Catholic san Francisco Newspaper of the Archdiocese of San Francisco
Congo bishop seeks US Catholic help on mining wars, violence against women By Rick DelVecchio More than 1 million Congolese have been displaced in fighting over illegal mining in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo, and women and girls are suffering the most as combatants use rape as a weapon of war, says Bishop Nicolas Djomo of the Diocese of Tshumbe. Armed groups outgun Congo’s military to claim their share of scarce “blood minerals” such as casserite and coltan, which command high prices in the world market because they are needed to make computers and cell phones, Bishop Djomo told Catholic San Francisco during an interview at the Archdiocese of San Francisco chancery May 18. “In the eastern Congo we have armed groups who are committing atrocities against civilians, mainly because of the
mineral resources,” Bishop Djomo said. “Groups are looting resources to send them outside to international companies. They get money and continue to rape women and commit atrocities, because it’s a way to humiliate the enemies. It’s like a weapon. That is very difficult for the women. We have at least 1 million displaced in that region. The Church is taking care of them with our hospitals.” The 65-year-old prelate, who serves as president of the National Catholic Bishops Conference, described revenge attacks where “when one group arrives in a village they think that village before them has welcomed their enemy, so they punish them by raping.” The United Nations Population Fund reported 7,500 cases of gender violence in North and South Kivu provinces in the CONGO, page 5 (CNS PHOTO/CAROLINE IRBY, OXFAM/REUTERS)
A victim of violence in the Congo, this 17-year-old girl stands at a transition and rehabilitation center run by religious and charitable groups.
SF Planning Commission approves pot club for Sunset; neighbors to appeal
As Korean tensions escalate, Catholic leaders call for prayers SEOUL, South Korea (CNS) – Catholic leaders have called for prayers as tensions in the Korean peninsula escalate, reported the Asian church news agency UCA News. South Korea’s president raised the stakes in the standoff by slashing trade to communist North Korea in retaliation for a torpedo attack by the North that killed 46 South Korean sailors. North Korea accused the South of a smear campaign and said May 25 that it would sever all ties with the South. “With Christian faith, we view this as another ordeal on the way toward national reconciliation and we must keep hope. We need to pray for peace and reconciliation,” said Fabiano Choi Hong-jun, chairman of the Catholic Lay Apostolate Council of Korea. He said the tensions have thrown cold water on efforts for national reconciliation. The sinking of the South Korean warship Cheonan March 26 in the Yellow Sea was the country’s worst military loss since the 1950-53 Korean War. An international team of investigators determined a torpedo from a North Korean submarine sank the ship. Father Raphael Seo Jong-yeob described South Korean President Lee Myungbak’s decision to enact economic reprisals against the North as “regretful,” observing that the bishops’ Committee for the Reconciliation of the Korean People had planned much aid to North Korea, but had to cancel it. He welcomed the president’s decision to exclude North Korean children from the aid embargo. South Korea has been the North’s second-largest trading partner, after China. Father Seo said North and South Korea “must continue to talk about peace and reconciliation” and that is why “prayers are needed earnestly.”
Delegation from St. Ignatius. From left, social studies teacher Art Cecchin, students Katie Girlich, Ester Abarca, Theresa Martin, S.I. Dean of Students Bill Gotch. By Valerie Schmalz The San Francisco Planning Commission voted 5-1 to approve a medical marijuana dispensary in the Sunset District, despite opposition by thousands in the neighborhood including members of the Chinese Gospel Church, located next door to the proposed site at 2139 Taraval Street, and the owners of a 7-Eleven store across the street.
Neighborhood groups say they will appeal. “We’re going to fight this,” said Dallas Udovch, president of the Taraval Parkside Merchants Association. The Archdiocese of San Francisco Office of Public Policy and Social Concerns also submitted a letter in opposition and a delegation from St. Ignatius College Preparatory testified against the pot club. SUNSET POT CLUB, page 10
INSIDE THIS WEEK’S EDITION Bishops meet with Castro. . . 3 Inspire, nourished by faith . . 6 Wedding Guide . . . . . . . . 7-11 Commentary & columns .12-13
Portuguese Pentecost Holy Ghost Festival Story and pictures on www.catholic-sf.org May 28, 2010
Young mother on Mary . . . . 15
Conscience lawsuit News in brief ~ Page 4 ~
Holy Trinity Sunday ‘Stop by and visit’ ~ Page 14 ~
ONE DOLLAR
Datebook of events . . . . . . . 17 Book review, TV notes . . . . 18
NEXT ISSUE JUNE 11 VOLUME 12
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No. 19