The Southern Cross - 100630 by The Southern Cross

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SOUTHERN AFRICA’S NATIONAL CATHOLIC WEEKLY SINCE 1920

Diocese tackles human trafficking with camps

Inside Parish centre for demolition Durban’s Cathedral parish is planning to tear down its century-old centre—if nobody has a serious objection.—Page 3

Priesthood not about status

A priest who seeks status rather than the will of God won’t ever discover how God wants to use his personal gifts and talents for the good of the Church and the world, Pope Benedict has said.—Page 5

Cardinal under investigation Italian magistrates have informed Cardinal Crescenzio Sepe of Naples that he forms part of a wide-ranging corruption investigation.—Page 5

Let’s keep African names In an opinion column, Marist Brother Simeon Banda argues that the Church should encourage the use of African names.—Page 9

No coercion in confession In his fortnightly column, Michael Shackleton explains why it is necessary to maintain trust between confessor and penitent.—Page 9

What do you think? In their Letters to the Editor this week, readers discuss the language of Mass, preparations for the new missal, military conscription, the sacrament of reconciliation, and more.— Pages 8 & 11

This week’s editorial: Violence: We are warned

Fake priest excommunicated

Honest parish finances

www.scross.co.za

June 30 to July 6, 2010 No 4682

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Power of SA Church’s World Cup St Thérèse’s relics fever in pics

Xenophobic attacks after Cup?

Reg No. 1920/002058/06

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FAKE priest who reportedly built up quite a following in the Philippines by celebrating “Latin Masses”, has had his priestly career cut short by a Philippines diocese. Cubao diocese in Quezon City announced that Bishop Honesto Ongtioco had excommunicated former seminarian Xavier Eubra de Borja this month, reported the Catholic Asian news agency UCA News. Mr De Borja had served as an altar boy during his student days. After leaving the country and entering a seminary in Russia, he returned to his old parish in 2009, saying he was an “ordained priest” on vacation. He even presented documents proclaiming himself a member of the Canons Regular of St Augustine in France. The parish accepted Mr De Borja as a “guest priest” before his supposed return to “assignment in Russia”. However, a check with the Vladivostok-based Mary Mother of God Mission Society revealed that no Filipino priest was assigned there. In the meantime, Church authorities also learned Mr De Borja had celebrated Mass, heard confessions and conducted retreats and recollections while “on holiday”. He reportedly attracted parishioners with his celebration of the Mass, which was described as “reminiscent of all the reverence and strict compliance with the movements and rituals whenever traditional Latin Masses are celebrated”. The fake priest reportedly delivered good homilies. Mr De Borja is now barred from attending Catholic Mass, receiving Communion and participating in religious ceremonies.

Children before Mass on a mountain at one of three camps in the diocese of Aliwal North aimed at combating human trafficking. The children are from the Indwe region of the diocese. “The vuvuzela kept quiet during Mass,” Bishop Wüstenberg said.

HE diocese of Aliwal North is hosting three camps during the month-long school holidays aimed at combating human trafficking. “Recruiters” for trafficking have been active in his diocese, said Bishop Michael Wüstenberg. Aliwal North is in the Eastern Cape, south of Lesotho’s border. The bishop told of one mother who witnessed at the camp how she was almost tricked into “selling” her child. The camps, which will have been attended by a total of 450 children, address human trafficking by creating awareness among participants and then in their communities and Small Christian Communities. Bishop Wüstenberg pointed out that simply by being at the camps during the long school holidays over the World Cup, the children will not be available to traffickers. Catechetical elements also form part of the camps’ daily schedule. While the children enjoy viewing some of the World Cup games, said the bishop, they prefer to play the game themselves.

New chancery for Johannesburg BY JUDY STOCKILL

HE archdiocese of Johannesburg is planning to build a new chancery in Berea, and is looking to raise funds to help finance the move. Parish priests and parish pastoral council chairpersons were presented with the plans for a new chancery, its cost and the method of financing at the archdiocese’s annual general finance meeting. Mr Richard Waller of TPSP Architects presented the conceptual plans. There will be three components to the project: an upgrade of the Moth Hall on the west; upgrade of the existing halls (including the one presently used as the chancery), and the building of the new chancery. The old Moth Hall will house the soup kitchen and interview or consulting rooms. The halls are art deco heritage buildings built in 1934 as a factory which at one time housed a Pepsi bottling plant. They will be sensitively refurbished to meet the needs of the Cathedral parish and the archdiocese, the meeting was told. The new chancery will be built on the terrace above the halls to the east of the priests’ house. It will be a 2 000m 2 threestorey building with basement parking. It will have balconies and arcades on the north and south. The space between the chancery, cathedral and the halls will be a tranquil courtyard in keeping with a spiritual place of prayer. The parking lot will be treed. The chancery building is projected to cost R30 million, and the money will be raised by parishes. Charles Rowlinson of the archdiocese

A sketch of the new Johannesburg chancery finance committee presented the funding target. Parishes will have an obligation to raise four times their 2009 levy within two years. If their levy in was above R100 000, they will be required to contribute five times the amount. In a subsequent letter to every parish priest, parish finance committee and parish pastoral council chairperson, Archbishop Buti Tlhagale admitted to wondering “if we have made the right decision in these difficult economic times”. However, he added, “if it was not me, then someone some time in the future would have had to make the decision to upgrade the very old, present make-shift chancery”. He asked each parish to sign a commitment to raise their target and urged that a dedicated fundraising team be appointed in each parish. At the finance meeting, Chubby Sonderup introduced a “Buy-a-Brick” fundraising competition by which donors would

contribute “a brick” towards the building. The bigger the “brick”, the bigger the prize. Ticket sales will help each parish meet its target, and any funds raised over and above the target will be split between the parish and the project, Mrs Sonderup said. In an interview with Johannesburg’s Archdiocesan News, Archbishop Tlhagale said the chancery project will unify the diocese and “lift our spirits”. It will be a concrete expression of our ownership of the Church in the diocese and a show of our determination to be self-sustaining, the archbishop said. “The Church is bigger than just the parish,” he said. He pointed out that of all South African dioceses, Johannesburg’s receives the biggest financial injection from the Pontifical Mission Society—money given by fellow Catholics mostly in the Americas and Europe. It is time that the local Church used its own resources, Archbishop Tlhagale said. “We must drink from our own well.”

The Southern Cross, June 30 to July 6, 2010

LOCAL

Fear of xenophobic attacks after football World Cup BY MICHAIL RASSOOL

OLE-PLAYERS in the Church have expressed concern that attacks on refugees and asylum seekers have not ceased since the wave of attacks that swept the country in May 2008. While football World Cup fever is sweeping the country, they felt the need to remind people in the Church and beyond of the high levels of xenophobia among South Africans, and how it exploded into flagrant violations of human rights inflicted on “foreigners” then. John McCormick, field worker and materials developer for the Catholic Institute of Education’s religious education department, remembered how violent attacks spread through the country. “When it subsided, the number of people killed was put at 60-40 described as foreigners and 20 as South African—and about 650

injured. And at least 15 000 people had been displaced from their homes in Gauteng alone,” Mr McCormick said. He said refugee camps now exist in Cape Town, Pretoria, and Johannesburg, and refugees are back in the news as tensions between them and police, security companies and the department of home affairs (because of registration processes) rise. He said ordinary South Africans, often through Christian, Muslim or Jewish agencies, responded to the crisis by donating foodstuffs, blankets, pharmaceuticals and other items. Mr McCormick decried the government’s attempts back then to downplay the seriousness of the situation to the international community. Clinical psychologist Johanna Kistner, executive director of the Johannesburg Church-based

Sophiatown Community Psychological Services (formerly Reginald Orsmond Psychological Services), wrote about a group of women from different African countries that meet weekly for counselling and mutual support at her facility. “The memory is not only painfully alive in every detail of their daily struggle for survival, but also imbued with a constantly reinforced terror of what is still to come ‘after the World Cup’ or after [Nelson] Mandela dies,” Ms Kistner wrote. She said that in the last few months foreign nationals making use of her counselling service have reported an intensification of xenophobic threats and abuse in their daily interactions with South Africans. One client told of an incident when her daughter was walking home from school in Yeoville with three of her friends.

An old man stopped them and asked which one of them was a foreigner. After her friends pointed to her daughter, the man shoved a newspaper article at her, saying: “We are preparing to cut off your head. We will kill you. Show this to your mother,” said Ms Kistner. Miranda Madikane, director of the Scalabrini Centre of Cape Town, said 68% of refugees surveyed at the centre reported receiving death threats. She said the figures support fears within the NGO community that xenophobic violence may break out again across the country after the World Cup. “It is important that the authorities take these threats seriously and that action be taken to address the concerns,” Ms Madikane said at a gathering of 40 NGOs in Cape Town. Jean-Marie Nkurunziza of the Sonke Gender Justice Network told

the meeting of a colleague being attacked at the Bellville railway station. “We need to stand together now to prevent further incidents like this from happening,” Ms Nkurunziza said. The organisations attending were launching a joint campaign against xenophobia, encouraging other NGOs, organisations and individuals to make a public pledge to condemn and speak out against xenophobia. Spiritan Father Stan Augustijns, director of the Refugee Pastoral Centre (RPC) in Durban, said very often the internecine tensions that gave rise to conflict are occasionally played out at the centre. This happens when one group tries to influence the goings on in the RPC to the disadvantage of another, he said.

