Catholic News 2
PARIS (AP) -- It took just a few hours for the Islamic State group's opportunistic propaganda machine to capitalize on the latest bloodshed in Florida and in France, with messages claiming the two attackers as its own. It may take the group longer to sort through the implications of a killer whose backstory of conflicted sexuality and heavy drinking is at odds with a carefully crafted public image of its fighters....
WASHINGTON (AP) -- President Barack Obama on Tuesday delivered a scathing rebuke of Donald Trump's anti-Muslim rhetoric, blasting the Republican presidential nominee's immigration proposals as dangerous and "not the America we want."...
WASHINGTON (AP) -- Dismayed Republicans scrambled for cover Tuesday from Donald Trump's inflammatory response to the Orlando massacre, while President Barack Obama and Democrat Hillary Clinton delivered fiery denunciations that underscored the potential peril for the GOP....
ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) -- The Latest on the Florida nightclub shooting. (all times local):...
Zec 12:10-11, 13: 1; Gal 3:26-29; Lk 9:18-24In his book, Pray from Where You Are, James Carroll recalls something many of us remember from our childhood. Every Sunday, the comic page of our newspapers used to carry a series of printed games. One of everybody’s favorites was a picture showing some scene, like a family enjoying a picnic in a park. Printed beneath the picture were the words, “Can you find the man hidden in the picture?” You’d look and look, and at first wouldn’t see anything that looked like a man. Then you’d turn the paper this way and that to get a different view of it. Suddenly, from the edge of a fluffy white cloud you’d see an ear. Then, from the green leaves of a tree you’d see a mouth, and so on, until you’d see an entire man’s face smiling out at you from the picnic scene. Once you saw the man, that picnic scene was never the same again. For you had found the hidden man. You yourself had seen the smi...
Zec 12:10-11, 13: 1; Gal 3:26-29; Lk 9:18-24
In his book, Pray from Where You Are, James Carroll recalls something many of us remember from our childhood. Every Sunday, the comic page of our newspapers used to carry a series of printed games. One of everybody’s favorites was a picture showing some scene, like a family enjoying a picnic in a park. Printed beneath the picture were the words, “Can you find the man hidden in the picture?” You’d look and look, and at first wouldn’t see anything that looked like a man. Then you’d turn the paper this way and that to get a different view of it. Suddenly, from the edge of a fluffy white cloud you’d see an ear. Then, from the green leaves of a tree you’d see a mouth, and so on, until you’d see an entire man’s face smiling out at you from the picnic scene. Once you saw the man, that picnic scene was never the same again. For you had found the hidden man. You yourself had seen the smiling face. It’s the same way in our own lives. We Christians know by Faith that there is a man hidden away in every scene of daily life. And that man’s name is Jesus. Once we find him, up close and personal, no scene in our lives is ever the same. That is part of the message of today’s Gospel. (Mark Link in Sunday Homilies)
Introduction: Today’s Gospel explains the basis of our Faith as the acceptance of Jesus as the Christ, our Lord and our Savior. It also tells us that Christ Jesus became our Savior by his suffering, death and Resurrection. Finally, it outlines the three requirements for Christian discipleship, namely, denying oneself, taking up one’s cross and following Jesus. The first reading gives us Zechariah’s prophecy about the suffering and death of the Messiah: "They will look on Him whom they have pierced; and they will mourn for Him, as one mourns for an only son, and they will weep bitterly over Him, like the bitter weeping over a first-born." The challenge given by Paul in today’s second reading is to live in accordance with Jesus' teachings, tearing down unjust barriers of gender, race and class and making social justice a part of the Church’s vision. In defending his teaching that Christ alone is the source of salvation, Paul appeals to several images in this reading. As clothing both envelops the whole body and expresses our identity to others, so Christ embraces our total reality, and renders differences among us insignificant. "Putting on Christ" means allowing him to begin to work in us as our Messiah, our personal Lord and Savior. This deep and vitalizing work of grace heals us of our hatred, prejudice, selfishness and whatever else blocks “God’s reign” within and among us.
