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'WEL-COM' April 2004
http://www.welcom.org.nz
Cardinal Williams' Column: The seeming defeat of Good Friday was actually a victory
Bishop John Dew's Reflection: Rewarding visits to our fifteen Pastoral Areas
Cause of Beatification and Canonization of Suzanne Aubert initiated Cardinal Williams announces the initiation of the cause for the beatification and canonisation of Suzanne Aubert ...
Resolving ownership of New Zealand’s foreshore and seabed The ownership of New Zealand’s foreshore and seabed has emerged as one of the defining political debates of our day. With legislation about to be introduced into Parliament, it is likely to have repercussions for some time yet....
Overwhelming support for notifying parents before an abortion can proceed AC Neilson survey shows strong opposition to aborting minors without their parents knowing...
Humbled by generosity of Auckland's Ngati Whatua Pat Snedden, Pakeha businessman and publisher delivered an address at St Benedict’s parish in Auckland a month ago including a compelling analysis of the significance of New Zealand establishing a process to address the wrongs of the past ...
Michael King — a master storyteller The tragic death of historian and author, Michael King, has silenced a voice that spoke with genuine insight and remarkable integrity, and with deep affection for the land of his birth ....
Teenagers are dying from abortions performed without their parents knowledge During 2002, 388 abortions were performed in New Zealand on girls aged from 11 to 15. Under the Care of Children Bill, due back in Parliament next month, doctors will be permitted to carry out abortions on girls of this age without their parents even knowing....
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CIVIL UNION BILL
Unique status of marriage at risk - bishops Dominion Post 17 April 2004 http://www.stuff.co.nz/stuff/0,2106,2877650a11,00.html The Civil Union Bill could lead to bisexuals being able to justify "marrying" two people, Catholic bishops say...
Catholic bishops defy same-sex bill NZ Herald 17.04.2004 http://tinyurl.com/ytg2p The Catholic Church warns that the Government's Civil Unions Bill will not deter it from preaching de facto and same-sex relationships are immoral, even if it faces penalties for doing so...
MP hopes to be part of first civil union NZPA 17 April 2004 http://www.stuff.co.nz/stuff/0,2106,2877410a6160,00.html Government minister Chris Carter and his gay partner of 31 years hope to be among the first to have their relationship recognised as a civil union once legislation is passed. The Civil Union Bill has been drafted and is expected to be introduced when Parliament resumes after a three-week recess....
Catholic church launches campaign against gay marriages NZ Herald 16.04.2004 http://tinyurl.com/33kye The Catholic church will oppose gay marriages even if penalised under new legislation, the Bishop of Palmerston North, Peter Cullinane, said today....
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FROM THE CATHOLIC PRESS & NEWS AGENCIES
Spiritual Retreat for Thousands This Weekend (press release) Thursday, 15 April 2004, 12:24 pm http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/AK0404/S00120.htm Speakers and entertainers from the US, Canada, Australia, West Indies and India - and local speakers including Bishop Patrick Dunn - will participate in a spiritual retreat for up to 3,000 Catholics at the Eucharistic Convention. The 11th annual Convention will be held 16-18 April in Auckland Showgrounds and will focus on the theme of "Forgiveness"....
“Together with the hostage situation there is the crisis of the entire population". An interview with Msgr. Fernando Filoni, Apostolic Nunzio in Baghdad http://www.asianews.it/view.php?l=en&art=631
Papal nuncio gives grim report from Iraq http://www.cathnews.com/news/404/74.php Papal nuncio in Iraq, Archbishop Fernando Filoni, has said the Americans are "no longer in command of the situation", and he does not know whether they will regain control...
“It is time for the Arab world to condemn acts of terrorism like the brutal killing of one Italian hostage ” says Father Nizar http://www.fides.org/eng/news/2004/0404/15_2132.html
“Why the international community united and resolute must stand up to extremist violence here in Iraq ” Father Nizar Semaan tells Fides http://www.fides.org/eng/news/2004/0404/07_2118.html
Tower of London to exhibit Catholic relic http://www.indcatholicnews.com/tower.html A poignant reminder of the torture and execution of Catholic prisoners of conscience during the reign of Elizabeth I is going on show at an exhibition in the Tower of London later this month....
