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The Pope’s invitation to love the Church – Vatican News

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The Pope’s invitation to love the Church - Vatican News

By Sergio Centofanti

“I urge you to love the Church of the Lord.”

This was Pope Francis’ invitation at the conclusion of the General Audience on Wednesday, the feast of the Dedication of the Basilicas of the Apostles Peter and Paul.

“This feast highlights the meaning of the church, a sacred building where the faithful reunite. May it enkindle in us the awareness that each of us is called to be a living temple of God,” working together “with generosity and enthusiasm” to “build up the House of the Lord, the dwelling of the Most High among us.”

Family of God

Loving the Church is an important characteristic of the believer, who belongs to the family of God.

In a catechesis on 29 May 2013, Pope Francis recalled that God’s plan “is to make of us all a single family of his children, in which each person feels that God is close and feels loved by him”. The Church “is not an organization established by an agreement between a few people”, but “she is a work of God”, she is born “from the supreme act of love of the Cross, from the pierced side of Jesus from which flowed blood and water, a symbol of the sacrament of the Eucharist and of Baptism”. The Church “became manifest when the gift of the Holy Spirit filled the heart of the Apostles and spurred them to go out and begin their journey to proclaim the Gospel, spreading God’s love.”

Still today some say: “Christ yes, the Church no”. Like those who say “I believe in God but not in priests”. In response the Pope said, “But it is the Church herself which brings Christ to us and which brings us to God. The Church is the great family of God’s children. Of course, she also has human aspects. In those who make up the Church, pastors and faithful, there are shortcomings, imperfections and sins. The Pope has these too — and many of them; but what is beautiful is that when we realize we are sinners we encounter the mercy of God who always forgives. Never forget it: God always pardons.”

“In the end,” said the Pope, “the Church is our mother because she brings us to new life and leads us to Christ.  So we must love her, even when we see her face marred by human frailty and sin, and we must help to make her ever more beautiful and radiant, so that she can bear witness to God’s love in the world” (Message of Pope Francis for the 2019 World Day of Prayer for Vocations).

Love Church like family

Pope Francis is inviting us to love and defend the Church, just as we love and defend our families, even when our parents, brothers, sisters, or children make mistakes or have problems.

As an example of love for the Church, the Pope once pointed to Padre Pio:

“He loved the Church, with the many problems the Church has, with so many adversities, with so many sinners. Because the Church is holy, she is the Bride of Christ, but we, the children of the Church, are all sinners – some big ones! – but he loved the Church as she was, he did not destroy her with the tongue, as it is the fashion to do now. No! He loved her. He who loves the Church knows how to forgive, because he knows that he himself is a sinner and is in need of God’s forgiveness. He knows how to arrange things, because the Lord wants to arrange things well but always with forgiveness: one cannot live an entire life accusing, accusing, accusing the Church. Whose is the office of the accuser! The devil! And those who spend their life accusing, accusing, accusing, are – I will not say children, because the devil does not have any – but friends, cousins, relatives of the devil. And no, this is not good, flaws must be indicated so they can be corrected, but at the moment that flaws are noted, flaws are denounced, one loves the Church. Without love, that is of the devil” (Greeting of Pope Francis to the Archdiocese of Benevento, 20 February 2019).

War fought with prayer, love

The devil works to destroy the unity of a family. Pope Francis has often pointed this out: Satan wants to divide brothers and sisters and divide the Church to drive people from God.

Many times the greatest danger comes not from outside but from within: “Self-destruction, ‘friendly fire’ from our fellow soldiers, is the most insidious danger. It is the evil which strikes from within” (Presentation of the Christmas greetings to the Roman Curia, 22 December 2014).

The devil’s is a “dirty war” and “we who are unaware fall into his game” (Mass at Santa Marta, 12 September 2016).

And again, “the devil seeks to foment an internal war, a sort of civil and spiritual war. A war which is not fought with arms but with the tongue” (Homily for the Vatican Gendarmerie, 28 September 2013).

This war of accusations, hatred, and lies, affirms Pope Francis, can be fought only with prayer and love: Pray for the Church and love her, because “Jesus Christ and the Church are one and the same” (General Audience, 29 May 2013).