The first reading: Zechariah’s prophecy refers to an obscure historical event which occurred several centuries before Christ. It was not originally a direct prediction of Jesus’ Passion. But the passage gives insight into the meaning of redemptive suffering and its essential role in God’s salvific plan. The evangelist John considered the passage, "They will look on Him whom they have pierced; and they will mourn for Him…."as fulfilled in the suffering and death of the Messiah. However, Zechariah’s description of the pierced one could have been applied to any one of several people who were martyred and mourned. Reginald Fuller in Preaching the New Lectionary suggests that Christians, who associate Zechariah’s figure with Jesus and his redemptive death for sinners, might understand the mourning described here as the remorse which will, at the last judgment, overtake all those who have rejected Christ on earth. Zechariah’s pierced one, in the light of today’s Gospel, invites us to identify ourselves with our suffering Savior, Jesus during the moments of our pain and suffering.
The second reading: Writing to the Galatians, St. Paul teaches them and us that through Faith in Jesus we become the children of God. Hence, we have to live in accord with Jesus' teachings, tearing down unjust barriers of gender, race and class and making social justice a part of the Church’s vision. As clothing covers parts of the body and expresses our identity to others, so Christ covers us and renders differences among us insignificant. "Putting on Christ" means allowing him to begin to work in us as our Messiah, personal Lord and Savior. This deep and vitalizing work of grace heals us of our hatred, prejudice, selfishness and whatever else blocks “God’s reign” within and among us.
Exegesis: Two pertinent questions: In Luke’s Gospel, it was immediately after a prayer session with his disciples that Jesus asked two questions about his perceived identity. But in the accounts of Matthew and Mark the incident occurred at Caesarea Philippi, presently called Banias, twenty-five miles northeast of the Sea of Galilee. This city was founded by King Philip, the son of Herod the Great, to perpetuate his own memory and to honor the Roman emperor Caesar. It was situated on a beautiful terrace about 1150 feet above sea level on the southwest slope of Mount Hermon overlooking the Jordan valley. The city was a great pilgrimage center for pagans because it held temples for the Syrian gods Bal and Pan, one for the Roman God Jupiter and a marble temple for the emperor Caesar. Jesus realized that if his disciples did not know who he really was, then his entire ministry, suffering and death would be useless. Hence, he decided to ask a question in two parts.
The first question: “Who do the crowds say I am?” Their answer was, “Some say that you are John the Baptist, others say that you are Elijah, still others one of the prophets.” John the Baptist was so great a figure that many Jews, and Herod their king, thought that John’s spirit had entered the body of Jesus. Elijah, the greatest of the prophets was believed to be the forerunner of the Messiah. ("Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the great and terrible day of the Lord comes" –Mal 4:5). The phrase "one of the prophets" suggested that Jesus had a ministry like that of the former prophets. When the people identified Jesus with Elijah and with Jeremiah they were, according to their lights, paying him a great compliment and setting him in a high place because Elijah was none other than the expected forerunner of the Anointed One of God.
The second question: “Who do you say I am? For the first time in their relationship Peter, speaking for the other disciples, declared publicly: “You are God’s Messiah.” Peter was the first apostle to recognize Jesus publicly as the Anointed One (also translated Messiah or Christ). Christ is the Greek word for the Hebrew word Messiah. To say that Jesus was the Christ, the anointed one of God was to say that Jesus was God who became Man to save sinners! However, Jesus was quick to explain to the disciples that he was not a political Messiah who would reestablish the Davidic kingdom after ousting the Romans. Instead, he was the Messiah who would redeem mankind by his suffering, death and Resurrection. Like the "pierced one" in the first reading, Jesus accepted suffering as part of his mission and out of fidelity toward the One Whom he called Father. Jesus’ example provides a challenge for us all to accept the mystery of the cross when our turn comes to follow the Jesus by suffering with him.
The three requirements for Christian discipleship: Jesus promptly emphasized the fact that he was not the political, conquering Messiah of Jewish expectations by declaring three stringent requirements to be met by his disciples: ““If anyone wants to come with me he must deny himself, take up his cross every day and follow me.” Christian discipleship demands honesty of a disciple in order for him to practice self-control (“to offer our bodies as a willing sacrifice to God”), willingness to suffer, and readiness to follow Jesus by obeying his commandment of love. A) Self-denial: Self-denial requires that we evict selfish thoughts, evil desires and tendencies from our hearts and fill them with God. It also requires that we cleanse ourselves of all evil habits, enthrone God in our hearts and share Him with others. B) Carrying our cross with Jesus: The cross always means pain and suffering. Our sufferings become one with Jesus’ sufferings on the cross with their saving power 1) when we accept them as His gift to us and endure them patiently, cheerfully if possible; 2) when we suffer by serving others selflessly, 3) when we give ourselves – our health, wealth, time and talents -- to others even when it costs us a struggle and 4) when we do penance to make reparation for our sins and the sins of the world. C) Following Jesus: As followers of Christ, we should live our lives according to the word of God, by obeying what is commanded by Jesus. Since Mark’s Gospel was written within vivid memory of both the horrors of the Jewish war against Rome and the persecution under Nero, when Christians were used as torches to light Nero’s garden, the readers recognized that Jesus’ predictions about Christian suffering had been tragically fulfilled in their own community.
