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Leonid Sevastianov: The Pope is about the Gospel, not about politics

By
Jan Leonid Bornstein
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Leonid Sevastianov speaking

Chairman of the World Union of Old Believers Leonid Sevastianov recently said that Pope Francis intends to visit Moscow – and then Kyiv. We invited Leonid Sevastianov to comment in more detail both on this case and on his relationship with the Pope in general. 

JLB: Your statements about the position of Pope Francis on the war in Ukraine often appear in the media, and in fact, you act as a public mediator of the Pope. We learn more about his position and plans from you than from him. Are you authorized by the Holy Father to make such comments? 

LS: My family has known the Pope for 10 years. Our acquaintance with him took place in the context of organizing a concert for peace in Syria in the Vatican in 2013. My wife Svetlana Kasyan, an opera singer, participated in the concert with a solo program. I myself dealt with organizational issues. Since then, peace, peacemaking is exactly what our relationship with the Pope is based on. In addition, my wife and I have been actively involved in the prolife movement. In 2015, we created the Save Life Together Foundation, which works to protect the dignity and rights of unborn children. For her activities, Svetlana was elevated by Pope Francis to the rank of Dame of the Order of St. Sylvester. My wife and I greatly value our relationship with Pope Francis and even named our newborn son after him. When the war began, the Pope gave me the obedience to work in the cause of peace. I am his goodwill ambassador for the promotion of peace. You know that the Pope is a Jesuit. Jesuits spirituality emphasize the role of the individual, the little man, his autonomy in promoting the Gospel throughout the world. Pope Francis, I think, trusts me, realizing that I do not have any skeletons in the closet, and my motivation for him is clear and obvious. Pope has told me that he was ready for any step so that peace reigned in Europe. For him, a trip to Russia and Ukraine has great symbolism. He is sure that this trip will help Ukraine and Russia to agree on a world that is fair for all. 

JLB: During the protests in Belarus, you unequivocally supported the Belarusian people in the struggle for peace, freedom and justice. Whose side is the truth in Russia’s war in Ukraine now? How justified do you think Russia’s territorial claims are in relation to Ukraine, including in relation to the Crimean Peninsula?

LS: A few years ago, I would have tried to answer your question in the way in which you would like to hear my answer. But my relationship with Pope Francis helped me to understand myself as a Christian, or, if you like, to understand Christianity itself. I will answer you with a question to the question: on which side is the Pope on the issue of the destruction of the Papal States, on the issue of the conquest of Rome by Garibaldi and Victor Emmanuel? Or on which side did Jesus Christ and the apostle Peter stand in the matter of the fall of Jerusalem in the year 70? My point is that Christianity as such does not answer the questions of geopolitics. Rather, it is not the competence of Christianity. Viewing Christianity as patriotism is not part of the gospel. I am not saying that a person should not be a patriot, I am only saying that Christianity cannot be drawn into the issue of patriotism and national interests. Christianity operates with questions of eternity – even when the Earth itself and the solar system will not exist. Therefore, many do not understand the Pope, they want to see him as a politician, just as many of His contemporaries saw in Christ. Being disappointed in Him as a politician, some people betray Him, others deny Him, and still others are ready to crucify Him. Let’s look at the Pope as a preacher of the Gospel, not as a politician. 

[Leonid Sevastianov already gave his personal opinion on the war, stating that from a Christian point of view, supporting it is a heresy. And on August 30, 2022, the Vatican issued a statement which contained: “As for the large-scale war in Ukraine initiated by the Russian Federation, Pope Francis’ interventions are clear and unequivocal in condemning it as morally unjust, unacceptable, barbaric, senseless, repugnant and sacrilegious.”]

JLB: You regularly give comments to TASS, which is perceived abroad as one of the mouthpieces of the Kremlin propaganda. Why do you cooperate with this particular media?

LS: There are only 3 news agencies in Russia: TASS, RIA Novosti and Interfax. No others. I cannot be responsible for others. I can only answer for myself. Only because there is no political motivation and political propaganda in my words.

JLB: You have known Patriarch Kirill for a long time, ever since he was Metropolitan of Smolensk. What is your relationship with him now? What can you say about the phrase of Pope Francis that he is Putin’s altar boy? What are your relations with Metropolitan Hilarion and the new head of the DECR Vladika Anthony (Sevryuk) now? Do you keep in touch with them?

LS: I have known Patriarch Kirill since 1995. I was sent by Metropolitan Alimpiy Gusev, chairman of the Russian Old Believers Orthodox Church, to study at the Moscow Theological Seminary through Metropolitan Kirill. At the same time, the Patriarch sent me to study in Rome at the Gregorian University, I went there in 1999 through the monastic community in Bose, which is located in northern Italy. I studied in Rome with the money of this very community under the supervision of its leader Enzo Bianchi. Then I continued my studies at Georgetown University in Washington on a scholarship from the American Bradley Foundation. I worked at Georgetown University as a chaplain, as well as at the World Bank. When I returned to Moscow in 2004, I did not want to work for the Department of External Affairs of Moscow Patriarchate (DECR). On this basis, we had a misunderstanding with Metropolitan Kirill, who then headed this structure, which, one might say, persists to this day (the misunderstanding). In 2009, after the election of Metropolitan Kirill as Patriarch and the appointment of Metropolitan Hilarion (Alfeev) as chairman of the DECR, I created and headed the Gregory the Theologian Foundation, which sponsored the activities of the DECR and the creation and restoration of buildings and premises, of the All-Church postgraduate and doctoral studies, as well as its daily activities. Due to the fact that I did not support the rupture of communion with the Greek churches in 2018 and was also indignant at the unworthy attitude of the Moscow Patriarchate towards Old Believers, funding was stopped on our part, and I left the foundation. In 2018, the only World Congress of Old Believers in history took place, at which I presented the concept of the World Union. This concept was approved by the Congress, and in 2019 I created the organization of the World Union of Old Believers. Since then, within the framework of this organization, I have been engaged in the protection and promotion of the world’s Old Believers. I am also very much involved in Russia on promoting religious freedom for all domestically. As regards Vladyka Anthony (Sevryuk), the new head of the DECR, I know him well, from the time when he was still a student. I can’t say anything bad about him. I know him only from the best side. He never did anything bad to me or to anyone I know.

