"But the Lord is faithful and he will give you strength and guard you
from the evil one; and we, in the Lord, have every confidence that you
are doing - and will go on doing - all that we tell you."
St Paul's Second Letter to the Thessalonians 3:3-4

AFGHANISTAN CRISIS

Current links on the bishops' What's New page at
http://www.catholic.org.nz/whatsNew.html include ...

New York firefighter´s widow forgives husband´s killers ... Catholic
Bishop of Multan: The sympathy and sharing of the entire Muslim
community is a sign of hope for the future of Pakistan ... Afghanistan's
last priest: "The Taliban are a cancer in the heart of the country ...
Pope John Paul: "The world and history are not at the mercy of chance,
chaos or blind necessity" ... "The Gospel message has the power to
enlighten all cultures and act as a saving leaven of unity and peace for
all humanity" ... Malaysia: Christians and other believers fearful ...
Pax Christi International calls on the US and UK to halt immediately the
bombing in Afghanistan ... Cardinal Etchegaray rejects "holy" war,
questions "just" war

CATHOLIC WEB TV
http://www.catholictv.net/

'Wel-com Living': Irishman Paul Murray on teaching as a profession, and
the essence of a Catholic school (final interview in the series on
Catholic Education)

FROM THE SECULAR PRESS

'Many responses when a young mind turns to questions of faith '
NZ Herald 07.11.2001
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/storydisplay.cfm?storyID=226954&thesection=news&thesub\
section=general

New Zealand census figures show the number of people who identify
themselves as Christian dropped from about 70 per cent in 1991 to about
64 per cent in 1996. At the same time, there was a small increase for
other faiths such as Buddhism, Hindu and Muslim, and an increase in the
number of people whose response was no religion. Despite that, many
parents are choosing a religious education for their children. Seven new
Catholic schools have been built in the past eight years - before that
the church had not opened any for 20 years. Brother Pat Lynch, chief
executive of the Catholic Education Office, acknowledges that
integration into the state system has made Catholic schools more
accessible, but he believes a spiritual revival is taking place.........

EDUCATION

NZ Catholic Education Office. 'Lighting New Fires' Newsletter Issue No.5
October 2001
http://catholic.org.nz/nzceo/lnf5.htm

In the latest issue : Education Amendment Bill No. 2 ... The Value of
Partnership ... Money for Pacific Island Groups ... Te Tari Tatau Maori
Scholarship ... Rural Education Report Released ... Assessment Web site
Launched ... Strengthening Families interactive CD ROM resource ...
Living Values - An International Resource ... Former Australia Prime
Minister Hon Paul Keating on nation building ... Guidelines for the
establishment of new Integrated Schools ... Enrolment Schemes in
Integrated Schools ... News briefs: Notable achievements of Catholic
school pupils throughout New Zealand

BOOK REVIEW

Healing Our History: The Challenge of the Treaty of Waitangi, by Robert
Consedine and Joanna Consedine. Penguin, pbk, $29.95.
http://www.odt.co.nz/cgi-bin/search-display-story-online-new?date=10Nov2001&obje\
ct=M5E1499625RN&type=html&WORDS=catholic&DB=Editorial

Of Irish background, Robert Consedine was brought up in a Roman Catholic
working-class community in Addington, Christchurch, and early developed
an awareness of oppression and injustice, sharpened by his experiences
among the refugees of Bangladesh and, especially, through his
involvement in the anti-tour protests of 1981. Some years ago, Consedine
formed Waitangi Associates, which, with a network of trainers, conducts
intensive workshops intended to familiarise participants with New
Zealand's colonial past. The fundamental assumption is that knowledge is
a necessary preliminary to healing......

EVENTS

Sunday 18 November
Dr Michael King: "Bishop Pompallier: the fall and rise of a great man".
Sunday 18 November 3:30pm-5.30 pm, St Columba Centre, 40 Vermont St.,
Ponsonby, Auckland. Admission: koha (donation). For more information
contact Catholic Institute of Theology tel (09) 379 6424 ;
cit@auckland.ac.nz

EMPLOYMENT

(Vacancies in New Zealand Catholic schools are advertised in the
Education Gazette: http://www.edgazette.govt.nz/vacancies )

Consultant in religious Education (secondary School), Wellington
Catholic education Centre (full-time salaried position) Details in 'NZ
Catholic' 4 Nov. 2001 p.21 and from pbray@wcec.org.nz Applications close
16 November 2001

Live-in supervisor, (single mature woman or mature couple) Bethlehem
House for pregnant women, Auckland. Details in 'NZ Catholic' 4 Nov. 2001
p.21 and from Family Life Pregnancy centre, Po Box 56-423 Dominion Rd.,
auckland.

