Sunday, September 21, 2003

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FROM THE SECULAR PRESS

"Conservative big influence in Labour Party " Otago Daily Times 13 September 2003 http://www.odt.co.nz/cgi-bin/search-display-story-online-new?date=13Sep2003&obje\ ct=MCB08J0570AJ&type=html&WORDS=catholic&DB=Editorial Although Michael ("Mick") Connelly CMG enjoyed only a brief period in power as a Cabinet minister, his conservative Catholic influence in the Labour Party was considerable throughout the three decades from the mid-1950s....

"Take a tray of kibbeh" (article includes recipe) ODT Wednesday, 10-September 2003 http://www.odt.co.nz/cgi-bin/search-display-story-online-new?date=10Sep2003&obje\ ct=M8B10F1600RN&type=html&WORDS=catholic&DB=Editorial Lebanese settlers, like most immigrants, came to New Zealand for a better life. Lebanon was part of the Muslim Ottoman Empire for about 400 years until 1918 but most of the New Zealand immigrants were Christian, either Maronite Christians, who attended St Joseph's, the Dunedin Roman Catholic Cathedral, or Greek Orthodox, who built their own church in Fingall St. Even after four or five generations, the descendants of the immigrants still maintain their culture and food, family ties and links with their homeland...

"Bless you, Sister Wendy " Dominion Post 15 September 2003 http://www.stuff.co.nz/stuff/0,2106,2659888a1869,00.html "... knowledge is a wonderful thing, and what can be more pleasant than being on the receiving end of someone else's informed passion for their subject. It's a bit like that, paying attention from the front of the class to Sister Wendy on Saturday nights' World Arts: Sister Wendy's American Collection on TV One. I remember the mild hoo-ha that accompanied her arrival on our screens. She was considered to be so utterly different, and indeed, if you compare her with the huge majority of people fronting television programmes, she is.....

"Churches back abuse unit" NZ Herald 19.09.2003 http://www.nzherald.co.nz/storydisplay.cfm?storyID=3524325&thesection=news&thesu\ bsection=general New Zealand's religious organisations and the Catholic Church have accepted in principle the need to set up an independent national office to help deal with claims of abuse...

"Priest stripped of powers" (full text) NZ Herald 20.09.2003 A prominent Catholic priest accused of sexual misconduct has been stripped of all powers except for ministering the last rites to the dying. Father Jim Consedine retains his title as priest, but has been banned by Christchurch Bishop John Cunneen from all preaching and public ministries. Father Consedine, a justice campaigner of Christchurch, is on a world tour and was unable to be contacted.

"Disgraced NZ Priest Speaking In US" Newstalk ZB 20/09/2003 http://xtramsn.co.nz/news/0,,3882-2683962,00.html An internet website shows Jim Consedine has been a guest speaker at at least one US Catholic ministry since he resigned as Lyttelton parish priest in June, and was banned from all preaching and public ministry...

"Retired priest leaves prison to meet victim " Otago Daily Times 19 september 2003 http://www.odt.co.nz/cgi-bin/search-display-story-online-new?date=19Sep2003&obje\ ct=MIG4391615KS&type=html&WORDS=catholic&DB=Editorial A 76-year-old retired Roman Catholic priest remanded in custody last month for his sexual abuse of three young boys between 31 and 45 years ago was yesterday allowed out of prison for two hours to meet one of his victims. Magnus William Murray was released by Dunedin District Court Judge Stephen O'Driscoll on terms and conditions stipulated in a letter from Crown solicitor Robin Bates....

"Here's looking at you, God--whoever you are " Chicago Sun-Times September 12, 2003 http://www.suntimes.com/output/falsani/cst-nws-fals12.html Two weeks from tonight, CBS will premier a new television show called "Joan of Arcadia." Part of the premise of this spiritually thoughtful show is that Joan Girardi, 16, the typically teenage daughter of the local police chief, can see God. Not just in a spiritual, metaphorical way. Like a stranger on a bus. Or in the backyard. On the street. Lurking in the school hallway. And serving up tartar sauce behind the cafeteria steam trays....

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FROM THE CATHOLIC PRESS

"Rebecca’s Community outreach volunteers will provide support to ‘schoolies’" Catholic Weekly (Sydney) http://www.catholicweekly.com.au/03/sep/21/29.html “With the HSC exams only a month away, many Year 12 students’ thoughts have already moved beyond to the ‘schoolies’ celebrations on Queensland’s Gold Coast come November. However, the combination of thousands of young people with a ready availability of drugs and alcohol can potentially make schoolies the most dangerous experience of their lives, says social worker Dominic Mapstone. Dominic, the director of a charity operating under the auspices of Centacare Sydney, will lead more than 50 young people on an outreach to schoolies at the Gold Coast from mid-November to mid-December....

