given that it would be hard to find a single curial cardinal or bishop who did not think a monstrous injustice was taking place in Melbourne.

Despite what the Holy See said, there was precious little respect for Australian justice across the curia in this case.

Another Australian archbishop, Philip Wilson of Adelaide, was convicted of covering up sexual abuse only to be acquitted on appeal in 2018.

The appellate judge said flatly that Wilson could not be convicted as a scapegoat for the sexual abuse crisis.

Not much respectable there.

And not just Australia.

Cardinal Philippe Barbarin of Lyons was convicted of covering up sexual abuse while all of his many co-defendants on the same charge in the same case were acquitted.

Barbarin's conviction was quashed on appeal and it was clear that if he wasn't a cardinal he would never have been charged.

He resigned anyway.

"Respectable" criminal justice systems routinely convict the innocent, especially when involving alleged crimes against children.

In Canada, for more than twenty years innocent people were falsely accused and convicted of assaulting and killing children.

Parents were falsely convicted of killing their own children due to the malfeasance of the Ontario coroner's office.

It would be hard to imagine a more profound abuse of state power: innocent people sent to jail, reputations destroyed, families sundered, children traumatized and guilty parties going free.

Is Canadian criminal justice worthy of "utmost respect"? Continue reading

Police and plainclothes security officers closely monitored Therese Tran Thi Ly Hoa's funeral service, which was held at a local church.

A group of masked men then followed the funeral procession to a cemetery on the outskirts of the city.

"We tried to hold our dead relative's funeral well and did not cause any problems, but officials harassed us and showed a lack of respect for the dead," Cao Ha Truc, one of Hoa's relatives said.

Hoa spent much of her career fighting what she maintained was corruption by local government officials.

Prayers for her were held on a five-hectare plot of land from which some 100 households, many of them Catholic, were evicted in January.

Hoa's relatives erected a temporary tent to provide shelter for mourners. They said they needed the tents, umbrellas and chairs for those people who would gather to pray for her soul for the 7-10 days following the funeral.

However, Truc said police and local government officials surrounded the site before removing chairs and other items. He added that loudspeakers were used to accuse people of acting illegally.

People evicted from the property in January said it was acquired by the Parish Foreign Missions Society in 1954, when the area was part of the State of Vietnam.

The government claims the houses on the land were built illegally and schools and public facilities will be built there instead.

After the evictions, Australian Bishop Vincent Long Van Nguyen, who was born in Vietnam, denounced the government's land seizure of the land.

"This area, attached to the Catholic Parish of Loc Hung, has been the home and work centre of many families," he said.

"Generations of people migrated from the communist North at the partitioning of Vietnam in 1954. They are mostly low-income families, students, former prisoners of conscience and amputee-veterans of the South Vietnamese Army."

He also said "the authorities often resort to the use of force to seize properties and land in places which have potential commercial value.

"This has been a pattern of behaviour on the part of the communist government in Vietnam ironically since the so-called "doi moi" (reform) era, as demonstrated in many incidents throughout the country."

Source

• Catholic News Agency
• UCANews
• Image: UCA News

The Bishops say these state funds have only attracted greed and corruption and overshadowed the real role of an elected MP.

Allowing MPs to allocate the funds at their own discretion effectively puts them in the role of financial administrators, which is not their mandate, said Bishop Rochus Tatamai, president of the bishops' conference.

"It does not require any great gift of prophecy for us to say that the nation is headed for disaster as long as the nation's wealth is seen to be directly administered by Members of Parliament, especially those who are in government and not just in parliament," said the bishop.

The Church has stopped accepted payments directly from parliamentarians regardless of whether the funds are budgeted or not, according to looppng.com.

They are encouraging Catholic-run schools, parishes and dioceses to follow suit.

And they have urged other churches and NGOs to stop accepting "free political handouts."

A number of MPs have expressed support for the bishop's call.

However, others say these funds have greatly improved their remote electorates.

They want the bishops to define what they mean by corruption because the term is too vague.

