The Southern Cross - 10825 by The Southern Cross

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Fishing for joy: Kings for a day

Parish of the Month’s free gift

Cardinal Newman’s liberalism

Abortion: Action louder than words

www.scross.co.za

August 25 to August 31, 2010 Reg No. 1920/002058/06

No 4690

R5,00 (incl VAT RSA)

SOUTHERN AFRICA’S NATIONAL CATHOLIC WEEKLY SINCE 1920

And here’s the bad news

Inside Bishops call for tolerance The bishops of Southern Africa have emphasised in pastoral statement that disagreements in the Church should be handled with sensitivity.—Page 2

Cutting edge of Aids fight St Mary’s hospital in Mariannhill has rolled out a circumcision programe to combat HIV/Aids. —Page 3

Pakistan’s misery deepens The threat of disease adds to problems faced by aid workers in Pakistan as they struggle to provide supplies of fresh water to a devastated population.—Page 4

A holy cross to bear In his weekly column, Chris Moerdyk explains why pioneer Holy Cross nuns in Mossel Bay really deserved their name— Page 16

What do you think? In their Letters to the Editor this week, readers discuss who SA needs to thank, charity and tradition, apathy, meditation on abortion, taking the pressure off priests and sexual teachings.—Page 6

This week’s editorial: Giving a real choice

Singing nuns go commercial

The Academia do Bacalhau, or Cod Academy, which is the international charity arm of the Portuguese Community, welcome Sister Noreen Mortell from the Kleinskool (Bethelsdorp) Community Centre at their club in Summerstrand, Port Elizabeth. Sr Mortell addressed the city’s Portuguese Community and talked about her work in the northern areas, which includes job creation through computer literacy.Twenty three soup kitchens and care for Aids patients are among her other daily tasks. The traditional codfish piggybank was passed around and this collection together with clothes were handed over to Sr Mortell. From left: Helder Silva, Sister Mortell and Jan van der Mei. PHOTO FROM AMARO TAVARES

S of next week, the cover price of The Southern Cross will increase by 50c to R5,50, the board of the Catholic Newspaper & Publishing Company, which publishes the newspaper, has announced. The price increase is necessary after hikes in the cost of producing, printing and distribution of the newspaper. It is the first price increase since May 2009, and only the third since February 2004. Editor Günther Simmermacher asked readers for their understanding and continued support. “The Southern Cross is running a very tight financial ship, and raising the cover price is always a last resort. Given the rate of inflation, the newspaper in real terms costs less now than it did almost seven years ago. Some newspapers have raised their price by more than twice that rate.” He pointed out that The Southern Cross is able to hold off price increases longer than most other publications because it is not profit-driven. “The Southern Cross is entirely independent and self-sufficient. Our shareholders’ mandate is to serve the Catholic community, not to make profit,” Mr Simmermacher explained. He praised the newspaper’s loyal readers and the many people in parishes who help promote it. “The Southern Cross is a community effort, which explains why we’re holding our circulation steady in a media climate where many publications record big decreases.” He felt the newspaper remains good value for money. “You can’t buy a chocolate bar or bottle of cola for R5,50, never mind a litre of petrol. So R5,50 a week to feed the faith is a very good deal.”

