Pakistan Bishop hopes for return to democracy

Karachi, Pakistan, Nov.16,2007 (CINS/totalcatholic) - A Pakistani Bishop has expressed hope for a return to democracy and said the country’s bishops will discuss the crisis at their upcoming meeting.

Bishop Max Rodrigues of Hyderabad said: “We hope that the prevailing setback is short-lived and that democracy returns.”

The Bishop said the members of the Pakistan Catholic Bishops’ Conference plan to review the ongoing crisis at their Nov. 23 meeting.

“Meanwhile, the churches have been directed to pray for the country and its solidarity,” he said.

General Pervez Musharraf, Pakistan's president, declared a state of emergency on November 3, arresting protesters and opponents and banning large gatherings. The crisis deepened eight says later when Musharraf announced that to reinforce

Pakistan's fight against terrorism the state of emergency would continue beyond the planned general election that he promised would be held before January 9.

The Bishops’ National Commission for Justice and Peace said in a statement: “The growing militancy, extremism and terrorist attacks were cited as a reason for imposing emergency in the country but no attention has been given to it so far. On the contrary, the government is making every effort to halt the voice of the civil society.”

In a statement, the commission called the imposition of emergency rule a "most unfortunate and misdirected step" and urged adherence to the constitution and a return to civilian rule.

“The challenges faced by the country cannot be dealt (with) by imposition of emergency, and the respect for rule of law, independence of judiciary and the restoration of the fundamental rights can bring Pakistan to the path of democracy," it said.

Patriotic Associations blocks ordination of Bishop of Guangzhou, approved by the Holy See

Hong Kong, Nov.16,2007 (CINS/AsiaNews) – The ordination of a new bishop of Guangzhou may take place next December 3rd if the Patriotic Association does not postpone the appointment.  Msgr. Giuseppe Gan Junqiu, approved by the Holy See and Beijing as the new bishop of Guangzhou, has been waiting for over a year to take up his post.  The obstacle is the Patriotic Associations insistence that illicit bishops, not in communion with the pope are present at the ceremony.

Msgr. Gan was elected by the diocesesan community of Guangzhou in November 2006. One month later he received Vatican approval, which was confirmed last September, but he has yet to receive the formal approval of the Council of Chinese bishops.  According to AsiaNews sources the reason lies in the Patriotic Association (which controls the council) and its desire to insert a couple illicit bishops, note in communion with the pope among the ordaining bishops.  In all probability the illicit bishop in question is Msgr. Ma Yinglin, ordained without Vatican agreement on April 30 2006, and present – thug not invited – at the last Episcopal ordinations of Guiyang and Beijing. In a September 21 article the Osservatore Romano, expressed “regrets” at the presence of “bishops not in communion with the Holy See” at ordinations.

According to the English language Hong Kong daily South China Morning Post, the ordination should take place on December 3. The paper also publishes a comment from Msgr. Gan who confirms that he needs to “discuss [the date] with other relevant organisations," and adds: "I would like to invite bishops from other dioceses to my ordination”.

Msgr. Gan Junqiu, 42, has long been in charge of the ordinary running of the diocese which has been without a bishop since 2001.  He is known to be an intelligent pastor, faithful to the pope, committed to the evangelization of the youth and aiding the poor.  He also has good relations with the government, who collaborated in the restoration of Guangzhou cathedral, dedicated to the Sacred Heart and re-opened to the public last February.

Bishops of Argentina denounce drug abuse widespread among youth

Buenos Aires, Argentina, Nov.14,2007 (CINS/Fides) - "Drug abuse, synonym of death " is the title of an pastoral Letter issued by the Catholic Bishops of Argentina at the end of their 94th plenary assembly 5-9 November. In the letter the Bishops remark on the "pain of many families all over the country whose children have been trapped by the effects of drug abuse and its consequences of death and destruction". The Bishops say drug trafficking is firmly established in the country and prospers destroying families and spreading death. Argentina “is not longer a passage way for drugs... drug abuse is widespread among our young people and it takes advantage of the innocence and fragility of children", generating corruption and death,,, drug abuse is dehumanising, it annuls the gift of freedom, causes programmes for life to fail and subject families suffering and grief".