They suggested that the bishops look at the positive results achieved by communities they served by comparing the situations now with the situation before these state funds were made available to members of parliament.

Source

• international.la-croix.com
• devpolicy.org
• postcourier.com.pg
• postcourier.com.pg
• Image: abc.net.au

No-one is above the law, they say.

The former South African President faces 16 counts of corruption relating to a multibillion-rand arms deal arranged when he was deputy president.

The charges detail 783 instances of wrongdoing in a 30 billion rand (NZ$3,411,600,000) deal with a French arms company.

Although he was originally charged with corruption, fraud, money laundering and tax evasion in late 2007, the charges were set aside in 2009.

This enabled Zuma to run for president in the 2009 elections.

The charges were reinstated in 2016.

Speaking for the South African Catholic Bishops' Conference, Archbishop William Slattery said: "The fact that the former state president will now have his day in court to answer before the nation for his decisions while in power will certainly send a well-needed clanging alarm call to many departments and offices of political administration."

Zuma, who was forced from office in February, denies any wrongdoing and is challenging the decision to prosecute the case.

After the hearing, he told thousands of supporters: "I can't believe all the lies that are said about me. I am innocent until proven guilty."

Allegations of corruption have been a feature of Zuma's time in office, but he has consistently denied any wrong-doing.

Following his resignation as president of South Africa on 14 February, the bishops said Zuma's presidency had fostered corruption and dereliction of duty at all levels of government.

"The fact [he] has been allowed to hold on to the highest position in the land, despite long-standing and overwhelming evidence of his unfitness for office, has done immense harm to our country's international reputation, to its economy and, especially, to its poorest and most vulnerable citizens," the Catholic Bishops' Conference says.

Source

• The Tablet
• Crux Now
• Image: eNCA

The bishop and priests were part of a group that is alleged to have stolen funds to pay for personal expenses and to buy a cattle farm. Read more

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 more than 40,000 temples.

He wanted to force them to open their finances to the public. They take billions of dollars in donations every year.

Despite high-profile temple scandals over murder, drugs and sex as well as improper financial dealings, Pongporn's call for change had jarred on some monks.

A group called the Thailand Buddhists Federation submitted a petition to the prime minister's office this month, calling for Pongporn to be removed to "prevent further damage to monks".

"He painted monks as villains in Thai people's eyes," the group's secretary-general, Korn Meedee, said in a statement on Facebook.

In July, another Buddhist group had called for Pongporn's removal, saying he had damaged the Buddhist institution.

The former policeman was appointed amid a standoff between security forces and the influential Dhammakaya temple in February.

Thai security forces besieged the Dhammakaya Temple to try to catch its former abbot, wanted for questioning on money laundering.

They failed to catch him and he is still on the run.

The prime minister said Pongporn had "got some of the jobs done. He came in to solve temple issues."

"I'll now bring him close to me, to help me work on religious reform... This is not a punishment."

But Phra Buddha Issara, a monk who has called for reform of Buddhism, said the junta gave in to pressure too easily given government promises to fight corruption.

Source

• Business Insider
• Image: Bangkok Post

The debate was organised by the International Consultation Group for justice, corruption, organized crime and mafias, which is part of the Vatican dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development.

The Consultation Group co-hosted the debate with the Pontifical Academy for Social Sciences.

The debate's 50 participants came from all over the world. They included anti-mafia and anti-corruption magistrates, bishops, Vatican officials, representatives from the U.N. and various States, heads of movements, victims and ambassadors.

As a result of the debate, the Consultation Group issued a joint text highlighting the participants' anti-corruption priorities. These were accompanied by 21 goals and actions points they hope to accomplish in the coming year.

They say their role will be "educational and informative, and will address public opinion and many institutions to create a mentality of freedom and justice, in view of the common good."

In their opinion the consequences of corruption are not often recognised, so people are "unaware that an act of corruption is often at the base of a crime."

The Consultation Group says it aims to intervene and "fill this gap, especially wherever, in the world, corruption is the dominant social system."