Mergers: Commission refers acquisition of newly created joint venture by Telefónica and Liberty Global to the UK competition authority

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European Commission
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Mergers: Commission refers acquisition of newly created joint venture by Telefónica and Liberty Global to the UK competition authority

European Commission Press release Brussels, 19 Nov 2020 The European Commission has referred the proposed acquisition by Telefónica S.A. and Liberty Global PLC of a newly created joint venture to the Consumers…

EU auditors see uphill battle for EU antitrust regulators versus big tech

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By Foo Yun Chee

2 Min Read

BRUSSELS (Reuters) – EU antitrust enforcers face an uphill battle in tackling tech giants abusing their dominance because of the difficulty of finding remedies, the EU’s budget watchdog said on Thursday in its first audit of the regulators.

Slideshow ( 2 images )

The report by the European Court of Auditors comes as critics of Google GOOGL.O voiced frustration at what they say is ineffective enforcement of a series of EU rulings ordering it to stop favouring its own online services to the disadvantage of competitors.

Besides Google, European Competition Commissioner Margrethe Vestager is also investigating Amazon AMZN.O, Apple AAPL.O and Facebook FB.O.

“Although the Commission has taken a number of case decisions tackling challenges resulting from the digital economy, significant challenges remain to be resolved,” the watchdog said.

“For example, practices in digital markets can cause damage to consumers. However, it is difficult for the Commission to find appropriate remedies to tackle an apparent competition problem as determining consumer harm can be particularly complex.”

The ECA said the issue applies not just to internet companies but also businesses involved in digital innovation such as those in energy, telecommunications, financial services and transport.

It said part of the problem lies in EU antitrust rules which only allow enforcers to act after wrongdoing has been committed.

The Commission “needs to scale up market oversight to be fit for a more global and digital world. It needs to get better at proactively detecting infringements and select its investigations more judiciously,” said ECA’s Alex Brenninkmeijer who was in charge of the report.

EU antitrust officials however have swatted away arguments that they are not able to do their job well in digital cases.

“EU competition rules are flexible enough to deal with digital markets,” Commission Director General for competition Olivier Guersent told an online event on Wednesday.

Reporting by Foo Yun Chee; Editing by Alexandra Hudson

European Union Delegation warns Sri Lanka over prolonged import ban

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European Union Delegation warns Sri Lanka over prolonged import ban

Nov 19, 2020 (LBO) – The current import restrictions are having a negative impact on Sri Lankan and European businesses, and on Foreign Direct Investment, the Delegation of the European Union (EU) said.

Issuing a statement, the Delegation of the European Union (EU) and the Embassies of France, Germany, Italy, Netherlands, and Romania reminded Sri Lanka that the Trade is not a one-way street.

“Such measures impair Sri Lanka’s efforts to become a regional hub and negatively impact Sri Lankan exports by constraining the import of raw material and machinery,” the statement said.

“We recall that a prolonged import ban is not in line with World Trade Organisation regulations.”

The delegation added that Sri Lanka’s withdrawal of support for the United Nations Human Rights Council Resolution 30/1 remains a source of concern.

“The Government has stated its continuing commitment, including to the EU, to fostering reconciliation, justice, and peaceful coexistence among Sri Lanka’s diverse communities,” the statement stressed.

“The EU stands ready to support the Government’s efforts in this area. The rule of law and a vibrant civil society are essential in this regard.”

The Delegation of the European Union further stated that they are looking forward to continuing their deep engagement with Sri Lanka, in line with their shared international commitments and obligations.

As COVID-19 continues to bring a number of challenges, the Colombo-based Heads of Missions representing the European Union and its Member States, held a series of high-level meetings, including with Foreign Minister Gunawardena.

They underlined the EU’s long-standing support for Sri Lanka as a reliable partner, including through over 1 billion EUR of grants over the last 25 years, notwithstanding the Member States’ bilateral assistance.

Thanks to the EU’s special Generalised System of Preferences (GSP+), Sri Lanka enjoys competitive, predominantly duty- and quota-free access to the EU market, based on the continued implementation of 27 international conventions on human rights, labour, environment, climate change and good governance.

The EU is the second biggest export market for Sri Lanka worldwide, with a positive trade balance of more than 1 billion EUR (about 220 billion LKR) in 2018 and 2019.

