Ankara cancels Istanbul visit by archbishop of Cyprus
Istanbul,Turkey, Aug.14, 2007 (CINS/AsiaNews) – For the second time in four months, Ankara has cancelled a visit by the new Greek-Orthodox archbishop of Cyprus, Chrysostomos, to the Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople, Bartholomew I, set for August 17 to the 21. The Turkish government cancelled the strictly religious visit for the first time in May. At the time the authorities justified their action saying that it might have political consequences on the electoral campaign. But the latest decision is worrying minority communities very much since outgoing Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, a strong supporter of Turkey’s membership in the European Union and hence a guarantor of religious minority rights in the country, won a victory in the July elections.
Interviewed by a Greek radio station, Chrysostomos said that “Turkey has the right to prevent anyone from entering into its territory despite those, like us, who want to believe that it wishes to show a democratic and liberal face, not only in Europe but also in the rest of the world.” With this decision however “the government in Ankara has shown its real face.”
Although “it was initially felt that it was better not to go any further,” the archbishop announced instead his “intention to send a letter to the Holy See and the World Council of Churches to inform them of what has happened.” Hopefully, this way it will “be possible to make the international community aware of the unreliability of the Turkish government in matters of rights.”
The archbishop of Cyprus also announced that he would meet the ecumenical patriarch at another time and place to express his “solidarity” and thank him “for his contribution to solving some of the many problems that have risen within the Greek-Orthodox Church.”
Chrysostomos reiterated that there “are no differences between Greek-Orthodox [Cypriots] and their Muslim Turkish-Cypriot brothers.” The real problem lies “in Ankara’s meddling which has blocked every attempt to integrate the two communities on the basis of mutual respect.”
Bishop Wester joins Utah community in prayers for trapped miners
Huntington,Utah,Aug.11,2007(CINS/CNS) -- Although he said "fear, anxiety and anger are common human emotions" during the long wait for word on the fate of six miners trapped in the Crandall Canyon Mine outside Huntington, Bishop John C. Wester of Salt Lake City urged the miners' families, colleagues and rescuers Aug. 9 to place themselves "in God's presence."
"God will answer our prayers either with the safe return of the six miners to us, or the grace to see us through our loss," he said during a Mass in the tiny mission church of San Rafael in Huntington.
The early morning news Aug. 10 that no sounds from the miners could be heard was not what the mining community wanted to hear.
A hole two and a half inches wide was drilled more than 1,800 feet into the cavern where the six have been trapped since a massive mine collapse Aug. 6. A microphone lowered into the cavern returned only silence to the rescue workers above, who were hoping for some evidence that the miners are still alive.
A second, wider hole was being drilled parallel to the first to allow camera equipment, food and water to be lowered into the cavern.
Air samples from the cavern indicated the air was good, contained no methane and had low levels of carbon dioxide, suggesting it was possible the miners were still alive.
During the wait, San Rafael Mission has been the scene of continuous efforts by the Catholic community to meet the needs of the trapped miners and their families.
"This is also a time for us to appreciate what miners do for us," Bishop Wester said at the Aug. 9 Mass. "They go into the earth to bring us energy-producing coal that we take for granted. They work at great risk to themselves and they deserve the support of all of us for the work they do.
"We pray for them and for all the people who came here today to hear the good news of Jesus," he added. "And we ask the intercession of Our Lady of Guadalupe that these six good men will be restored to us."
The miners, who come from the communities of Helper, Orangeville, Price, Cleveland and Huntington, have been identified as Brandon Phillips, 24; Kerry Allred, 58; Carlos Payan; Don Erickson; Luis Hernandez; and Manuel Sanchez. Ages were not available for Payan, Erickson, Hernandez and Sanchez.
Concelebrating the Mass with Bishop Wester were Father Donald E. Hope, pastor of Notre Dame de Lourdes Parish in Price and the three central Utah missions associated with the parish, and Father Omar Ontiveros of the Cathedral of the Madeleine in Salt Lake City, a native of Mexico.
Utah Gov. Jon Huntsman and Salvador Jimenez Munoz, the Mexican consul based in Salt Lake City, also attended.
Outside the church, dozens of members of the press from across the country listened to the Mass through speakers, waiting for a chance to speak to anyone who was willing to talk at a press conference following the Mass.
The Aug. 9 Mass was the third celebrated in three days for the miners. Fathers Hope and Ontiveros concelebrated a Mass in Spanish on the evening of Aug. 7 at San Rafael Mission. Bishop Wester celebrated Mass in the Cathedral of the Madeleine in Salt Lake City Aug. 8 for the intention of the miners and their families.