Parish Co-ordinators, Diocese of Palmerston North.
The Catholic bishop of Palmerston north seeks expressions of interest
from suitably qualified Catholics in positions as parish co-ordinators
in parishes that have no resident priest. Contact: The Bishops' Office,
Private Bag,11012, Palmerston north. Tel (06) 356 1980

Catholic Integrated Schools Board, Auckland. Primary Schools Religious
Education Advisor/Consultant Details in 'NZ Catholic' 4 Nov. 2001 p.21
and from Catholic Integrated Schools Board, Private Bag 47-904 Ponsonby
Auckland 1034 Fax (09) 360 3084. Applications close 21 November 2001

"We pray continually that our God will make you worthy of his call and
by his power fulfil all your desires for goodness and complete all that
you have been doing through faith."
Second Letter of St Paul to the Thessalonians 1:11
**************************************************

AFGHANISTAN CRISIS

Current links (updated several times a week) on the bishops' What's New
page at http://www.catholic.org.nz/whatsNew.html include ...

Archbishop Chaput: "No government can keep its legitimacy if it fails to
defend its people" ... Pakistani Christians bury massacre victims,
forgive the killers ... Pope John Paul: Dialogue between civilizations
is an antidote to terrorism

CATHOLIC WEB TV
http://www.catholictv.net/

'Wel-com Living': Interview with Msgr John Carde, member of the Board
of Trustees of St Anthony's School, Wellington on the role of the
Catholic school.

FROM THE CATHOLIC PRESS

'NZ Catholic' No 125, November 4, 2001
http://www.catholic.org.nz/cathcom/press/nzc/front.html

Priest returns to ministry after 14 years
Peter Murphy, who left the priesthood 14 years ago, was formally
welcomed back into active priestly ministry in the Auckland diocese
during a ceremony at St Michael's Church, Remuera, on September 22...

NZ bishop didn't propose a 'radical reform of penance'
Bishop Patrick Dunn of Auckland was surprised to learn that a
Vatican-based news service had reported him as proposing a "radical
reform of the sacrament of Penance" to the Synod of Bishops...

Singable music sought for liturgical use
A nationwide call has been issued for "new, quality, singable" music for
New Zealand Catholic liturgies in the new millennium. A collection
called Millennium Music has been instigated by a sub-committee of the
Auckland Diocesan Liturgy Commission...

FROM THE SECULAR PRESS

'NZ Muslims call for tolerance' (text report and related video)
TV One News 3 Nov 2001
http://onenews.nzoom.com/cda/detail_link/0,1287,65329-1-7,00.html
In New Zealand, many of the country's 25,000 Muslims have become targets
for abuse in the wake of the September 11 terrorist attacks in America,
prompting local leaders of the faith currently meeting in Auckland to
use their gathering as an opportunity to call for social and religious
tolerance, and to affirm their commitment to New Zealand...

EVENTS

Saturday 10 November
Questioning the theology of violence: God is our refuge and strength? An
all day seminar as part of the Anglican Pacifist Fellowship (NZ)
national conference (9 to 11 Nov). Discussion with speakers including
Father Terry Dibble, parish priest and Lecturer at the Catholic
Institute of Theology, on Peace in a Contextual Theology. 9am to 5pm at
the Anglican Retreat House, 1043 Beach Road, Long Bay, North Shore,
Auckland. $25 including lunch, please book with Chris Barfoot, tel (09)
575-6142, fax 575-4836, barfoots@xtra.co.nz by Saturday 3rd November and
pay on the day.