JLB: Why does the Pope intend to visit Moscow first, and not Kyiv? Did you try to discuss with him the possibility of first coming to Kyiv, and only then conveying the position of the Ukrainian authorities to the Kremlin, and not vice versa?

LS: I think that for the Pope the order of the visit is not of fundamental importance: he just wants to connect the visit to the two capitals within the framework of one trip. That is, to go to Ukraine and Russia, and whether he enters Russia from the territory of Ukraine or, conversely, to Ukraine from the territory of Russia, this is not important for him. It is important that the two visits be part of a common trip in order to emphasize the peacekeeping and humanitarian nature of the trip. I think that the Russians will not be offended if he flies to Russia from Ukraine.

JLB: How much does the Pope listen to your opinion? How important is it to him? 

LS: The Pope listens to any opinion. And for him, the smaller the person, the more important his opinion. I have seen this from my own experience. My opinion for him, I am absolutely sure of this, is no more important than the opinion of Ukrainians or those Belarusians with whom he communicates. 

JLB: The Ukrainian flock reacts very painfully to the words and actions of the Pope, believing that he is acting in the wake of the Kremlin’s policy. Does the pope see a threat to lose the Ukrainian flock by his flirting with Moscow? 

LS: Regarding the so-called “flirting” of the Pope, I would like to remind you once again that the Pope is about the Gospel, not about politics. Remember how the disciples came to Christ and told Him that many had moved away from Him because of His politically incorrect words? Then Christ asked them: And you, don’t you also want to leave Me? And it was then that Peter answered that they had nowhere to go, because He is Christ. The Pope speaks of the Gospel. And it is for everyone, both Russians and Ukrainians. Christ hung on the cross, and to the right and to the left of Him were thieves. But one of them said he wanted to be with Christ, and the other said he didn’t. Here is the story about the Pope. The Pope cannot be compared with George Washington, the Maccabee brothers, Prince Vladimir, Monomakh or King Stanislaus. The Pope can only be compared with Christ. And to ask whether His behavior corresponds to Christ or not, to ask the question, what would Christ have done in His place. It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. The whole Gospel is about it!

JLB: Do you agree with the Pope’s statement that the deceased Daria Dugina is an innocent victim of the war? Did you know Daria when she was a parishioner of one of the churches of the Russian Orthodox Church? How did it happen that she became one of the propagandists of the war?

LS: You know, I would like to answer the words about Daria with the speech of the Godfather to the undertaker, who came to ask the Godfather to kill the criminals who raped his daughter. The undertaker said that justice would be served. The Godfather asked: is it fair to kill those who have not killed anyone? Even the Old Testament had a tit-for-tat rule. Daria did not kill anyone, she did not participate in the war on the front line. Therefore, her death is unjust. In this sense, she is an innocent victim of war. This is what the Pope said. I didn’t know Daria. Prior to her death, very few people knew her at all. She did not have any significant influence on the ideology in Russia.

South Korea: Conscientious objectors, a legal battle against punitive alternative service

By
Willy Fautre
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Hye-min Kim, a Jehovah’s Witness and an objector to military service, is the first person known to have refused “alternative service” in South Korea since it was introduced in 2020
Hye-min Kim, a Jehovah’s Witness and an objector to military service, is the first person known to have refused “alternative service” in South Korea since it was introduced in 2020

Conscientious objectors: a legal battle against punitive alternative service

Hye-min Kim, a Jehovah’s Witness and an objector to military service, is the first person known to have refused “alternative service” since it was introduced in 2020. The new system involves working in a jail or other correctional facilities for three years – twice as long as the typical 18-month military service – which makes it the longest alternative civilian service (ACS) in the world.

Under international law, countries with compulsory military service are obliged to provide a truly civilian alternative of comparable length and not be punitive in nature or length, as suggested by the UN Human Rights Committee.

Kim is charged under Article 88 of the Military Service Act, which imprisons those who fail to enlist without justifiable grounds. He believes his objection is based on “justifiable grounds” under the Act, and that the current alternative service includes excessively punitive aspects that do not measure up to international standards.

Jehovah’s Witnesses have filed 58 constitutional complaints regarding the punitive nature of ACS.

Already three major relevant government agencies have weighed in (Ministry of National Defense, Military Manpower Administration, and the Ministry of Justice).

Thirteen Jehovah’s Witnesses have filed petitions with the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), with over 30 others being prepared to do so.

The European Times talked with Hye-min Kim, a conscientious objector

The European Times: Can you tell us, Mr Kim, why you refuse military service?

I am one of Jehovah’s Witnesses, and as such, we follow the Bible’s teachings. Matthew 22:39 says we must love our neighbor as ourself and Matthew 5:21 telling us “You must not kill.” And in Isaiah 2:4, it is written “They will beat their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning shears. Nation will not lift up sword against nation, nor will they learn war anymore.”

So, I couldn’t enlist in the military practicing killing people because I love my neighbors. That is why I am a conscientious objector.

