Whatever the market policies in vogue, our benchmark is a just and fair society.
- New Zealand Catholic Bishops, Faith Alive, 1999
Treaty of Waitangi issues 2004
Commemoration Year Aotearoa New Zealand 1990
Un Year of Indigenous Peoples 1993
The Treaty of Waitangi in Today's Perspective 1995
Employment Contracts 1991
Some Concerns About Employment 1998
The Rights of Refugees and Migrants 2002
Made in God's Image 1991
Inclusive Language 1997
Creating New Hearts - Moving from Retributive to Restorative Justice 1995
"Mahitahi is the official Catholic agency which seeks New Zealanders to enter into project partnerships with the commuhities of Oceania through the sharing of their gifts and skills. We will seek to recruit people with the appropriate expertise to work in jobs and projects alongside Pacific Island Partners, to assist them as they journey to achieving their goals."
Christina Reymer, Director, Mahitahi
Caritas is a national agency of the New Zealand Bishops' Conference. In the light of Catholic social teaching it is responsible for advising bishops on social justice issues and managing the Church's aid and development function. Caritas is part of an extensive network of Catholic social service and development agencies worldwide.
The indigenous people of our country, the Maori, deserve better than unilateral arrangements and imposed settlements for genuine, acknowledged wrongs. Treaty of Waitangi issues are not about party politics. They are about honouring with goodwill the covenant entered into by the Crown and Maori, on which this nation is founded.
They are about the right of the first occupants to land, and a social and political organisation which would allow them to preserve their cultural identity. They are about a people still searching for the sovereignty guaranteed them 150 years ago. We ask then that you look boldly to a new process of consultation on the meaning and application of the principles of the Treaty of Waitangi.
- NZ Bshops, 1995
"We are wise enough to know that we live in a blessed country. We are conscious of our own social problems and of the deprivation and poverty of an increasing number of our own citizens. But we also know that it is well within our capacity to change this situation. We must not let our own problems cause us to overlook the extreme needs of the destitute people whom we call refugees."
"We believe that the majority of our citizens do not want to see refugees and migrants become society's scapegoats. We are heartened by the support and solidarity towards newcomers that we observe and we take the opportunity again to affirm warmly organisations such as Refugee and Migrants Services and other volunteer groups in our country who support those who come here seeking refuge."
- from NZ Catholic Bishops' statement:
The Rights of Refugees & Migrants
October 2002
"The criminal justice system itself is not beyond reproach. While we have prided ourselves in having one of the best criminal justice systems in the world, the results have not always justified that assessment. From a Christian perspective no criminal justice system can afford to be built upon a philosophy of retribution, focusing primarily upon punishment flowing from feelings of revenge; a negative philosophy will produce negative results."
- from NZ Catholic Bishops' statement:
Creating New Hearts
1995
"We must find the voice to resist the growing inequalities that are a feature of our society. Economic and social policies that do not respect the dignity of the individual are bankrupt. We must concern ourselves at all levels with unemployment, inadequate housing, sub-standard healthcare, extremes of wealth and poverty."
- from 'Faith Alive', NZ Catholic Bishops 1999
"The economy is at the service of humanity"
- Populorum Progresio n. 26
Find the Justice and Peace offices at your local diocese.
Support and be informed about Caritas in its work for social justice, aid and development.
Work at a local, national and international level for peace. Pax Christi in Aotearoa-New Zealand is the New Zealand section of the International Catholic Peace Movement
Volunteer in partnership with the local people and New Zealanders with skills and experience on projects in Oceania.
Standards for Volunteers and Employees in Ministry
Find out what the Church is doing to confront sexual abuse.
Bishop Carlos Belo SBD, Nobel Peace Laureate (left) has called repeatedly for reconciliation in East Timor base on justice.
He has stated that "trial entrusted to Indonesia by the United Nations Security Council has become an instrument to affirm and uphold not justice, but injustice" and he calls for the establishment of an international tribunal.
These children are in New Zealand lawfully - by right of citizenship - but they have no access to benefits provided under Social Welfare legislation.
Their family's only income was family support of $70 per week.
Copyright 2008 Catholic Communications for the NZ Catholic Bishops' Conference
