Sunday, November 16, 2003

****************************

FROM THE CATHOLIC PRESS & NEWS AGENCIES

****************************

'Wel-com' Newspaper of the Archdiocese of Wellington and the Diocese of Palmerston North November 2003 http://www.welcom.org.nz

A centre for Attention Deficit Disorder children has been established at the Home of Compassion in Island Bay...

Fr Maurice Carmody, a Franciscan historian, makes history in the Wellington Archdiocese...

"When Mother Mother Teresa told us how to do something beautiful for God" Alan Devlin wrote this story thirty years ago when Mother Teresa visited Wellington...

Parents should be told when abortions involve their daughters under 16 Wellington Archdiocese calls for parents to be involved when minors are considering abortion ...

Statement from N.Z.’s Anglican and Catholic Bishops on detention of Ahmed Zaoui ...

Governor General to launch Soup Kitchen’s landmark mural...

Cardinal William's column: Pope John Paul remains a towering colossus both intellectually and spiritually

**********************************

Iraq: Caritas workers injured in Nasirya suicide bombing Independent Catholic News http://www.indcatholicnews.com/ircfp.html CAFOD's Iraqi partner, Caritas Iraq has suspended operations in Nasiriya following injuries to its aid workers in the suicide bomb attack on the Italian police headquarters...

'Japanese Story' Catholic Film of the Year http://www.cathnews.com/news/311/60.php In a year where quirky comedies dominated the output of the Australian film industry, the Australian Catholic Film Office has given its Film of the Year to 'Japanese Story', a poignant drama set in the Pilbara region of Western Australia....

Jesus Christ "better known as a profanity than a deity" http://www.cathnews.com/news/311/46.php A researcher with Australia's National Church Life Survey has highlighted implications arising from the fact that the current generation of school-aged children is likely to be the first where the majority has had no experience of church....

The high flyer from Honduras The Tablet (UK) 08/11/2003 http://www.thetablet.co.uk/cgi-bin/archive_db.cgi?tablet-00809 The speaker at last week’s annual Cafod lecture in London, sponsored by The Tablet, was Latin America’s own flying bishop, Cardinal Oscar Andrés Rodríguez de Maradiaga. Since the early 1990s, he has been the Latin American Church’s principal advocate of justice for his continent and a powerful critic of soulless globalisation. He can argue with the verve of a politician; he is also multilingual, a gifted communicator, media-friendly, well versed in social doctrine, admired in the Vatican as well as in Latin America – and tipped as a candidate for Pope....

**********************************************

CATHOLIC COMMUNICATIONS NZ

http://www.cathcom.org.nz

MEDIA RELEASES

"New directions for Catholic health care" [Summary: In February this year the bishops and congregational leaders' Mixed Commission authorised Aotearoa New Zealand Catholic Healthcare to sponsor a proposal on the future of Catholic healthcare in New Zealand. The working party is exploring ways to support existing facilities and to advise on the development of community-based forms of healthcare refelcting current government policy. The Mixed Commission will discuss the proposal at its meeting next February.]

INTERNATIONAL NEWS

Pope condemns attack on Italian police in Iraq Pope John Paul II has voiced his sorrow at the 'vile attack' on an Italian police base in southern Iraq which reportedly left 14 Italians dead.

Bishop says Govt can do more for Hicks and Habib Australian Catholic Social Justice Council chairman Bishop Christopher Saunders has written to Attorney-General Philip Ruddock calling on the Government to do more to secure natural justice for the two Australians detained by US Authorities at Guantanamo Bay in Cuba.

Vatican GM seminar under fire A Vatican organised international seminar on genetically modified foods has run into controversy, after being criticised by priests working in Africa for failing to include Church personnel opposed to the crops.

Pope's health improving While Sydney Cardinal George Pell told ABC Radio yesterday that Pope John Paul II was 'not well, not at all well' when he saw him during last month's consistory in Rome, former Polish President Lech Walesa has said Pope John Paul II's health has improved 'incredibly' since last month.