Bishop says Church must not ‘go back’ BY MICHAIL RASSOOL

ISHOP Kevin Dowling of Rustenburg described himself as a searcher after the truth among fellow searchers, saying that he supports the growth of an aware, thinking and committed people in the Church. The bishop was speaking to a luncheon gathering at the Cape Town Club on “models” of Church in today's world—some of which he sees as a retrogressing away from the reforms of the Second Vatican Council. Bishop Dowling, known as a tireless worker in the field of social justice, said the current trend is for the Church to “go back” and restore “a more controllable model of Church” synonymous with the past. Speaking on the culture of “restorationism”, he cited what he saw as the undermining of the theology of Vatican II as part of it. This, he said, has been a key policy direction of the Vatican since the beginning of the pontificate of Pope John Paul II. Among the aspects of post-Vatican II Church life affected by this trend, Bishop Dowling said, is the application of the social teaching principle of subsidiarity or “servant leadership”. He said the tendency is towards a centralised power structure with strict orthodox compliance—an atmosphere that has seen good theologians forbidden from teaching at Catholic faculties, more than 40 years after an ecumenical council gave direction for a modern Church and produced documents that were to be followed and implemented. This, he said, has the potential to break down unity within the Church. “After all, who in today’s world would even allow themselves to be challenged by the moral authority of the Church?” said Bishop Dowling. He said he has increasingly felt that the “official Church” has been out of touch with the experience of Church in other contexts, which does have a bearing on the effectiveness of its witness. He said he always advised confirmation candidates to build a personal relationship with Jesus. The same advice applies to priests and forms the basis for local movements. Bishop Dowling said that a major irony of the post-Vatican II era is that since the 1960s there has been no real exercise of teaching authority at episcopal level and lower, except for certain decrees and decisions, with almost all aspects of teaching being centralised in Rome. Instead of reverting to triumphalist old Church symbols, he said, the post-Vatican II Church should relish the successes it has enjoyed, particularly strides made in fighting for justice and peace. In so doing it engages meaningfully with the modern world and its complex realities, especially those affecting the poor and vulnerable, Bishop Dowling said. He said God’s ministry nowadays should consist in a “humble searching”, “engaging with the complex ethics of our day”.

LOCAL

The Southern Cross, June 30 to July 6, 2010

Bid to tear down parish centre BY MICHAIL RASSOOL

Eight men, including a South African, were ordained to the diaconate in St Patrick’s College, Maynooth, Ireland as the penultimate step towards ordination to the priesthood. The principal celebrant was Bishop Joseph Toal of Argyll and the Isles. Of the eight men, five were ordained for Ireland and two for Scotland. Malcolm McLaren was ordained for the archdiocese of Johannesburg. PHOTO: EAMONN ROCHE

Teacher nun dies aged 103

ISTER Theodata Pubec, died in Pretoria, aged 103 on 17 May. She was the oldest Holy Cross Sister. Sr Pubec was born in Germany in 1907 and arrived in South Africa in 1933. During the 75 years of her life as a Holy Cross Sister, she taught lower primary classes and rendered other services in many places in the Eastern and Western Cape. All her life it was her great joy to teach catechism. She was respected and loved by the parents of the children whom she prepared for First Holy Communion, the Holy Cross sister said. She taught catechism to children on Robben Island and told with pride that in Kokstad she taught the young Wilfrid Napier, the present cardinal and archbishop of

Durban. Sr Pubec had a special love for the Franciscan Friars in Kokstad and they returned her regard. She was a strong woman with decided views and was forthright in expressing them. Even in her very old age it was not easy for her to resign herself to being “retired”. Her deep prayer life kept her going and she especially enjoyed visits from Franciscans. In the last year of her life she entered “second childhood” and showed a calm, joyful spirit. She died peacefully in the presence of the Sisters of Holy Cross Home. Fr Hyacinth Ennis OFM celebrated her Requiem Mass and Archbishop George Daniel conducted the burial rites. She was buried at Zandfontein cemetery in Pretoria.

MMANUEL cathedral in Durban has applied to the KwaZulu-Natal heritage authority for permission to demolish its parish centre and erect a new building on the same site. It is necessary to apply to the authority, Amafa, because the old building is situated in a heritagesensitive part of the city, a media statement from the cathedral said. The cathedral, in the interests of following statutory procedures in accomplishing its aims, has commenced a public participation process calling for comment and objections to its plans. The parish centre, situated alongside the cathedral on the corner of Denis Hurley (formerly Queen St) and Cathedral Roads in Durban’s central business district, was originally designed as St Augustine’s School for Coloured Children, and completed in 1905. The late Archbishop Denis Hurley turned it into a parish centre and a safe haven during the Cato Manor riots of 1949. Amafa spokeswoman Ros Devereux said that by following proper procedures, the cathedral was acting in accordance with the national Promotion of Administrative Justice Act of 2006 and in terms of draft regulations of the Provincial Heritage Places Act. She said Amafa has an environmental committee that looks into such applications, and the parish centre is a substantial building to demolish on an important historical site. The cathedral statement urged public participation in the process. “We…invite interested people to visit the parish centre themselves to be better informed about the building, to be briefed about the social outreach work that takes place within the parish centre and to hear about our plans for the future.” The statement said the archdiocese of Durban has long had a firm commitment to the preservation of heritage buildings. For example, it has already invested R20 million

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Emmanuel cathedral in Durban hopes to demolish its parish centre to build a new building on the same site. in the comprehensive renovation of the cathedral and the adjacent presbytery. In 2008, discussions began about transforming the cathedral parish centre into a multi-purpose facility to house the cathedral’s social outreach projects, educational and community building work. These have been based in this building for some decades and currently help about 4 000 people a month, the statement said. The cathedral’s initial hope was that the parish centre could be restored, and Ruben Reddy Architects—described by Amafa’s Ms Devereux as a top heritage firm— were briefed to draw up plans for this purpose. This process revealed that, in its current state, the building is “a faint shadow of the original architect’s concept as a result of insensitive repairs and poorly executed alterations made throughout its 103-year history,” said the cathedral statement. After extensive consultation and research it was realised that the many challenges in restoring the existing building would be costly and would outweigh its limited heritage and architectural value. “Restoring the parish centre would not overcome the major structural challenges to be faced in order to serve the community

most effectively,” the statement said. The archdiocese of Durban decided, on advice from the architects who were previously involved in restoring the cathedral and presbytery, that a new building should be erected on the same site. Ms Devereux told The Southern Cross that Ruben Reddy Architects had been engaged to oversee demolition of the parish centre as early as 1977, which was suspended owing to lack of funds for a new building. She said many opinions from the public, mostly favourable, had already been received. Representations were welcome till the end of June. The intention is to construct a purpose-built centre to be known as the Denis Hurley Centre in honour of the archbishop, who was well known for his stand for justice and against apartheid, the cathedral statement said. “Designed along environmentally sensitive guidelines, the building will respond to the needs of a diverse parish and interfaith community,” it said. As a contribution to the public participation process initiated by Amafa, regular guided tours of the parish centre and cathedral precinct as well as briefings about the cathedral’s vision for the Denis Hurley Centre, were on offer.

The Southern Cross, June 30 to July 6, 2010

INTERNATIONAL

International effort is needed to stop crime I NTERNATIONAL crime, particularly involving drugs and human trafficking, requires an international response to stop it, according to the head of the Vatican’s permanent observer mission to the United Nations. Cracking down, though, cannot be the only international response, Archbishop Celestino Migliore, the Vatican’s UN nuncio told the body’s general assembly. “While it is imperative to hold accountable for their actions criminals who disrupt the common

good, so too is it necessary to recognise the rights and dignity of victims and offenders in order to remedy the harm caused by crime,” he said. Archbishop Migliore referred to two recent treaties to make his point: the Naples Declaration of 2009, which aims to deter piracy in open waters, and the Palermo Convention, of 2000, designed to stop “transnational” organised crime, especially in human trafficking. “These conventions recognised

the increasingly indisputable observation that as crime becomes international, the response also must become international,” Archbishop Migliore said. “Today, millions of people are victims of trafficking, of which over 70%, almost all women and girls, are trafficked for the purpose of sexual exploitation. This reality is both tragic and inexcusable. “The transnational trafficking of women and children for sexual exploitation is based on a balance between the supply of victims

from sending countries and the demand in receiving countries. The trafficking process begins with the demand,” he said. Archbishop Migliore applied the supply-and-demand parallel to the drug trade as well. “To address this problem, the international community must not only focus on the areas of production but must also address the ever-present demand for illegal drugs,” he said. “This demand, driven heavily by the developed world, demonstrates that in order

to address drug production abroad, efforts must be taken at home.” He offered suggestions for curbing demand. “We should focus our efforts on addressing and even criminalising the devastating demand for prostitution,” he said. When it comes to the drug trade, “personal, social and spiritual rehabilitation is necessary for drug abusers and the communities devastated by the producing and smuggling of drugs”.—CNS

Call to welcome migrants Kenyan prayer

Ati Barrera, 16, and other Spanish youth wear their national flag as they tour Rome near the Vatican. World Youth Day, the international Catholic youth gathering with Pope Benedict, will be held in Madrid in August 2011. PHOTO: PAUL HARING, CNS

OPE Benedict has appealed for fair treatment of the world’s refugees, saying they deserve to be welcomed with respect for their rights and human dignity. At the same time, the pope said refugees should show respect for the identity of their host countries. “Refugees desire to find welcome and to be recognised in their dignity and their fundamental rights. At the same time, they intend to offer their contribution to the society that welcomes them,” he said. “Let us pray that, in a just and mutual relationship, their expectations have an adequate response, and that they demonstrate the respect they feel for the identity of the community that receives them,” he said. Archbishop Antonio Maria Veglio, head of the Pontifical Council

for Migrants and Travellers, said at a prayer vigil that refugee movements in recent years have become “real humanitarian crises” of biblical proportions. Often the refugee flow is aggravated by organised criminal activities. “We cannot be silent about the arrogant revival of the slave trade, which today involves about a million persons each year, destined for the markets of prostitution, forced labour, organ trafficking and underage sex.” He said poverty and the “enormous economic disparities” of today’s world were often motives for migration. Caritas Internationalis, the Vatican-based umbrella organisation for Catholic charities, highlighted the condition of women refugees, who it said were especially vulnerable to human rights abuses when they’ve been forced to leave their homes for long periods.—CNS

