Tui Motu InterIslands monthly independent Catholic magazine March 2015 | $7 Thomas Merton 1915–1968 . editorial choosing peace in lent dmittedly I’m new in town who got us thrown out of the "club" effects of trauma on the people and and don’t know everyone, yet by refusing to host nuclear-armed ships their commitment to work for peace . no one I’ve met supports the here . Then we have Helen Clark’s “no” We find metanoia at the heart of Government’sA idea of sending our to our joining the Iraq war in the early our Lenten journey shining through soldiers to the conflict in Iraq . In spite 2000s and Sue Bradford’s halt to hitting Merton’s spirituality, the articles on of the evidence of the Islamic State’s children . None claim perfect solutions nonviolence and coming into bud atrocities, responding to violence with but all put their foot down on vio- in the reflection of our young writer, violence is against our New Zealand lence . Each says there are other, better Susana Suisuiki . She captures the values . With our history of the loss of responses . And while these may be confusion around trying to find her fathers, grandfathers, uncles, sons and uncharted, messy and time-consuming her way . Even though her future is husbands killed, wounded or slogging — they are more life-sustaining . not all worked out, she senses that her through the two world and Vietnam Our March issue offers food for first steps are in the right direction . wars, we have learnt some bottom thought and discussion on these and Cythnia Greensill offers a way lines . Never again . other concerns . In the year of the cente- of understanding the semi-abstract While we know it isn’t fair to nary of his birth we claim the writer and paintings of the stations of the cross ignore the carnage groups like ISIS contemplative monk, Thomas Merton, by New Zealand artist, Joanna Paul . cause, we are certain that joining as a kiwi through his father . We offer Just as Elaine Wainwright reminds them in it is plain wrong . We have three perspectives on his life . We see us to attend to the time, place and stronger ties to the fathers, moth- how he developed a commitment to characters of the gospel stories, so ers and children of Iraq than to the dialogue and nonviolence in the 1960s . does Cynthia open our eyes to what "club" egging us on to fight . We may We have two reflections on non- Joanna wanted to portray in the not all share religious convictions but violent responses in a violent world . colours, lines and shapes of Jesus’ we do share values of peace and com- Kevin Clements argues for principled journey to crucifixion . union with all peoples in our world . nonviolence as the way of gaining As you’ll see, the Tui Motu team We have home-grown alternatives lasting peace after a struggle . Joan has the last word this issue . to violence — at home and interna- Healy shares her experience of people Enjoy your reading! n tionally — offered by leaders such as Te in Cambodia returning from the refu- Whiti o Rongomai and Tohu Kakahi, gee camps to take up life again . She Archibald Baxter and David Lange, gives us an insight into the lingering Editorial . .2 An ecological reading of the gospel of Mark (part two) The issue of housing in New Zealand . 3 . 20–21 contents Rev Susan Thompson Elaine Wainwright Pope Francis - Anna speaking Letters to the editor . 4 . 22–23 Anna Holmes Identity of catholic schools . 5 Discovering myself in Samoa Elizabeth Horgan . 24–25 Susana Suisuiki From grieving child to spiritual master . 6–7 Gifts of soil and wheat . 26–27 Ken Bragan Kathleen Rushton Man of ever-widening vision . 8–9 Book and film reviews . 28–29 Charles Shaw Crosscurrents . 30 Union and communion . 10-11 Jim Elliston Colleen O'Sullivan rsj Opportunities for service . 31 Principled nonviolence . 12–13 Peter Norris Kevin P Clements A mother’s journal . 32 Re-forming the broken pot – . 14 15 Kaaren Mathias Joan Healy rsj Stations of the cross . 16–17 Cover illustration: Thomas Merton [Cover photo and all photos on pp 6–7, 8–9 and 9–10 Joanna Paul's stations of the cross . 18–19 Cynthia Greensill used with permission of the Merton Legacy Trust and the Thomas Merton Center at Bellarmine University.] 