According to the Holy See, the different measures imposed by OSCE-participating States to combat the COVID-19 pandemic have had profound consequences on the freedom to manifest one’s religion or belief, and have limited the religious, educational and charitable activities of religious communities. In particular, Monsignor Janusz Urbańczyk warned legislators of OSCE states about the serious consequences that restrictive measures such as those applied due to the pandemic can create in religious communities. Besides playing an important role in the fight against the crisis, including in the field of health, these communities, he said, also offer “moral support and messages of solidarity and hope”.
The OSCE, which comprises 57 participating States of Europe, North America and Asia, addresses a wide range of security-related concerns, including arms control, confidence- and security-building measures, human rights, national minorities, democratization, policing strategies, counter-terrorism and economic and environmental activities.
“States must respect the autonomy of religious communities, guaranteeing them the freedom to choose, appoint and replace their leaders or decide – on the basis of their internal norms – the content of their beliefs, their structure or their name,” Msgr. Urbańczyk urged.
Noting that the exercise of religious freedom leads to personal fulfilment and helps contribute to the good of society, the Holy See official lamented that, in certain societies, religions continue to be perceived as a source of intolerance and a threat to peace. He deplored attempts to limit religions or creeds to the private sphere, relegating them to temples and places of worship and depriving them of their legitimate role in the public arena.
Role of media
In this regard, Msgr Urbanczyk noted that the media, as instruments for the promotion of the freedom of religion, have failed to create the right balance or consensus on how and where to draw a line between the right to freedom of expression and the right to freedom of religion. Sometimes, he said, there are insults or discrimination against doctrine, the institutions or the followers of particular religions. He called on the OSCE to develop guidelines to promote religious tolerance and non-discrimination in the media and, in particular, to avoid “labelling and denigrating” believers or their communities as “bigots and fanatics”.
The Holy See representative also condemned the “dissemination of contempt” for religious communities, including “instigation to hatred” and the promotion of irreverence through “provocative representations” of religious symbols on the internet and social media.
Inter-religious dialogue, cooperation
Speaking about the role of civil society in defending religious freedom, the Vatican official urged support for interfaith dialogue and collaboration to promote greater tolerance, respect and understanding among the different communities of believers. He called for a dialogue that guarantees the stability and security of democratic societies; and which, as Pope Francis says, could be “instruments to build bridges”.
Msgr Urbanczyk further clarified that interreligious dialogue is an internal matter of religious communities. They should be left to decide whether and when to initiate it, which communities to engage and which issues to dialogue on. In this regard, he said, the state should not interfere in the freedom of religious communities under the pretext of a consultation.
The Holy See representative concluded by stressing the need to convince people that in a secular age, freedom of religion and belief is an important right that deserves to be protected.
JUBA – The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) welcomes a donation of EUR 4 million from the European Union (EU) to purchase Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) to ensure the continuity of humanitarian operations in South Sudan during the COVID-19 pandemic.
South Sudan’s healthcare infrastructure is extremely limited, and the consequence of an upsurge in COVID infections could have a devastating impact on vulnerable people, especially coming on top of the already heavy impact of accumulated other shocks such as floods, economic crises and increased localized conflicts.
Humanitarian workers are at the front line of the fight against COVID-19 in South Sudan. Over 65 metric tons of PPE, such as face shields, goggles, gowns and face masks, were transported to South Sudan by WFP’s free-to-user cargo services as part of the global response to the pandemic.
Giving humanitarian workers adequate access to protective equipment is key to containing the spread of the virus and ensuring that the most vulnerable receive the support they need. PPE requests are managed by WFP and distribution will be prioritised across the country by an inter-agency team led by the World Health Organization.
“Humanitarian workers in South Sudan will now be better protected from the virus and will be better equipped to fulfil their life-saving mission,” said European Union Ambassador Christian Bader. “Health and humanitarian workers are a precious lifeline for all people of South Sudan.”
“This donation comes at a critical time. The European Union is supporting our ability to save lives in an ever-evolving situation, keeping communities and aid workers safe in the process. We are very grateful for this support,” said Matthew Hollingworth, WFP Country Director and Representative in South Sudan.