Source

• CNA
• Vatican Radio
• Image: Corruption Watch

A new visa application to re-enter Papua New Guinea has been filed, which he hoped would be granted shortly.

On Friday the in the Kokopo National Court Justice Salatei Lenaia issued orders to the acting chief migration officer, Solomon Kantha, and the PNG immigration and citizenship service Authority to facilitate Tennent's return within 14 days.

Lenaia also stayed the notice of cancelation used on June 1 by the minister of foreign affairs and immigration

It is now up to the parties to decide whether Tennent is issued with a new visa and work permit or the legal pathway is pursued.

Before his arrest, Tennent was three years into a seven year commitment to work in Papua New Guinea as part of the Caritas Catholic Volunteers Overseas programme.

As a lawyer, Tennent was using his skills to advocate on behalf of the Pomio villagers around issues related to land rights.

This included taking court action against Rimbunan Hijau, a Malaysian-based company whose interests include logging and timber processing.

For the past month Tennent has been trying to do what he can to continue his work via email but his sudden departure had been disruptive. He said he left behind a huge amount of work which he was keen to get back to

He said the experience had given him a renewed commitment to his advocacy work but it was likely he would take a more cautious approach in how he went about his role should he be able to return to Papua New Guinea.

"Certainly it's going to make us more thoughtful about what we do," he said.

Source

• Stuff
• Loop
• Image: LexisNexis

Despite a court order staying his deportation, Douglas Tennent was forced to leave PNG on Monday after being told on Friday by immigration officials he was abusing the conditions of his religious worker visa.

Now back in New Zealand Tennent said he wants just two things.

"One of them is to return to PNG to continue my work with the archdiocese in helping local people on infrastructure and land issues," he said.

"And the other thing I want is for immigration to spell out to me how I breach my visa and if any groups have got concerns about my actions, set them out so I can respond. I have had no opportunity to respond."

In a statement issued on Tuesday the Catholic Bishops' Conference of Papua New Guinea and the Solomon Islands , said Tennent was deported for fighting for justice for the voiceless in Papua New Guinea.

The archbishop of Rabaul, Francesco Panfilo, says Tennent was working for him on disposing of church and other lands, a housing project for low-income earners and helping those negatively affected by a huge palm oil project, run by multi national Rimbunan Hijau.

Rimbunan Hijau, which has wide interests in PNG, has a huge oil palm plantation at West Pomio in East New Britain.

Panfilo said the claim by immigration that Tennent had illegally involved himself in sensitive land issues was false.

Tennet is a well-known and respected author on immigration and refugee law issues.

He worked from 1984-1992 as an advocate in the Highlands of Papua New Guinea court and prison system under a joint project of the Anglican and Catholic Churches.

From 1998 until 2002 taught in the Faculty of Law, University of Papua New Guinea. He was also the Associate Dean.

He then spent some time on the faculty of law at Waikato University.

From 2009 till 2011 he was a legal advisor in the Solomon Islands.

Source

• radionz.co.nz
• radionz.co.nz
• radionz.co.nz
• store.lexisnexis.com.au
• Image: lexisnexis.co.nz

Its aim was to prevent the Vatican state being used as a cover for corruption and money laundering.

The Vatican has enacted a number of provisions to clean up its finances and make them more transparent in recent years.

This has been especially the case since Pope Francis was elected in 2013.

He has given the Vatican Financial Intelligence Authority additional resources to track down on money laundering.

Gian Pietro Milano, who is the Vatican's Promoter of Justice, said about 13 million euros have been frozen since 2013.

Moneyval, the financial monitoring body of the Council of Europe, said in its December 2015 review that the Vatican had made great strides in cleaning up its scandal-plagued bank and other financial departments.

Moneyval evaluates how a country's financial legislation and practices comply with international standards, said the Vatican had addressed many previous deficiencies.

But it said the Vatican should be much more aggressive with prosecutions and indictments.

