Catholic News 2

Full Article

Oasis Forum Chairperson, Fr Cleophas Lungu has condemned the Zambian government’s attempt to diminish space for dissent in the country.

Speaking on behalf of other Oasis Forum Convenors, Fr. Cleophas said in a statement made available to the Africa Service of Vatican Radio that the Zambian government needs to respect the freedoms of citizens.

“The Oasis Forum is becoming increasingly alarmed at the trend of political intimidation and physical attacks against citizens and members of the private media, most recently against Komboni Radio and Prime TV and generally the violation of human rights on Zambian citizens.” He added, “We believe that violence of this nature has no place in a Christian democracy such as ours. We recall the intimidation of the Post Newspaper and the Muvi TV. These attacks appear to be an attempt by the government to diminish dissenting voices of citizens to achieve their own end. The Republic of Zambia is still a constitutional democracy. For democracy to thrive, basic human rights such as freedom of expression, freedom of religion, freedom of movement and freedom of association must be allowed to exist without impediment,” Fr. Lungu said.

The Oasis Forum is a national platform and alliance of Church and civil society organisations. It comprises the Council of Churches in Zambia (CCZ); Evangelical Fellowship of Zambia (EFZ);  Zambia Conference of Catholic Bishops (ZCCB); Non-Governmental Coordinating Council (NGOCC) and the Law Association of Zambia (LAZ).

According to the Oasis Forum, the causes of violence in Zambia are well-known and the state should just put a stop to the intimidation and violence against citizens by government agencies.

The causes of violence include, “ having a deficient Public Order Act as well as the biased application of it, the lack of an independent and impartial Police Service and [not] allowing citizens the freedom of expression and freedom of association, use of hate speech and playing of the tribal tag, as well as allowing cadres mainly from the ruling [political] party to manage and control public places such as bus stations and markets instead of the Local Government. Thus, those who have been entrusted with the instruments of power must be seen to be addressing these cardinal issues in a fair and unbiased manner. We believe that our national resources could be better spent on more productive activities,” states the Oasis Forum.

(Email:engafrica@vatiradio.va)

Find below the full Oasis Forum Statement.

PRESS STATEMENT BY THE OASIS FORUM DATED 19TH OCTOBER 2016 ON THE RISING INTOLERANCE AGAINST FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION AND ASSOCIATION IN ZAMBIA

POLITICAL INTIMIDATION

The Oasis Forum is becoming increasingly alarmed at the trend of political intimidation and physical attacks against citizens and members of the private media, most recently against Komboni Radio and Prime TV and generally the violation of human rights on Zambian citizens. We welcome the apology of the Republican Vice-President over the unfortunate remarks that the assault of journalist Lesa Nyirenda was warranted as we believe that violence of this nature has no place in a Christian democracy such as ours. We recall the intimidation of the Post Newspaper and the Muvi TV. These attacks appear to be an attempt by government to diminish dissenting voices of citizens to achieve their own end. The Republic of Zambia is still a constitutional democracy. For democracy to thrive, basic human rights such as freedom of expression, freedom of religion, freedom of movement and freedom of association must be allowed to exist without impediment. This allows for the free flow of information to the Zambian citizens as well as the Zambian government who will subsequently be in a better position to understand what it is that the Zambian people need and want. Democracy also demands that everyone should be heard whether their views are in tandem with the status quo or not. All people are created equal and therefore their views, whether we agree with them or not, must be heard and accommodated in a democratic dispensation.

URGENT NEED FOR ENACTMENT OF THE ENHANCED BILL OF RIGHTS

We believe that the unfortunate series of events exemplifies the need for the introduction of an enhanced Bill of Rights to address some of the shortfalls in our current Constitution such as the lack of the right against arbitrary detention which is evident currently, the right to media freedoms and the right to freedom of information. Whilst we appreciate that the referendum on the proposed and enhanced Bill of Rights was not successful, we believe that 2 this was due to the inopportune timing of it and a lack of awareness as to the importance of having an enhanced Bill of Rights. We cannot stress enough how crucial it is to the welfare of the Zambian people that resources be found to conduct another referendum as soon as possible. We strongly believe that the said referendum must be people driven and avoid any connotation of spearheading a partisan agenda.

