Author: wmc

‘Fiji could have elections tomorrow but this would not fix the problem. We have to get to the root causes’the racism that’s there, religious fundamentalism, the power of the chiefs.’

After 12 years of celebrating the third rite of reconciliation with up to 600 people attending the ceremony every Advent and Lent, St Joseph’s Parish, New Plymouth, has had its permission for this practice withdrawn. The parish is now appealing to the church to have permission to hold this rite reinstated.

In the light of the direct non-violent action of Wellington Archdiocesan vicar-general Fr Gerard Burns in confronting the Israeli war on Gaza, many may ask, ‘did he go too far? Is destruction of property ever justified?’ The gospels help provide an answer.

Members of the archdiocesan Justice, Peace and Development Commission visited a people’s market in Wellington’s Newtown suburb last month as an awareness-raising exercise.

Some horrors have been perpetrated in the name of Christianity’the Crusades of the Middle Ages spring to mind’and Christianity has had a significant impact on our society.

Together we can ‘ provide support for those New Zealanders most affected by the global economic crisis. This is the conviction and the invitation of the New Zealand Council of Christian Social Services (NZCCSS) as we face the effects of the recession. The Catholic Church works alongside Anglican, Baptist, Methodist and Presbyterian churches and the Salvation Army in this response.