The European Times: So, you refuse to perform military service but what is wrong with the civilian service?

Yes. I thought I would go to prison because I refused military service but the judge acknowledged my claim and acquitted me.

After that, there was an appeal trial by the prosecution, and I was acquitted there as well. Later, the Supreme Court also upheld my innocence.

Since then, an alternative service system has been established, and I am really grateful for that.

Now, instead of going to prison for refusing military service, I am able to fulfil my duty to the country reasonably. However, I found out that the alternative service system has a punitive nature.

I thought that the punitive aspect would improve over time since this was the first time an alternative service was established, but even after quite some time, it hasn’t changed.

The current alternative service requires twice the length of service compared to the military.

The authorities introduced a system similar to the military, even though it wasn’t the military. 

You must stay in a dormitory. You are limited to only working in prisons. 

Even though each situation is different – for example, when you are married and have to take care of your family – all must perform their military service according to the same framework.

As a member of this country, I want to fulfil my national duty, but the current alternative service violates my fundamental rights due to its punitive nature. Moreover, a number of objectors have a family to support, as it is my case, and for three years we will be unable to do it. This is a source of big concern for us, for our wives and our children.

I think all these punitive aspects need improvement.

These are the reasons why I am taking the risk to go to prison and I hope there will be substantial improvements in the legislation. Alternative does not mean punitive.

Human rights diplomacy

A director of the Asia Pacific Association of Jehovah’s Witnesses, Steven Park, states: 

“The current alternative civilian service (ACS) program does not conform to international standards. The program is limited to in-prison facilities, which consists of what legal and human rights experts are calling ‘alternative punishment.’* As a result, there is a growing number of conscientious objectors filing constitutional complaints and submitting petitions to the National Human Rights Commission of Korea. We earnestly hope that the Korean authorities will soon offer them a nonpunitive option.

A spokesman at the World Headquarters of Jehovah’s Witnesses, Gilles Pichaud, states: 

“We are saddened that some 900 of our fellow believers are being punished as de facto prisoners, for having exercised a fundamental right specifically recognized by the Constitutional Court and all branches of the South Korean government. Jehovah’s Witnesses are actively engaging in diplomatic talks with South Korean officials on a senior level. We are confident that the minister of justice and the presidential office will soon agree to a constructive dialogue. In the meantime, we will continue to inform officials internationally, including human rights bodies. It remains our sincere hope that conscientious objectors in South Korea will have a nonpunitive alternative to military service following the successful pattern in many other lands.”

Background information

For over 65 years prior to the ACS provision in 2018, South Korean courts imprisoned more than 19,000, mostly Jehovah’s Witnesses, who conscientiously objected to the country’s compulsory military service. Typically, they received 18-month jail terms and were saddled with criminal records and faced economic and social disadvantages that lasted far longer.

Some 900 young men are currently performing ACS in 19 different correctional facilities throughout South Korea. The first group of young men who entered the program when it began in 2020 will finish their service in October 2023.

In 2018, the Supreme Court and Constitutional Court recognized the right to conscientious objection in the country and required the government to introduce an alternative service of a civilian nature by the end of 2019.

On 27 December 2019, the legislature enacted amendments to the Military Service Act. However, the legislation still imposes unreasonable and excessive burdens on conscientious objectors. It stipulates a disproportionate length of the alternative service and that it is administered by military authorities.

Since 30 June 2020, conscientious objectors have been able to apply for alternative service. In October 2020, the first batch of alternative service personnel started their 36-month duty, which was limited to working in prisons or other correctional facilities.

Under international human rights law and standards, states with compulsory military service are obliged to provide genuinely civilian alternatives. These should be of a comparable length to military service, with any additional length based on reasonable and objective criteria. The process for evaluating claims to be recognized as conscientious objectors and any subsequent work service must also be under civilian authority.

The Volokolamsk Metropolitan Antony (Sevryuk) reacts to the speech of the German president

By
News desk
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Volokolamsk Metropolitan Antony (Sevryuk), who in his capacity as chairman of the Department for External Church Relations represents the Russian Orthodox Church at the WCC Assembly in Karlsruhe, reacted to the speech of German Federal President Steinmeier at the opening of the forum.

In his speech, the president called on the participants to follow their Christian conscience and denounce the injustice that is being done in Ukraine. He openly stated that “the leaders of the Russian Orthodox Church are currently leading their believers and their entire church down a terrible, blasphemous path that is downright hostile to the faith.” He drew a parallel with the state of the German churches after the Second World War, which were accepted to participate in the World Council of Churches without avoiding questions about the crimes committed by the Germans during the war. Steinmeier called on the participants to condemn the Russian Church’s support for the war against Ukraine, justifying it with theological arguments. According to him, dialogue cannot be an end in itself and it is only possible if both parties want it and contribute to it. Dialogue without justice is a platform for propaganda, the German president was categorical.

His speech unpleasantly surprised the Russian delegation, for whom the participation in the WCC forum in Germany is the first way out of the international isolation of the Russian Orthodox Church after the start of the war against Ukraine. H. Eminence Antony (Sevryuk), who took over the Foreign Department of the Moscow Patriarchate after Metr. Hilarion (Alfeev), issued a statement in which he expressed hope that the participants would not listen to the words of the German president and would not condemn the role of the Russian Orthodox Church in the “opposition in Ukraine”.

Here is the full text of his reaction:

“On August 31, the President of Germany F.-V. During the opening of the Assembly, Steinmeier addressed the participants in the forum and in his speech questioned the validity of the participation of the delegation of the Russian Orthodox Church in the WCC assembly.