PROPOSED REFINEMENT OF THE 2015 AMENDMENTS TO THE CONSTITUTION

Regarding the proposed refinement of the 2016 amendments to the Constitution, we must emphasise that any refinement of the Constitution must be done in order to make the drafting of it clearer and always in line with the will of the Zambian people as expressed in the Technical Committee’s Final Report of October 2014. We therefore believe that the process of refinement should not include the removal or addition of any clauses in the Constitution which are contrary to what the will of the people is, as expressed in the stated Technical Committee’s Final Report and without consulting the people of Zambia. We also believe that the terms of reference for the process of refinement should be guided and protected by a statute to ensure that the process is free from political interference.

PROPOSED COMMISSION OF INQUIRY ON PRE AND POST ELECTION VIOLENCE

The Oasis Forum also believes that there is no need for the proposed Commission of Inquiry with regard to violence before, during and after the August 2016 General Elections. In our opinion, the reasons behind the said electoral violence are well known and include having a deficient Public Order Act as well as the biased application of it, the lack of an independent and impartial Police Service and the lack of allowing the citizens freedom of expression and freedom of association, use of hate speech and playing of the tribal tag, as well as allowing cadres mainly from the ruling party to manage and control public places such as bus stations and markets instead of the Local Government. Thus, those who have been entrusted with the instruments of power must be seen to be addressing these cardinal issues in a fair and unbiased manner. We believe that our national resources could be better spent on more productive activities.

CONCLUSION

In conclusion, we urge the government to refrain from taking any action or making any utterances that may undermine the image and reputation of the country as a beacon of democracy and the rule of law. It is quite evident that Zambians are currently divided on political lines. We urge the government and all citizens to help foster a spirit of genuine dialogue, reconciliation, peace and unity in the nation. United we stand, divided we fall.

(signed)

 Fr Cleophas Lungu

CHAIRPERSON – OASIS FORUM

Issued on 19th October, 2016 in Lusaka on behalf of Convenors

1. Rev. Suzanne Matale – General Secretary (CCZ)

2. Ms Linda Kasonde – President (LAZ)

3. Ms Sarah Longwe – Board Chairperson (NGOCC)

4. Fr. Cleophas Lungu – Secretary General (ZCCB)

Full Article

(Vatican Radio) The head of the Catholic aid and development agency, Caritas Internationalis, has warned the conflict in the Iraqi city of Mosul will cause heavy civilian casualties and will not be “a clean war” to rid the city of so-called Islamic State militants.

The Secretary General of the global Caritas confederation, Michel Roy also accused world leaders of “double standards” and of pursuing national interests in Syria and Iraq, rather than considering the interests of the civilian populations of those two countries.

Listen to Michel Roy’s interview with Philippa Hitchen: 

Voicing his fears to Vatican Radio, Roy warned there are 1.250.000 civilians in Mosul, and so the “war which is starting now on the city” means that “there will be lots and lots of civilian people killed in Mosul”. His words came as thousands of people fled from the city on Wednesday while Iraqi troops and tanks moved in to try and recapture it from Islamic State control.

Comparing the claims of a “clean war” in Mosul with the conflict in the Syrian city of Aleppo, Roy said “we shouldn’t have double standards in what is happening there”. He said “people are dying, people are suffering in Aleppo, and there are war crimes in Aleppo, and tomorrow there will be already now people dying and people suffering in Mosul and also war crimes committed by the other side, and [….] we’ve become kind of indifferent on this”.

United Nations agencies are also gearing up for what they fear may be a huge humanitarian crisis caused by the conflict.