The European Union is a long-standing WFP partner, supporting its emergency and development work in South Sudan. It has contributed EUR 152 million to WFP’s operations in the country over the past five years.
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The United Nations World Food Programme is the 2020 Nobel Peace Prize Laureate. We are the world’s largest humanitarian organization, saving lives in emergencies and using food assistance to build a pathway to peace, stability and prosperity for people recovering from conflict, disasters and the impact of climate change.
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Bishop Lungu made the remarks when he officially opened a ZCCB Peacebuilding workshop in the capital, Lusaka, on Wednesday. The workshop has the theme: Towards a Peaceful Zambia – the role of the Church.
The two-days workshop is being held at the Bishops’ Kapingila house. The aim is to raise awareness among key pastoral agents to be true and effective promoters and mediators of peace. The workshop has attracted forty-four participants from all Catholic Dioceses of Zambia. These include the country’s Bishops as well as various pastoral coordinators, communication secretaries, Caritas, and social programme directors drawn from the country’s dioceses. Also participating are members of the Catholic Secretariat management team.
Socio-political challenges threaten peace in Zambia
Zambia is currently faced with several socio-political and economic challenges. In general, the country is considered a stable and peaceful democracy. However, there are growing concerns, in Zambia, that the current government has progressively become authoritarian, thus risking instability, in the country. The Archbishop Emeritus of Lusaka Archdiocese, Telesphore-George Mpundu, has of late been in the forefront raising the alarm over the shrinking political space and ordinary citizens regularly facing intimidation for criticising the government. Members of Opposition political parties have been arrested and prevented from carrrying out their political activities. Some independent media outlets have been closed by authorities under arbitrary circumstances. Security actors such as the police service have become overly politicised. All this is happening at a time when Zambia is experiencing economic hardships aggravated by the COVID-19 pandemic. Most people, especially in rural areas, are struggling to meet basic needs such as access to healthcare, education, sufficient food, clean water, and housing.
Unacceptable to allow such trends from our comfortable zones
Bishop Lungu emphasised that such worrisome trends if left unchecked could see the country lose its treasured peace at the altar of expedience with the obvious results of continued discord and lack of progress in the pursuit of the common good.
“It is morally unacceptable to allow certain trends to go on while we remain watching and waiting from our comfort zones. This workshop is no doubt, a manifestation of that desire to do something about our situation. A time to take note of the silent cries of our people,” said Bishop Lungu.
The Church is the conscience of the nation
The ZCCB President further said that the Church may take pride in that it is the voice of the voiceless and the conscience of the nation. Yet, if the voice of the Church at certain critical times goes silent, for whatever reason, that is failure in its mission.
The prelate of Chipata noted that the Church must remain true to its identity as ambassadors of Christ and effective promoters and mediators of peace.
Bishop Lungu hoped that under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, participants at the workshop would contribute to genuine peace and reconciliation in Zambia.
By Vatican News staff writer – The release by the Vatican of the McCarrick Report that details the Church’s knowledge, decision-making, and investigation related to former Cardinal Theodore Edgar McCarrick from the years of 1930 to 2017, has been received by Church officials in the United States with sorrow and expressions of closeness to the victims of abuse. It has also been received with the promise to continue to serve the ongoing process to eradicate clerical sex abuse and to rebuild trust and confidence in the Universal Church.
The 461-page report was prepared by the Secretariat of State by mandate of Pope Francis.
Archbishop of Boston, Cardinal Sean O’Malley – who also serves as President of the Pontifical Commission for the Protection of Minors – described the report as “a painful and shameful account of how someone in McCarrick’s position rose to the role of bishop and cardinal and caused so much harm to so many. “
“In word and deed, Pope Francis has followed through on his commitment to a comprehensive, transparent and thorough investigation,” he said, upholding the courageous role of McCarrick’s victims who came forward in this investigation.
It is to them, he said, and to all victims of clergy abuse that “we offer our commitment to take responsibility for our failures and our continued resolve of responsibility, accountability and transparency.”