Poetical ribs take religious art prize Shoufay Derz, a 24-year-old Sydney art student, has won this year's $10,000 Australian Catholic University-sponsored Blake prize for religious art for a work inspired by the Sufi poetry of ancient Persia.

Caritas Australia remembers the Santa Cruz Massacre Yesterday Caritas Australia recalled East Timor's Santa Cruz massacre, urging Australians to continue to provide financial support for the people of East Timor as their new nation struggles to provide for its people.

********************************************

FROM THE SECULAR PRESS

Ethics of sex choice probed NZ Herald 15.11.2003 http://tinyurl.com/v35x New Zealanders will soon have a say on whether people should be allowed to choose the sex of their baby. Professor Sylvia Rumball, chairwoman of the National Ethics Committee on Assisted Human Reproduction, said New Zealanders would be asked for their opinions on the use of sex selection within the next three months....

Designer babies for $16,000 The Dominion Post 15 November 2003 http://www.stuff.co.nz/stuff/0,2106,2726975a11,00.html New Zealand couples are crossing the Tasman to have designer babies. Sydney IVF, which operates clinics in New South Wales, offers prospective parents embryo screening to identify sex and genetic defects. The procedure, known as preimplantation genetic diagnosis, is not available in New Zealand....

Colin McCahon: 'A Question of Faith' Art Gallery of NSW until January 18 Sydney Morning Herald http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2003/11/14/1068674365452.html The highs and lows of Colin McCahon's "heroically troubled" life are reflected in his canvases of divine inspiration, writes Peter Hill. I first saw the work of the great New Zealand artist Colin McCahon at the Edinburgh International Festival, in August 1984. It is no exaggeration to say that it was a revelation to the many international visitors who, for the first time, came across his huge canvases soaked in religion and matted with dense text and mystic numerals.... [Article includes photos of two of Colin McCahon's works: 'The Shining Cuckoo' (1974); Will he save Him? (Elias series, 1959).]

Nuns hear cruelty claims NZ Herald 14.11.2003 http://tinyurl.com/v35z A Catholic order of nuns has heard complaints of abuse from 18 people raised in their Christchurch orphanages and is now opening its chequebook. Fifteen women and three men have complained to the Sisters of Nazareth about cruelty during their early years at Nazareth House in Sydenham and St Joseph's Home in Halswell. The complaints span several decades from the 1930s....

Long wait for Catholic places Timaru Herald 15 November 2003 http://www.stuff.co.nz/stuff/timaruherald/0,2106,2727054a6010,00.html Non-Catholic parents wanting to send their kids to Catholic schools are out of luck as there are waiting lists of up to eight years.

Churches face big rates hike NZPA 13 November 2003 http://www.stuff.co.nz/stuff/0,2106,2724407a11,00.html Dunedin churches fear rates rises of thousands of dollars will cripple them financially. Sixty Dunedin churches had been sent letters warning their $100 annual rates bills could climb well into the thousands, Dunedin City Council financial controller Les Weir said....

Catholic bishops OK revised liturgy to deal with priest shortage Gannett News Service http://tinyurl.com/v366 WASHINGTON - The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops approved a revised Sunday liturgy this week for parishes without a priest to celebrate Mass. About 3,040 Catholic parishes in the United States - 16 percent -do not have a resident priest. Most are served by visiting priests who celebrate Mass as many as five times in one day in far-flung communities....

*********************************************

SYMPOSIUM: "GMO: THREAT OR HOPE", ROME, NOVEMBER 2003

Vatican opens talks on biotech foods http://tinyurl.com/v361 VATICAN CITY — The Vatican invited scientists, health experts, U.N. officials and farmers' groups to a conference Monday on genetically modified foods, which some Vatican officials have said could help alleviate world hunger. The two-day symposium "GMO: Threat or Hope" was organized by the Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace, which is headed by Cardinal Renato Martino, who has frequently spoken out about the potential benefits of biotech foods....

