Sex! Sex and Religion! Some people talk about New Zealand as if it is a “secular” nation. It is in fact a deeply religious nation. New Zealand has a state religion. Here is a picture of the Christchurch cathedral of our State religion. No, not the Cathedral of the Blessed Sacrament on the left, but
abstain for the game! Read More »
More than 300 RC priests in Austria have joined Aufruf zum Ungehorsam (Call to Disobedience) The Call speaks of “the Roman refusal of a long-overdue Church reform and the inaction of bishops.” The priests agree to pray for Church reform at every liturgy, since “in the presence of God there is freedom of speech” not
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scripture readings textweek resources In NZ Anglican Church this Sunday is Religious Vocation Sunday. • collect/opening prayer reflection for August 21 and the week following (NZPB) BCP USA (TEC): Grant, O merciful God, that your Church, being gathered together in unity by your Holy Spirit, may show forth your power among all peoples, to the
week starting August 21 Read More »
Last week I was at a talk given by Rev Jono Ryan who works half time with the mission work of Servants to Asia’s Urban Poor. This is a kiwi movement with New Monastic movement approaches. They have 5 principles (incarnation, community, wholism, servanthood, simplicity) and 5 values (grace, celebration, beauty, creativity, rest). We heard
Bishop Sir Paul Reeves died in Auckland Sunday morning, 14 August. He was aged 78. The Reeves whanau (family) wish to acknowledge the immense support they have received since Sir Paul announced he was stepping back from most aspects of his public life after the recent diagnosis of cancer. The immediate whanau will spend some
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The Rage Against God: How Atheism Led Me to Faith by Peter Hitchens (Zondervan 2010). Peter Hitchens is the brother of well-known anti-theist, Christopher Hitchens. I had expected more of a book that worked systematically through arguments for God’s existence and against the points that Christopher Hitchens makes. Instead, in this relatively short book, there
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I do not have to repeat here the reactions in Ireland to the Cloyne Report and the realisation that the Roman Catholic Church continued its inappropriate response to clerical sex abuse. It is covered in many places. One Irish newspaper published a photograph of the Pope with “Persona Non Grata” superimposed on his image. There
seal of confession Read More »