The Caritas Secretary General urged what he called “the main powers, the USA, the European Union, Russia” to “stop fighting, stop bombing”, adding that “this is not the way forward”. Roy  acknowledged that Islamic State or Da’esh is “a real big terrorist issue”, even if, he said “I am sure at some time they will also want to sit and talk”.

But he insisted that “What the U.S. wants in the Middle East, what Russia wants in the Middle East is not for the good of the Middle Eastern people, it’s for their own interests and that has to stop”. Echoing the words of Pope Francis, Roy urged world leaders to “look at things in a different way” and work to bring the warring parties to the negotiating table for the good of all people in the region.

The Caritas leader cited the example of the way the Lebanese civil war ended in 1995 as “an example to follow for Syria”. He said the combatants must “come and sit at the table and decide about their future together”. While the international community has to facilitate this, he stressed they “don't have to decide for the people and, especially in Syria, if they decide for the people, that [war] will never end.

Full Article

Washington D.C., Oct 19, 2016 / 12:21 pm (CNA/EWTN News).- With the Nov. 8 election approaching, the Knights of Columbus have released a novena addressed to Mary, the Immaculate Conception, who is the patroness of the United States.

The novena consists of nine days of prayer, starting Oct. 30 and running through Nov. 7, the eve of the election.

In 1791, America’s first bishop, John Carroll, entrusted his diocese – which was the entire country at the time – to Mary in 1791. The U.S. bishops affirmed that dedication in 1846, declaring Mary the Immaculate Conception to be patroness of the United States.

The novena prayer comes from the 1959 dedication of the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington, D.C. It was approved that year by Cardinal Patrick O'Boyle, then-archbishop of Washington.  

Parishes, Knights of Columbus councils, families and individuals are invited to participate in the novena.

“The Church teaches that Catholics are called to form their consciences based on Church teaching and vote in accordance with that well-formed conscience,” said Knights of Columbus CEO Carl Anderson.

“Pope Francis has said in reference to the U.S. election that we should ‘study the proposals well, pray and choose with your conscience,’ and this novena is designed to help Catholic Americans do that.”

The text of the novena reads:

Most Holy Trinity: Our Father in Heaven, who chose Mary as the fairest of your daughters; Holy Spirit, who chose Mary as your Spouse; God the Son, who chose Mary as your Mother, in union with Mary we adore your majesty and acknowledge your supreme, eternal dominion and authority.

Most Holy Trinity, we put the United States of America into the hands of Mary Immaculate in order that she may present the country to you. Through her we wish to thank you for the great resources of this land and for the freedom which has been its heritage.

Through the intercession of Mary, have mercy on the Catholic Church in America. Grant us peace. Have mercy on our president and on all the officers of our government. Grant us a fruitful economy, born of justice and charity. Have mercy on capital and industry and labor. Protect the family life of the nation. Guard the precious gift of many religious vocations. Through the intercession of our Mother, have mercy on the sick, the tempted, sinners — on all who are in need.

Mary, Immaculate Virgin, our Mother, Patroness of our land, we praise you and honor you and give ourselves to you. Protect us from every harm. Pray for us, that acting always according to your will and the will of your divine Son, we may live and die pleasing to God. Amen.

 

Full Article

IMAGE: CNS/Oscar Durand

By Oscar Durand

ISTANBUL (CNS) -- Yako Hanna, 36, always keeps an eye on his phone waiting for a call that would change his life.

"Anytime it rings, you think it is the U.N., so you have to be careful. Even if you go to the bathroom, you have to take your mobile with you," Hanna said, referring to the call he might receive from the U.N. refugee agency, UNHCR, which is handling his resettlement application to Australia, where he has relatives.

Hanna is one of the thousands of Iraqi Christians that are in Turkey waiting, from a few months to a few years, for an answer to their resettlement applications to Western countries. They are waiting for an appointment or a visa, a document that will allow them to restart their lives in a new country. And not knowing when that will happen is leading them to live a life in limbo.