The speech of the President of Germany contained baseless accusations, completely ignoring all humanitarian efforts of the Moscow Patriarchate in the context of the opposition in Ukraine, as well as a direct request to the WCC Assembly to condemn the Russian Orthodox Church.

I believe that the position of Mr. Steinmeier is an example of gross pressure exerted by a high-ranking representative of the state on the oldest inter-Christian organization, of interference in the internal affairs of the World Council of Churches and of an attempt to question the peace-making and politically neutral nature of his activity.

It is worth noting that before Mr. President, the Acting General Secretary of the WCC, Prot. Ioan Sauka, on the contrary, noted the importance of the presence of representatives of the Moscow Patriarchate at the assembly, as it corresponds to the very essence of the largest inter-Christian organization, which should contribute to the strengthening of dialogue, peace and mutual understanding.

This publicly expressed position of the leadership of the World Council of Churches, the numerous appeals of the delegates of the WCC Assembly from Germany and other countries to the delegation of the Russian Church show that the accusations of the President of the Federal Republic of Germany against the Church do not have the expected support.

I hope that the World Council of Churches will continue to be an independent platform for dialogue, following in its activities not biased political orders from certain countries, but the goal of promoting peace and harmony.”

Photo of the Department for External Church Relations of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Russian delegation

A US court has rejected a Guelph Treasure claim brought by heirs of Jewish merchants

By
Gaston de Persigny
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The treasure of the Guelphs is on display in the Berlin Museum of Decorative Arts

A US court has awarded victory to a major German cultural institution in a long-running battle with the heirs of Jewish merchants over a collection of medieval church art, DPA reported, quoted by

A District Court in the District of Columbia ruled that US courts lacked jurisdiction over the ownership of the collection, called the Treasure of the Guelphs.

The plaintiffs, who believe it was sold under Nazi pressure for far less than it was worth, said they were still considering whether to appeal the decision.

The collection, consisting mainly of gold, jewel-encrusted crosses and reliquaries, as well as other works of ecclesiastical art, was originally housed in the German cathedral of Brunswick (Braunschweig).

The works date from the 11th to the 15th century and came into the possession of the royal family of Guelph in 1671. The family decided to sell 82 items in 1929 when they were experiencing financial difficulties.

Forty-four of the items are in the possession of the Prussian Heritage Foundation. It is one of the world’s largest art foundations and operator of the Berlin museums.

The US legal battle, which began in 2015, affects 42 of those relics.

Prussian Heritage Foundation President Hermann Parzinger said the institution strives for fair and honest decisions in all Nazi-era restitution cases, but that this claim is without merit.

“We have already restituted several hundred works of art and over 2,000 books,” Parzinger said in a statement.

In a conversation with The Times of Israel in January 2014, the soft-spoken president of the SPK, archeologist Prof. Hermann Parzinger, says there have been 30 restitution cases at his foundation in the past 10-15 years, and that in more than 95% of them, the claimants have received the property.

“There is agreement that we have a moral responsibility and that things need to be restituted,” he says. “We always try to find a solution because we know very well, unfortunately, what our history was,” said Parzinger.

Photo: Arm reliquary of St. Lawrence from the Guelph Treasure, reliquary; late 12th Century; origin stylistically: Niedersachsen (Hildesheim?); Historical Location: Brunswick, St. Blasius; silver sheet, partially gilt, niello; window frames Silver, cast, bottom plate copper, gold plated, Rhinestone, cedarwood; Collection: Museum of Decorative Arts. Source: Berlin State Museums/ @Staatliche Museen zu Berlin

The new fishing season has started in Turkey – a lot expected, but more expensive bonito

By
News desk
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fishing season – For Turkey, which has four seas, fishing is an important pillar of the country’s economy, especially in the Black Sea region of the country, fish is the main livelihood for millions of families

Hundreds of thousands of fishermen in Turkey with their boats went out to sea for the first time today and cast their nets to catch fish.

After the five months in which fishing has been banned /from April 15 to September 1/ by the Turkish Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry to restore fish stocks, the new fishing season began at dawn this morning.

According to official data, there are about 20 thousand registered fishing vessels, but it is assumed that there are many more.

And the species of fish that thrive in the Marmara, Aegean, Black and Mediterranean seas exceed 1,000. Of these, about 100 species have economic value and can be caught.

According to representatives of fishing associations, a rich catch of bonito is expected this year.

Fishermen’s predictions are also confirmed by scientists.

Prof. Dr. Saadet Karakulak of Istanbul University’s Faculty of Aquatic Sciences said their studies also show the presence of large amounts of bonito in marine waters.

“Nevertheless, the fishermen have a difficult season ahead of them. The increase in fuel prices will also affect fish prices. Probably, even with the progress of the season /in previous years in the fall, the fish was quite cheap/ it will still not be as cheap as in previous years”, said the scientist.

“This year we will have as much bonito as we haven’t had in many years. But due to global warming, the catch may slow down. Because due to the heat, the bonito retreats into the deep waters. So it will probably be a while before it appears on the fishing stalls for sale. Overall, we expect it to be more expensive than previous years. Unfortunately, the fact that we will have a lot of bonito does not solve the problems of the fishery. There are no legal regulations, no measures are taken against poaching. Nor preferences for the development of fisheries,” says the chairman of the regional Association of Fishermen’s Cooperatives, Erdogan Kartal.

For Turkey, which has four seas, fishing is an important part of the country’s economy. Especially in the Black Sea region of the country, fish is the main livelihood for millions of families.

The start of the new season is eagerly awaited and marked with celebrations. In many coastal cities such as Istanbul, Samsun, Trabzon, celebrations took place, with fireworks, with wishes “Vira Bismillah” /traditional expression of fishermen when they go out to sea/ on the occasion of the opening of the new fishing season.