2 Tui Motu InterIslands March 2015 . guest editorial the issue of housing in new zealand Rev Susan Thompson ne of my favourite quotes him was a good lesson in finding services” was a cunning one . It split is from the New Zealand allies in unexpected places . the sector, allowed the Council to historian Allan Davidson Council gave us a tight time-line sound contrite about its poor record Owho once described the church as a but we held meetings, made submis- as landlords and made the proposal human and diverse institution which sions, spoke in the media and even more acceptable to the wider com- “has lived between its ideals and held a protest rally — unfortunately munity . It seemed plausible, even human realities” . That idea of living to no avail . In November Council compassionate, and it was hard to get between our ideals and aspirations made the decision to sell the units people worried about it . and the reality of being human is to so-called “social housing provid- The comments made recently one that for me speaks to the heart of ers”, although it did impose some by John Key indicate that the many of the church’s struggles, both constraints on the sale in response Government will be taking a similar past and present . to the concerns that had been raised . line when it seeks to sell state houses It’s why as churches we have However, it wasn’t able to put more to community-based providers . If we histories which aren’t always easy to than a ten-year limit on the period have concerns about such a proposal own, being made up in almost equal for which the units had to remain we need to counter the cunning of measure of stories of faithfulness to as social housing . After that all bets our leaders with our own wisdom, the gospel and of betrayal . And it’s were off; the buyers could do what our own vision, which will be com- why we often end up conflicted when they liked with the houses . pelling enough to generate some we consider the churches’ contribu- Early on in this process we realised public concern . And we’ll have a far tion to the social and political issues we probably weren’t going to change greater chance of success if we can facing our communities today . the Council’s mind . It was clear from speak with a unified voice . Last year Karen Morrison- the time the proposal was first raised In Hamilton, even though the Hume and I were involved in a that a majority of Council members numbers were against us, we thought group which fought a proposal supported it . As the debate progressed it was important to make a stand from the Hamilton City Council it also became clear that the church against the Council’s proposal . Our to sell its 344 pensioner housing and social service sector was split with pensioners were really stressed and we units . We formed a diverse alliance some groups supporting the sale and wanted them to know that someone of church leaders and social service putting their hands up to buy the cared . We also believed that someone agencies, pensioner tenants and units . That made it impossible for us needed to argue for the sake of the community groups, including the to speak with one clear voice . common good . In our view Council rather conservative president of a The idea that pensioner housing was trying to abdicate its social local Grey Power . He was actually could be sold to social housing pro- responsibility to have a care for the a formidable campaigner and the viders who would be better equipped continued on page 4 . experience of working alongside to offer tenants “wrap-around social address: Independent Catholic Magazine Ltd, Tui Motu – InterIslands is an independent, 52 Union Street, Dunedin North, 9054 Catholic, monthly magazine. It invites its P O Box 6404, Dunedin North, 9059 readers to question, challenge and contrib- phone: (03) 477 1449 ute to its discussion of spiritual and social fax: (03) 477 8149 issues in the light of gospel values, and in email: [email protected] the interests of a more just and peaceful email for subscriptions: [email protected] society. Inter-church and inter-faith dialogue website: www.tuimotu.org is welcomed. TuiMotuInterIslands The name Tui Motu was given by Pa Henare Tate. editor: Ann L Gilroy rsj It literally means “stitching the islands together...”, assistant editor: Elizabeth Mackie op bringing the different races and peoples and faiths illustrator: Donald Moorhead together to create one Pacific people of God. directors: Susan Brebner, Rita Cahill rsj, Philip Casey (chair), Divergence of opinion is expected and will normally Neil Darragh, Paul Ferris, Elizabeth Mackie op and David Mullin be published, although that does not necessarily ISSM 1174-8931 honorary directors: Pauline O’Regan rsm, Frank Hoffmann imply editorial commitment to the viewpoint Issue number 191 typesetting and layout: Greg Hings expressed. printers: Southern Colour Print, 1 Turakina Road, Dunedin South, 9012 3 Tui Motu InterIslands March 2015 letters to the editor our church has changed are treated with respect; capital letters to the editor radically punishment has gone by the board; We welcome comment, torture is abhorred; the rise of trade I would like to share some thoughts discussion, argument, debate.