Hanna grew up in a Chaldean Catholic family in the al-Dora district of Baghdad. The memories from his childhood include summer picnics, soccer games and other activities organized by his neighborhood church, St. Jacob.

Starting in 2004, car bombs, killings and attacks on Christians in Iraq become common. In 2007, St. Jacob -- the church Hanna had attended for 22 years -- was attacked, marking the beginning of his odyssey. He moved to a safer neighborhood in Baghdad and, when the situation worsened there as well, he fled to Tel Kaif in northern Iraq, just north of Mosul. In 2014, the Islamic State group attacked the town, and Hanna fled to Turkey.

Once in Turkey, Hanna registered with UNHCR and the Turkish government. Under Turkish law, only asylum seekers from Europe qualify for refugee status. Iraqis are eligible to receive what is called an "international protection" status, which allows them to stay in Turkey as they wait for resettlement to a third country.

Being resettled is not easy or quick.

According to UNHCR, in 2015, there were more than 7,500 people resettled out of Turkey; more than 6,400 were from countries other than Syria. Turkey hosts more than 3 million refugees; about 400,000 are non-Syrians. Although the exact number of Iraqi Christians in Turkey is unknown, it is estimated that there are at least 40,000.

For Hanna, the process to officially become a refugee and seek resettlement involved paperwork, travel and multiple interviews. His file was finally completed July 21, two years after he landed in Turkey.

"The first year was the worst year of my life. My future was unknown. What would I do for work? What would happen when I face a problem here? So many strange thoughts. I cried many times. I had to start not from zero but from under zero," Hanna said.

He said he hopes that the next time the phone rings, it is a call with a positive answer to his case.

"I think it will be no less than six months. If they told me four months, it would be a miracle. I cannot guess," he said.

Meanwhile, Hanna has found a temporary home with the Iraqi Catholic community in Istanbul. He keeps busy teaching English to refugee children, mostly from Iraq and Syria, at the Don Bosco Youth Center in Istanbul. Most of the other instructors are also from Iraq.

Basima Kamil, 42, also teaches English at the center. She is from Baghdad and has lived in Istanbul with her husband and four children since December 2012. With violence and threats toward Christians all around them, they felt they had no other option but to leave Iraq.

Once in Istanbul, Kamil and her family followed the resettlement process that is known to the Iraqi refugee community. Their first interview with UNHCR was in September 2014, almost two years after they landed in Istanbul.

When they met with Canadian officials, Kamil felt closer to her dream of finding a safe home for her family. After that interview in October 2015, Kamil was told that the next time she would be contacted, it would be for her to move to Canada.

"And since then, we are waiting," Kamil said.

Kamil worries about her children's education. They are between 15 and 22 and she believes that, as years pass by, so do their opportunities.

"I worry about their studies. I want them to continue studying, but I am afraid that they won't," Kamil said.

Kamil said she is determined to continue moving ahead, even if her application is denied.

"I cannot go back to Iraq. Now there are even fewer Christians. And I have daughters, it is more difficult for them," Kamil said.

Hanna also said he does not contemplate giving up if his resettlement application is rejected. But in the meantime, he is wasting no time. While not teaching at the Don Bosco Youth Center, he is taking Turkish lessons and is looking for a school to learn to become a barber.

"The more difficult thing is keep waiting and postponing your dreams. Until when? You don't know. But day by day, you get used to," Hanna said.

- - -

Copyright © 2016 Catholic News Service/U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops. www.catholicnews.com. All rights reserved. Republishing or redistributing of CNS content, including by framing or similar means without prior permission, is prohibited. You may link to stories on our public site. This copy is for your personal, non-commercial use only. To request permission for republishing or redistributing of CNS content, please contact permissions at cns@catholicnews.com.

Full Article

Full Article

Full Article

Full Article

Full Article

Full Article