The Minister of Agriculture and Forestry, Prof. Dr. Vahit Kirişci, opened the season in Istanbul’s Sarıyer district, on the shores of the Bosphorus. He promised that the state-owned Ziraat Bank would extend low-interest loans to fishermen.

Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu participated in the opening of the fishing season in Tuzla, the fishing area on the coast of the Marmara Sea.

About 200 species of fish thrive in the Sea of ​​Marmara.

The mayor called for strict action against fish poachers.

Photo by Elianne Dipp:

St. John Chrysostom on laughter and jokes

By
Newsdesk
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From “Discourses on the Epistle to the Ephesians”, XVII:

And fornication and all impurity or selfishness should not even be mentioned among you, as befits saints, nor shameful and empty words and jokes that do not resemble you, but on the contrary, thanksgiving should be heard… Let no one seduce you with empty words, for because of all this the wrath of God comes upon the sons of unbelief; and therefore do not become their partners (Eph. 5:3-7).

Having spoken about the gross passion – anger, the apostle moves on to the lesser evil. And as there he destroyed shouting, that instrument of wrath, so now he forbids blasphemy and jesting, that instrument of debauchery. Shameful and empty words and jokes are not like you – he says – but, on the contrary, thanksgiving should be heard (Eph. 5:4). Speak neither empty nor shameful words, and do not act on them – and you will extinguish the fire of sin. Even if they are not mentioned – he says – between you. He says the same, writing to the Corinthians: It is heard from everywhere that there is fornication among you (1 Cor. 5:1), that is, be pure, because words lead to deeds. Then, in order not to appear cruel and harsh, and cutting off the tendency to jokes, he adds the reason, saying, They are not like you, but on the contrary, that thanksgiving may be heard.

What’s the use of telling a joke? You will only provoke laughter with her. Tell me: will the shoemaker take up any work that does not belong to his trade? Will he get the wrong tool? No, of course, because the unnecessary is worth nothing to us. Let no idle word be heard between us, because idle talk can easily turn to shame. Now is not a time for rejoicing, but for sorrow and weeping. Are you kidding me? Which wrestler, entering the arena, abandons the fight with the opponent and tells jokes? The devil walks around you, growling to devour you, turning everything against you and bringing it down on your head, plotting how to drive you from your refuge, gnashing his teeth against you, and kindling a fire against your salvation – and you sit and you make jokes, gossip, and talk obscene things? Can you beat him this way?

We are having childish fun, beloved! Do you want to learn how the saints acted? Hear what Paul says: For three years day and night I did not cease to teach each one of you with tears (Acts 20:31). And if he cared so much for the Milesians and Ephesians – he did not tell jokes, but with tears in his eyes he taught the doctrine – then what will you say about the others? Hear what he also wrote to the Corinthians: Out of great sorrow and troubled heart I wrote to you with many tears (2 Cor. 2:4), and also: Who faints, and I do not faint? (11:29). Hear what he says in another place, wishing every day to depart from this world: For we who are in this lodge groan (5:4). And you laugh and have fun? It’s time for war – and you’re doing what the clowns do? Do you not see the men who fight, how harsh they are, how severe they are, how frowning and full of terror their faces are? You will see in them a stern face, a cheerful heart, a brave spirit, quick, restrained, careful and anxious, great order, slenderness and silence in their ranks; not to say that they do not utter an empty word—they say nothing at all. And if they, fighting with physical enemies, and not threatened by words, keep so stern a silence, how can you, who must wage war both for your words and your thoughts, allow this side of yours to remain bare and unprotected? Don’t you know that right here we are under a lot of attack? Are you partying, having fun with friends, eating and drinking, looking for entertainment and pleasures? Is that what you were sent to this world for? We are cast out by sin in this valley of death – what fun is there in that? Do you think you have free time to waste in this life? Don’t you know we are at war? Now is no time for fun at all, because this is no time for peace. Hear what Christ says: The world will rejoice, but you will weep (John 16:20). Christ was crucified for your misdeeds, and you laugh? He endured torment and suffered so much because of your abominations and fall, and you rejoice? Aren’t you angering God with that? In this life the sinner laughs and amuses himself; the righteous mourns and weeps for his sins. No one who gossips is righteous. This is only suitable for clowns on stage; where there is shamelessness, there are jokes; where there is life without the fear of God, there are also empty stories. Hear what the prophet says: Serve the Lord with fear and rejoice before him with trembling (Ps. 2:11). A penchant for jokes makes the soul weak, lazy, lethargic; it often stirs up quarrels and gives rise to wars.

So what? Aren’t you a man? Leave then that which is characteristic of children! You do not like it if your servant wastes his time in street talk; how then do you, calling yourself a servant of God, waste your time in idle talk? It is good if the soul (of your interlocutor) is sober – you cannot get carried away with it; and who wouldn’t drag her away? She will deceive herself and will not need the attacks of the devil. And in order to better understand what it is about, pay attention to the concept itself. A joker (ευτράπελος) is a person who is fickle, ready for anything, frivolous, fickle. But this is not characteristic of people who serve the Stone. Such a person is easily twisted and changed, because he must imitate the facial expression, words and gait of others; at the same time, he must invent witticisms, because that too is necessary for him. But this is not characteristic of a Christian – to play comedies. If this is a good thing, why do they give it to jesters and clowns? You become such a joker, and you have no shame? Do you not thus testify that this is a foolish custom and an indecent act?

