The donations to Peter's Pence are received in three primary forms:

1. The collection taken up in churches worldwide on the Solemnity of Saints Peter and Paul. These are subsequently forwarded to the Holy See by Italian dioceses and, via the Pontifical Representations, from overseas dioceses.
2. Direct offerings sent through bank and postal account transfers, checks, or through the website with credit cards and PayPal.
3. Bequests from inheritances.

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On Tuesday the vineyard fulfilled that promise with a hefty donation to Dunstan Hospital.

Two Paddocks owner, and actor, Sir Sam Neill said the hospital was a great asset to the region.

"This is in thanks for their recent tender care of myself and their ongoing care to so many of our family and friends. They are a great asset for our region and we are happy to help, just as they help so many," he said. Read more

There had been an increase in the number of donors switching from cash to digital over the six-month period as a result of the pandemic, and those numbers were holding steady.

The company's expansion into the Catholic faith sector was expected to see continued growth for the business, said Pushpay chief executive Molly Matthews said in a statement to the market.

"As we shared at the start of the financial year, the Catholic initiative is our first step in investing to grow our customer base outside of our existing core customer base, and we have set the goal of acquiring more than 25 percent of the Catholic church management system and donor management system market over the next five years." Continue reading

"We certainly pledge our continued devotion to Holy Mother Church, and recognise the tithe has been an important commitment of Legatus since our founding," a letter sent to Legatus members last week from Chairman and CEO Thomas Monaghan says.

"However, in light of recent revelations and questions, we believe it appropriate to respectfully request clarification regarding the specific use of these funds."

The revelations refer to the sexual abuse and its cover-up by some Catholic bishops that have recently come to light.

Legatus has over 80 chapters throughout the United States and Canada. The group's tithe to the Holy See this year would have been about $820,000, according to the Wall Street Journal.

Monaghan's letter also praises Cardinal Daniel DiNardo's leadership.

DiNardo, who is president of the US bishops' conference, has called for a timely and thorough investigation into questions surrounding the failings of Church leaders.

Monaghan says Legatus members are also questioning the organisation's annual tithe to the Holy See, "specifically pertaining to how it is being used, and what financial accountability exists within the Vatican for such charitable contributions.

"The Board has begun a dialogue along these lines, and in the meantime has decided to place the Holy See annual tithe in escrow, pending further determination."

Monaghan has asked members of Legatus to "pray for healing and clarity during this troubled time: for our Church, for all victims of abuse and injustice, and for our clergy."

Source

• La Croix
• Catholic News Agency
• Image: CNS News

All parishes have been offered a code to allow them to do this, and the diocese said a few had already begun this technology. Read more

New Zealand Marist Mission promoter, Fr Tim Duckworth, SM, confirmed the move on Tuesday evening.

"The people of Fiji are resilient, but in many cases will have to start again from the foundations," Fr Duckworth said.

"With so many communities and villages flattened, local infrastructure is really stretched.

"Frequently people have lost everything: homes, schools, churches, food sources, livelihood, drinkable water and crops.

"It is going to take a lot of help to get up and running again."

Fr Duckworth's initiative comes in response to the massive trail of destruction left by monster Cyclone, "Winston".

Late last week, the New Zealand province of the Society of Mary made a substantial donation to the society's Oceania province.

One of the areas badly hit was "Tutu", the rural training centre in Tavenui, where 22 buildings have either been partially or completely destroyed.

Tutu was established in 1969 and helps people become more autonomous - training them to return home to farm their own land.

It offers five courses catering for young farmers, married couples, young single women, and new parents.

The Pacific Island Famers Organisation Network has said the Tutu "experiment" has been highly successful.

"The urgent needs (for Tutu) right now are $125,000 building materials, and food for 25 families and 72 course participants," said Fr Pio Fong Waqavotuwale, SM.

St John's College has also sustained extensive damage.

Those wishing to donate are encouraged to contact Fr Tim Duckworth:

• Email: duckworth@smnz.org.nz
• Phone: 04 499 3060

100 per cent of all donations will be sent to the Marist Fathers' mission in Fiji.

Any administration costs will be met by the Society of Mary New Zealand and one third of all donations is tax-deductible.

Sources

• Society of Mary
• Image: Marist Oceania Provincial Administration (supplied)

This has drawn widespread condemnation from detractors shocked at the Salvation Army's consumer-driven stance, with many saying they will not be supporting their appeal.

The Salvation Army's territorial social services secretary, Pam Waugh, said for many children this would be the only time of the year they would be getting something new.

She said in the past people had donated toys that were worn or embarrassing for any child to receive.

Other charities have resorted to un-wrapping donated goods this year to ensure children don't end up with a nasty surprise on Christmas morning.

Auckland City Missioner, Dame Diane Robertson, said although it doesn't happen often, they sometimes find half-eaten food, dirty clothing, and worse in among the items sent in.
She said the church's aim was to give poor children a Christmas similar to their peers.

"What we're talking about here is a group of children who have very few material possessions,"said Waugh.

"In our society there's quite a stigma attached to that so we're acutely aware Christmas time is when children from these families are in dire material deprivation and they can be quite highly conscious of that poverty," she said.

"This is our chance to make sure these kids get something very special under the tree."