Related: Sri Lanka to receive same benefits of EU GSP+ for UK from 2021
















Churches of Scientology Disaster Response National Deputy Director Recipient of Utah Philanthropy Day’s Heroes Award

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Newsdesk
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Ms. Joava Good, Deputy National Director was honored this week for her volunteer contributions during the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic disaster

ywAAAAAAQABAAACAUwAOw== Churches of Scientology Disaster Response National Deputy Director Recipient of Utah Philanthropy Day’s Heroes AwardWASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, UNITED STATES, November 18, 2020 /EINPresswire.com/ — This week Utah celebrated many of its unsung heroes who have given much of their time to helping others during the pandemic months of 2020. Officials of Utah Philanthropy Day stepped forward and honored over 60 volunteers with their 2020 Heroes Award. Those honored were recognized virtually during a special broadcast by Salt Lake City’s ABC4 TV.

Among the honorees was Ms. Joava Good, Deputy National Director of the Churches of Scientology Disaster Response (CSDR), recognized for her leadership in mobilizing volunteers to perform thousands of hours of volunteer work in responding to the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic disaster.

Every year since 1999, the Association of Fundraising Professionals, the Utah Nonprofits Association, and UServeUtah have celebrated Utah’s outstanding philanthropists and community volunteers who embody the spirit of philanthropy and volunteerism. In most years, the event is celebrated at a special luncheon, but due to the pandemic this year the event was held virtually on November 16th.

Ms. Good was recognized for her immediate response to Utah’s pandemic by helping to raise thousands of dollars for masks and PPE supplies and organizing over 1,000 hours of volunteer work by fellow Utah Church of Scientology Volunteer Ministers as well as Scientology volunteers from outside the state. In collaboration with volunteers from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, the Salvation Army, the Utah State VOAD (Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster), Intermountain Health Care, the Elders of the Tribe at Fort Duchesne and several police departments, Ms. Good delivered PPE masks and hand sanitizer bottles for businesses, helped sanitize police vehicles and stations, and distributed thousands of the Church of Scientology’s Stay Well education hygiene protocol booklets.

The distribution of the Scientology Stay Well booklets in Utah was part of a nationwide campaign which included the District of Columbia, where over 100,000 booklets were given free of charge to businesses, government agencies and nonprofit organizations to help ensure that citizens were reminded about the importance of washing their hands, social distancing and isolation of those who are ill.

Rev. Susan Taylor, National Director of CSDR in Washington, DC, was delighted to hear of Ms. Good’s award and stated that Ms. Good exemplifies the words of L. Ron Hubbard, the founder of Scientology, who wrote, “A Scientology Volunteer Minister does not shut his eyes to the pain, evil and injustice of existence. Rather, he is trained to handle these things and help others achieve relief from them and new personal strength as well.”

Ms. Good is a hands-on volunteer who personally drove thousands of miles around the state of Utah to deliver supplies, spent hundreds of hours on the phone coordinating activities to ensure people were well served, and stood side by side with those in need with compassion and prayer. She is the past president of the Utah State VOAD and the lead civil society and government liaison for CSDR in Utah.

“Joava Good has been our top volunteer for over 14 years putting her heart and soul into her volunteerism, working with community and government leaders throughout the state and the nation,” remarked Rev. Taylor. Through her compassion and leadership, she has truly made a huge difference in helping others.”

CSDR is the Church of Scientology’s disaster response program in the United States operating in most of the 50 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico, as well as deploying volunteers on a regular basis to foreign countries to support their Church’s international disaster relief efforts. CSDR has been a member of the National VOAD (Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster) since 2006 and works closely with other disaster organizations to bring the needed relief and care to those who are affected.

CSDR is tasked with the duties of providing spiritual care as well as assisting with the unmet material needs of survivors, responders and caregivers who are affected by trauma, loss, upset, stress and confusion after a disaster. The basis of its long term commitment to help is written throughout the Scientology scriptures and is reflected in “The Scientology Handbook,” based on the works of L. Ron Hubbard, Founder of the Scientology religion, regarding the role of the Volunteer Minister.