Why G-8’s self-praise is too kind T BY MICHAEL SWAN

HE Group of Eight (or G-8) countries have issued a glowing report card complimenting themselves on how “the G-8 has acted as a force for positive change and its actions have made a difference in addressing global challenges”. However, an independent academic assessment of development aid from the world’s leading industrialised countries since the 2009 G-8 summit, as well as comments from aid agencies and activists from poor countries, are not quite so kind. The Muskoka Accountability Report assembled by the G-8 nations takes a mostly positive view of how well summit participants have kept their commitments. “In some areas, the G-8 can point to considerable success; in others, it has further to go to fully deliver on its promises,” according to the report issued on June 20 as

final preparations were being made for this month’s summit in Huntsville, Canada. However, the G-8 Research Group at the University of Toronto said the leading industrial nations complied with a little more than half of their promises. Canada fared a little better, meeting about two-thirds of its promises, good enough for third place, tied with the European Union, the G-8 Research Group found. Britain remained in the top spot in the annual analysis. Japan edged up to second. The United States was fifth. While G-8 officials talk about accountability on last year’s $22 billion in pledges for food security and agricultural development, the aid community is still waiting on their report, said Canada Foodgrains Bank Executive Director Jim Cornelius. The hard part is separating the new money from recycled old promises. “Governments like to

count things more than once,” Mr Cornelius said, adding that he hopes new accountability mechanisms will make it easier to track G-8 and G-20 performances. But ticking off promises kept and holding annual meetings that concentrate on single issues might not be enough when all the issues are linked, according to activists from Kairos, an ecumenical social justice advocacy organisation. Straight investments in agriculture, such as those promised last year in L’Aquila, Italy, will not work without taking into account the effects of climate change, said activist Naty Atz Sunc, general coordinator of the Association for Community Development and Promotion in Guatemala. Since Hurricane Mitch hit Guatemala in 1998, poor farmers have found it difficult to re-establish their livelihoods because weather patterns have been unpredictable. Spending on agriculture must be linked to climate change

adaptation, she said. Since 2009, farmers in Kenya have tried to plant crops three times, only to be frustrated by uncharacteristic drought and weather patterns that village elders say they have never seen before, said Isaiah Kipyegon Toroitich, a programme officer working for Norwegian Church Aid in the east African nation. “You can easily see communities becoming poorer and poorer,” he said. None of the aid spending will work without “rehumanising society,” said François Pihaatae of the Pacific Conference of Churches in Tahiti. Christians ought to be able to look past the hype and the traffic jams of the summit and see the serious issues, Mr Cornelius said. “They should care. The challenge is to be able to look below the surface, because a lot of what happens on the surface is hype.”— CNS

for constitution BY WALTER CHERUIYOT

HE Catholic Church in Kenya held a day of prayer as voters consider their stance on a referendum on the country’s draft constitution. Cardinal John Njue of Nairobi, chairman of the Kenya Episcopal Conference, asked that prayers be offered to seek God’s guidance during a particularly trying time in the country’s history. In a letter to the country’s Catholics, he urged Christians to reject the proposed constitution and to pray for peace during the period leading to the August 4 vote. “As a country we are praying for a peaceful referendum and campaign to continue without dividing Kenyans on tribal lines,” Cardinal Njue said. Kenya’s bishops have opposed the draft constitution, which includes clauses they believe could lead to the legalisation of abortion and the entrenchment of Islamic courts. The proposed constitution would keep abortion illegal, but includes exceptions if, “there is need for emergency treatment, or the life or health of the mother is in danger, or if permitted by any other written law”. The document also limits the powers of the Kenyan presidency and includes sections on judicial reform, land reform and an end to impunity. Other Christian leaders have sided with the bishops in opposing the document because of the abortion clause. Meanwhile, Kenyan authorities continue to investigate the bombing of a June 13 prayer service called to oppose the proposed constitution. Six Kenyans died in Nairobi’s Uhuru Park when an unknown person lobbed a grenade into the gathering. Dozens more were injured.—CNS

INTERNATIONAL

The Southern Cross, June 30 to July 6, 2010

Vatican: BP oil spill like Chernobyl BY JOHN THAVIS

T Fish lie dead in oil in Port Sulpher, Louisiana. The Vatican spokesman has said that the leaking BP oil well in the Gulf of Mexico was a disaster “ of enormous proportions, and getting worse”. PHOTO: SEAN GARDNER, REUTERS/CNS

HE “sense of powerlessness and delay” in resolving the worst offshore oil spill in US history offers a lesson about the limits of technology, a Vatican official said. Vatican spokesman Fr Federico Lombardi SJ said in a commentary that the leaking BP oil well in the Gulf of Mexico was a disaster “of enormous proportions, and getting worse”. He compared it to the 1984 chemical factory explosion in Bhopal, India, or the 1986 meltdown of the nuclear power plant

in Chernobyl, Ukraine. “What is striking in this case is the sense of powerlessness and delay in finding a solution to this disaster faced by one of the largest and most technologically advanced oil multinationals in the world, but also by the most powerful country on earth,” he said. “This is not the eruption of a volcano, but a relatively small man-made hole in the seabed. Yet, in two months, expert scientists and technicians, leaders in their field, have failed to plug it.” The Vatican spokesman said he hoped people would draw from

the disaster a lesson in prudence and care in the use of the earth’s resources. “Technology will advance. But if a relatively simple production process leaves us so helpless, what will we do if much more complex processes get out of hand, such as those affecting the energy hidden in the heart of matter or moreover in the processes of the formation of life?” he said. Father Lombardi noted that the issue of responsible use of technology was addressed by Pope Benedict in his last encyclical, Caritas in Veritate.—CNS

Pope: Priesthood about service, not status BY CINDY WOODEN

PRIEST who seeks status rather than the will of God will be a slave to himself and to public opinion and will never discover how God wants to use his personal gifts and talents for the good of the Church and the world, Pope Benedict has said. Being ordained a priest requires “the courage to say ‘yes’ to the will of another”, knowing that God and the Church will not erase his individuality, but will help him become all he can be, the pope said before ordaining 14 new priests for the diocese of Rome. The 14 men, who studied at four different seminaries in the city, promised the pope their fidelity, expressed their desire to preach the Gospel and administer the sacraments and

accepted celibacy as a way to consecrate themselves completely to God. As the congregation invoked the assistance of all the saints, the men lay face down on a rug before the main altar in St Peter’s basilica. Then, one by one, they knelt before Pope Benedict as he placed his hands on their heads and ordained them to the priesthood. “The Church counts on you; it counts on you very much. The Church needs each one of you,” the pope told them in his homily. “The priesthood can never represent a way to achieve security in life or to gain a position in society,” he said. A man who sees the priesthood as a way to gain status obviously does not understand what it means to be a priest, but he also will never be free or

happy, the pope said. If status is what a priest is looking for, “he will have to flatter; he will have to say things just to please people” and follow fads, “depriving himself of a life-giving relationship with the truth”. The path of true discipleship, which includes taking up the cross, “is the sure path for finding true joy”, the pope said. A large part of that joy comes from being able to celebrate the Eucharist, “holding in our hands the bread of heaven, the bread of God, who is Christ, the grain broken in order to be multiplied and to become the real food for the life of the world”, he said. “It is something that cannot but fill us with deep awe, lively joy and immense gratitude,” the pope told the new priests.— CNS

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Ex-Vatican cardinal denies corruption BY CINDY WOODEN

S Italian magistrates continue a wide-ranging investigation into public works contracts and suspected kickbacks, they have informed Cardinal Crescenzio Sepe of Naples that he is a subject of the investigation. The investigators are looking at contracts Cardinal Sepe made with government officials while he was head of the Congregation for the Evangelisation of Peoples from 2001-06. Italian newspapers speculated that the cardinal sold property below market value to a government minister who then allocated public funds for work on the Vatican building housing the congregation. There are also questions about how the cardinal helped a government official—now under investiga-

Cardinal Crescenzio Sepe holds a letter during a news conference. PHOTO: CIRO DE LUCA, REUTERS/CNS

tion—find an apartment. At a press conference in Naples, Cardinal Sepe said: “I always did everything with maximum transparency. I always acted in accordance with my conscience, having the good of the Church as my only objective.”

In addition, the cardinal said, every financial decision made while he was prefect of the congregation was reviewed by the prefecture for the Economic Affairs of the Holy See and by the Vatican Secretariat of State. Vatican spokesman Fr Federico Lombardi SJ said in a statement that the Vatican supported Cardinal Sepe “in this difficult moment”. “Cardinal Sepe is a person who has worked and works intensely and generously for the Church and for the people entrusted to him and who has a right to be respected and esteemed,” Fr Lombardi said. “Naturally, we all hope and trust that the situation will be clarified fully and rapidly in order to eliminate every shadow over him and over the institutions of the Church.”—CNS

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Sex abuser bishop is not returning to ministry

HE Vatican has denied reports that it lifted restrictions on a Polish archbishop who resigned because of sex abuse allegations in 2002. Vatican spokesman Fr Federico Lombardi SJ said that there was no basis for reports that retired Archbishop Juliusz Paetz of Poznan had been “rehabilitat-

ed” and restored to active ministry. “The criteria and restrictions established in 2002, which have been followed up to this time, will not be modified.” That meant Archbishop Paetz would not be able to preside over public liturgical ceremonies. He also denied reports that

the current head of the archdiocese of Poznan, Archbishop Stanislaw Gadecki, had resigned in protest at Archbishop Paetz’s supposed return to ministry. Archbishop Paetz, now 75, resigned under pressure in March 2002 after allegations that he had sexually abused seminarians. —CNS

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The Southern Cross, June 30 to July 6 2010

COMMUNITY

Sr Alocoque Hecker and Fr Varghese Kannanaickel of Eucharistic Heart of Jesus parish in Cambridge, East London, get into the spirit of the World Cup by giving it their all while blowing their vuvuzelas. SUBMITTED BY JULIE STANWORTH

As part of World Cup Sunday celebrations, the choir of St Francis Xavier parish in Bluff, Durban, wore their Bafana Bafana football shirts in support of the national team. Members are (back) Brian Blumfield, (second row) Dean Firmin, Llewellyn Blumfield, Bill Addinall, (front row) Fr Derrick Butt OMI, Cynthia Addinall, Sylvia Daniels, Betty Williams and Thérèse Middlemiss.