Losing life, finding life: Christians started experiencing persecution while Luke wrote his Gospel. Hence, he emphasizes Jesus’ teaching that a man who is faithful may die for his Faith in Jesus, but in dying he will live. The man who risks everything for Christ finds life. On the other hand the man who abandons his Faith for safety or security may live, but he is actually dying. History is full of noble souls who risked their lives for the sake of others. If certain scientists had not been prepared to take risks, many a medical cure would not exist. If mothers were not prepared to take risks, no child would ever be born. If we’re honest with ourselves, we know that there are constant opportunities for us to choose to be true to the Gospel. But the world is essentially opposed to the Gospel and those who live out its truths.
Life Messages: 1) What does Jesus mean to us? Founder of a religion like Buddha and Confucius? Revolutionary Jewish reformer? One of the great teachers? Son of God and personal Savior? This can perhaps be broken down into other questions: "How do I really see Jesus? Is Jesus a living experience for me, walking with me, loving me, forgiving me, helping me and transforming my life and outlook? What difference does Jesus make in my life? Have I really given my life to him? Are there areas where I have excluded Him, where my life is not noticeably different from the lives of those who see Jesus as irrelevant? Who do we say that Jesus is through our daily life? Who do we say that He is when we are in the presence of those who don't know him, those who aren't interested in him? What does the way we live and behave say about who Jesus is? Is the joy, the love, the peace that we find in Jesus reflected in the way we live our lives? We are gathered here today in the name of Jesus. We have not come together to celebrate a memorial for a merely good man who died long ago. We are here to celebrate the death and resurrection of Christ, the Messiah, our Lord and personal Savior, in this Eucharistic celebration.
2) We need to experience Jesus as our Lord and Savior and surrender our life to him. The knowledge of Jesus as our Lord and personal Savior should become a living, personal experience for each Christian. With God’s ongoing grace, we learn to perceive Jesus this way by listening to him through the daily, meditative reading of the Bible, by talking to him through daily, personal and family prayers, by offering to him our lives on the altar in the Holy Mass and by being reconciled to him in the Sacrament of Reconciliation. The next step for us is to surrender our lives to Jesus by rendering humble and loving service to others with the strong conviction that Jesus is present in every person. Our final step is to praise and thank God in all the events of our lives, both good and bad, realizing that God’s loving hand is behind every event of our lives.
3) Are we ready to take up our crosses and follow Jesus? Do we have enough Faith to offer up a genuine sacrifice for Christ's sake? Can a Church in today's self-centered culture ask its people to sacrifice something for the sake of the Gospel? Jesus' challenge to all would-be disciples requires more than a "feel-good" spirituality. A true disciple asks, "Am I willing to sacrifice something for the Kingdom?" What made it possible for first-century Christians to choose a martyr's death? What has kept generations of Christians from losing Faith and falling apart when confronted by the violence and hatred of this world? How can we realize even the day-to-day sacrifices asked by our Faith when they demand things we don't want to do? Can we sacrifice some of our time in order to visit a homeless shelter or soup kitchen? Can we sacrifice our job security and refuse to "go along" with a policy that is unjust? Can we sacrifice our need to be in control and let Christ do with us what he will? Can we refuse to let our children watch television programs filled with sex and violence?
Sir Ernest Shackleton needed 28 volunteers for a dangerous mission to the South Pole. So he placed the following advertisement in the London Times: "Wanted: Persons for a dangerous journey. Small wages, bitter cold, long months of complete darkness, constant danger, safe return doubtful, honor and recognition if successful." Many skeptics were doubtful if he would get volunteers. To their stunned disbelief, he was swamped by over 5000 applications from all over England. From these he selected 28 most eligible and in spite of the anticipated hardships, all returned safely to honor and recognition. -Jesus extends the same invitation to all his followers. It is neither a call to take up arms, nor to embark on a hazardous expedition. But it is an invitation to collaborate with him in establishing the Kingdom of God on earth; it is a call to work with him in transforming the world and making it a place God wants it to be. Of course this challenge is complex and demanding: "If anyone wishes to come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me." Countless people have faithfully and generously responded over the past 2000 years, and have striven nobly to make this a better world. Each of us is invited to follow in the footsteps of Jesus for this same mission. What is our answer? .