Many vices are contained in the joking soul, great distraction and emptiness: order is disturbed, the fear of God and piety disappear. You have been given a tongue, not to mock others, but to give thanks to God. Don’t you see the so-called comedians, clowns, clowns? There, these are the pranksters. Banish, I beseech you, from your souls this foolish pleasure: it is work for vermin, jesters, dancers, and public women. Far be it from the free and noble soul! Anyone who is dishonest and mean loves jokes. There is nothing more shameless than the joker, and therefore his mouth is full, not of sweetness, but of bitterness. Some teach it even the poor. Oh, ridiculousness! They turn people living in the midst of suffering into jesters! I say this to show how ridiculous this shameful custom is, because such talk proceeds from a soul alien to godliness. Therefore, I beseech you, let us banish this shameful custom, and speak that which resembles Christians, and let not holy mouths utter words that belong to dishonorable and shameful mouths. What fellowship is there between righteousness and iniquity? What does light and darkness have in common? (2 Cor. 6:14) A man prone to jokes quickly becomes mocking and slanderous; and the slanderer is capable of innumerable other vices. And so, bridling these two passions of the soul, and subjecting them to reason as docile horses—I mean lust and anger—let us set reason as a charioteer over them, that we may receive a reward in the age to come, with which God grant that we may be worthy all in Christ Jesus our Lord. Amen.

Source: S. Joanni Chrysostomi In Epistulam ad Ephesios homiliae 1-24, PG 62. Col. 9-176.

The Gifts of Taoism

By
WRN Editorial Staff
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0
The Gifts of Taoism

“Go with the flow.”

“The journey of a thousand miles begins with one step.”

“By letting go all gets done.”

“All things change.”

“Let it be.”

All of these familiar quotes and cherished ideas originate from a short volume written 2,500 years ago by a reclusive old man who did so only to gain exit from a gatekeeper who wouldn’t let him leave and thus vanish into oblivion without passing on his wisdom.

We are indebted to that gatekeeper who stopped Lao-Tzu. Otherwise, we would have no Tao, the religion which struggles to express and define quite frankly absolutely everything in life and the universe. As Lao-Tzu himself wrote, “There was something undifferentiated and yet complete, which existed before Heaven and Earth. Soundless and formless, it depends on nothing and does not change. It operates everywhere and is free from danger. It may be considered the mother of the universe. I do not know its name; I call it Tao.”

“Tao” (pronounced roughly “Dow”) literally means “The Way” but actually does not name any one tangible definable thing. It is the ultimate essence of life and the universe, impossible to describe and possible only to experience through the process of living.

The gifts of Taoism are the profound influence its concepts have had on thinkers, leaders and artists throughout history—from Art of War author Sun Tzu to Christian writer C.S. Lewis to the Beatles. Confucius, a contemporary of Lao-Tzu, visited the old man and came away stunned, somewhat bewildered, but in awe. “Of birds I know they have wings to fly with,” he told his disciples. “Of fish, that they have fins to swim with, of wild beasts that they have feet to run with. For feet there are traps, for fins there are nets, for wings there are arrows. But who knows how dragons surmount wind and cloud into heaven? This day I have seen Lao-Tzu. Today I have seen a dragon.”

Lao-Tzu and his legacy have also manifested themselves in our own day through the generosity of the nearly 9 million Taoists who make their homes mainly in Asia. The Tao Foundation for Culture and Arts respects the past by preserving the ancient music and culture of the Philippines, and at the same time provides for the future through educational scholarships to deserving youth. Partnering with a dozen major charities Tao Group Hospitality Cares has, in the last year, raised $165,525 for cancer research, nearly $180,000 for COVID relief, has served nearly 70,000 meals to individuals suffering from food insecurity, local homeless shelters, and pediatric cancer children’s hospitals, and has secured 450 vaccine appointments through the vaccine appointment program.

Tao Sangha’s nonprofit organization, Earth Caravan – Global Uni Community, (GUC) undertakes global aid projects. GUC gives direct help and support to local communities by cooperating with them on their particular needs. To date GUC has supported people economically in Afghanistan, India, Thailand, Bangladesh, Haiti, Sri Lanka, the USA, Israel, and Japan.

The gifts of Taoism have influenced our philosophies, our arts, have fed the hungry, helped the sick and have helped our world in ways both subtle and mighty. Not a bad legacy from an old man who simply wanted to leave the town in peace.

China: “serious human rights violations” in Xinjiang says UN

By
United Nations News
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China: “serious human rights violations” in Xinjiang says UN

China responsible for “serious human rights violations” in Xinjiang province according to the UN human rights report

A long-awaited report by the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) into what China refers to as the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region (XUAR) has concluded that “serious human rights violations” against the Uyghur and “other predominantly Muslim communities” have been committed.

The report published on Wednesday in the wake of the visit by UN High Commissioner of Human Rights, Michelle Bachelet in May, said that “allegations of patterns of torture, or ill-treatment, including forced medical treatment and adverse conditions of detention, are credible, as are allegations of individual incidents of sexual and gender-based violence.”

In a strongly-worded assessment at the end of the report, OHCHR said that the extent of arbitrary detentions against Uyghur and others, in context of “restrictions and deprivation more generally of fundamental rights, enjoyed individually and collectively, may constitute international crimes, in particular crimes against humanity.”

‘Rigorous review’

The UN rights office said that Wednesday’s report was “based on a rigorous review of documentary material currently available to the Office, with its credibility assessed in accordance with standard human rights methodology.

“Particular attention was given to the Government’s own laws, policies, data and statements. The Office also requested information and engaged in dialogue and technical exchanges with China throughout the process.”