Waugh said they cater for all children under 17, but the teenagers were particularly hard.

"It's always a hard choice what to give your teenagers anyway, but we cater for all the children, but if people can think of teenagers, we're really grateful for that."

Old toys would still be used if they were suitable.

"We put them up for families to take, some of the things are really good and we're grateful for that."

Source

• nzherald.co.nz
• radionz.co.nz
• nzherald.co.nz
• Image: previews.123rf.com

Established in 1789, Georgetown is the USA's oldest Catholic and Jesuit university.

The donation is for the creation of a leadership programme for the university's student-athletes, and to fund a sports field.

"The athletics program at Georgetown has played a significant role in our family's life," he told the university.

The university said Cooper and his wife Susan were the parents of five Georgetown graduates — twins Kylie and Ryan, as well as Matthew, Kris and Adam.

He is a Kaitaia-raised son of a truck driver.

He is of Ngati Kahu, Ngati Kuri and Te Aupouri descent.

Cooper, now in his 60s, got his first taste of the US on a school scholarship and has had a foot in both countries ever since.

A lawyer specialising in commercial and property law, Mr Cooper was formerly executive director of Lion Nathan, chief executive of LD Nathan and joint managing director of Mace Development Corporation.

He practiced law for 11 years and was partner at Auckland law firm Russell McVeagh, where he specialized in commercial and property law.

Cooper made a fortune in real estate and private equity and developed projects including the billion-dollar, 6.5ha Britomart site in downtown Auckland.

He is the founder and Executive Chairman of Cooper and Company.

Cooper and Company is a private investment company, established in 1989, that develops and invests in assets on a long-term ownership basis.

The company has offices Newport Beach, California; Auckland, New Zealand; and Southlake, Texas.

Source

• m.nzherald.co.nz
• cooperandcompany.org
• nbr.co.nbr
• Image: nbr.co.nz

Movie-goers who saw "Meet the Mormons" were invited to make a gold coin donation for Caritas.

Proceeds were handed over to Catholic Church representatives at a Latter Day Saints facility in Manukau on February 24.

The film was intended to explain who the Mormons are, not to proselytise.

Elder S. Gifford Nielsen said: "The relationship with our friends from the Catholic Church is getting stronger."

Caritas chief executive Julianne Hickey said: "This experience has enhanced my understanding of what we share and what we have in common."

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The Maori Party and the Greens are also sending the money back. They have rejected donations from the Todd Corporation. Todd Corporation owns Todd Energy and Todd Capital and has significant oil and gas mining interests.

Green Party co-leader Russel Norman said the Todd Corporation had offered the Green Party $5000, which was rejected by the party under its "major donations" policy.

Dr Norman said although the Green Party approved of some of Todd's initiatives in energy, the party was opposed to some of its mining practices. "They also do some things we don't agree with. So we said `no thank you'. It wasn't acrimonious."

The Maori Party has followed the Green Party's lead by rejecting a $5000 donation from Todd Corporation, saying the company's mining interests were against its beliefs.

Source

• Auckland Now
• Otago Daily Times
• New Zealand Herald
• Image: Inksinct Cartoons

The president of the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines, Bishop Nereo Odchimar, also said that the seven bishops involved were ready to "face the consequences" if they were found to have broken the law.

"We express... our deep sorrow for the pain that the recent events have brought to you our beloved people," Odchimar said in a statement.

It was revealed last week that the government's lotto operator made donations to the bishops friendly to ex-President Gloria Arroyo, in exchange for political favours.

The bishops, labelled the "Pajero Bishops," each received a 4WD Mitsubishi Pajero and cash.

Philippines lawmakers are investigating the allegations against the bishops and whether the donations were illegal and violated the constitutional separation of church and state.

While ucanews.com reports the scandal has hurt the Church, the presidential palace said it will not affect church relations with the Government.

The Church is a "partner of the government when it comes to charity," Abigail Valte, President Benigno Aquino's spokesperson said.

The government needs "all the help it can get" in helping those in need, she added.

In order to put an end to the speculation there have been calls for former president Arroyo to speak and clarify the matter.

Sources

• Yahoo News Philippines
• ucanews.com
• ucanews.com
• Straits Times

The NZ$17.2 million profit was a turnaround from the previous year's NZ$7 million loss, and losses in the previous two years. The Vatican said the result showed a continuing positive trend which began in 2009, but was hampered by the impact of the global financial crisis.

The Vatican is putting the profit down to an upswing in the financial markets and an upturn in tourism and booming ticket sales at the Vatican Museums.

"Peter's Pence" donations from individuals world wide however dropped NZ$26 million.

Vatican spokesman the Rev. Federico Lombardi said Vatican officials believed the main reasons for the decrease in "Peter's Pence" donations were related to the lingering effects of the financial crisis on Catholics' ability to donate, and the fact that two donations of a few million dollars apiece from individuals in 2009 weren't repeated in 2010.

Lombardi said the effects of the abuse scandal on the Peter's Pence and the diocesan donations wasn't discussed in any depth during meetings Thursday and Friday of top cardinals to review the numbers. But he didn't dispute that such an interpretation of the results could be made.

Sources

• Washington Post
• Image: Hearmespeak