Sunday 18 November
Dr Michael King: "Bishop Pompallier: the fall and rise of a great man".
Sunday 18 November 3:30pm-5.30 pm, St Columba Centre, 40 Vermont St.,
Ponsonby, Auckland. Admission: koha (donation). For more information
contact Catholic Institute of Theology tel (09) 379 6424 ;
cit@auckland.ac.nz

EMPLOYMENT

(Vacancies in New Zealand Catholic schools are advertised in the
Education Gazette: http://www.edgazette.govt.nz/vacancies )

Consultant in Religious Education (Secondary School), Wellington
Catholic Education Centre (full-time salaried position). Details in 'NZ
Catholic' 4 Nov. 2001 p.21 and from pbray@wcec.org.nz Applications close
16 November 2001

Catholic Integrated Schools Board, Auckland. Primary Schools' Religious
Education Advisor/Consultant. Details in 'NZ Catholic' 4 Nov. 2001 p.21
and from Catholic Integrated Schools board, Private Bag 47-904 Ponsonby
Auckland 1034. Fax (09) 360 3084. Applications close 21 November 2001

Live-in supervisor (single mature woman or mature couple), Bethlehem
House for pregnant women, Auckland. Details in 'NZ Catholic' 4 Nov. 2001
p.21 and from Family Life Pregnancy Centre, PO Box 56-423 Dominion Rd.,
Auckland.

Parish Co-ordinators, Diocese of Palmerston North.
The Catholic bishop of Palmerston north seeks expressions of interest
from suitably qualified Catholics for positions as Co-ordinators in
parishes which have no resident priest. Contact the Bishops' Office,
Private Bag 11012, Palmerston north. Tel (06) 356 1980

Dear friends,

Following the recent re-design of the NZ Catholic bishops' Website, its 'What's New' page no longer carries links to other newly-created New Zealand Catholic Web sites and new features on them.

Consequently this weekly 'News and Notes' post is now the only regular source for new developments on the New Zealand Catholic Internet (the NZ Websites occasionally mentioned in the 'Net Scene' column of 'NZ Catholic' newspaper are supplied by me; the column otherwise hardly mentions local sites). Please keep that in mind if you come across a New Zealand Catholic Website which appears to be new or to have a significant new feature, and drop me a line about it at leon@xtra.co.nz

God bless,

Mike Leon 'kiwicath' forum manager

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

AFGHANISTAN CRISIS

Links to comments and interviews, and reports of Catholic refugee relief initiatives are updated several times a week on the bishops' 'What's New' page. at: http://www.catholic.org.nz/cathcom/whatsNew.html

Current links include: Catholic bishops ended their synod with a clear condemnation of terrorism but recognized that "endemic evils'' can produce despair in entire populations ... Greek Orthodox Patriarch Ignatius IV Haze of Antioch on ecumenism, Islam and the U.S. image abroad ... Pope John Paul to the bishops of Pakistan: "I implore the Father of all mercies to keep you and your communities safe" ... Year 10 students: "Some people say if there is a God why is he letting this happen?" ... Cardinal Bevilacqua: "The military action has been both measured and discriminate".

CATHOLIC WEB TV http://www.catholictv.net/

'Wel-com Living': Shona Kavanagh discusses the decisions she and her husband Jonathan have made about their education of their four children

FROM THE CATHOLIC PRESS

'NZ Catholic' No 124, October 21, 2001 http://catholic.org.nz/cathcom/press/nzc/front.html

"World gathering of bishops taking synod seriously", by Bishop Pat Dunn The 10th ordinary general assembly of the Synod of Bishops began with a solemn Mass in St Peter's Basilica on September 30. This great basilica, the length of at least three rugby fields, was filled with pilgrims from every continent...

"Church attendances rise after terrorism " Congregation numbers have remained slightly higher than usual at St Patrick's Cathedral, Auckland, after they almost doubled the Sunday following terrorist attacks in New York and Washington....

"Personal invitation best for vocations " Personal invitation is the best way to bring people into the priesthood, says Bishop Peter Cullinane of Palmerston North. He says that when people do not respond to thoughts about a priestly or religious vocation, it is because no one invites them....


>From The Think Page for young Catholic adults:

"Face the fear and go for it " Sometimes decision-making can be hard. The choice which seems to be perfect often isn't made because there is something holding us back, the voice in the back of our head that says, "What if it doesn't work out right?" That is the voice of fear.....

SPIRITUALITY

'The spirituality of Suzanne Aubert and its application to spiritual direction', by Sr Sheila McGrath http://www.hoc.org.nz/Suzanne_Aubert/Spirituality.htm [ Suzanne Aubert (1835-1926) was a Frenchwoman who was a contemporary of Frederick Ozanam, founder of the St Vincent de Paul Society. She came to New Zealand as a lay missionary in 1860 and founded the first religious order to originate in this country, the Daughters of Our Lady of Compassion (Sisters of Compassion) who established the Homes of Compassion for the incurably ill.]

