The British public has raised NZ$80 million for Somalia in just over three weeks, but three more regions have been hit by the famine, so much more is needed. Brendan Gormley, chief execution of the British Disasters Emergency Committee said: “To raise NZ$80 million in just over three weeks is a wonderful demonstration of public Read more
The Vatican has excommunicated another newly ordained Chinese bishop, the second in as many weeks. The excommunicated bishop, Joseph Huang Bingzhang, was ordained without Papal approval, and according to The Telegraph, in the presence of four kidnapped bishops who ‘witnessed’ the ceremony. The ordination has brought relations between the Vatican and China to a new Read more
About 100 young New Zealanders will be attending the World Youth Day in Spain. There also will be local activities in each of the dioceses. In Auckland they will begin on August 19 and include praying stations of the cross and adoration, says Teresa McNamara, co-ordinator of youth and young adult ministry for the Auckland Diocese. The following day Read more
Pope Benedict has decried an approach to agricultural production based solely on profit, and called for steps to protect family farming, as he met on July 1 with leaders of the UN’s Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO). He spoke of hunger born of selfish behaviour. He said persistent world hunger was a “tragedy” driven by Read more
One of Syria’s most respected bishops is condemning the violence in Syria but is also defending the Syrian government’s response to the uprising there. He said the insurgents are “fanatics” who seek “destabilization and Islamization.” “The fanatics speak about freedom and democracy for Syria but this is not their goal,” said Chaldean Catholic Bishop Antoine Read more
Mercedes-Benz is making a hybrid Popemobile for Benedict XVI, often dubbed the ‘green Pope’ by Italian media. According to the German weekly paper Wirtschaftswoche, it is expected the green Popemobile would be ready for Benedict’s visit to Germany in September. Vatican Spokesman Federico Lombardi told news agency AFP that the car, which is currently under Read more
‘Today, unfortunately, it seems that every possible barrier is put in the way of asylum seekers and refugees who come to Australia seeking protection from persecution,” she said. ”They also seek the fulfillment of their fundamental human rights and ultimately a better quality of life in a free and democratic society.” said Judith Troeth in her valedictory Read more
Theologian Elizabeth Johnson was recently critiqued by the US bishops. As the keynote speaker at assembly of the Leadership Conference of Women Religious in 2008 she spoke of the universal need to extend and accept forgiveness. A lesson she must now put into practice herself. In the course of her address she quoted Bernard Haring: “At this time the church is Read more
Pope Benedict XVI has suggested that New Zealand has a moral responsibility to be a good neighbour to Island States. “Due to its geographical position, your country is able to assist in the development of smaller, more distant countries with fewer resources. Some neighbouring countries, including the Small Island Developing States, look to New Zealand Read more
A funny thing has happened as the story of a recent Vatican crackdown on a legendary monastery in Rome has made its way into the English-language press. I mean that literally — the story has been turned into a joke, thereby obscuring its real significance. For those with eyes to see, the suppression of the Read more