Source

• The Sydney Morning Herald
• Premier
• Reuters
• Images: Above the Fray

According to Papua police, 86 people have died, 264 have been seriously injured and 839 injured slightly since 2013 in alcohol-related incidents.

Papua governor Lukas Enembe as well law enforcement agencies and officials signed an "integrity pact" on March 30 this year that included prohibiting the production, distribution and sale of alcohol.

However, instead of making crackdowns, some officials are helping supply people with alcohol, according to Bishop John Philip Saklil of Timika.

He called for authorities to vigorously enforce the ban they put in place.

His call follows a string of deaths linked to adulterated homemade liquor.

Inaction from local government and security personnel, as well as general ignorance about bootleg alcohol contributed to the deaths, according to Saklil.

He added that because of such ignorance, the consumption of alcohol particularly bootleg liquor in his diocese, has become widespread.

The bishop claimed security personnel must have some role in supplying and selling liquor since people living in areas they can access but others find difficult to reach have a steady supply of alcohol.

"It's impossible they don't know anything about it," he said, suggesting there was a deliberate policy not to enforce the ban.

"The involvement of military and police in supplying and selling liquor and their reluctance to deal with violators of the ban, resulting in them letting perpetrators of crimes go is valid proof."

He referred to the deaths of the seven young men, saying three out of four people suspected of selling of bootleg liquor in the area avoided arrest, while the other was arrested but released a few hours later.

Papua police chief Inspector General Paulus Waterpauw couldn't be reached for comment on the bishop's allegation.

Source

• ucanews.com
• Image: photo.kontan.co.id

He points out that there are various definitions of democracy, "but the Oxford English Dictionary probably sums it up accurately saying it is ‘a system of government in which all the people of a state or polity… are involved in making decisions about its affairs, typically by voting to elect representatives to a parliament or similar assembly'."

Fitzpatrick says this definition "aptly describes what people purport to call the Melanesian Way."

"Consensus means the involvement of everyone in the community or society, which is the case of both democracy and the Melanesian Way."

He says the perceived differences between western democracy and the Melanesian way lie in the application.

Democracy may exist at the grassroots level in Australia and its counterpart, the Melanesian Way, may exist at the grassroots level in Papua New Guinea but neither exists at the national level.

"In Australia we are run by greedy big business and the unions and in Papua New Guinea the nation is run by greedy big business, mostly from overseas, and individual and greedy politicians."

Phil Fitzpatrick has worked with indigenous communities for over 45 years, principally in Australia and Papua New Guinea but including places in the Pacific such as Vanuatu and the Cook Islands.

Much of his work has been within the resources sector, particularly mining and petroleum exploration.

He has researched and carried out hundreds of surveys and conducted numerous detailed Native Title, social mapping and heritage studies.

Source

• asopa.typepad.com
• jacksonpr.com.au
• Image: aljazeera.com

Francis said corruption is not only present in politics but almost everywhere, including the institution he leads.

"Even in the Vatican there are cases of corruption," he said.

Francis's comments came in response to a question from two young Kenyans

"Corruption is something that gets inside of us, it's like sugar," Francis said.

"But it ends badly. When we have too much sugar, we end up with diabetes, or our country ends up being diabetic."

"Every time we accept a bribe and we put it in our pocket, we destroy our hearts, our personalities, and our country," he said.

The Pontiff then directly addressed those engaged in corruption, though he did not mention anyone by name.

The money they steal, he said, won't follow them to the grave, adding that after they're gone, all that is left are "the hearts wounded by these examples" as well as starving children who have no food because it was stolen.

"Corruption is a path to death," Francis said.

Kenya ranks 145 out of 174 countries in the Transparency International 2014 index.

Recently, the country's president was forced to fire several cabinet ministers on corruption charges.

Answering a series of questions posed to him at the Kasarani stadium in Nairobi, Francis also warned against tribalism and said a lack of education and jobs was fuelling radicalisation.

While visiting a Nairobi slum, Pope Francis launched a blistering attack on "new forms of colonialism" that exacerbate the "dreadful injustice of urban exclusion".

