February 2010
Haiti—First Person Report
[What follows is part of an e-mail from Father Tom Hagen of the Oblates of St. Francis De Sales (OSFS) to Tom Roberts, editor-at-large of the National Catholic Reporter. Father Hagen is founder of Hands Together, a non-profit that has been working in Haiti since 1997. You can read the entire message on the NCR web site. More information is available on the Hands Together web site.]
It is during a time like this that I find myself very proud of my church. Everywhere you go, you will see the church reaching out now and helping the people. The Missionaries of Charity (Mother Teresa's nuns) are just amazing. The people here have a great faith. When I go to Cité Soleil now, as I do every day, I see few tears. The people have an amazing resiliency. Maybe it is because they have few material possessions and apparently their happiness does not depend upon possessions. 
The sight of a sunset means more to them that their possessions. What makes me most proud of my church is that the message we give the people is that they have enormous worth in the eyes of God and that they are infinitely loved and that this terrible disaster is in no way a punishment from God. I recently said this in a sermon and the people all stood up and began clapping and cheering. I had to ask the altar server why they were clapping (I thought that I had said something wrong because my Creole is not good) and he said, "Father, no one ever tells them that they have worth." The Catholic church will survive, and I am sure of it.
But the longer I am here, the less I know. I really could not speak with much authority about what will happen with the government or even what would be the best way to help the people. I also struggle a great deal even being here. I feel strongly that we can do a great deal of harm with the best intentions when we begin to be the benefactor.
Even with all this aid coming in, we must go slowly, and every step of the way we must include the Haitians in the decision-making.
During these very difficult days, I find myself really loving these people. These are the same people who endured the slave ships, a horrible system of slavery, and who would be the ones who would eventually defeat Napoleon. They would continue to suffer greatly but they have a strength that is remarkable. I am humbled by them and privileged to be with them.Brother Jim Boynton, SJ, is a U.S. Jesuit who began working with Jesuit Refugee Service in Haiti in November, 2009. His first assignment was to serve as the director of a Fe y Alegría school for poor children in Wanament area of northeastern Haiti along the border with the Dominican Republic.
When the earthquake struck Haiti on January 12, Jim's life took an unexpectedly different course. He joined the Jesuit emergency relief response to the quake's untold number of victims in Port-au-Prince. During the past weeks he has helped to facilitate and support the work of U.S. doctors, nurses and paramedics as they care for the thousands of seriously wounded Haitian people.
Please click here to read Brother Jim's reflections.
Messages from CMSM member communities in Haiti can be found on the CMSM web site.The Courage to Achieve Peace in The Holy Land: Communiqué of the Coordination of Episcopal Conferences in Support of the Church in the Holy Land
Jerusalem, January 14, 2010. At our tenth meeting in the Holy Land, Patriarch Fouad Twal reflected on the pilgrimage of Pope Benedict XVI in May 2009. In union with our Holy Father we call for justice and peace for all of the peoples of this land. We make his departing appeal our own:
No friend of the Israelis and the Palestinians can fail to be saddened by the continuing tension between your two peoples. No friend can fail to weep at the suffering and loss of life that both peoples have endured over the last six decades. Allow me to make this appeal to all the people of these lands: No more bloodshed! No more fighting! No more terrorism! No more war! Instead let us break the vicious circle of violence. Let there be lasting peace based on justice, let there be genuine reconciliation and healing. Let it be universally recognized that the State of Israel has the right to exist, and to enjoy peace and security within internationally agreed borders. Let it be likewise acknowledged that the Palestinian people have a right to a sovereign independent homeland, to live with dignity and to travel freely. Let the two-state solution become a reality, not remain a dream. And let peace spread outwards from these lands, let them serve as a "light to the nations" (Isaiah 42:6), bringing hope to the many other regions that are affected by conflict. (May 15, 2009)
Eight months later a two-state solution does not seem any closer. Many express a desire for peace, but what is needed is a commitment to justice that secures peace. The solutions are well known to leaders, but what is needed is political will and courage.
Jerusalem, a city holy to Jews, Christians and Muslims, offers a special place where different peoples and different religions could come together in dialogue and respect; sadly it is the volatile core of the conflict. There is a growing distance between Israelis and Palestinians—a lack of human contact that undermines trust and dialogue. Violence, insecurity, home demolitions, permit and visa problems, the route of the wall, expropriation of lands and other policies threaten both a two-state solution and the Christian presence. Furthermore, we encourage the full implementation of the Fundamental Agreement and the facilitation of visas for pastoral workers to enable the Church to fulfill its mission.
The deteriorating situation is not good for Israelis, Palestinians, the region and the world. Through our efforts we hope to focus the eyes of Catholics around the world on what happens here. We call upon the faithful in our nations to pray for the Church in the Holy Land, for a just peace, and for the success of the forthcoming Synod on the Middle East which is important for the whole region and the world.