Cardinal Castrillón Hoyos on Mel Gibson's "The Passion" Calls It a Tool for Explaining the Person and Message of Christ http://zenit.org/english/visualizza.phtml?sid=41157 Vatican City, Sept. 18, 2003 (Zenit.org).- A cardinal urged the public to see Mel Gibson's film "The Passion," which depicts the suffering and death of Jesus. After seeing an unfinished version of the film, which will be released next year, Cardinal Darío Castrillón Hoyos, prefect of the Congregation for Clergy, gave his opinion on the film, in an interview published today in Turin's newspaper La Stampa....

"Danusia Does It" Australian Catholics, Spring 2003 http://www.australiancatholics.com.au/articles/03spring2.html It’s Christmas morning in 1992. A chaotic scene unfolds in a suburban home as the final preparations are made for the Christmas delivery Santa couldn’t make. There may not be a sleigh, but there’s a big red truck, and scores of underprivileged children—naughty and nice—will still get their Christmas presents. This is one of the proudest memories for 28-year-old Danusia Kaska, the first woman national Vice President of the St Vincent de Paul Society in Australia....

Solomon Islands - Celebration at Holy Cross Cathedral, oasis of peace and silence at times of difficulty and strife http://www.fides.org/eng/news/2003/0309/15_699.html Honiara (Fides Service) - 14 September, 2003 – the Feast of the Exaltation of the Cross - was a day of joy, celebration and feasting for the parishioners of Holy Cross Cathedral, Honiara – in fact for the entire church – as they thanked God for the cathedral that has stood for the past 25th years....

"Custodian Tells Would-Be Pilgrims: Be Not Afraid " http://zenit.org/english/visualizza.phtml?sid=41080 Bethlehem, West Bank, Sept 17, 2003 (Zenit.org).- "Do not be afraid! Return to the Holy Land!" pleaded the Franciscan custodian of Bethlehem's Basilica of the Nativity, in a dramatic appeal to Christian pilgrims worldwide....

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JUSTICE, PEACE AND DEVELOPMENT

'Caritas Update', Spring 2003 http://www.caritas.org.nz/update.asp

In this Issue... Children’s Issues are the theme for Social Justice Week, 21-27 September 2003. 'Update' includes articles on child poverty, child protection and child participation and the issue of children working; their conditions, rates of pay, work accidents and the minimum age of employment. Other articles in this 'Update' look at the issue of child sponsorship, the situation in Liberia and Iraq, Lent Totals and the appeal launched to help the people of the Solomon Islands. The Schools Spotlight has the Peace Banner made by students at Roncalli College, Timaru and students at Joseph’s Takapuna learning about justice issues in Cambodia

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CHAMPAGNAT NEWSLETTER Volume 7 Number 3 September 2003 http://www.maristbrothers.org.nz/Champagnat%20News.htm

"Champagnat" is a newsletter for Boards of Trustees and Staff of Marist Schools and Schools with Marist traditions in New Zealand.

In this issue ... News from the schools, including Verdon College, John Paul II High School, St Patrick’s Greymouth, Catholic Cathedral College... St Bernard's College's Peter Fava on the Marist vision of education St John's College cultural revue Biography of Venerable Brother François (Gabriel Rivat) 1808-1881 First Superior General of the Marist Brothers 'Les Miserables' co-production by Sacred Heart College and Baradene college, Auckland, Marist Year 12 Student Day

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BIOETHICS

The Nathaniel Report (Nathaniel Catholic bioethics Centre) Issue 10, august 2003 http://www.nathaniel.org.nz/nr_issue_10.html

Full text: International Colloquium - Globalization and the Culture of Life In a world transformed by globalization, there are both positive and adverse consequences. The Catholic social justice tradition has foundational principles that offer valuable direction in dealing with the immense issues that face a global world. This consensus statement, drawn up by participants at the inaugural Colloquium for Catholic Bioethicists in Canada, offers insights into bioethical issues near the end of life and gives some implications for Catholic health care delivery....

Also in the print edition:

Editorial: Faith and Reason - Reflections on a debate... The New Zealand Parliament recently voted against "The Death with Dignity Bill" that sought to make physician-assisted suicide legal in New Zealand. Fr. Michael McCabe reflects on aspects of the debate, looks at lessons to be learned, and concludes that much work remains to be done.

The Genetic Symphony The ethical implications of genetic modification is an issue that is at the forefront of many peoples minds. This article looks at the question 'What makes us human?' through an exploration of the nature of genes. It challenges a number of perceptions regarding the role of genes in determining human makeup, and offers a particular insight into the relationship between human dignity and our genes.

Submission on New Organisms and Other Matters Bill 2003 The NOOM Bill includes recommendations that streamline the approval of the genetic modification of new organisms in laboratories and that will also allow for the approval of the conditional release of new organisms. This article is a copy of the submission made by the New Zealand Catholic Bishops’ Conference and the Nathaniel Centre to the Education and Science Committee.

Ethical Criteria Outlined for Use of Genetically Modified Organisms A report on a recent press release by the Pontifical Academy for Life setting out some principles from the Holy See on the use of biotechnology.

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