Solomon Islands mission flourishes thanks to work of young Italian volunteers: Youth Centre dream is coming true http://www.fides.org/eng/news/2004/0404/07_2113.html
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FROM THE SECULAR PRESS
Orthodox Patriarch formally accepts Catholic apology Globe and Mail (Toronto) http://tinyurl.com/3b7so Istanbul — Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I, the spiritual leader of the world's Orthodox Christians, has accepted an apology from Pope John Paul II for Roman Catholic involvement in the sacking of Constantinople 800 years ago....
Furor Over Popular Religion Novels CBS News/AP April 15, 2004 http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2004/04/15/print/main612106.shtml The lesson from this week's best-seller list is simple: God sells. But what worries some scholars is that the hottest religious books depart from traditional Christian teaching or distort the faith's origins. The latest pulse-pounder in the "Left Behind" series about the end of the world - "Glorious Appearing" - couldn't have appeared more gloriously, at No. 1 on the fiction list of Publishers Weekly. It edges out another religion-themed novel, "The Da Vinci Code," which has ranked among the top three for 54 straight weeks...
Christians are trying to analyse their responsibility for anti-Jewish prejudice, and to examine their own faith's Jewish roots The Economist (UK) http://www.economist.com/displaystory.cfm?story_id=2571892
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CATHOLIC COMMUNICATIONS NZ
http://www.cathcom.org.nz
International News: Bush fatherhood guru to speak at Sydney gathering Papal nuncio gives grim report from Iraq Caritas Australia pledges assistance for Fiji Australian ecumenical leader says world body too bureaucratic Survey says US evangelicals prefer Pope to Robertson and Falwell Conference told teachers critical in preventing abuse
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"THE WORD FROM ROME"
http://www.nationalcatholicreporter.org/word/
A weekly column in the National Catholic Reporter by the paper's full-time Vatican correspondent John L. Allen
Summary of the column for April 16, 2004: Ecumenism in Western Kansas; fuss over footwashing; US bishops' Ad Limina visits to Rome; bishops' pastoral directory; collegiality and Councils; Card. Ratzinger distrusts bureaucracies; more on US sex abuse norms
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EVENTS
Auckland Catholic Eucharistic Convention, 16th to 18th April 2004 http://www.eucharistic-convention.com Logan Campbell Theatre, Auckland Showgrounds, Greenlane Road, Auckland. Two-page write-up in 'NZ Catholic' March 21-Apr 3 p.14-15 Full details on the Convention's Website.
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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 ]
Diocesan General Manager, Hamilton Catholic Diocese http://www.hn.catholic.org.nz Details in 'Wel-com' April 2004, p.17 and from Greg Tims tel. 021 628 222; Naomi McGowan terl. 07 958 7466; fax: 07 839 1863; e-mail: naomim@mlc.co.nz Applications close 19 april 2004.
Director of Catholic Youth and Young Adult Groups, St Vincent de Paul society http://www.svdp.org.nz Details in 'Wel-com' April 2004 p.17, 'NZ Catholic' April 18-May 1 2004 p.19, and from District Council President, Society of St Vincent de Paul, PO Box 309, Whangarei. Applications close 26 April 2004
Parish Secretary, Our Lady Star of the Sea Parish, Howick, Auckland. Details in 'NZ Catholic' April 18-May 1 2004 p.19, and from Parish Priest, PO Box 38276, Howick. Applications close 28 April 2004.
Bishop's assistant, Palmerston North Diocese http://www.pn.catholic.org.nz duties include providing "retreats in daily life", catechesis and adult formation. Details in 'NZ Catholic', April 18-May 1 2004 p.19, and from Wendy Silver, tel: (06) 358 8079; e-mail: wsilver@pndiocese.org.nz Applications close 28 April 2004
Office Manager, Catholic Communications NZ Details in 'NZ Catholic', April 18-May 1 2004 p.19, and from Catholic Communications, Pompallier Diocesan Centre, 30 New St., Private Bag 47-904, Ponsonby, Auckland. Tel: (09) 378 8017; Fax: (09) 360 3061; E-mail: communications@catholic.org.nz Applications close 30 April 2004.
Chaplain, Sacred Heart College for Girls, Napier http://www.sacredheartnapier.school.nz and St John's College for Boys, Hastings http://www.stjohns.school.nz Details in 'NZ Catholic', April 18-May 1 2004 p.19, and from The Principal, Sacred Heart College, Convent Road, Napier. Tel: (06) 8353 761; E-mail: pr.sec@sacredheartnapier.school.nz Applications close 28 May 2004
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