Vatican report condemns biotech crops But powerful cardinal supportive of genetic modification http://tinyurl.com/v363 VATICAN CITY (AP) - Two Jesuits told a Vatican biotech conference today that tinkering with God's creation by making new plant species went against church teaching, adding a moral voice to a debate dominated by scientific, political and economic interests...

Prudence Urged for Genetically Modified Organisms http://www.zenit.org/english/visualizza.phtml?sid=44424 VATICAN CITY, NOV. 12, 2003 (Zenit.org).- The field of genetically modified organisms "must not be abandoned, although it needs much care," said a Vatican official at the conclusion of an international symposium....

*******************************************

'GOD: FACT OR FICTION?' A new book by Brendan Roberts

Website: http://www.godfact.com

The author writes ... " 'God: Fact or Fiction?' explores the relationship between science, religion and the origin of life. With the explosive rate of science in the 21st century, religion as understood to be a belief in a Creator, seems to be have been left behind in the cosmic dust of science".

"But Brendan uses science, faith and reason, revelation and experience to show the relationship that science has with religion. Readers will encounter such diverse subjects as the Wonder of the Universe, Unlocking the Chemistry of Life, Evolution, DNA, Archaeology, Evil, Suffering, the Soul, Sacred Scripture, The First Cause, Truth, Miracles, The Real Presence of Christ in the Eucharist, Early Church Fathers, and much much more."

"This book has the potential to make many ponder that there is proof beyond reasonable doubt for the existence of God. It will challenge many, and equip Christians for evangelizing their non-Christian friends, family and acquaintances."

Brendan was a missionary in Germany from 1990-1992 and published his first book in 1995. Brendan received a personal note/letter from Mother Teresa after sending her a complimentary copy of his first book in 1995.

********************************************

EVENTS

**************************

"Hearts Aflame" Catholic Summer School 2-11 January 2004 Website: http://heartsaflame.catholic.org.nz NB: The Website has not yet been updated with details of the 2004 School

The Hearts Aflame Catholic Summer School offers young adults (18-35 years old) an opportunity to learn more about the teachings of the Church, through: An opportunity to deepen your spiritual life through personal, communal and liturgical prayer and through celebration of the sacraments A discovery of the richness of Catholic spirituality and tradition. An experience of living a common life of prayer, service and recreation An introduction to theology and scripture An examination of some of the many issues facing the Church

***************************

"Pompallier: Te Hokinga Mai": The Journey home of Bishop Pompallier Auckland Museum 18 October 2003 to 18 January 2004. Website: http://www.aucklandmuseum.com/web/content.cfm?Id=565 An exhibition of over 100 photographs supplemented by a number of Pompallier's personal effects including his travelling altar and cope.

**************************

Catholic Festival: A Celebration of the Catholic Faith Auckland 2-22 February 2004 Website: http://www.catholicfestival.org NB: The Website was not functioning on Saturday evening

*************************

Parachute Music Festival, Mystery Creek, Hamilton, 23-26 January 2004 Website: http://p04.parachutemusic.com/frameset.asp The annual Christian music festival. Every year a Catholic "tent city" is set up at the Festival, and an all-comers Mass is celebrated, undoubtedly the first experience of a Catholic liturgy for most Festival-goers. WOULD THE CATHOLIC ORGANISERS OF TENT CITY LET ME KNOW THEIR CONTACT DETAILS PLEASE, AND WEBSITE URL.

***************************************************

EMPLOYMENT

[Teaching vacancies in New Zealand Catholic schools are advertised in the Education Gazette: http://www.edgazette.govt.nz/vacancies ]

LECTURER IN RELIGIOUS EDUCATION Applications are invited from suitably qualified and experienced persons for the position of Lecturer in Religious Education. The appointee is expected to be employed full-time within the Catholic Institute of Theology, Auckland. Further details at: http://www.cathcom.org.nz/media.php and from: The Registrar, Catholic Institute of Theology, Newman Hall, 16 Waterloo Quadrant, Auckland 1001, New Zealand. Ph: (09)379 6424, Fax: (09)379 6426, Email: cit@auckland.ac.nz Applications close 30 November 2003.