"We pray for the safety of our friends, our brothers," Bishop Wester said in his homily at the Mass in the cathedral. "God is a God of love; he is one with us, woven into the fabric of our faith and our lives."
At the close of each Mass he celebrated, Bishop Wester knelt before images of Our Lady of Guadalupe, asking for her intercession on behalf of the miners.
After meeting with the miners' families, Father Hope said Aug. 10 that they expressed gratitude for the help and the prayers of people in Utah and across the United States.
"The families are asking everyone in the country to light a candle in gratitude and prayer for our miners," he said.
Archbishop Gracias to lead CCBI delegates for Synod Of Bishops
New Delhi,India,July.19(CINS/CBCI News) - Archbishop Oswald Gracias, president of CCBI and Archbishop of Bombay will lead the CCBI delegates for the forthcoming 12th Ordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops, which will take place October 5 to 26, 2008 in the Vatican.
The Conference of the Catholic Bishops of India (CCBI) Plenary Assembly has elected Archbishop of Bombay Oswald Gracias, Bishop of Tiruchirapalli Antony Devotta, Bishop of Jamshedpur Felix Toppo, S.J., and Bishop of Kannur Varghese Chakkalakal to attend the Synod on the theme: “The Word of God in the Life and Mission of the Church".
Bishop of Hazaribag Charles Soreng, S.J., has been elected as the substitute delegate.
The preparatory documents of the Synod have already been sent to each Bishop seeking response/s from all over the world, which includes a list of detailed Questions associated with the subject treated in each chapter.
Episcopal bodies have been asked to submit a written response to these questions before November of this year. The Ordinary Council, assisted by specialists, will then study this material and present it in an orderly fashion in a second document, traditionally called the "Instrumentum Laboris".
Pope Benedict XVI has convoked the Synod of Bishops for 2008 dedicated to sacred Scripture and its relationship to the mission of the Church.
It will be the second synod presided over by Pope Benedict XVI. The Holy Father presided over the synod on the Eucharist in October 2005, which had been convoked by Pope John Paul II.
The theme of the XI Ordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops held from 2 - 23 October 2005 was “The Eucharist: Source and Summit of the Life and Mission of the Church.”
Pope Benedict XVI introduced two novelties to that synod - he shortened the length of the meeting from four to three weeks, and he introduced free interventions before the assembly.
Pope Benedict XVI infact released a document based on the proposals of the Synod of 2005. His second major document, "Sacramentum Caritatis" (Sacrament of Charity), an apostolic exhortation is based on the deliberations of the 2005 Bishops’ Synod on the Eucharist.
The text says, "The synod fathers acknowledged and reaffirmed the beneficial influence on the Church's life of the liturgical renewal which began with the Second Vatican Ecumenical Council.”
The Synod of Bishops is a permanent institution established by Pope Paul VI by Motu Proprio "Apostolica sollicitudo" of 15 September 1965 as a way to maintain the level of collegiality among bishops reached at the Second Vatican Council.
Defining the Synod of Bishops, Pope Paul Vl once said, "It is an ecclesiastic institution, which, on interrogating the signs of the times and as well as trying to provide a deeper interpretation of divine designs and the constitution of the Catholic Church, we set up after Vatican Council II in order to foster the unity and cooperation of bishops around the world with the Holy See.”
“It does this by means of a common study concerning the conditions of the Church and a joint solution on matters concerning Her mission. It is neither a Council nor a Parliament but a special type of Synod", he added.
Bishop John Baptist Thakur: Women’s dignity must be recognized Universally
New Delhi,India,July.19, 2007(CINS/CBCI) - “Respect for women must first and foremost be won with a universal recognition of the dignity of women”, declared chairperson of the CBCI Commission for Women, Bishop John Baptist Thakur.
He said this in the context of the forthcoming plenary assembly of the Catholic Bishops Conference of India (CBCI) to be held in Feb. 2008, whose theme would be “Empowerment of Women in the Church and Society”.
Bishop Thakur asserted that women’s respect can be attained only through an effective and intelligent "campaign for the promotion of women" concentrating on all areas of women’s life.
Quoting from Pope John Paul II’s ‘Letter to Women’ Bishop said, “My heartfelt appeal that everyone, and in a special way states and international institutions, make every effort to ensure that women regain full respect for their dignity and role. This journey must go on.”
Citing Ecclesia in Asia, an apostolic letter of Pope John Paul II he said, “The contributions of women have all too often been undervalued or ignored and this has resulted in a spiritual impoverishment of humanity.”