We encourage our people to learn about the situation and to come on pilgrimage to witness the vibrant faith of the "living stones" of the local Church—the "Fifth Gospel". We urge them to support public officials who take courageous initiatives for a just resolution of the conflict—a two-state solution with security and recognition for Israel, and a viable and independent state for Palestinians. For us, this is not merely about politics; it is an issue of basic human rights.
In the current situation, it is difficult to sustain hope, but as Christians we were all born with Jesus Christ in Bethlehem; we all died and rise to new life in Jerusalem. Despite the wounds of this land, love and hope are alive. Peace with justice is within reach, but political leaders and all people of goodwill need courage to achieve it.
Signatories:
Bishop Stephan Ackermann
Bishop of Trier, President, Commission for Justice and Peace, German Bishops' Conference
Bishop Peter Bürcher
Bishop of Reykjavik, Nordic Bishops' Conference
Bishop Michel Dubost
Bishop of Evry, French Bishops' Conference
Archbishop Riccardo Fontana
Archbishop of Arezzo-Cortona-Sansepolcro, Italian Bishops' Conference
Bishop William Kenney CP
Auxiliary Bishop of Birmingham, Catholic Bishops' Conference of England & Wales
Representative of the Commission of Episcopal Conferences of the European Union
Bishop Gerald F. Kicanas
Bishop of Tucson, Vice President of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops
Bishop Pierre Morissette
Bishop of Saint-Jérôme, President of the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops (CCCB)
Bishop Joan-Enric Vives Sicilia
Bishop of Urgell and Co-Prince of Andorra, Spanish Bishops' ConferenceArchbishop O'Brien Speaks at Summit Aimed at Eliminating Nuclear Weapons
WASHINGTON- Archbishop Edwin O'Brien of Baltimore said humanity must "build a future free of the nuclear threat" in remarks on February 3 at the Global Zero Summit in Paris. The February 2-4 event brings together 200 international political, military, business and faith leaders for strategy talks on the phased elimination of all nuclear weapons.
Archbishop O'Brien cited the Second Vatican Council's condemnation of "total war" and the Council Father's skepticism of "deterrence" as a way to lasting peace. He anchored his reflections in just war principles and the teachings of modern popes. He quoted Pope Benedict XVI's 2006 World Day of Peace message, in which the pope said, "In a nuclear war there would be no victors, only victims."
The Archbishop acknowledged, "It will not be easy. ... A world with zero nuclear weapons will need robust measures to monitor, enforce and verify compliance. The path to zero will be long and treacherous. But humanity must walk this path with both care and courage in order to build a future free of the nuclear threat."
Other speakers at the Global Zero Summit included former U.S. Secretary of State George Schultz, Queen Noor of Jordan, and a message from UN General Secretary Ban Ki-Moon. The summit was timed to lead up to the Global Nuclear Security Summit in April, convened at the call of President Obama, and the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) Review Conference in May.
[The full text of Archbishop O'Brien's remarks can be found online at:
www.usccb.org/sdwp/international/global-zero-summit-2010-obrien.pdf.]
Pastoral Letter of the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops on Human Trafficking
In 2010, Canada will host the Olympic Winter Games. Many are looking forward to watching some of the world's best athletes compete. Others, in Vancouver and elsewhere – especially groups involved in the struggle against human trafficking – are worried. They know that some see this event as an opportunity to make money, no matter the cost to human dignity and human rights. …
As pastors of the Catholic Church in Canada, we denounce human trafficking in all its forms, whether it is intended for forced labour (domestic, farm or factory work) or for sexual exploitation (whether it be prostitution, pornography, forced marriages, strip clubs, or other). We invite the faithful to become aware of this violation of human rights and the trivialization of concerns about prostitution. Following the example of Jesus, who came into the world so that people "may have life, and have it abundantly" (John 10:10), we can share in the suffering of the victims and change the behaviours and mentalities that foster institutionalized violence in this new form of slavery which is human trafficking. Jesus himself proclaimed the liberation of captives as a sign of his presence among us (Luke 4:18-19). …
In a context of economic globalization where the gap between rich and poor countries is only increasing, the impoverished populations of the South and East remain vulnerable to trafficking. Their desire for a better life sends them across the border towards the North or the West to look for jobs. When hunger threatens their family's lives, people are more likely to believe the promises of unscrupulous smugglers or to succumb to the attraction of earning money through sexual tourism. Today, the speed of Internet and cellphone communication makes it easy to recruit people, who may find themselves in another country just a few hours later. Often, they cannot speak the language, their passport has been taken from them, and they are at the mercy of pimps who demand to be reimbursed for the victim's transportation costs. Women and children, usually under the influence of drugs, must then engage in prostitution under the vigilant eye of pimps who pocket the profits. If the victims try to run away or stand up for their rights, the pimps threaten to kill them or members of their families back home. …
The author of the First Letter of John asks us, "How does God's love abide in anyone who has the world's goods and sees a brother or sister in need and yet refuses help?" (1 John 3:17). We must also recognize that the demand for prostitution fuels the market for human trafficking. Without customers who ask for sexual services, there would be no prostitution, and thus no trafficking. In a country that considers equality between women and men to be a fundamental value, a country where a majority of citizens are Christians who promote the dignity of each person created in the image of God (Genesis 1:27), how can we tolerate prostitution, which is a form of institutionalized violence that destroys the physical, psychological and spiritual integrity of other human beings?