(Source: Homilies of Fr. Anthony Kadavil)
(Vatican Radio) As Nigeria continues to face increasing instability over its security and economy, the President and Secretary of the Catholic Bishops' Conference of Nigeria (CBCN), Archbishop Ignatius Ayau Kaigama and Bishop William Avenya have released a statement to both the Nigerian government and people, asking them to continue to pray for a strong Nation.Whilst appreciating the efforts the Nigerian government has gone to in order to combat corruption and insurgency, both Archbishop Kaigama and Bishop Avenya have said that the country still needs to address the complex challenges which continue to emerge, which have raised the level of insecurity in every aspect of daily life.Listen to the report by Georgia Gogarty: Please see the full statement below:OUR CONCERN OVER THE SECURITY OF OUR NATIONA Statement by the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Nigeria (CBCN)We, the Catholics Bishops of Nigeria, deeply appreciate the sincere efforts made by the past and present Admin...
(Vatican Radio) As Nigeria continues to face increasing instability over its security and economy, the President and Secretary of the Catholic Bishops' Conference of Nigeria (CBCN), Archbishop Ignatius Ayau Kaigama and Bishop William Avenya have released a statement to both the Nigerian government and people, asking them to continue to pray for a strong Nation.
Whilst appreciating the efforts the Nigerian government has gone to in order to combat corruption and insurgency, both Archbishop Kaigama and Bishop Avenya have said that the country still needs to address the complex challenges which continue to emerge, which have raised the level of insecurity in every aspect of daily life.
Listen to the report by Georgia Gogarty:
Please see the full statement below:
OUR CONCERN OVER THE SECURITY OF OUR NATION
A Statement by the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Nigeria (CBCN)
We, the Catholics Bishops of Nigeria, deeply appreciate the sincere efforts made by the past and present Administrations of the Nigerian Government to address the multifaceted challenges facing our dear Nation – in the areas of national unity, security, the economy, corruption, and so on. We equally recognize the successes recorded so far in some of these areas: the increased emphasis in the fight against corruption and the decrease in the cases of insurgency in the North-Eastern parts of the Country.
However, we are equally aware that in some areas the situation has deteriorated and in others new and more complex challenges are emerging. As spiritual leaders committed to the task of building a strong Nation founded on lasting values and solid principles, we are compelled by the increased restiveness in many sectors of our society to address these words to those upon whose shoulders God and the Nigerian People have entrusted the responsibility of leadership and governance. Equally being addressed here are all other Nigerians who are also co-responsible for building of a Nigeria characterized by stability, peace, respect for one another and for the rule of law.
The stability of every nation is, to a large extent, dependent on its security: security of its borders, internal security, economic and social security, etc. Without security, all plans for the development of a country could remain a mirage. It is a matter of grave concern to us that in recent times there has been an unacceptable increase in the degree of violence in the Country which has raised the level of insecurity in almost all aspects our public and private life. From North to South, East to West, clashes between marauding criminals who claim to be herdsmen and the local populations now threaten our mutual co-existence. In many parts of the country, the spate of kidnapping and armed-robbery has made travelling on our roads and retiring in our homes a nightmare for many Nigerians. In the Niger Delta region many militants have renewed their violent activities, which are now further distressing our already fragile oil-based economy. More and more dissatisfied youths in some parts of the country are protesting their continued political marginalization and economic deprivation, leading to the loss of many promising lives as a result of clashes between them and the security forces.
In the light of all this, we call on the Government to take more seriously its duty of protecting the life and property of every Nigerian, bearing in mind that this is the primary responsibility of any Government. In the same vein, we urge all Nigerians to assume their individual and collective responsibilities in the task of building a solid and vibrant nation, by respecting the existing laws and by using peaceful channels to resolve issues that may arise. Although it is the responsibility of the Government to make and enforce laws, the Citizens equally need to realize that no Government can be expected to direct the personal life of every of its Citizens. There is therefore a need for the conversion of hearts for all.