He said it is no longer enough for the Church to simply ask for forgiveness, to pledge transparency and apologize, and reiterated an obligation to hold accountable those responsible for such reprehensible violations of human dignity and ensure that every effort is being made to assure the safety of our people.”
Cardinal O’Malley concluded assuring the faithful that reporting systems that have been set up to respond to the issue of clergy sexual abuse are providing a means for any person to report allegations of abuse against a bishop or cardinal” and he promised to carefully review the findings of this report and continue to serve in the ongoing process to eradicate the scourge of clergy sexual abuse.
Cardinal-Designate Wilton Gregory
“My heart hurts for all who will be shocked, saddened, scandalized and angered by the revelations contained” in the report, said Cardinal-Designate Wilton Gregory, the Archbishop of Washington. “Nonetheless, we know that if true redemptive healing is ever to commence – for those who have been harmed and for the Church Herself – this disclosure must be made.”
10/11/2020
The Cardinal-Designate promised he will take more time to study the report more closely, “especially as it relates to our Archdiocese of Washington, and I will have more to say,” and concluded noting, “This is an important, difficult and necessary document, and it demands prayerful, thorough and thoughtful reflection.”
Meanwhile the Archdiocese of Washington reaffirmed its commitment to protecting minors and bring healing to those harmed, and reiterated its adherence and implementation of the Archdiocese’s Child Protection and Safe Environment Policy.
Cardinal Joseph W. Tobin
In a statement, the Archbishop of Newark, Cardinal Joseph Tobin and the Archdiocese commend “the leadership of Pope Francis and the Holy See in seeking to bring collective healing to victims of Theodore McCarrick and all those who have suffered because of clergy sexual abuse, while attempting to restore justice for the Catholic community that has been so grievously wounded by sexual abuse, abuse of power and the mishandling of allegations.”
The Cardinal described the report as a significant and powerful step forward in advancing accountability and transparency regarding sexual abuse.
He noted that “beyond the victims themselves, failures by some leaders in the Catholic Church have wounded many including the families and loved ones of victims and the faithful.”
While recognizing that the Church has made progress in responding to clergy abuse by implementing and updating policies and programs to safeguard the faithful, the statement said the Archdiocese of Newark expressed its hopes that “the Report will provide insights that will help us to strengthen further our well-established programs aimed at protecting the faithful.”
Cardinal Timothy M. Dolan
Cardinal Timothy Dolan, the Archbishop of New York, described the release of the report as “a necessary step in helping us to understand the case of Theodore McCarrick,” and said he looks forward to studying it carefully.
He echoed the sincere and deep sorrow of his brother bishops for “any who have suffered sexual abuse, and for the family members and loved ones of victim-survivors who have also suffered as a result of these sins and crimes.”
The Cardinal expressed gratitude for those victim-survivors who bravely came forward, bringing this matter to light and “proving that anyone who has abused a minor, even a Cardinal, will be punished.”
He also expressed gratitude to Pope Francis and the Holy See for the way this case has been handled: “When the first allegation was reported to the Archdiocese of New York’s Independent Reconciliation and Compensation Program, we asked the Vatican for permission to have it investigated by the D.A. and our outside professionals, and have the entire matter judged by our lay review board. The word came back: Pope Francis requests that you handle this case as you would for any priest accused of abuse.”
Cardinal Dolan noted that the trust that Pope displayed in the process followed by his archdiocese – and in similar processes followed by all other dioceses in the United States – was very affirming.
He said he hopes it will lead “to others having the confidence to come forward, knowing that their allegations will be handled seriously, sensitively, and appropriately,” and said it is most encouraging that the “Holy See followed through on its assurance that, at the request of the American bishops, a complete study of the dismal case of Theodore McCarrick would be undertaken and published.”
Cardinal Dolan renewed his plea to any person who has suffered abuse to go immediately to the District Attorney to report it. He also invited those who may have suffered abuse by a priest or deacon of the archdiocese, “to also reach out as well to our Victims’ Assistance Coordinator, so that we might take appropriate steps.”