Many avenues exist to help solve this problem. We can support organizations that work with those who are victims of human trafficking, and also ask our governments to set up programs to educate people and to prevent violence against women. To help women break free of prostitution, as they are generally the victims, we must provide concrete assistance: including health care, psychological counselling, detoxification programs, safe housing, decent employment, and spiritual support.
Our prayers will also strengthen the hope of those many people whose liberty and humanity have been taken from them by trafficking and the courage of those groups that assist them. We believe that we are the hands and feet of the Risen Christ today: he who passed from death to life shows us the path that leads to the liberation of those caught in the snares of death. May our faith and outrage spur us to get involved, individually and together, for the transformation of our world!
[Read the entire letter at www.cccb.ca/site/content/view/2751/1217/lang,eng/.]Recent Allegations of Death by Torture Must Be Investigated
Washington, DC-Rev. Richard Killmer, the Executive Director of the National Religious Campaign Against Torture (NRCAT), an interfaith coalition of more than 270 religious organizations nationwide, released this statement today:
"Allegations of death by torture of three detainees in 2006 held at the Detention Center at Guantanamo Bay must be investigated thoroughly by the President and the U.S. Congress. According to Scott Horton, in an online article that will appear in the March 2010 print issue of Harper's Magazine, three individuals who were about to be released were likely tortured to death by suffocation when rags were stuffed in their mouths so they were unable to breathe. The official report at the time claimed the three had committed suicide by hanging themselves. But a former Guantanamo guard has recently stepped forward with information suggesting that the three detainees died at the hands of U.S. personnel.
This evidence of murder by torture demands a full and thorough investigation by the President and Congress and the appointment of a Special Prosecutor by the Department of Justice. It also adds to the now overwhelming demonstration of need for a Commission of Inquiry that would carry out a thorough investigation of all U.S.-sponsored torture since 9/11.
Congress and the American people must learn what happened to those three detainees for the sake of justice, confidence in our institutions, and the soul of our nation."
[The full article by Scott Horton can be found here.]
Redemptorist Superior General urges prayer for persecuted Vietnamese Catholics
Hanoi, Vietnam, Jan 26, 2010 / 02:08 am (CNA).- Following continued government persecution of Catholics in Vietnam, the Redemptorist Superior General has appealed for prayers for the Redemptorists and other Catholics in the country.
Recent incidents have centered at Dong Chiem parish in the Archdiocese of Hanoi. There, government officials blew up a crucifix at a cemetery on Jan. 6. Officials have blockaded the area around the parish and parishioners have been subject to beatings and mass arrests.
Last week, 36-year-old Redemptorist Brother Anthony Nguyen Van Tang was brutally beaten by police near the parish. He was left unconscious in a pool of blood.
Fr. Michael Brehl, the recently elected Superior General of the Congregation of the Most Holy Redeemer, told Fides that the Redemptorists hope the Vietnamese government investigates the incidents and will "act with justice."
Speaking from Rome on Sunday, Fr. Brehl reported that the Provincial Superior of the Redemptorists in Vietnam has requested prayers.
"The situation is tense, not only for the Redemptorists but also for many lay people, especially those active in pastoral work. I assured all our fellow Redemptorists in Vietnam and all those for whom we work of our solidarity and especially our prayers. Let us not forget them in this time of need!"
The Superior General noted that the government has denied responsibility for the destruction on the crucifix, but this is disputed by the Vietnamese bishops, witnesses and some independent journalists.
"Our response is prayer," Fr. Brehl said.
On Sunday a solemn prayer vigil was held at St. Joseph Cathedral in Hanoi. Thousands participated in the vigil, at which Auxiliary Bishop Lawrence Chu Van Minh was the presider.
The faithful have prayed for Archbishop Ngo Quang Kiet, who has often been criticized by the government and has asked to resign.
Thousands of Catholics also attended a Sunday prayer vigil at the Redemptorist monastery in Ho Chi Minh City, Fides says. They prayed for the victims of violence for the faithful of Dong Chiem. They also prayed for the Vietnamese government and the entire nation, exhorting that peace, harmony, justice and truth prevail in the country.
