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GENERAL ELECTION 27 July 2002
This month's 'Wel-com' - the newspaper of Wellington and Palmerston North diocese - has a question and answer feature on the forthcoming election. The leaders of all parties with members in the last Parliament were questioned about their policy on eight topics: support for families, overseas aid, abortion laws, refugees and migrants, bioethics and genetics, cannabis and alcohol, law and order and global warming. Their answers are in the print edition of 'Wel-com' and on the bishops' Website at http://www.catholic.org.nz (click the 'News' link or open the page directly at: http://www.catholic.org.nz/cathcom/press/welcom/ )
This weekend's print edition of 'NZ Catholic' (pp.14-15) also has an election feature with brief policy statements in reply to questions about the parties' policies on education, the elderly, employment, the family, health, housing, justice, respect for life and social justice
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FROM THE SECULAR PRESS
"Catholic Church lines bring 24 complaints" Otago Daily Times 13-July 2002 http://www.odt.co.nz/cgi-bin/search-display-story-online-new?date=13Jul2002&obje\ ct=0712495243&type=html&WORDS=catholic&DB=Editorial Wellington: Two hot-lines set up to handle allegations of sexual abuse by Catholic priests have received 24 complaints so far. Catholic Church spokeswoman Lyndsay Freer said about 25 calls had been received since the line was set up on Friday of last week. Twelve had been referred to the church's regional complaints protocol committees....
"Four Marist brothers accused of sexual abuse in South Island " ODT 11-July 2002 http://www.odt.co.nz/cgi-bin/search-display-story-online-new?date=11Jul2002&obje\ ct=0710693165&type=html&WORDS=catholic&DB=Editorial Christchurch: Four Marist brothers who worked in the South Island have had allegations of sexual abuse made against them. The order has confirmed none remains in public ministry....
"Nine sex abuse complaints against ex-priest investigated " NZ Herald 08.07.2002 http://www.nzherald.co.nz/latestnewsstory.cfm?storyID=2050880&thesection=news&th\ esubsection=general&thesecondsubsection=latest Upper Hutt police are investigating nine sex abuse complaints against former Marist priest Alan Woodcock, a music teacher at St Patrick's College in Silverstream, and a decision on his possible extradition from England is expected this week....
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FROM THE CATHOLIC PRESS
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"Marist Messenger" July 2002 http://www.maristmessenger.co.nz
Full text: Focus: The focus I never wanted to have to write, by Fr Carl Telford SM... The Invisible Monastery - the story of Maria Sagheddu ... ... Reflections on the Mass Readings for July
Also in this month's issue: The Eucharist in Scripture ... Taro like gold ... Journey on a train ... Timmy - ready for heaven ... Sunshine in sorrow- a funeral ... Blessed Peter To Rot ... My problem with the practice of Sunday ... St. Benedict's heritage of prayer for lay people.
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'NZ Catholic' No 141, July 14, 2002 http://catholic.org.nz/cathcom/press/nzc/front.html
"Bishops issue apology and set up helpline " New Zealand's Catholic bishops have issued a pastoral letter expressing their "deepest regret and most sincere apology" to victims of sexual abuse by clergy or religious... [Related link: "A Path to Healing"/"Te Houhanga Rongo"]
"Treatment success offers sign of hope " A sign of hope for New Zealand clergy undergoing treatment for sexual abuse at Encompass Australasia, Sydney, is the high success rate of its programme treating people with sexual disorders... [Related Link: NZ Herald Article on the work of Encompass Australasia]
"Future priests' morale is high " Morale among seminarians is "very good", despite the recent spate of revelations of sexual abuse by clergy, say the rectors of the country's two seminaries... [Related Links: VocatioNZ, the vocations web page of the Catholic Diocese of Auckland, New Zealand ... Marist Seminary (this link has "drifted" to the page with the previous story)
From the 'Think Page' for young adults ... "Jesus at the keg'" We all know that living the Gospel is not always easy. Like anything in life worth doing, there are going to be moments when you doubt. Take going for a run as an example . . . you know that afterwards you'll feel that much better for the exercise, but that doesn't make it any easier to drag yourself out of bed to start pounding the pavement. When it comes to living the Gospel, however, you're often faced with more than just willpower obstacles. Peer pressure (real or imagined) can have a huge influence on the way we choose to behave...