FROM THE SECULAR PRESS

New Catholic College in Nelson has "Commitment to Excellence" New Zealand Government Press Release 23 October 2001 http://www.scoop.co.nz/archive/scoop/stories/1a/b4/200110231530.0b9137f3.html State-of-the-art buildings, high quality equipment, an internet café and an e-mail address for every student are among the attractions at New Zealand's newest secondary school, the Catholic co-educational school Garin College which opens in January in Richmond, Nelson...... [ http://www.garincollege.ac.nz ]

Interchurch Commission On Genetic Engineering. "Letter to the Prime Minister on how the Government should respond to the Royal Commission's report on Genetic Modification". 26 October 2001 http://www.scoop.co.nz/archive/scoop/stories/8f/3d/200110261004.059af5e2.html

'Proactive response to attacks needed ' Otago Daily Times 15 October 2001 http://www.odt.co.nz/cgi-bin/search-display-story-online-new?date=15Oct2001&obje\ ct=L1H33A1648GH&type=html&WORDS=catholic&DB=Editorial It is easy to fall back on stale answers to the world's problems when what we need is to find new solutions, not only to the challenges of terrorism, but also its causes, writes Pat Lynch, chief executive of the Catholic Education Office...

"From Patriotism to Peace: Christian Reflections on 11 September", by Richard Davis, former Executive Officer of the New Zealand Churches' Agency on Social Issues http://www.scoop.co.nz/archive/scoop/stories/d3/19/200110250901.a6888f54.html I believe that Christianity can offer humanity a meaningful response to the tragedy [of 11 September]. I share my reflections and thoughts here under the following headings, Understanding Terrorism, Waging War and Prompting Peace.......

Dear friends,

Due to an apparent oversight, the bishops' "What's New" page - with links to reports on the Afghanistan situation and the Rome synod -hasn't been updated for several days. I'm sure this is just a temporary glitch and that things will be back to normal sometime next week. In the meantime I have included the latest links in this posting of 'News and Notes.

God bless,

Mike Leon 'kiwicath' forum manager

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

AFGHANISTAN CRISIS

*War Reactions*

Chiara Lubich: "Unbounded love the antidote to all-out hatred" http://www.focolare.org/en/sif/2001/en20011006_a.html

In his Message for the 2002 World Day of Migrants and Refugees, Pope John Paul defends the dignity of the world's immigrants and appeals for respect for religious liberty for Christians in majority-Muslim countries. http://zenit.org/english/visualizza.phtml?sid=11393

John Paul II asserts that "evil does not have the last word" http://zenit.org/english/visualizza.phtml?sid=11347

*Relief and Reconciliation Initiatives*

Catholic aid groups mobilizing to help Afghanistan: Humanitarian disaster looms as winter approaches http://zenit.org/english/visualizza.phtml?sid=11461

CATHOLIC WEB TV

'Wel-com Living' http://www.catholictv.net

* Br Pat Lynch, Director of the NZ Catholic Education Office, on the future of the New Zealand Catholic school system.

* "Why I like school" : interviews with pupils of St Teresa's School, Karori, Wellington.

FROM THE CATHOLIC PRESS

'The Far East' - magazine of the New Zealand and Australian members of St. Columban's Mission Society http://www.columban.org.au/TFE/TrevorTrotter/FarEast.htm

>From the July 2001 edition .... 'A stand with the poorest' (Editorial) 'Sr. Joan Doyle RSM in Peru tells of Gladys fight for survival with HIV'. 'Those who Foster Hope': Sheila Dobey tells of her experience of visiting Columban missionaries, among them her brother in Fiji.

FROM THE SECULAR PRESS

'Mercy Hospice is not a place people wait to die' (photo) NZ Herald Saturday October 20, 2001 http://www.nzherald.co.nz/storydisplay.cfm?storyID=223430&thesection=news&thesub\ section=general One might think of hospice patients as sad or depressed, waiting to die in stuffy hospital rooms as numb family members shuffle in and out. Both Gwen Gray and St Joseph's Mercy Hospice defy this maudlin image. St Joseph's - part of the picturesque Mercy Hospital complex - is modern, comfortable and decorated with fresh flowers....