Earlier, at a United Nations office in Nairobi, the Pope said a failure by world leaders to confront climate change in a meeting in Paris would be a catastrophe.

Speaking to priests, religious and seminarians in Kenya, the Pope criticised indifference and said a person without prayer is as ugly as a dried fig.

Anyone who does not think he or she can live a life of poverty, chastity and obedience should leave and start a family, he added.

Sources

• The Tablet
• The Tablet
• Crux
• Catholic Herald
• The Guardian
• Image: Independent

The Congregation for the Evangelisation of Peoples promotes evangelisation and missionary cooperation around the globe and has special responsibility for bishops, dioceses and developing jurisdictions in Africa, the Far East and parts of the Pacific and Latin America.

The money collected from properties owned by the congregation is used to support the church's missionary initiatives around the world.

In its statement, the congregation also denied reports that it owned a spa and a prominent hotel in Rome, saying the reports were "unacceptable" and "untrue."

"All the properties belonging to the congregation were donated for the missions and are rented out at the market price, although there are exceptions for people living in situations of poverty," the statement said.

The properties, the statement continued, are rented out "in compliance with Italian law" and in 2014 the congregation paid more than 2.1 million euros in property taxes.

Income from the rents, it said, is used to "maintain the congregation, the Pontifical Urbaniana University, the Pontifical Urban College, missionary institutions and young churches in mission territories."

Regarding the continuing reform of the Roman Curia and efforts to revise and standardise Vatican budgeting and financial reporting procedures, the congregation said it fully adheres to Pope Francis' "line of thought" and will continue to hand over financial and budgetary reports to the Vatican Secretariat for the Economy.

Source

• catholicnews.com
• Image: photos.wikimapia.org

The members of parliament had been convicted on corruption charges.

Nafuki says they don't want any more time wasting.

"We are calling from the grassroots, the people, that maybe we can see a better government but at the moment we are still waiting for whatever comes from the both sides."

"We would recommend very strongly that we need a government to be set up as soon as possible."

Nafuki says because of the cost of an election their preference is for a government of national unity to be formed.

Since the jailing of the 14 MPs a week ago Prime Minister Sato Kilman has been leading a minority government while the opposition can only muster 26 votes in the 52 seat parliament.

Mr Kilman wants fresh elections while the Opposition wants a government of national unity.

The President, Baldwin Lonsdale, has given both sides until Friday to resolve the impasse by forming a government of national unity, or he will dissolve parliament

Radio Vanuatu reports if the deadline is not met Lonsdale will have to take urgent steps to ensure the country is returned to stable government.

A meeting was scheduled on Monday to bring the Government and the Opposition together at State House but the Prime Minister Sato Kilman was unable to attend.

Eight appeal applications have been received by the Supreme Court from the jailed MPs.

The Appeal Court will sit from November the 9th and the court has scheduled two weeks to hear the appeals.

Jenny Hayward Jones of the Australian think tank, the Lowy Institute, says the weaknesses in Vanuatu's political system have been exposed on a grand scale as have the flaws of many of Vanuatu's elected politicians.

But she says there are positive signs for the country in the long-term.

"What this saga shows is that the rule of law has prevailed, Vanuatu's courts are strong, that its judiciary is independent, that its president is strong enough to say no and is above the law.

"So all of these things, I think send a very positive signal, probably one of the most positive in the region that Vanuatu's a place where you can do business and where the rule of law will be respected."

Source

• radionz.co.nz
• radionz.co.nz
• lowyinterpreter.org
• Image: dailypost.vu

Roche gave the following reasons for the condemnation:

• Elected leaders are for the people. They have been mandated to represent the people. Hence, they are obliged to be their voice.
• As mandated by the people, they are entrusted to deal with public issues and act in the best interest of the people and not abuse their powers for their own benefits.
• People suffer at the hands of those who misuse power for their selfish needs. This affects all levels of the society and generates instability at all levels of the government.

