Dear 'kiwicatholics'.

Happy Easter everyone. If you open any of these links on the bishops' pages, please take a second to open the home page also -http://www.catholic.org/newzealand - for its Easter morning message.

God bless.
Mike Leon
'kiwicatholic' list manager

JUBILEE NEWS & EVENTS
http://www.catholic.org/newzealand/cathcom/jubilee/news.html

This (Sunday) morning the page has been updated with links to text, audio and video reports of the Good Friday commemorations in Rome and Jerusalem. I will update the page with fresh links again on Monday and Tuesday, including any reports of Easter commemorations in New Zealand that I can find on local Web sites.

'NZ CATHOLIC' - Sunday 23 April
htp://www.catholic.org/newzealand/cathcom/press/nzc/front.html

[NOTE: When I set up this weekend's 'NZ Catholic' stories, I only had the main text; I still haven't seen the actual headlines, so I had to invent them! I will correct them when I get my copy, or when some kind soul emails me and tells me what the actual headlines for the three stories are. M.L.]

'Bishops support registration of same-sex couples'
A system of registration which would give same-sex couples rights in law without the right to marry is supported by New Zealand's Catholic bishops in a submission to the Ministry of Justice. (I gather what the bishops are supporting is legal recognition of the relationship between any two adults who accept a duty of care for each other and their families; for example a solo mother who invites her sister to live with her and share the tasks of childminding and household management. This relationship would not be deemed "in the nature of marriage" and any sexual element would be not be a matter of enquiry for the courts. ML) [Link to the Ministry of Justice's Discussion Document: 'Same-Sex Couples and the Law']

'Bishop Dunn: I am not urging contraceptive use'
Bishop Pat Dunn of Auckland is adamant he does not back the use of contraceptives, despite newspaper headlines to that effect on April 16 and 17. Bishop Dunn says that, in the articles concerned, he acknowledged the widespread use of artificial contraceptives, but he was not supporting or recommending their use. [Photo]

'Change of plans for Bp. Pompallier's reinterment'
The wishes of some Maori landowners have dashed plans for the reinterment of the remains of Bishop Pompallier at the site of New Zealand's first Mass at Totara Point. But at the same time, an offer from a retired farmer promises hope of reburial nearby at Purakau, the site of New Zealand's first Catholic mission in 1838. [Photo of Kohukohu, near Totara Point]