Manny de Freitas, an active Catholic and shadow minister of transport for the Democratic Alliance, signs a giant Bafana Bafana jersey as part of the “Unite Mzansi Unite” campaign designed to show support for South Africa’s hosting of the World Cup. “I can now say to all those doomsday messengers about South Africa hosting the World Cup: ‘I told you so!’” Mr de Freitas said.

African Jesuits got into the World Cup vibe by blowing the now iconic vuvuzela. From left: Frs Ngonidzatshe Edward from Zimbabwe, Chris Chatteris from Johannesburg, and Gilbert Mardai from Tanzania. Fr Chatteris writes the monthly “Pray With the pope” column in The Southern Cross.

Parishioners at St Martin de Porres church in Orlando West, Soweto, welcome World Cup Sunday.

IN FOCUS

Edited by Nadine Christians Assistant parish priest Fr James Ralston OMI of St Charles parish in Victory Park, Johannesburg, celebrates World Cup Sunday with great spirit and enthusiasm.

Our Lady of Fatima parish in Durban North, KwaZulu-Natal celebrated World Cup Sunday by placing a display in their parish. Pictured are Deacon Peter Venter and Anna Chatteris.

Send photographs, with sender’s name and address on the back, and a SASE to: The Southern Cross, Community Pics, Box 2372, Cape Town, 8000 or email them to: pics@scross.co.za

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The Southern Cross, June 30 to July 6, 2010

St Thérèse’s relics in SA to inspire young and old Millions of Catholics worldwide have seen the relics of St Thérèse of Lisieux. Now the relics are in South Africa for a 12-week tour to various parishes. MICHAIL RASSOOL looks at the special events planned around the relics.

HIS month the travelling relics of St Thérèse of Lisieux were received ceremonially by Catholic priests, the Carmelite sisters and members of the Catholic Order of the Knights of da Gama at the Carmelite Convent in Benoni North in the archdiocese of Johannesburg. Also at hand to receive the relics were the organisers responsible for bringing them to the country, Frs Vusi Sokhela CMM and Shaun von Lillienfeld The reliquary, an ornate casket containing some of the mortal remains of the saint, was borne in solemn procession, with rose petals strewn before it, into the convent chapel where it was due to rest for veneration purposes until June 28. It was then due to travel to Geluksdal parish, the next stop in a three-month tour across South Africa. Fr Sokhela, who initiated the tour after a chance visit to his parish by a French follower of St Thérèse’s Little Way, said he hoped the saint, who died aged 24, will be a rolemodel for the youth, especially since we “have no [South African] saints of our own. Maybe one day as a result of this tour the relics of a South African saint will tour France”. Johannesburg’s archdiocesan vicar for youth and parish priest of St Francis of Assisi, Yeoville, Fr Sokhela said that devotion to St Thérèse is “marvellous”, considering she died at the end of the 19th century, having been an enclosed Carmelite nun during her adult life.

He said despite the fact that there was cynicism before the relics visited England and Wales, a quarter of a million people venerated the relics at 28 venues. The bishops of Scotland regretted not hosting the relics after Scottish Catholics protested at being left out. A tour of Ireland in 2001 sparked the biggest mass movement of people ever witnessed in the country, with an estimated 75% of the population making pilgrimages to the relics with a later visit drawing two million people. During the 12-week tour more than 24 churches, monasteries and institutions will host the relics. After Geluksdal the relics will travel to Alexandria, Woodmead, Mulbarton, Edenvale and Christ the King cathedral before moving on, after July 11, to the diocese of Tzaneen, before returning to Johannesburg archdiocese. The relics will then travel to Aliwal North (arriving on July 22), Kokstad (July 26), Umzimkulu (July 30), the convent of the Capuchin Poor Clare Sisters in Mariannhill (August 3), and Morningside parish in Durban (August 5). The relics will arrive in Cape Town on August 11 for two weeks. The Carmelite Sisters of Retreat will host their fellow Carmelite’s relics, as will three parishes— Camps Bay, Welcome Estate and Bergvliet—before they return to Johannesburg on the 23rd, when they will be taken to Mother Teresa’s Home, a hospice in Yeoville. Back in the Johannesburg archdiocese, the relics will also be displayed at Regina Mundi in Moroka, in Alberton, at Nazareth House, in Northriding, Katlehong, Victory Park, Sebokeng and Craighall Park. They will leave South Africa after visiting Yeoville parish on September 27. What are some of the other parishes doing to mark the honour of their being there? Fr Maurice Chidiac of the Maronite Church in Johannesburg said there would be a procession of the relics before the Saturday evening Mass at Our Lady of the

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Pope Benedict prays next to relics of St Thérèse of Lisieux at the Vatican. The relics are in South Africa for 12 weeks and can be seen at various parishes. PHOTO: L'OSSERVATORE ROMANO VIA REUTERS/CNS

Cedars of Lebanon in Woodmead, the 08:00 Roman Rite Mass and the 10:00 Maronite Mass at Our Lady of Lebanon, Mulbarton. He said prayer petition boxes would be placed in the church vestibules for inclusion in the special prayers of veneration to be held after each Mass. St Joseph parish in Morningside, the only one in Durban archdiocese to host the relics, is having different services—a healing Mass, archdiocesan catechist Masses, youth Masses as well as one for the local Catholic Women’s League. Redemptorist Father Sean Wales said the reliquary’s arrival at his order’s monastery in Bergvliet, Cape Town on August 16 will be followed by a concelebrated Mass at Holy Redeemer church. For as long as the relics are there the church will remain open until 22:00, he said. The following day, said Fr Wales, there would be a healing service and talk on the relics. On August 18, there would be a service and talk by Carmelite Sister Bridget Edman on the relevance of St Thérèse today. He said the Redemptorists, who have a thriving print media evangelisation ministry, were also producing a booklet, St Thérèse of

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Lisieux: Heroine of Struggle, written by Immaculate Heart Sister Judith Coyle, who lectures at St Augustine College, Johannesburg. The fathers were also distributing leaflets prepared by the Carmelite Sisters, and painter and icon writer Br Richard Maidwell CSsR was producing a special flag for the occasion. Capuchin Father Nicklos Anthony of St Teresa’s in Welcome Estate, Cape Town, where the relics will first go after their arrival in the archdiocese on August 9 at 14:00, said the journey from the airport to the church, which celebrates its 75th anniversary this year, would proceed slowly and solemnly. He said there would be a Eucharistic celebration at 18:00, presided over by Archbishop-emeritus Lawrence Henry. Capuchin vice-provincial Fr Sean Cahill will give a talk on the saint’s life and her significance in the modern age. The relics would be present at the 08:30 and 19:00 Masses on the August 10 and 11. On August 12 at 10:30, Archbishop Stephen Brislin will celebrate Mass, and in the evening there will be a Benediction service where the Rosary, Legion of Mary and St Monica’s prayer groups will

offer special prayers. Pallottine Father Edward Tratsaert of St Theresa of Lisieux parish, Queenstown, where the relics will also be hosted for four days, sees it as a special occasion for young people in the 15-24 age group—15 is the age the saint entered the convent and 24 is the age she died. Fr Tratsaert said he was happy his parish, one of the oldest in South Africa and named after St Thérèse, was receiving this privilege and honour. Another reason for his happiness is that she is a patron saint of missions, along with St Francis Xavier, and her youth makes her relevant to young people. Missionary of Charity Sr Janice Mallappally of Mother Teresa’s Home in Yeoville, Johannesburg, said during the procession into the home, two children’s groups from the Children of the Little Flower and Children of Mary from St Francis of Assisi, will sing and throw petals on the reliquary during the procession. This, she said, would be followed by Mass, veneration (with a special liturgy), followed by the sisters’ own veneration, for anyone to attend. Following 07:00 Mass on August 24, there will be veneration for the sick and those visiting. On August 25, the sisters will have another session of their own (which everyone was also welcome to), and the relics would leave the home at 11:00, following morning Mass. Fr von Lillienfeld, who is also the administrator of Christ the King cathedral, said that the relics visit to the country is a boost to the local Church’s efforts to play a spiritual role during the football World Cup. “We would like to stress that we hope the coming of the relics will inspire people, strengthen their faith, and challenge us to live our faith and follow our callings, as St Thérèse followed hers,” he said  For more information contact Fr Sokhela on 072 149 8703 or e-mail vsokza@telkomsa.net, or Fr von Lillienfeld on 083 763 0807.

The Southern Cross, June 30 to July 6, 2010

LEADER PAGE LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

The Editor reserves the right to shorten or edit published letters. Letters below 300 words receive preference. Pseudonyms are acceptable only under special circumstances and at the Editor’s discretion. Name and address of the writer must be supplied. No anonymous letter will be considered.