In the last few days, there has been an inquiry into allegations of two ministers who during their time in office breached and acted contrary to their duties and responsibilities as leaders.

On Tuesday Radio Australia International reported that an anonymous text message line has uncovered 250 cases of potential corruption in the Papua New Guinea's Department of Finance.

Source

• The Catholic Reporter
• Radio Australia
• Image: Pacific Scoop

He says that honesty and commitment to the common good are essential ingredients of worthy politics.

Moreover in a true democratic system political authority is accountable to the people it represents."

"No person, including members of parliament, is above the law. There is the one law for everyone in Papua New Guinea."

"Yet recent events, with accusations, dismissals and political manouverings appear to disrespect the Constitution and the rule of law."

"Our people continue to search for security and prosperity in a socio-political scene that seems even more confusing and complex."

"Instability and oppressive law enforcement reflecting the interest of a few is hurting our entire society."

"If this continues it will be detrimental to the soul of the nation. Investors confident and a good image of our nation will be lost," said Orowa.

"'The truth will make you free' (John 8:32). As Church leaders we call for a peaceful and truthful resolution of the current political turmoil.

The values we refer to are found not only in the Holy Bible, but are expressed in civil law, yet have their origin in God."

"In God's name we call on the elected leaders of this nation to give priority to the respect for law, the common good and future of our nation."

The Papua New Guinea national court this week reinstated the anti-corruption task force Sweep which was disbanded by the prime minister, Peter O'Neill, last month after it turned its investigations towards him.

O'Neill disbanded the organisation and sacked its chief, Sam Koim, accusing it of being compromised by political and media ties, after new evidence in a long-running corruption investigation prompted an arrest warrant for O'Neill.

The warrant related to allegations he authorised multimillion-dollar illegal payments to a Port Moresby law firm, which he has consistently denied.

Koim had applied to the court last week to have O'Neill's decision overturned.

Fr Giorgio Licini writing in the Catholic Reporter PNG says that since independence Papua New Guinea has been marred in poor governance and corruption but now people have had enough.

"They had enough of dubious payments; uncompleted projects; political consent and votes captured every five years with unfulfilled promises."

There is a third post-independence generation of Papua New Guineans fast emerging after the Somares and the O'Neills.He says the dream for a clean and honest running of the public affairs is palpable at the grassroots. he says

"They want a more mature democratic process and a totally transparent management of public wealth and funds."

Source

• The Catholic Reporter PNG
• Supplied: The Catholic Reporter PNG
• The Guardian
• Image: The Catholic Reporter PNG

He was speaking at the opening of a three day church conference on Rethinking the Household of God in Honiara, Solomon Islands.

Vunagi said corruption had left a paralysing impact on the ability of people to trust.

"In our country, the Solomon Islands, it is unfortunate that corruption has taken precedent over general orders, the normal administrative procedures and to say the least there are elements of corruption even in our political system so we do know how to trust."

Coupled with corruption, Vunagi lamented the ecological damages that was plaguing the Solomon Islands and challenged church leaders to exercise their duty to speak to the destructive impacts of irresponsible development practices and policies promoted by government.

During a working group session, church representatives identified a host of problems that beset the Solomon Islands political leadership.

Some of the problems they named were: self-centred individual interests, lack of transparency, nepotism, non-inclusive decision making processes and little regard or attention to the rule of law.

Church leaders and participants agreed that there was a 'crisis of leadership', and in particular a 'crisis of honesty' in the Solomon Islands.

Vunagi said, "Moral and ethical values that should guide us as a nation is no more."

"Churches are well placed to contribute substantially to Solomon Islands' socio-economic conditions. However, we need to have greater say in the types of economic empowerment programmes created for this end and therefore stand ready to assist in helping to create durable-solutions that affects the lives of our people."

The conference which was co-organised by the Anglican Church of Melanesia (ACOM) and the Pacific Conference of Churches ended on Wednesday June 4.

Source

• The Anglican Church of Melanesia
• PINA
• Image: The Anglican Church of Melanesia