Welcom Archive 2007-2026

As a young parent I smacked my children. I myself was brought up with the idea that small children needed physical punishment as well as instant reward in order to learn.

The question has been posed in such a way that those who designed it expect people to answer ‘no’. They hope it will draw a gut reaction from people.

The lack of support for new mothers and role models for boys appear to be significant factors influencing New Zealand’s high levels of violence towards children.

The rector of St Patrick’s College, Wellington, Paul Martin sm, suggests that a significant factor in New Zealand’s high incidence of child violence is a shift in society’s expectations of children.

Privately run prisons pose a greater risk of prisoner abuse and may put less effort into rehabilitation as the profit motive takes over. That is the view of the Catholic social justice agency Caritas and the Wellington Commission for Justice, Peace and Development (JPD).

Among the suggestions were continuing to hold meetings such as that evening’s, fostering individual friendships among people of different faiths, supporting teaching about religion in schools and other institutions such as nursing and police schools.

On the feast of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, June 19, priests of the archdiocese held a liturgy to launch the Year of the Priest.

There were concerns that the incident might adversely affect tourism and New Zealand’s hosting role for the 2011 Rugby World Cup. There were calls for tougher action against thugs. But there was no suggestion that the story might not be true and this should be our biggest concern.