Published on Ms. Bachelet’s final day of her four-year term in office, the report says that the violations have taken place in the context of the Chinese Government’s assertion that it is targeting terrorists among the Uyghur minority with a counter-extremism strategy that involves the use of so-called Vocational Educational and Training Centres (VETCs), or re-education camps.

‘Interlocking patterns’

OHCHR said that the Government policy in recent years in Xinjiang has “led to interlocking patterns of severe and undue restrictions on a wide range of human rights.”

Even if the VETC system has as China says, “been reduced in scope or wound up”, said OHCHR, “the laws and policies that underpin it remain in place”, leading to an increased use of imprisonment.

The systems of arbitrary detention and related patterns of abuse since 2017, said OHCHR, “come against the backdrop of broader discrimination” against Uyghur and other minorities.

Violations of international law

“This has included far-reaching, arbitrary and discriminatory restrictions on human rights and fundamental freedoms, in violation of international laws and standards”, including restrictions on religious freedom and the rights to privacy and movement.

Furthermore, the report said that Chinese Government policies in the region have “transcended borders”, separating families, “severing” contacts, producing “patterns of intimidations and threats” against the wider Uyghur diaspora who have spoken out about conditions at home.

OHCHR said that the Chinese Government “holds the primary duty to ensure that all laws and policies are brought into compliance with international human rights law and to promptly investigate any allegations of human rights violations, to ensure accountability for perpetrators, and to provide redress to victims.”

Report recommendations

Among the recommendations that the UN rights office makes in the report, is for the Government to take “prompt steps” to release all individuals arbitrarily imprisoned in XUAR, whether in camps or any other detention centre.

China should let families know the whereabouts of any individuals who have been detained, providing exact locations, and help to establish “safe channels of communication” and allow families to reunite, said the report.

The report calls on China to undertake a full legal review of its national security and counter-terrorism policies in XUAR, “to ensure their full compliance with binding international human rights law” and repeal any laws that fall short of international standards.

It also calls for a prompt Government investigation into allegations of human rights violations in camps and other detention facilities, “including allegations of torture, sexual violence, ill-treatment, forced medical treatment, as well as forced labour and reports of deaths in custody.”

Chinese rebuttal

In a long and detailed response published along with the hard-hitting report, the Chinese Government said in conclusion, that authorities in the Xinjiang region operate on the principle that everyone is equal before the law, “and the accusation that its policy is ‘based on discrimination’ is groundless.”

China said that its counter-terrorism and “de-radicalization efforts” in the region, had been conducted according to “the rule of law” and by no means add up to “suppression of ethnic minorities.”

On the issue of the camps, Beijing responded that the VETCs are “learning facilities established in accordance with law intended for de-radicalization” and not “concentration camps”.

No ‘massive violation of rights’

“The lawful rights and interests of workers of all ethnic groups in Xinjiang are protected and there is no such thing as ‘forced labour’”, China’s statement said, adding that there had been no “massive violation of rights”.

The statement calls on the international community to be “clear-eyed about the truth” of its counter-terrorism campaign in the region, and “see through the clumsy performances and malicious motives of anti-China forces in the US and the West, who attempt to use Xinjiang to contain China.”

It calls instead, for the UN and other international organizations, to investigate “the human rights disasters caused, and numerous crimes committed, by the US and some other Western countries, both at home and abroad.”

Bachelet’s May mission

The human rights chief undertook her mission in May, at the invitation of the Chinese Government and visited XUAR to review the situation there.

During her mission, Ms. Bachelet spoke with a range of government officials, several civil society organisations, academics, and community and religious leaders. In addition, she met several organizations online ahead of the visit, on issues relating to Xinjiang province, Tibet, Hong Kong, and other parts of China. 

At the end of her visit, while expressing concern over issues relating to Xinjiang, Tibet, Hong Kong, human rights defenders and labour rights, she praised China’s “tremendous achievements” in alleviating poverty, and eradicating extreme poverty, 10 years ahead of its target date. 

A number of other developments in the country were welcomed by Ms. Bachelet, including legislation that improves protection for women’s rights, and work being done by NGOs to advance the rights of LGBTI people, people with disabilities, and older people.

The UN rights chief underscored the important role that China has to play, at a regional and multilateral level, and noted that everyone she met on her visit, from Government officials, civil society, academics, diplomats and others, demonstrated a sincere willingness to make progress on the promotion and protection of human rights for all. 

Read More:

When China executes prisoners of conscience to fuel organ trafficking

Germany: EIB supports social and affordable housing in Hanover with €60 million

By
European Commission
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0
InvestEU in Germany: EIB supports social and affordable housing in Hanover with €60 million
Hannover, Deutschland © Prometheus Design on Unsplash

InvestEU in Germany: EIB supports social and affordable housing in Hanover with €60 million

The European Investment Bank (EIB), backed by the new InvestEU programme, is lending €60 million to the municipal housing provider hanova. The loan will support hanova’s construction programme of social and affordable housing in the city of Hanover, which will also meet the European Union’s high energy efficiency standards.

Hanova has been Hanover’s housing company since 1927 and owns around 15 000 housing units. The company supports the city’s housing policy, in particular in building new social and affordable flats for rent. The project involves the construction of 640 new units, of which 232 are social and 408 are affordable housing units.

This project is the first in Germany to receive a loan by the EIB under the new InvestEU programme. Thanks to the InvestEU guarantee from the EU budget, the EIB will be able to fill a financing gap offering an unsecured loan with a very long maturity.