Scientologists@Home: Being Industrious and Setting and Accomplishing Targets

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Scientologists@Home: Being Industrious and Setting and Accomplishing Targets


Scientologists@Home: Being Industrious and Setting and Accomplishing Targets – Religion News Today – EIN Presswire

























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Regional titles join forces with Dragons’ Den star for book giveaway

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Regional titles join forces with Dragons’ Den star for book giveaway

A publisher is making a Dragons’ Den star’s books available for free via a number of its regional titles.

Reach plc has teamed up with James Caan, from the BBC business investment programme, for the giveaway in support the nation’s “job seekers and entrepreneurs”.

Readers will be able to access Mr Caan’s bestsellers ‘Get the Job You Really Want’ and ‘Start Your Business in 7 Days’ for free via a digital download today and tomorrow.

Participating regional titles include Birmingham Live, Bristol Post, Cambridgeshire Live, Chronicle Live, Cornwall Live, Coventry Live, Derbyshire Live, Devon Live, Grimsby Live, Hull Live, Leicestershire Live, the Liverpool Echo, Manchester Evening News, North Wales Live, Nottinghamshire Live, Plymouth Live, Staffordshire Live, Stoke-on-Trent Live, Teeside Live, Wales Online, Yorkshire Live, and In Your Area.

Mr Caan, pictured, said: “The pandemic has rapidly sped up our transition towards a digital-first economy.

“An enormous number of people have become distressed after being displaced from jobs.

“Financial insecurity and fear for the future have abounded.

“I am hoping my secrets of employment and business success will help everyday people navigate their way out of these uncertain times and propel them back to prosperity”.

Alan Edmunds, Chief operating officer at Reach, added: “It’s important that the news sector and business leaders unite to give people hope and support in these challenging circumstances.

“Through our news titles’ unrivalled scale and James Caan’s insightful business advice we are hoping to provide a positive step in their desired career journey.”

UN resolution condemns human rights violations in Iran

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UN resolution condemns human rights violations in Iran | BWNS
BIC NEW YORK — A committee of the United Nations General Assembly passed a resolution Wednesday, calling on Iran to observe human rights for all its citizens, including members of the Bahá’í Faith.

The Third Committee of the General Assembly approved the resolution by a vote of 79 to 32, with 64 abstentions.

The resolution calls on Iran to “eliminate, in law and practice, … all forms of discrimination on the basis of thought, conscience, religion or belief, including economic restrictions, … the denial of and restrictions on access to education, including for members of the Bahá’í faith…” The resolutions also urges an end to “other human rights violations against persons belonging to recognized and unrecognized religious minorities.”

For over 40 years, the entire Bahá’í community in Iran has been subject to continuous state-sponsored persecution, which the Bahá’í International Community (BIC) describes as multidimensional and affecting every one of its members across generations, within every phase of life, and even in death.

The BIC says, “While the specific tactics employed by the Iranian authorities have sometimes changed, their aim of destroying the Bahá’í community as a viable entity in Iran continues in full force.”

Bani Dugal, the BIC’s Principal Representative to the United Nations, says, “Through various means, the authorities maintain focus on this goal by striving to exclude Bahá’ís from the public sphere, prevent them from expressing their beliefs, impoverish them economically, undermine their intellectual advancement, erase traces of their history and culture, as well as spread disinformation about them and incite the public so as to create an environment of hatred against them.

“Let us hope that Iran will at long last pay heed to the recommendations in this resolution and the international community’s call for it to uphold the human rights of its citizens.”

The resolution will be confirmed by the plenary of the General Assembly in December.

MSNBC Contributor Suggests GOP Attacks On Warnock’s Religion Are Hypocritical, Cites Outrage Over Anti-Catholic Attacks On Amy Coney Barrett

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MSNBC Contributor Suggests GOP Attacks On Warnock’s Religion Are Hypocritical, Cites Outrage Over Anti-Catholic Attacks On Amy Coney Barrett
  • An MSNBC contributor suggested GOP attacks on Georgia senate candidate Raphael Warnock’s faith are hypocritical, citing outrage over anti-Catholic attacks on Supreme Court Justice Amy Coney Barrett. 
  • “Why are Raphael Warnock’s faith and sermons fair game for attack but Amy Coney Barrett’s religious views not?” asked Sam Stein, who is also a writer for the Daily Beast.
  • While attacks on Warnock have focused on the candidate’s public comments and actions, many attacks on Barrett mostly focused on her personal faith and her family. 