'Charities package should boost donations' - Cullen NZ Government Press Release 16 October 2001 http://www.scoop.co.nz/archive/scoop/stories/05/cb/200110161720.6094154e.html The government is working with the charitable sector on a reform package the net effect of which should be to generate greater donations to charities, Revenue Minister Michael Cullen announced today........

EDUCATION

New on 'Faith Central', the educational resource site for NZ Catholic secondary schools ...

'Expressions of Catholic Life': http://www.faithcentral.net.nz/inclass/expressions.htm "How can you tell that a person or a group of people are Catholic? With links which enable you to tour Rome, listen to Catholic Radio and Television from around the world, visit dioceses and parishes, and even see how a Catholic dating agency works - this selection of online resources may assist the learning of the Year 10 unit. "

EMPLOYMENT

(Vacancies in New Zealand Catholic schools are advertised in the Education Gazette: http://www.edgazette.govt.nz/vacancies )

Church Mental Health Lobby Group, Wellington: Development worker The task is to locate and work with the champions of the mentally ill in each parish, using an 'action/reflection' approach. Flexible hours, good remuneration. Details in 'Wel-com' October 2001 p.19; and from Rev Hugh Bowron tel 382 8486 or June Read tel. 232 5858

Dear friends,

The bishops' Website at http://www.catholic.org.nz has been completely redesigned by Catholic Communications' David Yang. Inevitably with such a major change there will be temporary problems here and there - links that don't work and so on - which may take a while to track down. Please let Catholic Communications know if you come across anything that's not working as it should. The address: cathcomm@xtra.co.nz

It seems that as part of the re-design the 'What's New' page has gone. It carried a note of new features on the bishops' site and other New Zealand Catholic Websites, with links to them. I was also using it to put up daily summaries of the sessions of the synod of bishops and news of the Afghanistan crisis from Catholic news and aid agencies (I have put the latest items in this News & Notes ). I hope to find out next week if the page will be reinstated.

God bless,

Mike Leon 'kiwicath' forum manager

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

AFGHAN CRISIS

Pope John Paul commemorates the victims of the terrorist attacks http://dailynews.yahoo.com/h/nm/20011011/ts/attack_pope_dc_1.html

Prayers and protests one month on in Pakistan http://www.fides.org/bnews/ebn2000/ebnews011011a.html

Catholic, Muslim schoolgirls find a lot to share http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/chi-0110110259oct11.story?coll=chi%2Dne\ ws%2Dhed

Pax Christi USA "rejects war and the many-fold manifestations that war inflicts on all parties" http://www.paxchristi.net/PDF/SD39E01.pdf

SYNOD OF BISHOPS

The 10th Ordinary Assembly of the Synod of Bishops (September 30 to October 27) is taking place in Rome. New Zealand is represented by Bishop Pat Dunn of Auckland diocese (it seems he hasn't had his turn to speak yet. Maybe this week). The Vatican Information Service is publishing daily summaries of each bishop's address to the Assembly, here: http://www.vatican.va/news_services/press/sinodo/documents/bollettino_20_x-ordin\ aria-2001/bollettino_20_x_ordinaria-2001_index_en.html#Index issues and language editions

CATHOLIC WEB TV

http://www.catholictv.net Interview with Lucienne Hensel, director of the ICPE School of Mission at St Gerard's Monastery, Wellington

EMPLOYMENT

(Vacancies in New Zealand Catholic schools are advertised in the Education Gazette: http://www.edgazette.govt.nz/vacancies )

Church Mental Health Lobby Group, Wellington: Development worker The task is to locate and work with the champions of the mentally ill in each parish, using an 'action/reflection' approach. Flexible hours, good remuneration. Details in 'Wel-com' October 2001 p.19; and from Rev Hugh Bowron tel 382 8486 or June Read tel. 232 5858

FROM THE SECULAR PRESS

'Solid, honest, godly - and he's a bloke ' NZ Herald 11.10.2001 http://www.nzherald.co.nz/storydisplay.cfm?thesection=news&thesubsection=&storyI\ D=221592&reportID=53510 (The new leader of the National Party, the second-largest in Parliament) Mr English is a man of the land, but also a man of high education and economic literacy, so we can expect him to understand both the theory and the practicality of matters economic. Probably most important of all, Mr English is a family man and a born and bred and still practising Catholic, which means he must have more than a nodding acquaintance with God and must know that there is much more to life (and to politics) than money, property and prestige.........