Editor: Günther Simmermacher

How Mass language changed Violence: we are warned H

VER the past few weeks, South Africa has generated a tremendous amount of good will and respect across the world by welcoming the globe’s population to a well-organised and most congenial World Cup. However, the country will relinquish much of that respect and affection if the threat of renewed xenophobic violence is realised, as experts in the field warn. Indeed, attacks on nationals from other parts of Africa (and also from Asia) have not ceased, though they seem to take place randomly in isolated incidents, unlike the pogrom of May 2008, which to all appearances was at least partly orchestrated. Should there be renewed outbreaks of systematic xenophobic violence, the government may not plead surprise as it so unconvincingly did two years ago. Throughout South Africa, refugees and migrants have been told to beware of attacks once the international spotlight turns from the country. People with evil intent are not so much lurking in the shadows as they are shouting it from the rooftops, apparently confident that they will be at liberty to act with impunity. We must hope that the government has a plan in place to deal with orchestrated outbreaks of xenophobia, and to assist the victims of attacks in a more coherent and sympathetic way than it did in 2008. It may be timely to forthrightly warn Catholics that participation in xenophobic attacks is gravely sinful. The words of Archbishop Buti Tlhagale of Johannesburg addressed to Catholics in Alexandria at the beginning of the 2008 pogrom must be revisited and amplified: “I forbid any Catholic in this archdiocese from assisting these unruly people or approving of their behaviour. I call on the

Catholics and people of good will…to be the first to come to the aid of their neighbours who have been so ill treated… Everyone who takes a step in a march in a township to protest [against] ‘foreigners’ is taking a step closer to hell.” Indeed, Our Lord warned that those who do not welcome the stranger face “eternal punishment” (Matthew 25:31-46). Likewise, the Old Testament repeatedly and emphatically admonishes us to embrace refugees (especially Leviticus 19:34, 24:22, and Numbers 15:16). Pope Benedict, who has a great concern for the welfare of expatriates, this month said: “Refugees desire to find welcome and to be recognised in their dignity and their fundamental rights. At the same time, they intend to offer their contribution to the society that welcomes them.” The pope might have thought mostly of the reception of African and Asian migrants in Europe, and Latin American migrants in the United States, but his words apply equally to South Africa. The great majority of exiles aim to make an honest living. It is a scandalous indictment on South Africa that so many of them are being assaulted, displaced and even murdered for simply trying to stay alive. As South Africans we endeavour to root out social sins of blind prejudice and selfish fervour. Our Constitution aims to defeat bigotry of every kind. Xenophobia runs counter to this spirit. It is a violation of God’s will and the Constitution alike. We are being warned of a resurgence of attacks on extra-nationals. In the event that the threat of xenophobic violence is disregarded, the fingers will not point only to those who perpetrate evil acts, but also at those who knew what might happen, and did nothing.

incomprehension”. Many had been clamouring for use of the vernacular in the Mass which was one of the main aims of Vatican II. It was recognised that Latin was neither the first nor the only language of worship, and how was it possible for simple folk to “lift the heart and the mind to God” at Mass in a language foreign to most? Vatican II boldly declared that the rites should be distinguished by a noble simplicity. They should be short, clear and free from useless repetitions. They should be within the peoples’ powers of comprehension (Sacrosanctum Concilium 34). Translations are necessary in language understandable to people for participation, conveying accurately the theological truth of the Mass. However, there is a feeling that now there is an insidious move afoot to dismantle the good that the Second Vatican Council has brought about and to return to the past. John Lee, Johannesburg

ISTORY shows that the language used in the Eucharistic Sacrifice over the centuries has followed an interesting path in the western Church. Aramaic was the first language used, then Greek, and later the various dialects of the Roman Empire of the 1st century. Greek became the lingua franca of the Empire. Christians celebrated the Eucharist (the Mass) in their own homes, in their own languages. Early writings suggest that the liturgy was celebrated without any set forms. According to the Didache and St Justin Martyr (150 AD), the presider sent up prayers to the best of his ability. As Latin became the language of the liturgy, it was celebrated in many different forms. Diversity was not something to be feared but a natural development. The barricades or waist-high

altar-walls enclosing the sanctuary in early churches, such as in Santa Maria in Trastevere in Rome, were not meant to be “altar rails” originally, but means of keeping out the sheep and goats which people often brought to church with them. Seminary reform later did not help much since the laity still could not understand the Mass in Latin. The congregation engaged in their own private prayers. Even as recent a pope as Pius XII (1939-58) encouraged the congregation to pray the rosary while the priest “said” (or rather “whispered”) Mass in Latin with his back to the congregation. The bells that were rung were signals for the people to sit, stand or kneel. The effect was one of passivity with the sense of leiturgia lost. Though the liturgy seemed to have moved towards greater uniformity because of Latin, most worshippers shared in “common

New missal a time for catechesis

ing the catechesis as widely as possible and giving every Catholic the opportunity to grow in appreciation of the liturgy, which the Second Vatican Council called “the summit toward which the activity of the Church is directed…the font from which all her power flows” (Sacrosanctum Concilium 10). Bishop Edward Risi OMI, Keimoes-Upington

Is confession a thing of the past?

Army draft OK

ISTER Judith Coyle (June 9) has been given the wrong impression about the project of catechesis launched by the bishops of the International Commission on English in the Liturgy, and which is to be launched in our country at the end of July. The goal is a renewed catechesis on the Mass linked to the launch of the 3rd Revision of the Missal of the Roman Rite. The national liturgy department seized on this opportunity because of the priority given to formation, as identified by the laity, when they met with the bishops in the different inter-diocesan forums over the past few years. The formation programme is also seen to be in continuity with the booklet issued by the department The Pastoral Introduction to the Order of the Mass, published some years back with the view to renewing the catechesis on the Mass and enriching the celebration of the Eucharist according to the vision of the Second Vatican Council. The goal of the programme soon to be launched is to help the clergy, religious and laity to grow in a renewed appreciation of the celebration of the Mass. It will refer to the new approved English texts of the Mass so as to give a certain relevance to the presentation. Interactive DVDs will be made available with the aim of spread-

HE proposal by the minister of defence to conscript young people into the armed services should be welcomed. The “scenario of 3 million unemployed young people” is very serious, not only for them but for the whole country. What a waste of potential talent. The longer they remain unemployed, their prospects of their ever becoming employed decreases all the time. In turn this will lead them to drugs and crime. That the minister uses words like “conscription” and “military “ is a pity, but the objective which will be to teach “discipline, leadership and strategic thinking” must be applauded. Maybe she should add “marketable skills”. I think many unemployed people would volunteer for this opportunity. The cost to South Africa of maintaining the army, navy and air force is colossal. Is the country deriving enough benefit to justify this huge expenditure? What an opportunity, then, to invest some

of the costs into young people who are crying out for a purpose to their wretched lives. Let’s take the emotion out of this issue and lets start doing something constructive for the future of our beautiful country. Tim Kent, Ermelo

S I prepare the children of my catechism class for the sacrament of reconciliation before their First Confession, I wonder at the value of the sacrament for these youngsters today. Gone are the days when “Father” was at the church at 16:00 for Confession on a Saturday afternoon. It was once common to see families practising/receiving the sacrament together. Perhaps this is why, in most cases, it is only when the children receive their First Communion that they go to Confession again and thereafter at Confirmation. It would seem that for most Catholics, confession, absolution and penance have become a thing of the past—or have they? Marion Jordaan, Pietermaritzburg Opinions expressed in The Southern Cross, especially in Letters to the Editor, do not necessarily reflect the views of the Editor or staff of the newspaper, or of the Catholic hierarchy. The letters page in particular is a forum in which readers may exchange opinions on matters of debate. Letters must not be understood to necessarily reflect the teachings, disciplines or policies of the Church accurately.

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Point of Debate

Let’s keep our own African names

WAS baptised in Chiphaso parish in Kasungu in the diocese of Lilongwe, Malawi. The parish is run by Carmelite Fathers. As a young man I almost joined their order, but because all were foreigners, I thought blacks would not be accepted. But what prompts me to write this article is the issue of baptismal names. In the New Testament, Saul became Paul, and Simon was renamed Peter. In my culture, we name children based on a life event. For example, when a mother has had children dying, the family might name a child Maliro, which means death. The name is a cry for God’s mercy to spare the child. Chifundo means mercy, Mavuto means problems. The infant names are meant to change when a person becomes an adult, and a newborn child can be given a discarded name. My nephew named his son by my infant name. When I became an adult, I had to change my name, so I became Simeon. The list we were given to choose from included only European names, some of them not even biblical. I was wondering why we could not choose from the local names with significant meanings and easy to pronounce by our people. But I thought that the names in clan lines were pagan and sinful, and could not lead me to the salvation, which only European names would guarantee. In 1964, when Pope Paul VI canonised the martyrs of Uganda, they kept names like Kizito. And in 1969 in Kampala, Pope Paul said: “Africans, you can be missionaries to yourselves!” I wondered at the time about the issue of names: should we get them from our dead ancestors, or from the list of saints given to catechumen, the meanings of which were not taught to us. The issue of meaning of names came to me again when a learned catechist visited my Small Christian Community to preach an Advent retreat. He read from Luke, where Simeon and Anna are mentioned. The preacher asked whether we had an Anna in the group. We had, and she was the headmistress. When she was asked to give the meaning of her name, she said she did not know. I was sure that if any of us were asked, we’d all fail the test. Then came my turn. I hesitated to raise my hand. If I, Marist Brother Simeon, failed to give the correct answer, the whole outstation would have failed the test. Luckily I gave the correct answer. It raised the question for me: are the meanings of names still an issue? We were given European names without being provided a background to those names; back then we were not free to choose names that have rich meaning from among our people. Can we not be saints if we bear an African name? In my religious congregation, the pioneer Brothers used to change their names at the time of first profession, but now that practice is no longer followed. Yes, names are important and sometimes we can aspire to follow the exemplary life of namesakes—but salvation is a grace from God. The emphasis should be not on names, but on making Jesus known and loved. Names are cultural, and to deny that fact is to erase inculturation. Didn’t Pope John Paul II say that if faith does not become culture, then it is not rooted among the people? A faith that disregards inculturation is superficial. Encouraging local names must be a reality in our post-Vatican II Church.