Expressing conviction he said, “The secret of making speedy progress in achieving full respect for women and their identity involves more than simply the condemnation of discrimination and injustices, necessary though this may be.”
“To counteract the culture of domination and to ensure gender justice, it is not enough merely to legislate. We also need to eliminate gender stereotypes through education and raising awareness in our society”, affirmed the Bishop.
Shedding light on some of the evils in society, Bishop said, “The recurrence of criminal acts like female foeticide, dowry, domestic violence and sexual exploitation despite legislation, concerted social action and media focus illustrates that we may not have still addressed the root cause of the crisis.”
“In our times the lack of acknowledgement of the proper role of women and lack of their participation in governance and decision making process in various fields, is a worldwide phenomenon”, opined the Bishop.
Appreciationg some of the initiatives made by the govt and non-govt. organizations he said, “We give due respect to them both at the national and international level, which have time bound prospective plan of action for the empowerment of women.”
“In order to achieve the true objectives and goals set before us, let us join hands in solidarity and mutual collaboration with all people of goodwill, contributing our own mite with zest and zeal towards the intense preparation of the forthcoming Plenary Assembly of the CBCI”, declared Bishop Thakur.
“The present decision of CBCI ushers in a New Pentecost in this direction”, he stated Bishop Thakur.
“Under the loving protection of the Blessed Mother Mary, Woman par excellence, let us remain in the Cenacle of the Church in India, awaiting with hope, prayer, joint reflection and action, the outpouring of the Holy Spirit over the Apostles and believers of today”, added the Bishop.
Bishop Warns Catholics about Naju Marian Shrine
Seoul,South Korea,July.19,2007(CINS/UCAN) -- A Korean bishop has warned Catholics not to join activities organized by devotees of a controversial Marian shrine, and he urged priests to educate parishioners on the matter.
Bishop Boniface Choi Ki-san of Incheon on June 29 released a pastoral directive forbidding Catholics from joining Naju shrine devotees who held a Mass in his diocesan territory, just west of Seoul. The Catholic Bishops' Conference of Korea in 1998 rejected the alleged miracles associated with the shrine, which began more than two decades ago in Naju, 285 kilometers south of the capital.
The bishop also released a 14-page letter titled "Theological and Pastoral Reflection and Directive Related to Julia Youn of Naju." In it he urges priests to use homilies to educate parishioners on the matter as well as on proper Marian devotion.
Despite earlier warnings, Bishop Choi said in his pastoral directive, "some 700 followers of Julia Youn Hong-sun of Naju joined a liturgical event in Bucheon celebrated by a Korean priest from Atlanta diocese, in the United States."
They held a night vigil on June 16 at a wedding hall in Bucheon. An unidentified ethnic Korean priest from the United States celebrated a Mass for them, according to the shrine's website (www.najumary.or.kr). They also held a prayer rally and listened to Youn preach.
Father Andrew Pak Hui-jung, canon law professor at Incheon Catholic University, told UCA News on July 16 that even if Youn and her followers firmly believe in their cause, it is not good to go against Church guidance.
"Nobody knows what the Blessed Mother's will is. Church recognition of her revelations cannot be done in a short time. The devotees need to wait and see what happens next, while obeying the bishops' directives," he said.
The Korean Church needs to be more active in banning the activities of Youn and her followers, he continued. "Priests from Indonesia and the Philippines have come to Naju and celebrated Masses with the followers."
Youn insists she has received private revelations through her Marian statue in Naju since it "started weeping" in 1985. Some Catholics have visited the statue since then, even though Korean bishops in March 1998 agreed to respect and observe Kwangju archdiocese's bans on private liturgy and the dissemination of materials related to the revelations.
The woman insists her statue has shed tears of blood and fragrant oil, and given her revelations. Another claim is that the Eucharist fell "from heaven" at times when visiting bishops and her group had Mass in her private chapel.
Youn and her group further claim the Eucharist changed into a lump of bloody flesh in her mouth several times, including once in 1995 when Pope John Paul II gave her Communion at the Vatican. The Naju website maintains the late pope saw this but said nothing.
In 1998, however, Archbishop Victorinus Youn Kong-hi declared there was "no evidence that proves" the alleged visions and strange phenomena concerning Youn and the Marian statue are "truly supernatural and thus from God." At the time, the now retired prelate headed Kwangju archdiocese, which covers Naju.
His successor, Archbishop Andreas Choi Chang-mou, issued two pastoral directives on the matter, in 2001 and 2005. They warn that all who fail to follow the directives are to be considered as willfully opposing the magisterium, the Catholic Church's divinely guided authority to teach true doctrine.