'Vaggioli's Return: A Deserter's Adventures' Otago University Press /Scoop 8 October 2001 http://www.scoop.co.nz/archive/scoop/stories/b6/6b/200110091132.ea61c2c1.html Eighty years after his death, Dom Felice Vaggioli is finally being recognised as an important commentator on and personality in New Zealand's past. Last year saw the first English edition of the controversial "History of New Zealand and Its Inhabitants", more than a hundred years after its original publication in Italian. Now translator John Crockett has brought to light a second book from the Italian missionary priest. Written after the completion of the history, "A Deserter's Adventures" is an autobiography ......

"How long, Lord, am I to cry for help while you will not listen;
to cry 'Oppression!' in your ear and you will not save?"
(Habakkuk 1:2)

Dear friends,

All being well, the Benjamin family should have arrived in Auckland
last
week. If anyone has heard from them, could you let us know please.

God bless,

Mike Leon
*************************************

AFGHAN CRISIS

You will find regularly updated links concerning events in Afghanistan,
including statements by our bishops and Pope John Paul and initiatives
by Catholic peace and aid organisations, on our bishops Website
http://www.catholic.org.nz under 'What's New'.

SYNOD OF BISHOPS

The 10th Ordinary Assembly of the Synod of Bishops (September 30 to
October 27) is taking place in Rome. New Zealand is represented by
Bishop Pat Dunn (Auckland). The Vatican Information Service publishes
daily summaries of each bishop's address to the Assembly, and I am
putting a summary of the summaries on the What's New page beneath the
Afghan news links.

CATHOLIC WEB TV
http://www.catholictv.net/
Further interviews with Wellington-based members of the International
Catholic Programme for Evangelisation (ICPE ) Frank Doherty (New
Zealand) and Charles Hannaford (Malta).

JUSTICE, PEACE AND DEVELOPMENT

Caritas Update, Spring 2001
http://www.caritas.org.nz/Update/27%20spring%202001/index.htm
In This Issue: Letter from the Director: eleven principles of Catholic
social teaching ... Debt through the lens of Social Justice ... Debt
Update & Archbishop Ndungane's visit ... Emerging Democracy in the
Pacific ... East Timor Update ... Tampa Asylum ... ... Seekers &
Caritas
NZ Project Evaluation ... Exploring the Impact of Your Support ...
Caritas Bangladesh staff visit NZ Schools and Parishes

EMPLOYMENT

(Vacancies in New Zealand Catholic schools are advertised in the
Education Gazette: http://www.edgazette.govt.nz/vacancies )

Property Asset Manager, Auckland Diocese
Details from Pompallier Diocesan Centre, tel 09 378 4380;
davidr@cda.org.nz
Applications close on Friday 12 October 2001

FROM THE SECULAR PRESS

"Staff cuts loom for refugee service"
NZ Herald 06.10.2001

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/storydisplay.cfm?thesection=news&thesubsection=&storyI\
D=220850
New Zealand's Refugee and Migrant Service is facing staff cuts because
of a cash crisis at a time the world is struggling to cope with
unprecedented refugee numbers. Although the refugee service was founded
by the churches, its annual appeal to churches in July raised less than
$7000....

"Kiwi Muslims under siege" (photo)
NZ Herald 6.10.2001

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/storydisplay.cfm?thesection=news&thesubsection=&storyI\
D=220914&reportID=61063
Mt Roskill lawyer Abdul Hafeez Rasheed did not hear a police officer
compare him to the Saudi terrorist leader Osama bin Laden. But when he
was told what had been said, he was angry. As one Muslim New Zealander
puts it: "When the IRA bombs London, you don't ask a Kiwi Catholic what
he thinks of the IRA." ........

"Refugees taste NZ generosity"
TV One News 5 October 2001
http://onenews.nzoom.com/news_detail/0,1227,60818-1-7,00.html
While Australia gave the Afghan asylum-seekers the cold shoulder, the
tide seems to be turning here, as every day more and more donations
flood into the Mangere Refugee Centre ...... (Link to related video in
adjacent column)

"Women's Lives Endangered - SPUC"
IRN
http://xtramsn.co.nz/news/0,,3882-797780,00.html
An unborn children's' lobby group believes women's health is being
disregarded by moves to make emergency contraception more available....