Finally, he concluded, “let me request that all people of good will, Catholic or not, remember in prayer all victims of sexual abuse, a heinous crime that afflicts all segments of society, ruins lives, and destroys families, that we will one day be able to put an end to this evil, and bring comfort and healing to all who suffer.”
Cardinal Blase J. Cupich
The Archbishop of Chicago, Cardinal Blase Cupich described the release of the report as an “unprecedented and a watershed moment as it pulls back the curtain on a culture of clericalism that has separated the clergy from the people they have been ordained to serve.”
He said that while it makes for painful reading, “it is fearless in admitting the failures of church leaders,” and “another example of Pope Francis’ commitment to responsibility, accountability and transparency to all victim-survivors and others” who have suffered from abuse and misconduct by the clergy, including Bishops, of the Catholic Church.
Cardinal Cupich said he is grateful to Pope Francis for ordering the report and to those who carried out his mandate, and reiterated his belief it should “be read in full and in the context of the strong direction provided by Pope Francis at the 2019 summit on these matters and the subsequent measures he has taken.”
The Cardinal concludes quoting the apostolic letter Vos Estis Lux Mundi, in which the Pope calls us to eliminate “the sin of clericalism, hear the cries of the victims and place the faithful, especially children, at the heart of everything we do and every judgment we make in working to prevent abuse and to support those affected by this tragedy.”
“Let us seize this moment,” he said “build on what we have already done and go forward in fidelity to the call of Christ to protect the most vulnerable among us. “
A new report published on Wednesday by the UN children’s agency UNICEF warns that many children and families still remain in need of “crucial support” months on from the disaster.
Entitled “Rising from Destruction. 100 days of UNICEF’s response to the Beirut explosions and the road ahead for children and families,” the findings paint a distressing picture.
Trauma of explosion
The report highlights that many children have been affected by trauma both during and after the explosions, and the charity is working to provide parents, primary caregivers and kids with psychosocial support.
Twelve-year-old Hussein is just one of the children who has received this kind of help.
“I stopped using colour on my drawings that show my life because everything changed on that day,” he said.
Hussein lives in the city’s Karantina neighbourhood which was one of the worst affected. Now ten weeks on from the disaster, Hussein and many children like him are learning to smile again. “The colour is back in my life again,” he said.
Healing wounds
According to UNICEF Lebanon Representative Yukie Mokuo, “While the immediate scars are starting to heal, thanks to extraordinary efforts on the ground, the deep wounds – both visible and invisible – of children and families in a country experiencing multiple emergencies will require sustained solidarity, commitment and support.”
Over the last several weeks, UNICEF and its partners have provided over 22,000 children under age five with essential nutrition supplements, including Vitamin A, high energy biscuits and emergency food rations.
It has also re-established water supply connection in 1,060 buildings, reaching thousands of people, and water tanks have been installed in three heavily affected hospitals.
Although much work has been done to alleviate suffering, the children’s agency stresses that the “sheer number of children, parents, and caregivers who remain in need of support, however, means that increased funding for key programmes, including child protection, is urgently required.”
HUBBALLI: Tipu had handed over his two children to Britishers as hostages in the interest of his state and the nation as well and was treating all religious persons equally, said Altaf Hallur, president, Hubballi-Dharwad City District Congress Committee. Speaking at the 270th birth anniversary of Tipu Sultan, Hallur said Tipu was a pioneer in adopting advanced technology in administration, particularly in the defence sector. “His life is the best lesson to teach to the next generation,” he added. Former KPCC secretary Mohan Asundi expressed regret over the state government’s move of not celebrating Tipu’s birth anniversary. Another leader Basavaraj Malakari noted that Tipu had great respect for Hindu religion and temples. “However, BJP, a communal party, is trying to present Tipu as anti-Hindu. Chief minister BS Yediyurappa utilised Tipu to woo Muslims when he floated Karnataka Janata Party but is now terming Tipu as anti-Hindu,” he added. Office bearers Dasharath Wali, Altafnawaz Kittur, Navid Mulla, Rafiq Dargad and others were present.
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