Pope to meet ‘dirty war’ activist
One of Argentina’s most high profile human rights campaigners is to visit Pope Francis at the end of this month, ending decades of tension between them.
Hebe de Bonafini (above), a leader of the Madres de la Plaza de Mayo group, has long been critical of Francis, calling for him to speak about the Argentine Church’s involvement with the “Dirty War” and dictatorship of the 1970s and 1980s. Bonafini wrote to the Pope last year querying his call for prisoners to direct their thoughts and prayers to God “who is able to transform bars into an experience of freedom”.
Bonafini, who lost three children during the Dirty War, asked why God had “arrived so late” and where he was when political prisoners were being tortured in Argentina during the dictatorship. “Where was God when planes dumped our living children into the sea?” she asked. Bonafini will visit the Vatican on 27 May.
Refugee crisis
Iraqi Christian refugees fleeing to Kurdistan have been forced to sign a document in support of the proclamation of an independent Kurdish state in Iraqi Kurdistan. These include Christian Assyrians and Chaldeans, who took refuge in the city of Dohuk after Islamic State jihadists conquered their villages.
Human rights plea to Pakistan
A former head of the Catholic Church’s national Justice and Peace Commission in Pakistan has urged the Pakistan Government to implement its first-ever national human rights plan, which was approved in January. “The plan includes a series of urgent actions that should be implemented in 2016,” said Peter Jacob, director of the Centre for Social Justice in Lahore. It includes political and legal reforms; access to justice; implementation of international treaties; and the establishment and strengthening of state bodies dealing with human rights.
Female deacons debate
The only woman to serve in any of Africa’s 37 bishops’ conferences said she has no desire to serve in the highest ranks of the Catholic Church. “I am happy with the impact I have made in the life of the Church and I’m not looking for any clerical status,” said Sr Hermegild Makoro, CSP (pictured above), the secretary general of the Southern Africa Catholic Bishops’ Conference (SACBC) which represents, Lesotho, Botswana and South Africa. Sr Hermegild was prompted to share her views after Pope Francis spoke to an audience of some 900 Women Religious belonging to the International Union of Superiors General about establishing a commission to look at the possibility of women becoming deacons in the Church. “I have worked with different bishops, young and old, but have never been undermined by the authority of the Church,” she said, adding that if the Church were to consider allowing women to become deacons she would not have any problem with those called to this ministry.
Diocesan synod
In the United States, Bishop Robert McElroy of San Diego announced he is convoking a diocesan synod in October to examine the implementation of Pope Francis’ apostolic exhortation Amoris Laetitia. In a pastoral message announcing the synod, McElroy said Pope Francis is calling on the local Churches “to enhance their promotion of marriage and family life, precisely because family lies at the heart of the Christian life in the world”. McElroy identified five “challenges”: to witness to both the beauty and realism of the Catholic vision of marriage and family life; to form a culture of invitation and hospitality to unmarried couples; to welcome, nurture and form children; to provide authentic pastoral support for those who are divorced; and to bring spiritual depth to family life. “The majority of the representatives will be lay men and women, which is particularly important on this topic of marriage and family,” said McElroy.
Laetare medal
The United States Vice President Joe Biden and former Speaker of the House John Boehner were awarded jointly the University of Notre Dame’s Laetare Medal, the most prestigious award given to American Catholics. In conferring the award, university President Fr John Jenkins CSC said, “Despite a fractious political environment, you have each built collegial relationships with those with whom you disagree, even disagree vehemently. In careers marked by patriotism, perseverance, hard work, courage, and sometimes tragedy, you have each found strength and guidance in your faith.”
French priest accused of abuse
Paris Cardinal André Vingt-Trois has admitted knowing of sexual abuse allegations against Mgr Tony Anatrella, an expert on homosexuality for the French Church and the Vatican, and encouraged anyone claiming to be a victim to file a legal complaint against him. It was the first official reaction to recent accusations against Anatrella, 75, a Paris psychiatrist accused of abusing patients during consultations meant to end their same-sex attraction. A statement by his office said the Paris archbishop was given the anonymous written testimony of an adult victim in 2014 by a priest. “The cardinal asked the priest to invite this person to meet the judicial vicar of the archdiocese,” it said. “To this day, this person has not followed up the invitation.”
Asked about sexual abuse scandals in an interview with La Croix, published on Tuesday, Pope Francis said the Church must show zero tolerance and not consider any case as beyond a statute of limitations. Asked about Lyon Cardinal Philippe Barbarin, accused of covering up for three priests who abused minors before he came to Lyon in 2002, Francis said: “According to my information, Cardinal Barbarin in Lyon took the necessary measures. He’s courageous and creative, a missionary. We should now wait for the result of the civil justice procedure.”
Ambassador deadlock ends
France has named a new ambassador to the Holy See, (Philippe Zeller, above), ending an embarrassing 15-month deadlock over its rejected gay nominee, Laurent Stefanini, whom Paris seemed determined to impose on the Vatican. A terse official announcement said that Mr Zeller, 63, a former ambassador to Canada, Hungary and Indonesia, would be the new envoy to the Holy See. A practising Catholic and family man, his nomination was accepted in Rome in three weeks. “We are thankful for this gesture by France,” Cardinal Pietro Parolin, the Vatican Secretary of State, told the French daily La Croix with diplomatic understatement after the long struggle over the Government’s previous nominee.
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