An MSNBC contributor suggested GOP attacks on Georgia Senate candidate Raphael Warnock’s faith are hypocritical, citing outrage over anti-Catholic attacks on Supreme Court Justice Amy Coney Barrett.

“Why are Raphael Warnock’s faith and sermons fair game for attack but Amy Coney Barrett’s religious views not?” asked Sam Stein, who is also a writer for the Daily Beast. (RELATED: These Are The Attacks Supreme Court Nominee Amy Coney Barrett Has Already Faced From Democrats)

“I don’t think I’m overstating matters when I say that the entire Republican Party said questions of her faith were off limits and, indeed, anti-Catholic,” he continued in response to another tweet. “The media did run stories. And those stories were condemned by Republicans for being attacks on faith.”

Stein emphasized that he thinks “those stories were fine,” and that he thinks “stories exploring Warnock’s faith and sermons are fine too (assuming done in good faith, pardon the pun).”

“But I’m wondering why Republicans who oppose Warnock are comfortable with those stories now,” he added.

Screenshot, Twitter.

Stein’s tweets came after Warnock’s comment that “you cannot serve God and the military” was widely reported this week. Warnock made the comment during a 2011 sermon that has sparked a backlash on social media. Warnock has quickly become a focal point of attacks from the right as he prepares for a January runoff for the Georgia senate with Republican Georgia Sen. Kelly Loeffler.

While attacks on Warnock have focused on the candidate’s comments and actions, many attacks on Barrett focused on her personal faith and her family.

Soon after President Donald Trump floated Barrett as his Supreme Court nominee, multiple media outlets falsely linked a Catholic group associated with Barrett to the fictional dystopian novel “The Handmaid’s Tale.” These outlets later issued corrections admitting that there was no evidence that People of Praise inspired the book. (RELATED: Media Outlets Link Catholic Group Associated With Amy Coney Barrett To ‘The Handmaid’s Tale’)

Even before her 2020 confirmation hearings, Democratic lawmakers questioned Barrett about her Catholic beliefs during her 2017 confirmation hearings, suggesting that her beliefs might make her unfit to serve as a judge.

“The conclusion one draws is that the dogma lives loudly within you,” Democratic California Sen. Dianne Feinstein told Barrett in 2017. “And that’s of concern.”

Media pundits and high profile Democrats also suggested that Barrett’s faith was extreme, and some went so far as to suggest that Barrett adopted her children for nefarious reasons.

Supreme Court nominee Judge Amy Coney Barrett testifies on the third day of her confirmation hearing before the Senate Judiciary Committee on Capitol Hill on October 14, 2020 in Washington, DC. (MICHAEL REYNOLDS/POOL/AFP via Getty Images)

Disgraced former Democratic Rep. Katie Hill tweeted: “If her religion never made it into her court decisions, she can believe what she wants. But, yes, personally, I DO object to any religion that still insists women be subservient.”

The Washington Post’s Ron Charles highlighted Barrett’s comment that the ultimate goal in life is to build “the Kingdom of God.”

“Amy Coney Barrett, the judge at the top of Trump’s list to replace Ruth Bader Ginsburg, has said we should always remember that a ‘legal career is but a means to an end … and that end is building the Kingdom of God,’” Charles tweeted.

Filmmaker Arlen Parsa called Barrett a “Catholic extremist with 7 children” in a since deleted tweet, hitting Barrett for her pro-life views while noting that he will vote for pro-abortion 2020 presidential candidate Joe Biden, who is also Catholic.

“She wants the rest of American women to be stuck with her extreme lifestyle,” he tweeted.

Democratic activist Dana Houle said that he would “love to know which adoption agency Amy Coney Barrett and her husband used to adopt the two children they brought here from Haiti.”

“Does the press even investigate details of Barrett’s adoptions from Haiti,” he asked. “Some adoptions from Haiti were legit. Many were sketchy as hell. And if press learned they were unethical and illegal adoptions, would they report it? Or not, bc it involves her children.”