Hundreds of police mingled among the congregation, Sr. Emily Nguyen of VietCatholic.net reported.
At the vigil Fr. Joseph Le Quang Uy addressed the police, saying, "If you wish to arrest me, you can do it right now. I am ready to go with you."
He assured them that his congregation would not resist.
"Did you hear what our faithful are singing?" the priest asked the plainclothes police. "Lord, make me an instrument of Your peace; where there is hatred, let me sow love; where there is injury, pardon. Did you hear them praying for any evils against you?"
The vigil proceeded without incident. Previously, police had publicly threatened the vigil with "extreme actions" should it continue as scheduled.
[Read the entire article at www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/redemptorist_superior_general_urges_prayer_ for_persecuted_vietnamese_catholics/ . Other information is available on the Redemptorist Scala web site. ]
Sr. Dianna Ortiz, OSU joins Pax Christi USA staff as D.C. Office Director
Washington, D.C.—Pax Christi USA, the national Catholic peace movement, announced the hiring of Sr. Dianna Ortiz, OSU, as the new director of their Washington, D.C. office. Sr. Ortiz assumes responsibility for several primary components of Pax Christi USA's work, including policy direction, coalition work, and coordination and supervision of the new D.C.-based internship program. She will also be active in aspects of fundraising and development.
"We could not be more delighted to have such a distinguished and passionate leader in the Catholic peace and justice movement joining our staff," stated Dave Robinson, Executive Director of Pax Christi USA. "Dianna is an extraordinary individual and she brings a wealth of experience and extraordinary gifts to our organization."
Before joining Pax Christi USA's staff, Sr. Ortiz was the founder and executive director of the Torture Abolition and Survivors Support Coalition International (TASSC), an international organization of torture survivors, located in Washington, D.C. In her 2002 book, The Blindfold's Eyes: My Journey from Torture to Truth (with Patricia Davis and published by Orbis Books), Sr. Ortiz recounts her own story of abduction and torture in Guatemala, and her ongoing search for healing and justice.
"Sr. Dianna is well-known to members of Pax Christi USA, including being named Pax Christi USA Teacher of Peace in 2000," said Pax Christi USA National Council chairperson Pearlette Springer. "We're truly blessed to have her leadership and commitment to this movement as a member of the national staff."
From 2001-2003, Sr. Ortiz was a recipient of the Ashoka Fellowship for Social Entrepreneurs and has also been recognized with honorary doctorates from the College of New Rochelle (NY), Carroll College (MT) and Springfield College (IL). She has received numerous awards, including the M. Shanara Gilbert Human Rights Award from the Society of American Law Teachers in 2008 and the Freedom House: Speak Truth to Power award in 2004.
"I'm excited to join the staff of Pax Christi USA, an organization I've long admired and been a member of, and I look forward to working on a variety of issues focused on our work for peace and justice," stated Sr. Ortiz.
National Catholic peace organization launches new internship program
Washington, D.C.— Earlier this month, Pax Christi USA began a new internship program based in Washington, D.C. The program is built around a commitment to professional work in a faith-based peace and justice organization, the experience of living in intentional community, and the opportunity for personal and spiritual formation.
"This is the fruition of years of planning," stated Dave Robinson, Executive Director of Pax Christi USA. "We have long wanted to set up a top-notch internship program which would attract some of the best and brightest young faith-based activists from across the country. This program is the realization of that dream."
The program will consist of 3-5 interns, with a term of service of one year. The interns will be working in a variety of capacities within the organization, as well as serve as leaders in Pax Christi USA's commitment to growing the organization specifically through outreach to students and young adults.
"Interns will work out of our D.C. office, but their presence will go well beyond that," Robinson said. "They also are living in community, overseeing Pax Christi USA's internship house, and offering hospitality and communal witness as part of the program."
The first class of three interns began on January 11 and additional interns will be brought on in August 2010.
"I hope this year will be a year of personal and spiritual growth," said Beth Kenyon, one of the members of the first internship class. "I am looking forward to becoming a part of the NGO community in Washington, D.C. and the movement for justice and peace throughout the U.S."
Manuel Padilla, another member of the class, "hopes to learn how to effectively transform theoretical knowledge into concrete, practical action. For me, the human contact, the learning and exposure, and the seeing of Christ in others is what ultimately sustains me in my efforts for the peace process."
Amy Watts, the third member of the class, echoed the comments of her colleagues, add that she looked forward to exploring "the concepts of intentional community, prayer, and simplicity" within the program.
For more information on the program, contact:
Johnny Zokovitch, Pax Christi USA Program Director:
(352) 219-8419 or johnnypcusa@yahoo.com
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