Hanover, the capital of the federal state of Lower Saxony, has a growing economy and attractiveness as an urban centre, with a quickly expanding population and therefore rising demand for housing. As in many urban areas across Germany, rents have risen sharply in recent years. The project will help address the imbalances in the local housing market by providing adequate and affordable housing for local low and medium-income residents. In Lower Saxony, the income threshold for social housing is €23 000 a year for a two-person household.

The hanova project is also energy efficient: 82% of the buildings will achieve an energy performance that will be at least 20% better than the German nearly zero-energy building standard (KfW 55). The rest will target an energy performance of at least 10% better than this standard. The project is also aligned with the EU Energy Performance of Buildings Directive.

The project is therefore fully compliant with the EIB’s climate action and environmental sustainability objectives. It will help to reduce CO2 emissions in buildings and support Hanover’s efforts to become climate neutral. It will also contribute to social inclusion and provide people on low and middle incomes with greater housing options to live in the city.

Valdis Dombrovskis, Executive Vice-President of the European Commission for an Economy that Works for People, said: “This agreement is an excellent example of how InvestEU can contribute to achieving our shared social and green objectives while having a positive and meaningful impact on the lives of our citizens. This is the first project supported by InvestEU in Germany and will make 640 new social and affordable homes available in Hanover that will meet high energy efficiency standards.”

EIB Vice-President Ambroise Fayolle, who oversees activities in Germany, welcomes the project: “Together with hanova, we are demonstrating that even energy-efficient new builds do not always have to mean high rents. We are proud that this project will help to sustain and grow a vibrant city.”

Director of hanova Karsten Klaus agrees: “We are pleased to have found a partner in the EIB who will support hanova in its goal of providing the city of Hanover with affordable, energy-efficient and sustainable new housing.”

Hanova-CEO Karsten Klaus agrees: “We are pleased to have found a partner in the EIB who will support hanova in its goal of providing the city of Hanover with affordable, energy-efficient and sustainable new housing.”

Background information

The InvestEU programme provides the European Union with crucial long-term funding by leveraging substantial private and public funds in support of a sustainable recovery. It also helps mobilise private investments for EU policy priorities, such as the European Green Deal and the digital transition. The InvestEU programme brings together under one roof the multitude of EU financial instruments currently available to support investment in the European Union, making funding for investment projects in Europe simpler, more efficient and more flexible. The programme consists of three components: the InvestEU Fund, the InvestEU Advisory Hub, and the InvestEU Portal. The InvestEU Fund is implemented through financial partners who will invest in projects using the EU budget guarantee of €26.2 billion. The entire budgetary guarantee will back the investment projects of the implementing partners, increase their risk-bearing capacity and thus mobilise at least €372 billion in additional investment.

The European Investment Bank (EIB) is the long-term lending institution of the European Union owned by its Member States. It makes long-term finance available for sound investment in order to contribute towards EU policy goals. The EIB’s activities focus on the following priority areas: climate and environment, development, innovation and skills, small and medium-sized businesses, infrastructure and cohesion. The EIB works closely with other EU institutions to foster European integration, promote the development of the European Union and support EU policies in over 140 countries around the world.

As a municipal group, hanova is helping to shape the urban development of Hanover in order to make the state capital more lovable and liveable. In doing so, economic success and social responsibility are always balanced. As the largest real estate service provider in Hanover, hanova manages residential and commercial premises, builds schools and kindergartens, creates parking spaces and actively develops the city every day — with Hanover heart and real estate understanding.

Scientists Discover a Simple Trick To Cut Down on Your Drinking

By
Society for the Study of Addiction
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0
Scientists Discover a Simple Trick To Cut Down on Your Drinking
Woman Alcoholic Wine Stairs

The study found that people consumed about 6.5% less wine when they drank from smaller glasses.


A new study identifies a simple trick that may help people drink less.

According to recent research that was recently published in the scientific journal Addiction, households in the United Kingdom drank wine at a rate of roughly 6.5% less while using smaller (290 ml) glasses than when using bigger (350 ml) glasses.

In this randomized controlled experiment, 260 UK families were chosen from the general population who drank two or more 75cl bottles of wine each week. In two 14-day intervention periods, families were asked to purchase a predetermined quantity of wine to consume at home in either 75cl or 37.5cl bottles, in random order. Additionally, they were randomly assigned to either smaller (290ml) or bigger (350ml) drinking glasses.


After each 14-day intervention period, the amount of wine drunk was recorded by taking pictures of the bought bottles and weighing them on the supplied scales. Using smaller glasses lowered the quantity of wine consumed by roughly 6.5% (253ml per fortnight), though there is some uncertainty around this effect.  Drinking from smaller bottles lowered the quantity of wine consumed by 3.6% (146ml per fortnight), however, there is greater uncertainty around this effect.

Wine is the most commonly drunk alcoholic beverage in Europe, and most of it is consumed in homes rather than in bars, restaurants, or pubs. It’s already known that using larger glasses increases the volume of wine sold in restaurants and the size of wine glasses, in general, has increased dramatically over the last three decades. If the effects of wine glass size on consumption are proven reliable, with effects sustained over time, reducing the size of wine glasses used in homes could contribute to policies for reducing drinking.

These policies could include pricing glasses according to capacity to increase the demand for smaller glasses, and regulating glass sizes in bars, restaurants, and other licensed premises to help shift social norms for what constitutes an acceptable glass size for use outside as well as within the home.


Reference: “Impact of wine bottle and glass sizes on wine consumption at home: a within- and between- households randomized controlled trial” by Eleni Mantzari, Minna Ventsel, Jennifer Ferrar, Mark A. Pilling, Gareth J. Hollands and Theresa M. Marteau, 18 July 2022, Addiction.
DOI: 10.1111/add.16005

The study was funded by the Wellcome Trust. 


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