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JUSTICE PEACE & DEVELOPMENT
CaritasUpdate Issue No. 29, Winter 2002 http://www.caritas.org.nz/Update/29_winter_2002/index.htm
In this issue of the Newsletter of Caritas Aotearoa New Zealand .... "Timor Lorosa'e has gained Nation status, and it is important to pause and note this tremendous victory for peace and justice. We have included the NZ Bishops' strong and thoughtful statement on the Palestinian conflict, and we consider the broader issue of refugees and migrants for followers of Christ. We report on Third World Debt, and also the International Conference on Financing for Development, attended by Caritas's Peter Zwart, the NZ NGO representative. Finally, we give thanks for the wonderful efforts of the Catholic Community during the Caritas Lent Appeal...another record total for justice peace and development work!"
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MARIST BROTHERS' MINISTRIES
New features on the Marists Brothers' Web site, at http://www.catholic.org.nz/fms/
1. Marist Brothers' Professional Standards Committee Any former students or persons who believe they may have been abused by members of the Order may contact the Marist Brothers' Professional Standards Committee or, alternatively, the local Catholic Diocesan offices. The Committee's contact details are: Brother Henry Spinks F.M.S., PO Box 24 400, Royal Oak, Auckland 1030. Tel: 09 623 6180 ... Fax: 09 623 6189 ... E-mail: h.spinks@xtra.co.nz
2. "Champagnat": A Newsletter for Boards of Trustees and Staff of Marist Schools and Schools with Marist traditions in New Zealand. Volume 6, Number 2, June 2002 Significance and celebration in NZ schools of the feastday of St Marcellin Champagnat ... Achievements of students in Marist-tradition schools ... Prayer: A Marist Blessing
3. "MYAM". The quarterly newsletter of Marist Young Adult Ministry, Aotearoa-New Zealand. Winter 2002 Brother Mark Field reflects on the shooting tragedy at Guttenberg High School in Germany ... JP II: message for the young people of Oceania... Believe in yourself: why and how ... Dates for the diary ... Fourteen facts that make life worth living ... Web sites to check out
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EMPLOYMENT
(Teaching vacancies in New Zealand Catholic schools are advertised in the Education Gazette: http://www.edgazette.govt.nz/vacancies )
(Vacancies in Catholic Youth Ministry are advertised on the Job Bank page of the National Council for Young Catholics: http://ncyc.org.nz )
****************************** Administrator, Sisters of Mercy Motherhouse, Ponsonby, Auckland
Motherhouse Te Kainga Taumata Ltd includes the community of Sisters of Mercy resident at St Mary's Convent, St Catherine's Rest Home and the premises in which these are located in Ponsonby, Auckland. The Sisters of Mercy wish to appoint an Administrator to manage the infrastructure of the motherhouse premises, ensure the comfort and pastoral wellbeing of the St Mary's Community and manage St Catherine's Rest Home. Details in 'NZ Catholic' 14 July 2002 p. 21 and from Brian Mccloy PO Box 5250, Wellesley St., Auckland ... tel. 09 638 8600 ... fax 09 638 8605 ... email: BMccloy@somauck.org.nz Applications close 22 July 2002 ***************************** Director of Music, Our Lady of Lourdes Parish, Palmerston North
Small annual stipend for 2-5 hours per week. Details from Parish Secretary, 96 Shamrock St., Palmerston North. Tel: 06 358 3667 ... E-mail: ololpn@manawatu.gen.nz Applications close 1 August 2002 *************************** Marketing Officer, Catholic Development Fund, Wellington
Twelve-month contract. Hours negotiable. Details in 'Wel-com' July 2002 p. 19 and from Chris King, tel.: 04 496 1753 ... Website: http://www.catholic.org.nz/cdf_wn/sitecontents
**************************** Presenters for 'NZ Catholic' Newspaper
"We wish to employ skilled communicators who have a firm belief in the Catholic press to act as presenters for 'NZ Catholic' at parish Masses.
"If you live in Northland, Auckland, Hawkes Bay, Wellington, Nelson-Marlborough, West Coast, Otago or Southland, and would like weekend work assisting us to gain subscribers, and have the necessary background and speaking skills, we would like to hear from you.
"For further details, including remuneration, please contact: Dennis Augustine, Promotions and Advertising Manager, 'NZ Catholic', PO Box 147-000, Ponsonby, Auckland 1034 "