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The power of affirmation and support

PRINGFIELD Convent School for girls in Cape Town, of which I serve as the senior school principal, is a second home to girls from age four through to matric. We have a small nursery class for 12 little girls only, which are mainly the daughters of staff or past pupils. Our main intake year is pre-reception where we are able to invite applications from Catholic families, siblings and anyone who would like to be part of an academic school with an ethos that embraces respect, care for the whole child, for the environment and naturally for the spiritual growth of every child admitted to the school. Even though Springfield is recognised as a leading academic school and has been consistently placed in the list of the top ten schools in the Western Cape—in fact last year we attained second place—the support is always there for the less academic child. It is not possible to evaluate the academic ability of little children, so Springfield has various measures in place to assist the child with various needs that may become obvious as the child progresses through the school. In the pre-school, the staff is trained to monitor all the developmental stages of their little girls. In communication with the parents— always the first educators of their children—a child could be referred for orthopaedic therapy, which is accommodated on our premises. Regular assessments of all children are carried out so that anything of concern will be discovered as early as possible. It sometimes might be necessary to refer a child to an outside specialist who would then provide us, as well as the parents, with a confidential report and recommendations. In the junior school, we employ four remedial teachers. Class teachers refer girls to these specialists when any sign of learning difficulty is noticed. In some cases, a child who has severe difficulties might even have a facilitator who would come into the school to assist the child and who would work closely with the teachers concerned. Our junior school has two classes per grade, but in the senior school we introduced a third class.

 J.M.J

Melanie Bruce

Point of Education Every Springfield girl in Grade 7— the last grade on primary school level—is accepted into the Senior School automatically and unconditionally, no matter how strong or weak she is academically. Subject teachers who are employed here are committed to working closely with individual girls who need extra help to cope in what is a strong academic school. Extra lessons, particularly in maths, are offered at no extra charge to the parents. However, in some cases it still might be necessary to refer a child to an outside specialist or even to continue with a facilitator, although both schools have qualified counsellors to take care of our pupils’ varying needs. Most important of all is that parents and teachers work together for the good of the individual child. In the senior school, classes are not streamed because we believe in the importance of the weaker girls learning from the others; it is also part of the growing experience for the stronger girl to offer help to the weaker too. Historically, Springfield has always offered subjects that the weaker pupil could choose which would enable her to matriculate. In bygone days these would have been typing and domestic science. Nowadays we include subjects that have a practical component, such as art, drama, music and consumer studies. A wise subject choice will enable the majority of girls to obtain a Bachelors Pass and be free to choose tertiary education. Most importantly, once a girl is part of Springfield we will never give up on her. Each girl is unique, has a strength and a talent that must be recognised and celebrated. We value each one of our girls for the contribution that she brings to our school community. It is this commitment to every pupil that reflects the ethos of our school.

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The Southern Cross, June 30 to July 6, 2010

Michael Shackleton answers your question

Open Door

Confession can’t be coercive John Thavis, in his article (March 31) reported that Bishop Girotti of the Vatican’s Apostolic Penitentiary said that a priest who confesses sexual abuse should generally not be encouraged to disclose his acts publicly or to his superiors. Yet in your response to a questioner (October 14, 2009), you said that a priest who hears the confession of an abusive priest “will probably strongly urge the penitent to go public and find ways to rid himself of his personal guilt”. There is a glaring difference between the Vatican statement and your own view, which fills me with dismay, confusion and anger. Lily P Fynn ISHOP Girotti supported his statement by saying that on the one hand the sacramental seal of the confession must remain inviolable and, on the other hand, one cannot provoke mistrust in the penitent. The sacramental seal cannot be broken if the penitent tells the outside world of his sin and his guilt. The seal is broken only if the priest reveals what he has heard under the seal, which he may never do. If the penitent himself discloses his guilt to others, it is difficult to see how he will mistrust confessing his sins in the sacrament of reconciliation after receiving absolution. What Bishop Girotti seems to be implying is that the confessor may never tell the penitent that he will absolve him now on condition that the penitent goes public later. To do so would indeed cause fear of confessing. The confidential nature of the sealmust never be directly or indirectly associated with what may become public later. The Church has been tainted by the scandal of abusive priests and the emotional catastrophe suffered by their victims. The cry now is that no members of the clergy must be protected from taking the social consequences of their abusive actions, and no authority may dare to turn a blind eye to abuse in the name of the good of the Church. With this as its context, my column suggested that a confessor will probably strongly urge the penitent cleric to go public and face the music, which may not necessarily result in a court case. Depending on the particular circumstances of the case, perhaps this could bring closure to the mess affecting Church, society and family. Strongly urging is not coercion. The penitent must always be free to make up his own mind.

 Send your queries to Open Door, Box 2372, Cape Town, 8000; or e-mail: opendoor@scross.co.za; or fax (021) 465 3850. Anonymity can be preserved by arrangement, but questions must be signed, and may be edited for clarity. Only published questions will be answered.

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The Southern Cross, June 30 to July 6, 2010

Prevention is better than cure website, more than 19 000 Catholic parishes in the United States handled $6 billion in donations in 2007. A study conducted by Villanova University in the US revealed widespread financial mismanagement at parish level. Eighty five percent of respondents representing 38% of Catholic parishes nationwide had discovered embezzlement in the preceding five years. Allegations of financial mismanagement in Africa receive less media coverage than abroad. According to the US weekly National Catholic Reporter, Pope Benedict, during his 2009 visit to Cameroon, called on the bishops of Africa to exercise greater oversight over priests and religious: “The authenticity of their witness requires that there be no dichotomy between what they teach and the way they live each day.” Today the faithful call for accountability, transparency and ethical leadership. They understand that the Church is undergoing a period of purification and incidents of financial abuses across the world cannot be ignored. It directs the Church to increase risk management measures that will ensure fiscal discipline—a process to implement checks and balances, increase oversight and control over day-

Reports that in some cases

to-day financial management operations.

n cases of financial mismanagement, there is often a disregard for the role of the consultative committees. While each have mismanaged Church case of misuse of Church funds has an underlying issue, such funds are a cause for alarm. misappropriation diminishes the COLLEEN CONSTABLE role of finance and parish committees. It decreases committee explains how to guard legitimacy, participation in the decision-making process and against financial scandal. erases advisory power. It creates a rubberstamp team and produces conflict or turmoil between committee members when some chalN accurate analysis: the lenge the status quo. Church is supposed to be How effective are parish pasexemplary in terms of ethitoral committees and financial cal leadership and moral authoricommittees in preventing finanty, but some clergy cannot resist cial mismanagement? What is the temptation to fall on the the quality of the cooperative double edged sword. relationship between these two Bishop Walter Mixa of Augsconsultative committees? burg, Germany, recently resigned Indications are that parish pasamid allegations of physical toral committees may not be in abuse of children and mismanexistence at every parish: a recipe agement of orphanage funds. He for disaster, an opportunity for allegedly misused funds to buy mismanagement. And where they luxury items such as antiques exist, there could be poor policy and art works for private use. implementation and mismanageBishop Mixa is not alone: many ment of funds. allegations of mismanagement of How will a finance committee Church funds by clergy have explain payment of an unauthoemerged worldwide over the rised expenditure? It may imply years. that members of such a commitAccording to the ParishSoft tee are not assertive: that they are not courageous enough to ask questions and prefer to endorse expenditures. And that they lack spiritual maturity. Participation or support of irregularities that constitute theft or corruption can make a committee member an accomplice. Ignorance of the law is no excuse. This serves as an indication that consultative committees must be empowered in legislative requirements and problem-solving techniques. It will strengthen the spiritual experience of wisdom and discernment before advice is given and decisions taken. That brings us to whistleblowing. The spiritual dance floor of the parish may consist of parishioners affiliated to sodalities, lay movements and non-affiliated parishioners. Collectively they dance to the harmonious tune of a Gospel-oriented approach, lived out through their love of God and love for neighbour, and the values of honesty, respect and integrity. It is a dance held together by ethical and Spirit-filled leadership: to serve Christ and neighbour with wisdom, humility and truth. S o m e t i m e s c l e r gy and the faithful miss the right dance steps or they step on someone else while performing different moves according to the music at play. The harmony is broken: a leadership and moral challenge develops and different problems surfaces. The Congregation of the Missionaries of Mariannhill, CMM, sprung from The dynamics of human nature are at play. the Trappist Monastery of Mariannhill founded by Abbot Francis Pfanner in

priests and even bishops

CONGREGATION OF MARIANNHILL MISSIONARIES

Ora et Labora

South Africa in 1882. We believe that: “Our missionary field is the Kingdom of God and that has not boundaries!” Faithful to the example of Abbot Francis Pfanner, the Mariannhill Brothers and Priests try to be of service to the local church through pastoral, social and development works. We make our contribution to the call for renewing, uplifting, developing and sustaining the human spirit, as our response to the signs and needs of the time. In our missionary life of Prayer and Work (Ora et Labora), we try to effectively proclaim the Good News to all people, especially to the poor and needy, so that there are “Better Fields, Better Houses, Better Hearts!” To know more about us contact: Director of Vocations PO Box 11363, Mariannhill, 3601 or PO Box 85, Umtata, 5099

o understand the situation, key parish dancers can be categorised: The Veronicas and the St Johns—protectors of the pastor: they are either mesmerised by his charming personality or have extreme empathy for his perceived lack of leadership abilities. In response some adopt the role of special advisors to the pastor. They dance to emotional tunes such as “Father is so nice” and “I just want to help him as