Finally, aware that our Nation is under the watchful care of God, our loving and merciful Father, we request all Nigerians to intensify their prayers for the Country. We as Catholics have been doing this for decades and are testimonies to God’s answers to our prayers, as we have on various occasions moved back from the edge of the precipice. We therefore invite all the other Nigerians to take up this very effective instrument of nation-building which, fortunately, is accessible to all.
Archbishop Ignatius Ayau Kaigama Bishop William Avenya
President, CBCN Secretary, CBCN
(Vatican Radio) Responding to Pope Francis’ call to make business and wealth work for the poor, a Vatican Conference will explore ways of investing to generate beneficial social effects in addition to financial gain.The Conference on ‘Impact Investing’ – which actively seeks to make a positive impact by investing, for example, in non-profits that benefit the community or in clean technology enterprises - will take place in Rome between the 26 and 28 June under the auspices of the Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace and Catholic Relief Services.Please find below the press release for the event: Second Vatican Conference on Impact Investing &n...
(Vatican Radio) Responding to Pope Francis’ call to make business and wealth work for the poor, a Vatican Conference will explore ways of investing to generate beneficial social effects in addition to financial gain.
The Conference on ‘Impact Investing’ – which actively seeks to make a positive impact by investing, for example, in non-profits that benefit the community or in clean technology enterprises - will take place in Rome between the 26 and 28 June under the auspices of the Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace and Catholic Relief Services.
Please find below the press release for the event:
Second Vatican Conference on Impact Investing
Church and Business Leaders Respond to Pope Francis’ Call to Make Wealth Work for the Poor
At the invitation of the Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace and Catholic Relief Services, impact investing experts and Catholic leaders from around the world will convene in Rome to explore how the Catholic Church and other faith-based institutions can harness the power of impact capital to attain and sustain their social mission.
These Church institutions, at an early stage in their social enterprise journey, will interact with and learn from successful social entrepreneurs, along with thought leaders from the sector. They will develop strategies, form partnerships and lay the foundation for catalyzing private investment to serve the poor and vulnerable. Celebrating the Extraordinary Year of Mercy established by Pope Francis, the conference is titled Making the Year of Mercy a Year of Impact for the Poor.
The conference, which begins on June 26, 2016, is sponsored by Omidyar Network and the Mendoza College of Business at the University of Notre Dame. It ends on June 28.
The conference will respond to Pope Francis’ call to put the world’s wealth to work fighting poverty and fostering social change as it explores how the Catholic Church and other faith-based organizations can achieve their social missions by accessing private capital and forging new partnerships. Participants will engage with business, finance, academic and social enterprise leaders to learn how to make social enterprises attractive to impact investors.
Cardinal Turkson, president of the Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace, quoted Pope Francis speaking at the Church’s first impact investment conference in 2014, “It is important that ethics once again plays its due part in the world of finance and that markets serve the interests of peoples and the common good of humanity. We have a great opportunity to harness the extensive reach of the Church as well as a great responsibility to assure that as a result the poorest of our brothers and sisters are lifted by this tide and not left on the shore.”
“Worldwide reach and vast social service networks put the Catholic Church in an ideal position to take impact investing to the next level,” said Dr. Carolyn Y. Woo, president and CEO of Catholic Relief Services and the former dean of the Mendoza School. “We will need much more than philanthropic resources if we are going to break the cycle of poverty that keeps millions living on the margins. The Church is in an ideal position to mediate this new model that is using private capital to meet these very public needs in sustainable and productive ways.”
There is growth both in the amount of capital seeking quality social enterprises and the number of businesses that make real social impact alongside monetary returns. The Catholic Church, with its long track record in sustained social services—education, health, poverty alleviation—is an ideal home for such work.
One challenge will be transforming the Church’s charity-supported social missions into social enterprises that can attract impact investments. The model of impact investment is a new concept for many leaders in the Catholic Church. To that end, this conference will be preceded by a two-day, pre-conference workshop for high level-leaders from Catholic Conferences around the world who have management and financial responsibilities for social services in their regions. The workshop will enable these leaders to explore when and how they can employ a market-based model to attain and sustain their social mission.
Woo noted that successful impact investments need to be in enterprises that are both sustainable and able to grow to a scale that can have a large social impact.