One of the principal causes of this terrible evil the Bishops say is a lack of roots for young people "a precarious present and an uncertain future", very often "if they are unable to find adults willing to listen to them", they fall into "an existential void", and so "drug addiction is not just a problem of ‘substance’, it is a matter of culture, values, life style and decisions". The Bishops say the situation is serious and calls for action on the part of the whole of society, "a social network to promote a culture of life". The Letter gives three principal directions: "promote a culture of life based on transcendent dignity of every human person called to happiness and to live free of all slavery"; remove false illusions that drugs can be taken and left easily; "denounce and pursue traders of death who destroy humanity with their scandalous trafficking, especially the younger generations. The state must invest resources to fight drug trafficking and consumption".

The Bishops conclude expressing a "desire to serve society and help to tackle this evil. The Conference is preparing a programme of pastoral care to be a sign of God's love to those who suffer. The Bishops also express trust that "God the Father will inspire us that we may give an opportune and effective response to this tragedy".

Bishop Giorgio: The somalia people can take no more

Mogadishu,Somalia, Nov.14,2007 (CINS/Fides) - “Dramatic news continues to arrive from Mogadishu. Fighting persists and the people cannot take any more. This is a rebellion to every effect” said Bishop Giorgio Bertin, Bishop of Djibouti and Apostolic Administrator of Mogadishu, capital of Somalia, where transition government troops backed by Ethiopian soldiers have been fighting anti-government militia for several days. The people are leaving the city en masse, according to the United Nations Organisation some 24,000 have already left the capital. Mogadishu is without water, food, medicine, or electricity. The people in flight have no assistance and they sleep on the edge of the roads along which they are moving to find shelter and safety.

“I am in contact with the Caritas dispensary at Baidoa which assists the local people and those arriving from Mogadishu. The latter speak of fighting in which most of the victims are civilians”. Bishop Bertin told Fides, adding that the number of homeless has doubled in a few months. “In Somalia there were 400,000 displaced person, but since March the another 400,000 have been displaced bringing the total number to 800,000”.

The Apostolic Administrator of Mogadishu says “at moment it is difficult to see a solution. After 15 peace conferences, the last one in Mogadishu in August, Somalia's political leaders have still not reached an agreement for a stable and lasting peace. I wonder if the Somali diaspora, about one million people, has anything new to suggest”.

The tragedy of Somalia must be seen in the regional and international context. Fresh tension between Ethiopia and Eritrea, the Sudanese question, rivalry among foreign powers to control new oil fields and oil routes, are all elements which affect the Somali actors directly or indirectly. “I would say the crisis is an arch over Sudan and Somalia” said Bishop Bertin in answer to a question put by Fides. “The different crises in west Africa have at least two elements in common: on the one hand spreading extremism which exploits religion irresponsibly for its own political ends, and on the other various foreign powers fighting for control of local resources”.

In his latest recent report on Somalia, UN secretary general, Ban Ki-moon, said at the moment the conditions for the deployment of a UN peacekeeping force in the country do not exist

Melbourne's Bishop Hilton Deakin retires

Melbourne, Australia, Nov.14,2007 (CINS/Cathnews) - Pope Benedict has approved the resignation of Auxiliary Bishop Hilton Deakin, who reached the designated retirement age of 75 yesterday.

A statement from the Apostolic Nunciature in Canberra last night announced that the Holy Father had accepted Bishop Deakin's resignation, effective yesterday.

Born in Seymour, Victoria, on 13 November 1932, Bishop Deakin was ordained a priest by Archbishop Justin Simonds at St Patrick's Cathedral, Melbourne, in 1958. In 1987 he became Vicar General of the Archdiocese of Melbourne, and was ordained Auxiliary Bishop of Melbourne on 3 March 1993.

His career highlights include the co-ordination of the Aboriginal section - including an Aboriginal liturgy which was a world first - during the Eucharistic Congress in 1973, a research project for the Bishops' Conference on Aborigines and a doctoral thesis in 1977

Bishop Deakin was appointed chairman of the board of management of Kairos Catholic Journal and was involved in the formation of the Aboriginal Catholic Ministry in 1991. He was also a passionate advocate for East Timorese and, more recently, West Papuans.

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