Specialised software for running parish organisations and financials ensures greater transparency and accuracy in parish affairs. much as I can”. They love their pastor and will support him in difficult times and in good times, irrespective of whether he is right or wrong. The St Pauls—defenders of the faith: they are outspoken, they prioritise loyalty to the Church and strive to uphold the teachings of Christ. Their concerns are about the image of the Church and the integrity of the priesthood. They respect their pastor but understand that clergy have imperfections. They ask questions (the right questions) and have issues with non-compliance, whether liturgical, pastoral or financial. They choose to act on allegations, becoming whistleblowers or try to increase accountability and transparency measures. The Marthas and the Simons have as their mottos, “faith without works is to no avail” and “carry the cross”. They are very busy, always doing fundraising or charity work. Sometimes they forget to take a break and check if the donor funding can be accounted for. But whatever they do, they do it with passion. They help wherever and whenever required: they always keep commitments.

he criteria for nomination to a finance committee are directed by canon law and diocesan policy. When the pastor announces his intention to nominate a finance committee, it should be a prayerful experience for the parish as a whole; an experience rooted in the guidance of the Holy Spirit. The pastor has to take extra measures to remain objective when identifying such nominees. On the other side of the coin are the faithful, who may have their own motivations to serve on such committees. Therefore pastors can benefit if they follow a consultative approach through the parish council. To alienate the parish pastoral council’s input is an authoritarian approach that indicates poor judgement. A consultative approach eliminates opportunity for unduly influences and increases objectivity. It creates an environment of shared responsibility, encourages participative management, and strengthens accountability and transparency. Managing a finance committee is a call to exercise ethical leadership. At parish level, the pastor needs a combination of Veronicas and St Johns, St Pauls, Marthas and Simons on the committee. It will give an objective balance that may prevent mismanagement. The Veronicas and St Johns bring a touch of compassion to the decision-making process. Their inclined subjectivity towards the pastor will be com-

pensated for by the St Pauls, who boldly and passionately keep the committee focused, ensuring objectivity and rational debate in a loving atmosphere of empathy created by the Veronicas and the St Johns. The contribution of the St Pauls facilitate policy implementation and result in irregularities exposed and detected at a much earlier rate: a step that can prevent financial loss. And the Marthas and Simons ensure that decisions benefit the mission of the Church: they will link charity works to financial expenditure. Maybe it is this type of relationship that Paul refers to in Ephesians 4:1-4, “Live in a manner worthy of the call you have received, with all humility, and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another through love, striving to preserve the unity of the spirit through the bond of peace: one body and one spirit.” And Ephesians 4:25-32, “Therefore, putting away falsehood, speak the truth, each one to his neighbour, for we are members of one another. Be angry, but do not sin… And be kind to one another, compassionate.” The finance and parish committees and the pastor should listen to the concerns of parishioners. These should not be perceived as a threat, but as an opportunity to facilitate problemsolving. In the current crisis of the Church one aspect is clear: many incidents now exposed were at the time whispers about clergy inconsistencies. Scripture teaches us that Jesus said: “The truth will set you free (Jn 8:32).” The only standard for such committees is to seek and uphold the truth. The Prevention and Combating of Corrupt Activities, Act 12 of 2004, requires that people in authority report corruption. The Protected Disclosure Act (Act 26 of 2000) protects whistleblowers from harassment and intimidation. The King II and King III Reports on corporate governance form the basis to create a sustainable environment—free from mismanagement and in compliance with risk management. Although the Church in South Africa is not a business, it can benefit by integrating corporate approaches in a pro-active manner. Is it not time to promote whistleblowing? An anonymous reporting line for allegations or concerns of mismanagement of Church funds can be activated and whistleblower protection implemented. Is it not time to increase accountability through auditing parishes that have never been subject to financial scrutiny? Prevention is better than cure.

The Southern Cross, June 30 to July 6, 2010

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR Bring in the new

OUR editorial May 26 — June 1 2010 quoted Cardinal Napier as saying with regard to the liturgy that “the key to the divisions was the fact that a different philosophy (towards liturgical formulas) had gained the upper hand”. As one has to be on in years to have experienced the Tridentine Mass, I suspect that an elderly clique of Vatican cardinals exerted their influence. In ten years time this influence will have waned or even disappeared. Then the Church needs to have a council. Church councils need to be held every 25 years. The pope and all the

bishops, not just Vatican personnel, are needed to make Church decisions. In the May 19 edition, you published a photo of an American bishop wearing a long train, the Cappa Magna — I think he looked like a man in drag. Those Catholics who enthusiastically support everything that is old, need to bear in mind that what was suitable for the Middle Ages is not necessarily suitable for the 21st Century. They need to be careful not to make the Church look ridiculous. A Haylett Howick, KZN

Sedition afoot?

HAT an unholy shambles! Page 8 of our national Catholic newspaper reverberates with vociferous clamouring by seditious “faithful” for disempowerment of the Roman curia, Church doctrine and governance from the pews, scrapping of tradition, a second Reformation and a Third Vatican Council (to complete the demolition set in motion by its predecessor against which latter, I believe, Our Lady’s third secret of Fatima warned). Talk about coverups! WE Muller Centurion, Gauteng

COMMUNIT Y CALENDAR Thoughts for the Week on the Family

FAMILY CALENDAR 2010 FAMILY THEME: “Families Play the Game.” JULY THEME: The Veteran’s Cup Introduction Sport is not only for the young and fit. Older people can and need to keep as fit as possible and play sport when they can. Playing their part in the game of life helps to avoid frustration and irritability. Our elders can look back on the many sporting events they have witnessed and share with the young how things have changed and grown over time. Have things improved over time? In which ways are they better or perhaps worse than they were in the past? Are we tolerant of one another across the generations? Do we show respect for wisdom gained over time? July 4th 14th Sunday of the Year C: Christ our Peace. In the gospel of the day we read how Jesus sent out the 72 disciples in pairs to spread his message of “Peace to this house”. Couples are sent in pairs too. Be grateful for grandparents and couples who may still be together after many years and the peace and joy they have spread through their game of life. July 6th St Maria Goretti was a young girl in 19th century Italy who resisted rape and was killed by her attacker who was a young man she knew. Pray together that the scourge of rape and sexual violence can be overcome through a good example of our older men given to the boys of today.

BETHLEHEM:  Shrine of Our Lady of Bethlehem at Tsheseng, Maluti mountains; Thursdays 09:30, Mass, then exposition of the Blessed Sacrament.  058 721 0532 JOHANNESBURG:  First Friday Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament 10:30. First Saturday: Devotions: Our Lady’s Cenacle, Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament and Rosary, 15:00–16:00. Special devotion to Our Blessed Lady for her priests. Our Lady of the Angels, Little Eden, Edenvale,  011 609 7246  First Saturday of each month rosary prayed 10:30-12:00 outside Marie Stopes abortion clinic, Peter Place, Bryanston.  Joan Beyrooti, 011 782 4331 PRETORIA:  First Saturday: Devotion to Divine Mercy. St Martin de Porres, Sunnyside, 16:30.  Shirley-Anne 012 361 4545. CAPE TOWN:  Holy Hour to pray for priests of the diocese, 2nd Saturday monthly at Villa Maria shrine Kloof Nek Rd 16:00-17:00.  St Pio Holy Hour. June 20 at 15:30 at Holy Redeemer, Bergvliet. To place your event, call Claire Allen at 021 465 5007, or e-mail c.allen@scross.co.za

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IN MEMORIAM LAWRENCE—Beaver. Our dearly beloved husband, father and grandfather left us June 29, 2003 on his final journey home to receive his eternal reward. We have missed your physical presence around us, but your spirit continues to live in our thoughts and in our hearts. Our memories of you are indelible and cannot and will not be erased. Until we meet again, rest in peace. From Elaine, Gary and Elli, Derek and Janice, Wendy and Wolly, Vivian and Andrew, Leslie and Johan and all the grandchildren. MURPHY—Edward. June 27, 2000. Ten years on, you are loved and in our thoughts. Love from your loving wife Bernadette, children Elray, Sharleen and Rayleen. TOWERS— Lloyd John. 5/2/1993—26/6/2002. To live in hearts we leave behind is not to die. Sleep in heavenly peace. Mom, Dad and Kelly.

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Mass readings for the week Sundays year C, weekdays cycle 2 Sun July 4, 14th Sunday of the Year: Is 66:10-14; Ps 66:1-7, 16-20; Gal 6:14-18; Lk 10:1-2,17-20 Mon July 5, St Anthony Zaccaria: Hos 2:16-18,21-22; Ps 145:2-9; Mt 9:34-11,1 Tue July 6, St Maria Goretti: Hos 8:4-7,11-13; Ps 115:3-10; Mt 9:32-38 Wed July 7, feria: Hos 10:1-3,7-8,12; Ps 105:2-7; Mt 10:1-7 Thur July 8, feria: Hos 11:1-4,8-9; Ps 80:2-3,15-16; Mt 10:7-15 Fri July 9, Ss Augustine Zhao Rong & comps: Hos 14:2-10; Ps 51:3-4,8-9,12-14,17; Mt 10:16-23 Sat July 10, feria: Is 6:1-8; Ps 93:1-2,5; Mt 10:24-33 Sun July 11, 15th Sunday of the Year: Dt 30:10-14; Ps 69:14,17,30-31,33-34,36-37; Col 1:15-20; Lk 10:25-37

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www.scross.co.za Editor: Günther Simmermacher (editor@scross.co.za)

Advisory Editor: Michael Shackleton Editorial staff: Michail Rassool (mrassool@scross.co.za)

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Accounts: Desirée Chanquin (accounts@scross.co.za) Published independently by the Catholic Newspaper & Publishing Company Ltd, Cape Town Opinions expressed in this newspaper do not necessarily reflect those of the editor, staff or directors of The Southern Cross.

The Southern Cross is a member of the Audit Bureau of Circulations of South Africa. Printed by Paarl Post, 8 Jan van Riebeeck Drive, Paarl. Published by the proprietors, The Catholic Newspaper & Publishing Co Ltd, at the company’s registered office, 10 Tuin Plein, Cape Town, 8001.