Matt Bannick, managing partner of Omidyar Network, agreed. “In Omidyar Network’s twelve years of impact investing, we have found that leveraging the power of markets can help scale enterprises far faster than purely philanthropic endeavors. Our experience supporting enterprises across a broad array of sectors – from financial services to education to property rights – demonstrates that it is possible to achieve social impact alongside financial returns,” he said. “The Catholic Church’s commitment to impact investing is a pivotal moment for the field, as it not only brings new financial resources to bear on solving the world’s most intractable problems, but it sends a powerful message that impact investing is an effective tool to support the ethical and moral mission of the Church. We applaud the Church for its leadership in this regard.”
“The impact investment market is growing, and research suggests it could reach $400 billion by 2020. Today, impact investing is generally composed of private capital that complements public resources and charitable donations to foster social justice while tackling global challenges including sustainable agriculture, affordable housing, accessible health care, and quality education,” said Roger D. Huang, Martin J. Gillen Dean of the Mendoza College of Business at the University of Notre Dame.
CRS has committed to investing 5 percent of its reserves in an impact investment fund.
(Vatican Radio) The Vatican’s representative to the UN in Geneva has spoken at the Human Rights Council about the need for consistent policies to protect migrants, especially the most vulnerable children, women and elderly people.Archbishop Ivan Jurkovic, the permanent observer of the Holy See to the United Nations, on Tuesday addressed the 32nd session of the Human Rights Council in Geneva, reiterating Pope Francis’ appeals that migrants should not be treated solely as “a threat to national stability”, left to the “exploitation of unscrupulous people or treated as mere commodities or products, without any real concern for their rights and aspirations”.He stressed the importance of valuing the positive contribution of migrants to the receiving countries - many of them facing demographic problems due to ageing populations. He said migrants contribute by “building bridges among cultures and fostering the well-be...
(Vatican Radio) The Vatican’s representative to the UN in Geneva has spoken at the Human Rights Council about the need for consistent policies to protect migrants, especially the most vulnerable children, women and elderly people.
Archbishop Ivan Jurkovic, the permanent observer of the Holy See to the United Nations, on Tuesday addressed the 32nd session of the Human Rights Council in Geneva, reiterating Pope Francis’ appeals that migrants should not be treated solely as “a threat to national stability”, left to the “exploitation of unscrupulous people or treated as mere commodities or products, without any real concern for their rights and aspirations”.
He stressed the importance of valuing the positive contribution of migrants to the receiving countries - many of them facing demographic problems due to ageing populations. He said migrants contribute by “building bridges among cultures and fostering the well-being and the development of their countries of origin through the remittances they send back to their families and through the new skills that they acquire”.
Yet too often, Archbishop Jurkovic noted they continue to work and live in precarious, dangerous, and indecent conditions, suffering from marginalization, discrimination and negative stereotyping, with no access to social, educational and health care services.
Education, he said, remains one of the most effective instruments to overcome suspicion, indifference and prejudices and to empower all people to work together in the building of a more “just, responsive and inclusive society”.
Please find below the full statement by Archbishop Ivan Jurkovic, Permanent Representative of the Holy See to the United Nations and Other International Organizations in Geneva, at the 32nd Session of the Human Rights Council
Item 3 – Special Rapporteur on Migrants
Mr. President,
The Delegation of the Holy See follows migration issues with particular attention and wishes to congratulate the Special Rapporteur on his Report. Migration is a global phenomenon and in 2015 the number of migrants surpassed 244 million persons, a 41 percent increase compared to 2000.
These movements are often the consequence of social and economic inequalities, violent conflicts, natural disasters and also religious persecutions. The vast majority of migrants in the world are migrant workers, in search of a possibility to improve their economic and social condition. We are all aware of the recent economic crisis and of its consequences that, at times, result in the loss of a “human perspective” in the midst of upheavals.
While understanding the need for national policies to address large flows of migrants and refugees, my Delegation wishes to note the repeated appeals addressed by Pope Francis to world leaders on behalf of so many brothers and sisters who are forced to flee in search of a safe and decent life. These persons should not be treated solely as a threat to national stability and thus left to the exploitation of unscrupulous people or treated as mere commodities or products, without any real concern for their rights and aspirations. Sustainable Development Goal 16 of the 2030 Development Agenda aims to “promote peaceful and inclusive societies for sustainable development, to provide access to justice for all and to build effective, accountable and inclusive institutions at all levels.” This objective can be achieved mainly through dialogue and mutual understanding.