“Would it matter if her kids were scooped up by ultra-religious Americans, or Americans weren’t scrupulous intermediaries and the kids were taken when there was family in Haiti? I dunno. I think it does, but maybe it doesn’t, or shouldn’t,” Houle said.

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Jailed Indian Jesuit urges prayers for fellow prisoners – Vatican News

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Jailed Indian Jesuit urges prayers for fellow prisoners - Vatican News

By Vatican News staff writer

An elderly Indian Jesuit priest, who is in prison on charges of terrorism for championing the rights of Adivasis (indigenous people) and the marginalized in Jharkhand state, says he is overwhelmed by the humanity of his fellow prisoners.

In a letter to his friends, Father Stan Swamy says that his cellmates, who are from “very poor families,” help him with his daily needs. “I ask you to remember my companions and colleagues in your prayers,” Father Swamy writes.

Officials of the National Investigation Authority (NIA), a federal agency to combat terrorist activities, arrested Father Stan Swamy on Oct. 8 from Bagaicha, a Jesuit social action centre in the outskirts of Jharkhand capital, Ranchi, which works for the rights of indigenous people in Jharkhand. He has been accused of links with Maoist insurgents who are said to have been behind the violence in Bhima Koregaon village in the western state of Maharashtra in January 2018. He is being held in Taloja Central Prison in Navi Mumbai, Maharashtra.

The lawyers of the 83-year old ailing priest had applied for bail on humanitarian grounds under a provision by the Supreme Court to release prisoners in view of the Covid-19 pandemic. The NIA rejected his plea for interim bail on October 23, saying he was taking undue advantage of the pandemic.

“Humanity overflows in Taloja prison”

The frail priest suffers from Parkinson’s disease and hearing impairment, and has had two surgeries for hernia. He finds it very difficult to wash or eat on his own. His cellmates help him bathe, wash his linen and eat. For the Jesuit priest, these are signs that “despite everything, humanity overflows in Taloja prison.”

Father Swamy says that the prison also holds other activists in connection with the Bhima Koregaon case, such as Varavara Rao, Vernon Gonsalves and Arun Ferreira. The priest is NIA’s 16th, and oldest, arrest in the case. He meets them during prison recreation.

Denied aids

Given his Parkinson’s disease, Father Swamy had been using straws and sippers, as he is unable to hold a glass in hand. The NIA refused to hand the straws and sipper back to the priest after he was flown to Mumbai after his arrest and neither did prison authorities provide him with these simple assistive items, the National Platform for the Rights of the Disabled (NPRD) said, according to The Hindu.   

Father Swamy sought the permission of the NIA court requesting the use of these aids, and the court on Nov. 6 sought 20 days to file a reply to the application. The matter will now be heard on November 26, according to The Hindu.

Meanwhile, the NPRD has sought the “immediate intervention” of the National Human Rights Commission’s (NHRC) to ensure that Father Swamy is provided with requisite age and disability appropriate accommodation; assistive aids, including straws and sippers; and human care assistance as required.

UN’s plea

Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights on Oct. 20 noted that “the 83-year-old Catholic priest Stan Swamy, a long-standing activist engaged in defending the rights of marginalized groups, was charged and reportedly remains in detention, despite his poor health.” UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Michelle Bachelet, urged the government to “release people charged under the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act for simply exercising basic human rights that India is obligated to protect.”

Below are some excerpts from Fr Stan Swamy’s letter written with the help of a fellow prisoner:

Dear friends: Peace!

Although I do not have many details, from what I have heard, I am grateful to all of you for the support and solidarity you express on my behalf. I am in a cell of approximately 4m x 2.4m, together with two of my cellmates. It has a small bathroom and an Indian dressing table. Luckily, I was given a western-style commode. Varavara Rao, Vernon Gonsalves and Arun Ferreira are in another cell. During the day, when the cells and wards are open, we meet.

From 5.30 in the afternoon to 6 in the morning, and from 12 noon to 3 in the afternoon, I am locked in my cell with my two companions. Arun assists me in eating breakfast and lunch. Vernon helps me take a bath. My two cellmates help me during dinner, washing my clothes and giving me knee massages.

They come from very poor families. I ask you to remember my companions and colleagues in your prayers.

Despite everything, humanity overflows into the Taloja prison.

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