June 30 to July 6, 2010

SOUTHERN AFRICA’S NATIONAL CATHOLIC WEEKLY SINCE 1920 Box 2372, Cape Town, 8000  10 Tuin Plein, Gardens, Cape Town, 8001 Tel: (021) 465 5007  Fax: (021) 465 3850 Editorial: editor@scross.co.za  Advertising/Subscriptions/Accounts: admin@scross.co.za

15th Sunday – Year C (July 11) Deuteronomy 30:10-14; Psalm 69:14, 17, 30-31, 33-34, 37; Colossians 1:15-20; Luke 10:25-37 OD’S commands are not to be seen as a crippling burden, but as showing us the way to life. Next Sunday’s readings tell us something of this important truth. In the first reading, Moses is reminding the people of Israel, just before they cross the Jordan (without him) into the Promised Land, of God’s expectations about how they are to live once they are there. It is not, however, a difficult matter, an impossible set of tasks, intended to catch them out: “Listen to the voice of the Lord your God, to keep his commandments and decrees that are written in the book of this Law, to return to the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul.” It is not something “too mysterious for you, or too remote from you: it is not up in heaven...nor across the sea...the word is very close to you. It is on your lips and on your hearts, to perform it”. The psalm shows the same sort of confidence in God’s attentiveness, “I pray to you, Lord, for the time of your favour, O God, in the abundance of your faithful love...in the abundance of your mercy turn to me.” We notice that even in the direst straits, the singer is confident that he is permitted to turn to God. “As for me, I am afflicted and in pain;

You are the lawyer; Christ shows the way Fr Nicholas King SJ

Scriptural Reflections let your salvation protect me, O God...for the Lord hears the poor, and does not despise prisoners.” God, that is to say, delights especially in those human beings whom most others would neglect. The second reading takes the story a bit further; next Sunday we shall be starting a four-week trip through the Letter to the Colossians, with the great meditation on who Jesus is, “the likeness of the invisible God, the first-born of all creation”. One way of reading this poem is to see it as a meditation on the opening words of the Bible, “In the beginning”, and to count the number of ways in which Jesus is presented as “beginning”: first-born, obviously, but then also “agent of Creation”, “before all things”, “head of the body, the Church”, “beginning”, “Number 1 in everything”, and the one in whom “the Fullness was pleased to dwell”. Jesus was also the means of “reconciling

everything to [God], making peace through the blood of his cross”. We should recite this poem to ourselves, astonished at the richness of the mystery that is Christ, and at the offer of life that God never ceases to make to us. That offer comes in a remarkable format in next Sunday’s gospel. We know that there is going to be trouble when a “lawyer” stands up (and Luke does not have a high regard for lawyers, I regret to say) and “tempts” Jesus with a tricky question about how to inherit eternal life. Jesus throws the question back at him; he is a lawyer—then let him interpret the Law! The lawyer singles out two commandments: love God, and love your neighbour; and Jesus apparently brings the discussion to an end by saying: “Do this, and you will live.” The lawyer, however, is still looking for his fees and wants to prolong the debate: “Who is my neighbour?” In response he gets more than he had bargained for, in the shape of a story, set in the Jerusalem area, on a notoriously dangerous desert road, where an unwary traveller is mugged. You know the story well, but allow yourself to be astonished by it: it is not the religious establishment (or the lawyers for that matter) who help the person in need. The priest and the Levite make a big circle

Deeds rather than rhetoric P

ERHAPS some good can come out of the way in which the Vatican made such a mess of handling sexabuse scandals over the past few years. I get the feeling that already there are many priests, bishops and lay people who have decided not to sit back and twiddle their thumbs while expecting the Vatican to be sole protector of the integrity of the Catholic Church. I have heard many sermons and read innumerable discussions in the past few months expounding the notion that our Church is actually its people. And that the person to whom we owe our undivided, unquestioning loyalty and devotion is not the pope nor any of the other members of the Church hierarchy, but Jesus Christ. This does not mean, of course, that Catholics should turn their backs on the Holy Father or the Vatican, but rather to look at what we can do to further the Word of Christ and in so doing restore the integrity of our Church. It has been said by numerous religious commentators that the sole remaining acceptable prejudice in the world today is castigation of the Catholic Church. What a damning indictment! I firmly believe that in spite of the enormous wave of global criticism we face, Catholics should not start emulating some of our more extreme Muslim counterparts by declaring jihad on our enemies. There is a far more effective method, I believe, that will allow each and every Catholic to show just what we are made of. That is to take personal responsibili-

CONRAD

083 640 5848

Chris Moerdyk

The Last Word ty for helping our fellow man and not to leave it to the Church by simply putting money into the collection on Sunday or just supporting a bring-andbuy cake sale. All around us there is poverty, the indignity of old age, lack of education and skills, illness and fear. What I am suggesting is that Catholics should consider responding to criticism of our religion by deed rather than rhetoric. I believe that this is already happening in South Africa. For example, no single entity outside the government does more to alleviate the suffering of those afflicted by HIV/Aids than the Catholic Church. Add to that the many Catholic relief agencies and charities—such as Catholic Welfare and Development, which is the biggest non-governmental organisation in the Western Cape—and there is little doubt that the work of the Catholic Church in this country is significant. All this is done by a relatively tiny handful of people. Bishops, priests, religious and laity—a few thousand at most. Imagine if all of Southern Africa’s 7 million Catholics added their weight to these worthy causes? Or if they just helped neighbours, or comforted the

sick and elderly. This is nothing new, after all, but something that Jesus Christ preached. It would not take long for the world to realise that Catholicism was not just about the pope and the Vatican, but rather its people. I believe times have changed. And so, perhaps, should the Catholic Church. In the early days of the Church, wealthy Catholics would heed the call of popes and bishops to celebrate the glory of God by building massive, opulent cathedrals. If today the Catholic Church somewhere decided to build a cathedral similar in size to St Peter’s in Rome, there is no doubt that the world would not see this as a monument to the glory of God, but rather a demonstration of selfindulgent excess denying millions of poor people a roof over their heads or survival from starvation. There was also a time when it was quite appropriate for bishops, cardinals and the pope to live in palaces and wear luxuriant vestments because in those days the laity saw these as symbols of authority and leadership. I wonder if all the pomp, ceremony and displays of wealth by the Vatican, outside of actual church services, has the same effect today? I remember during my school years, when an archbishop would visit, we would be expected to go down on one knee and kiss his ring. But now, when I come into contact with our cardinal, bishops and archbishops, they mostly shy away from the ring-kissing, bowing and scraping and don’t particularly like to be called “Your Grace”. In South Africa at least, all these superficial trappings of high office have been replaced with humility and the will to serve the people. Is it not time, I wonder, for the Vatican to visibly follow suit? For the pope to look less like a head of state and more like the shepherd he is supposed to be? Frankly, I am not convinced that if Jesus Christ returned to earth today he would drive through the streets in a popemobile, dressed in exotic finery.

round the person in his need, afraid perhaps that they might suffer the same fate or contract ritual impurity. The crowds will have enjoyed this part of the story, but might have had a shock when the hero turns out to be a member of the most hated racial group, the Samaritan (you must fill in the blank spaces here, to preserve the story’s impact: which group do you hate most?). Not only that, but this despised foreigner goes far beyond the call of duty. He does not stop to ask questions, but loads the victim of the robbery onto his donkey, binds up his wounds, using a ready-made anaesthetic and sterilisation technique (olive oil and wine), and takes him to an inn, pays in advance, and promises a blank cheque for any further expenses. The story does not stop there, however, as the lawyer (that is you, by the way) is asked to draw the moral of the story. “Which of these three, do you think, became a ‘neighbour’ to the one who fell among muggers?” The lawyer cannot bring himself to name the hero (wrong racial group), and mutters “the one who did mercy on him”. Then comes the uncomfortable and liberating punchline: “Off you go—and you are to do just the same.” Could this be the way to life for you this week?

Southern Crossword #398

ACROSS

DOWN

1. Bustle about like the serpent (Gen 3)(5) 4. Descend from the mountain quickly (6) 9. Fabricate into drug, ending pregnancy (13) 10. You're not pleased to get it (3,4) 11. The man was wearing this kind of cloth (Mk 14) (5) 12. Has me feeling humiliated (5) 14. On the fish you can weigh with it (5) 18. Moses' brother (Ex 4) (5) 19. French country house of wine? (7) 21. St John's introduction to Son of God (Jn 1) (6,3,4) 22. Desire to make a home (6) 23. Wicked light on the altar (6)

1. Dressed in old clothes (6) 2. Liberal Anglicans in wide places of worship (5,8) 3. Firelit red stove holds a quantity of fuel (5) 5. Co Club I find in rural setting (7) 6. Never-ending prize we all hope for (7,6) 7. Series of petitions to God, which are answered? (6) 8. Would he hand him a snake instead of this (Mt 7) (1,4) 13. Squeezed the laundry and damaged it? (7) 15. Seville shaver in Rossini opera (6) 16. Costs of Gaelic people (5) 17. Indistinct speech (6) 20. Sphere of activity (5)

SOLUTIONS TO #397. ACROSS: 5 Opus, 7 Unemployed, 8 Ulna, 10 Quaintly, 11 Refuge, 12 Tapers, 14 Fillip, 16 Thatch, 17 Swastika, 19 Yolk, 21 Vestibules, 22 Stye. DOWN: 1 Guru, 2 Emmanuel, 3 Plaque, 4 Tyrant, 5 Odin, 6 Unclerical, 9 Lies in wait, 13 Platypus, 15 Priest, 16 16 Tragic, 18 Save, 20 Kist.

CHURCH CHUCKLE A Sunday school teacher asked: “Johnny, do you think Noah did a lot of fishing when he was on the Ark?” “No, replied Johnny, “how could he, with just two worms?” Send us your favourite Catholic joke, preferably clean and brief, to The Southern Cross, Church Chuckle, PO Box 2372, Cape Town, 8000.