Furthermore, the considerable and positive contribution of migrants to the receiving countries must be recognized and affirmed. Their work represents a solution for the demographic problem of ageing host populations. They contribute by building bridges among cultures and fostering the well-being and the development of their countries of origin through the remittances they send back to their families and through the new skills that they acquire. Their positive contribution is most evident when they become fully integrated into their new host society and thus become aware that a better future may be built together. For this reason, dialogue and mutual acceptance represent indispensable elements for successful integration. Through the adoption of a human rights based approach, migrants become agents of cultural and economic development. Moreover, the acceptance of fundamental human rights is necessary for the development of mutual enrichment.
Consistent policies are essential to ensuring safe and orderly migration and respect for the rights of migrants. Irregular migration, trafficking in persons, and detention of unaccompanied minors are some of the most common problems related to present-day migration trends. Moreover, too many migrants continue to work and live in precarious, dangerous, and indecent conditions. They are often marginalized and subject to discrimination and negative stereotyping, and are not allowed access to social, educational and health care services.
It is important to overcome the negative “push” factors of migration and to implement and execute policies and projects which aim to limit the adverse impacts of migration and to give special protection to the most vulnerable categories: children, women and elderly persons. People should not be forced to emigrate but rather be free to do so under planned and voluntary conditions. States and International Organizations, together with civil society, have the responsibility to elaborate and implement migration policies, strategies and agreements to make the experience of migration more humane and to guarantee that the phenomenon has positive consequences for all.
Education remains one of the most effective instruments to overcome the negative causes of migration and to remedy the suspicion, indifference and prejudices experienced by many migrants. There is an urgent need for more knowledge-sharing to ensure cultural and social integration. Education can play a vital role in this process and in the production of national and international policies that promote a sense of responsibility and solidarity on which each society should be based. Furthermore, migrants are the resourceful agents within the migration process: they must understand their rights, and be empowered to make conscious decisions in this regard.
Mr. President,
I would like to conclude by citing Pope Francis: “We are called to promote a culture of dialogue by every possible means and thus to rebuild the fabric of society. The culture of dialogue entails a true apprenticeship and a discipline that enables us to view others as valid dialogue partners, to respect the foreigner, the immigrant and people from different cultures as worthy of being listened to. Today we urgently need to engage all the members of society in building ‘a culture which privileges dialogue as a form of encounter’ and to create ‘a means for building consensus and agreement while seeking the goal of a just, responsive and inclusive society’ (Evangelium Gaudium, 239).”
Thank you Mr. President.
(Vatican Radio) Bishop Angaelos of the Coptic Orthodox Church in the United Kingdom gave a keynote address on the situation of Christians in the Middle East to the annual National Parliamentary Prayer Breakfast (NPPB) in London on Tuesday. During his address Bishop Angaelos spoke about the persecution of Christians and minority communities, and the millions subsequently displaced and living as refugees.Speaking to an audience of over 700 parliamentarians, civic and faith leaders, ambassadors, and heads of NGOs, Bishop Angaelos said “Christians in the Middle East are indigenous people and reject minority status.”Calling for people of all parties and all faiths to work together, he said: “As religious and civic leaders, we have an opportunity and responsibility to change the narrative and expectation of the Middle East from one of hopelessness and conflict to one of hope and promise.”“Regardless of which House one sits in, which Church one worships in, ...
(Vatican Radio) Bishop Angaelos of the Coptic Orthodox Church in the United Kingdom gave a keynote address on the situation of Christians in the Middle East to the annual National Parliamentary Prayer Breakfast (NPPB) in London on Tuesday. During his address Bishop Angaelos spoke about the persecution of Christians and minority communities, and the millions subsequently displaced and living as refugees.
Speaking to an audience of over 700 parliamentarians, civic and faith leaders, ambassadors, and heads of NGOs, Bishop Angaelos said “Christians in the Middle East are indigenous people and reject minority status.”
Calling for people of all parties and all faiths to work together, he said: “As religious and civic leaders, we have an opportunity and responsibility to change the narrative and expectation of the Middle East from one of hopelessness and conflict to one of hope and promise.”
“Regardless of which House one sits in, which Church one worships in, or indeed which faith one does or does not have,” Bishop Angaelos said, “we must work together for the freedom and dignity of human life and speak with a collaborative voice.”
The NPPB is the largest gathering of any kind in parliament throughout the year and is an annual recognition of the contribution that Christianity makes to the national life of the United Kingdom.