It is the Lord who keeps faith for ever, who is just to those who are oppressed. It is he who gives bread to the hungry, the Lord who sets prisoners free. (Psalm 146 v.7) Dear friends, It seems likely that the United States and Britain will attack their enemy in Afghanistan later this week, with unpredictable consequences. Please pray daily - and ask others to do so - that the oppressed people of Afghanistan may at last receive justice, that the hungry may receive bread, and prisoners freedom; and please also take any opportunities that arise to contribute to these good causes. On the What's New page of our bishops' Website - http://www.catholic.org.nz - I will be regularly putting up links related to events in Central Asia, such as statements by our bishops and by Pope John Paul, and also reports of initiatives for mediation and assistance to war refugees by the Catholic peace and aid organisations. There will also be links to reports on 10th Ordinary Assembly of the Synod of Bishops (September 30 to October 27). 'kiwicath' members Stan and Sheela Benjamin and their two young children are due to fly from the Gulf region to their new home in Auckland in just two days' time. If war should break out before then in Central Asia, flights in the region will probably be cancelled and the Benjamin family will be unable to leave. So please keep them in your prayers this weekend also. God bless, Mike Leon ************************************* MEET THE AFGHANS Last week some of the asylum seekers rescued by the container ship 'Tampa' arrived in Auckland. They are staying at the Mangere Refugee Resettlement Centre while their applications for asylum or refugee status are processed. Many of the new arrivals are of the Hazara ethnic group, a religious and ethnic minority in Afghanistan, from the vicinity of Mazar-i-Sharif, a town near the northern border of Afghanistan captured by the Taliban in 1998. New Zealand Herald reporters interviewed one of the group coming to New Zealand before they left Nauru: 17-year-old Sayeed Taheer. His experiences would be typical of the others: http://www.nzherald.co.nz/storydisplay.cfm?storyID=218867&thesection=news&thesub\ section=general The U.S. State Department's human rights report on Afghanistan details the treatment of the Hazaras by the Taliban and describes what happened when the Taliban occupied Mazar-i-Sharif: http://www.state.gov/g/drl/rls/hrrpt/2000/sa/index.cfm?docid=721 If you would like to learn a bit about Afghan history and culture, there's lots of information at Afghanistan Online: http://www.afghan-web.com FROM THE SECULAR PRESS 'Northlander ministers to New Yorkers struck by tragedy' NZ Herald 24 sept 2001 http://www.nzherald.co.nz/latestnewsstory.cfm?storyID=218606&thesection=news&the\ subsection=general&thesecondsubsection=latest A former Northlander working amid the nightmarish aftermath of New York's World Trade Center devastation lives in anguish. In an e-mail home to Whangarei, Father Emile Frische, a Roman Catholic priest who works in Manhattan, writes of almost unimaginable tragedy, but also the triumph of the human spirit, in the wake of the terrorist attacks that killed thousands....... Holmes Show Sept 25: "A New Zealand priest in New York" (video interview with Fr Frische) http://tvone.nzoom.com/programmes/holmes/story.html?story_2001_archive.inc 'Bishop leaves for Rome assembly ' The Evening Post 24 September 2001 Summary: A forum at which diocesan bishops from around the world could discuss key pastoral issues is to be proposed by New Zealand's Catholic bishops at a month-long assembly in Rome. Bishop Patrick Dunn of Auckland, representing New Zealand, leaves this week for the assembly of 300 bishops who will examine the ministry and role of bishops in the modern era. 'Election candidates dine on the bread line' (photo) Otago Daily Times 22 Sept 2001 http://www.odt.co.nz/cgi-bin/search-display-story-online-new?date=22Sep2001&obje\ ct=KLE12B9641RJ&type=html&WORDS=catholic&DB=Editorial A taste of life on the poverty line was on the menu for Dunedin local body candidates yesterday. About 25 candidates took part in a lunch organised by helping agencies to raise awareness of the plight of some citizens........ 'Arrivals keep support group busy ' (photo) Otago Daily Times 8 September 2001 http://www.odt.co.nz/cgi-bin/search-display-story-online-new?date=08Sep2001&obje\ ct=K3H00C1323NC&type=html&WORDS=catholic&DB=Editorial The rooms of Catholic Social Services Dunedin were quiet, which was not surprising unless you knew there were 13 babies aged between one month and five months present. The babies were visiting with their mothers, the most recent class through the service's Birth Support Group.......