WelCom December 2019 Dr John Kleinsman, Director of the NZ Catholic Bioethics Centre The End of Life Choice Bill passed its 3rd reading in Parliament on Wednesday 13 November, 2019, by a majority of 69 votes to 51. It is arguably one of the most significant pieces of social policy to have been debated for […]
WelCom December 2019 The Royal Commission of Inquiry into Abuse in Care is looking into what happened to children, young persons and vulnerable adults while in State care, or in the care of faith-based institutions between 1950 and 1999. The Royal Commission was announced by the Government in February 2018 and the Terms of Reference […]
WelCom December 2019 ‘Te Kupenga – Catholic Leadership Institute’ is the name chosen for the new organisation to be created by the merger of The Catholic Institute and the Good Shepherd College, which takes effect from January 1, 2020. New Zealand Catholic Bishops Conference president Bishop Patrick Dunn announced the name in October, chosen by […]
WelCom December 2019 The New Zealand Catholic Bishops Conference (NZCBC) has warmly welcomed two new staff members – Kate Aduna and David McLoughlin, who are looking after administration and communications. David takes up the role of NZCBC Communications Adviser. He brings solid experience in all aspects of communications across a range of sectors, including international […]
WelCom December 2019 The Archbishop of Melbourne, Peter Comensoli, has offered a letter of support to all affected by the Australian bushfires. The letter was sent on Sunday 17 November 2019. Dear Friends and Colleagues, To all those facing the uncertainty, danger and devastation of the fires to the north, please know that you are […]
WelCom December 2019 ‘May the Sunday of the Word of God help his people to grow in religious and intimate familiarity with the sacred Scriptures.’ This is Pope Francis’ hope for this day he instituted in his Apostolic Letter published, 30 September 2019, as a new Motu Proprio, ‘Aperuit illis’, instituting the Sunday of the […]
WelCom December 2019 Pope Francis marked the Church’s World Day of the Poor on Sunday 17 November, by hosting 1,500 homeless and disadvantaged people for lunch. The menu included lasagna, chicken in a cream of mushroom sauce, potatoes, sweets, fruit and coffee. Some 150 tables were set up in a Vatican hall where Francis normally […]
WelCom December 2019 A negligent and selfish culture of food waste is fuelling the global hunger crisis, damaging the lives of individuals and preventing the progress of all people, Pope Francis said in a message sent, on Monday 18 November, to David Beasley, executive director of the UN World Food Programme. ‘In many places, our […]
WelCom December 2019 Pope Francis arrived in Bangkok, on Wednesday 20 November where he was welcomed at the city’s International Airport by Thai authorities and bishops and was treated to full military honours. Arriving in Thailand for a two-day visit, Pope Francis was greeted by 11 children – one for each of the country’s dioceses […]
WelCom December 2019 Several hundred protesters against the End of Life Choice Bill gathered outside Parliament on the day of the third and final reading of the bill, 13 November 2019. The member’s bill, in the name of ACT leader David Seymour, that would allow terminally ill adults, to request a medically-assisted death, cleared its […]