Christian leaders including a Catholic bishop have criticized and cast doubt over the effectiveness of an ongoing anti-militancy drive that have seen thousands of arrests in Bangladesh over the past three days.Police in Bangladesh said Monday they detained more than 8,500 people in the first four days of a countrywide security operation aimed at combating extremist violence against religious minorities and secular activists. Thousands of policemen and members of paramilitary units are taking part in the crackdown, which is targeting suspected militants and people with criminal records, according to police. Of the people arrested, 120 are suspected militants, police said. The political opposition said Sunday that the law-enforcement agencies were rounding up opposition activists on the pretext of fighting terrorism, something authorities denied.Bishop Gervas Rozario of Rajshahi, chairman of the Bangladesh Catholic bishops’ Justice and Peace Commission said the government...
Christian leaders including a Catholic bishop have criticized and cast doubt over the effectiveness of an ongoing anti-militancy drive that have seen thousands of arrests in Bangladesh over the past three days.
Police in Bangladesh said Monday they detained more than 8,500 people in the first four days of a countrywide security operation aimed at combating extremist violence against religious minorities and secular activists. Thousands of policemen and members of paramilitary units are taking part in the crackdown, which is targeting suspected militants and people with criminal records, according to police. Of the people arrested, 120 are suspected militants, police said. The political opposition said Sunday that the law-enforcement agencies were rounding up opposition activists on the pretext of fighting terrorism, something authorities denied.
Bishop Gervas Rozario of Rajshahi, chairman of the Bangladesh Catholic bishops’ Justice and Peace Commission said the government may have an ulterior motive for the crackdown. "The government might have a different agenda including weakening opposition parties further because this crackdown is not an effective way to eradicate militancy," Bishop Rozario told ucanews.com.
The government, under pressure to curb a wave of extremist violence that has resulted in the deaths of more than 40 people over the past 12 months, insists the arrests are necessary to restore law and order. The violence has been directed against members of religious minorities, secular bloggers, university teachers and foreign aid workers. In Bangladesh, mass arrests have often been the government’s response to a deterioration in law and order. The arrests over the weekend were made under broad public-order legislation.
Instead of mass arrests, the government needs to use intelligence agencies more effectively to flush out militancy, and make effective efforts to prevent and investigate attacks on minority communities, he said. "Police can make quick arrests in sensational cases, but fail to do so in cases of militancy or attacks on minorities, which is surprising," Bishop Rozario said. The government should check why detectives are failing and ensure that they do their duty more effectively," he added.
Human-rights groups have warned that such arrests and the weakening of the opposition risk bringing greater instability to the Muslim-majority South Asian country. Bangladesh’s parliament has been without an effective opposition since 2014, when opposition parties boycotted national elections, accusing the government of trying to rig the vote.
Several suspected Islamist militants in police custody died in shootouts last week, officers said. Human-rights activists said extrajudicial killings are often described as shootouts, and that the country could be caught in a worsening cycle of tit-for-tat violence.
A report released in April by the International Crisis Group said the government’s reaction to the extremist threat, including the arrest and prosecution of suspects “without due process and transparency, is fueling alienation that [terrorist] groups can further exploit.” The government has dismissed such concerns.
Most of the attacks against minorities and activists in the country have been claimed by Islamic State or al Qaeda. Islamic State said over the weekend that it was behind the killing of a Hindu priest in northeast Bangladesh, according to the SITE intelligence group, which tracks jihadist activity.
The Bangladesh arm of al Qaeda in the Indian Subcontinent, or AQIS, issued a statement on Friday condemning the killing of the wife of a senior police official in the southern port city of Chittagong. No group has claimed responsibility for that attack.
The statement said Islam didn’t allow revenge against the families of combatants, adding: “The sword which we have unsheathed…will not strike women and children.” The uptick in attacks on liberal and secular voices in Bangladesh has heightened concerns about the rise of radicalism in the country of more than 160 million.
Bangladesh, an officially secular republic, has experienced large protests and counter protests in recent years over the role of religion in society. The debate has coincided with a violent political schism between the country’s two main political parties.
Dhaka denies that militant groups such as Islamic State and al Qaeda are operating in Bangladesh, instead blaming the opposition for orchestrating the violence. The opposition has denied involvement and says the regime’s policies are creating favorable conditions for the rise of extremists.
(Source: UCANews, WSJ)
