Community Sponsorship for Refugees in New Zealand
Bishop Patrick Dunn, President of the New Zealand Catholic Bishops Conference, has welcomed an increase in New Zealand’s refugee intake, and the pilot of a community sponsorship program. He acknowledged that New Zealand’s contribution is modest and pointed to the need to address the causes of the refugee crisis, saying: “The extent of the global refugee crisis is staggering and the number of people that we can help is never going to solve the issue. An end to conflict and persecution and meaningful and lasting peace are the only things that can resolve this crisis.” The community support program would allow for refugees beyond the government’s quota to be welcomed. More information from CathNews NZ & Pacific.
Poverty and Justice Bible for New Zealand
Cardinal John Dew will launch a Poverty and Justice Bible campaign in Wellington on 13 September 2015 to coincide with the start of Social Justice Week. Over 350 people are expected to attend the event. CathNews New Zealand reports that the campaign, jointly developed by the Bible Society New Zealand and Caritas Aotearoa New Zealand, centres around a new Catholic Poverty and Justice Bible. It is a New Zealand edition of The Poverty and Justice Bible which uses the Catholic NRSV translation and includes a unique study section. The studies are derived from the New Zealand Year 12 Religious Education curriculum and from Caritas resources. The Poverty and Justice Bible campaign is supported by the New Zealand Catholic Bishops’ Conference, and endorsed by Cardinal Peter Turkson, President of the Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace. Cardinal Dew said that it was inspired by Pope Francis’ concern for the poor: “Pope Francis is passionate about people living the Gospel of Jesus and he has a deep concern for those who suffer from injustice and live lives of poverty.” The Bible Society is making a buy one get one gift free offer which will make available free copies to people or families who cannot afford to purchase one. For more information on sales and gifts, contact neels@biblesociety.org.nz
New Zealand Church calls for Written Constitution
A Constitutional Conversation is going on in the Pacific country of Aotearoa New Zealand. In their submission, the Catholic Bishops support moving to a written constitution and have proposed an Introduction for such a constitution. They explore the meaning of freedom, truth and responsibility. Read their submission here. Development agency Caritas Aotearoa New Zealand has also made a submission. They emphasize the role that a written constitution could play in protecting human rights, and they support the submission made by the Catholic Bishops. Read their submission here:
Pacific Bishops Focus on Sea
Pacific Bishops meeting in Auckland in August 2017 declared: “As Bishops of the Pacific, the place of the sea in the lives of the peoples we serve was a central focus of our meeting. Our common ocean is teeming with life and goodness. For many of our peoples the sea is their treasured source of nutrition, sustenance and livelihood. In solidarity with them, Psalm 107 resonates in our hearts: ‘those that do business in the great waters, they behold the world of the Lord and his wonders in the deep.’” Gathering as the Executive Committee of the Federation of Catholic Bishops Conferences of Oceania, they highlighted care of the sea and concern for West Papua. The Federation brings together Catholic Bishops Conferences from island nations across the Pacific Ocean. Bishops conferences from Australia, Papua New Guinea and Solomon Islands, New Zealand and CEPAC (the rest of the Pacific) are members. Care for Pacific Ecology Visiting communities affected by climate change, the Bishops observed the destruction of shorelines. On the other hand, they praised “the systematic and coordinated opposition to seabed mining which turns the ocean floor into a stage of exploitative destruction of ocean habitats”. Furthermore, the Bishops held up the ‘blue economy’ as a model that respects sustainability and looks beyond short-term economic windfalls. Concern for West Papua The Bishops also focussed on the livelihood and cultural integrity of the people of West Papua. They did not, however, express a view on independence. Instead they called for quality education, access to jobs and training, and respect for land titles. Furthermore, they ask for “clear boundaries between the role of defence and police forces and the role of commerce.” Nonetheless, they saw hope in efforts for dialogue and peaceful coexistence. Read the Pacific Bishops Statement Here is the full statement of the Pacific Bishops:
Auckland Catholics Back Living Wage
The Justice and Peace Commission of the Diocese of Auckland in New Zealand supports the Living Wage Movement. They have worked together with others in New Zealand since 2013 for a wage that is sufficient to allow a family to live in dignity and participate in society. New Zealand law sets a minimum hourly wage rate, but the movement demonstrates that the rate is inadequate. Living Wage Week This information leaflet from the Auckland Justice and Peace Commission raises awareness of the issues in time for Living Wage Week 2016. In it Bishop Patrick Dunn explains the importance of the issue.
Social Sin Sinful Structures
In this address to the Pacific Partnership for Human Development in December 1988, Bishop Peter Cullinane of Palmerston North in New Zealand, sets out clearly the position of Catholic Social Teaching regarding social sin and structures of sin. He systematically addresses the following claims: Evil exists not only in the choices individuals make but also in the social structures and economic systems which result from our choices: Structures and systems have a life of their own over and above, and even independent of, the life and the powers of the individuals within them; Because the evil that becomes enshrined in structures and systems is over and above what can be attributed to individuals, the way to counter that evil is different from how one goes about changing individuals; Changing oppressive structures and systems requires the methods of confrontation; The Church, by reason of its commitment to the oppressed, must be involved in confronting and changing oppressive structures and systems. Bishop Cullinane concludes that both individual persons and structures need to change. He does not agree that confrontation is the only way to change structures, and prefers methods that are consistent with the freedom of heart and mind that they seek to achieve. He says: “In practice, the Church acts sometimes as a counter-culture and sometimes as a leaven, subject to all that is most human. But whatever the method that is most appropriate in the circumstances, the obligation to challenge social sin and sinful structures is unambiguous.” Read the full address here Bishop (now Emeritus) Cullinane’s writing and speaking about social justice, social sin and structures of sin, are an important contribution to the local social teachings of the Pacific region. A number of his writings, including this classic piece, can be accessed at the website of the Palmerston North Diocese.
Pacific Bishops Climate Change Concern
The Executive Committee of the Federation of Catholic Bishops Conferences of Oceania, meeting in Noumea, expressed concern about climate change saying: Of particular concern to us are rising sea levels, ocean acidification, and unusual rainfall patterns. These are affecting many of our communities in a harmful way. In some cases, entire regions and nations are under threat from the indisputable fact of rising sea levels. Examples from this part of the world include the Carteret Islands, Fead Islands, Kiribati, the Marshall Islands, the Mortlock Islands, Nukumanu Islands, the Tokelau Islands, and Tuvalu. As representatives of the Catholic Bishops’ Conferences of Australia, CEPAC (the Pacific Island nations), New Zealand, Papua New Guinea and the Solomon Islands, they came from a multitude of island nation States spread throughout the Pacific. Read their statement here