BY MARK PATTISON

ECCA Records, the label that helped to make Bing Crosby, the Rolling Stones and The Who top pop acts, has turned its attention to a convent of cloistered nuns in France for what may be the next big thing: Gregorian chant. Decca has announced the signing of the sisters from Abbaye de Notre-Dame de l’Annonciation—the Abbey of Our Lady of the Annunciation—a Benedictine convent from a remote region of France near Avignon, to a recording contract. The nuns’ first CD, Voices—Chant From Avignon, is scheduled to be released November 8. In a press release announcing the deal, Decca executives waxed enthusiastic. “When you hear the sound of nuns chanting, it’s like an immediate escape from the challenges, stresses, noise and pace of modern living. You’re given a glimpse of a secret world of peace and calm,” said a statement from Tom Lewis, Decca’s head of A&R. The Benedictines’ CD, according to Decca, will feature “the most ancient form of Gregorian chant...the first music ever to be written down.” The nuns sing this form of chant eight times a day during the liturgy of the hours. The signing of a cloistered convent of nuns to record an album poses distinct challenges. For one thing, visitors—even family— must communicate with the sisters through a grill. “I passed the contract through the grill, they signed it and passed it back,” said Dickon Stainer, managing director of Decca Records. “We never sought this, it came looking for us,” said a statement from the convent abbess, whose name was not disclosed by Decca. “At first we were worried it would affect our cloistered life, so we asked St Joseph in prayer. Our prayers were answered, and we thought that this album would be a good thing if it touches people’s lives and helps them find peace.”—CNS

Looking for leaders BY CLAIRE MATHIESON

OUTH African citizens are being called to lead by example through a new campaign called “Lead SA.” The initiative follows former president Nelson Mandela’s call to the citizens of the country to be proactive about improving their lives. Lead SA, a Primedia Broadcasting initiative, asks South Africans to employ “simple concepts to become a proactive leader”. Some of the ideas include standing up for morality, community, free speech, education and to stand against corruption. The project was launched riding on the wave of national “gees” after the World Cup. Commenting on the initiative, Cardinal Wilfrid Napier of Durban said: “There is a very serious crisis of leadership at present, in that the kind of leadership being given and that which is needed are poles apart.” The cardinal noted the difference in the country between the time of the World Cup and the weeks that have since followed. “Could it have been that the newspapers had suppressed all reporting about crime and violence during the World Cup so as not to frighten away the visitors? Or were the criminals all suddenly converted into soccer fans? The more likely answer is that the deterrent was the high visibility and alertness of the police.” While many complained of the FIFA supremacy, Cardinal Napier suggested that their type of leadership during the World Cup is needed to take South Africa to the extreme levels of positivity it experienced

over the month of football. “FIFA had clear vision and objectives, good understanding of what was needed to achieve it, the use of people who had the knowledge, the will and skills to use the available resources and, above all, basic integrity and honesty.” South Africa’s latest leadership initiative hopes to encourage citizens to engage with morals. The campaign suggests ways in which ordinary citizens can contribute. These include respecting the environment, safe driving, reporting crime, standing up to corruption, and even reading to children. Terry Volkwyn, chief executive officer of Primedia Broadcasting, described Lead SA as a “personal call to stand up and do the right thing”. “In order to change something, you need to start with yourself”. Ms Volkwyn said. “We want people to stand up, do something and make a difference.” While leadership issues are frequently scrutinised, many feel the 2010 FIFA World Cup highlighted the country’s potential. “It is significant that people keep referring to the World Cup and how it gave us a taste of something that is sorely lacking in our current dispensation, the quality of leadership which we need from our government.” Cardinal Napier said one of the problems in government today was the very labelling of parties as “ruling”, saying we don’t need to be ruled, but governed.

Explaining the difference between governing and ruling, he said: “To rule is to act out the belief that you have all the answers to decide what is good for the people and which they must simply accept because you have the power to decide for them. To govern, on the other hand, is to put into operation what the people have decided by voting for the policies put forward for their approval and support.” Cardinal Napier cited the example of the proposed Information Bill that has received immense opposition from local media and the public. The Bill, if passed, will limit the freedom of the media, critics say. Along with upholding a sense of positivity, organisers hope Lead SA will help improve the Matric pass rate, bring world class events and projects to the country (including the most powerful radio telescope ever built, the Square Kilometre Array) and, following the success of the 2010 World Cup, improve and promote sport. The public has been encouraged to get involved by sharing their leadership stories with the media. The initiative is encouraging leadership in all its forms, organisers said. To date, thousands of people have added their approval to the initiative through social network site Facebook and Twitter, and Internet video facility Youtube had registered more than 5 500 views of the campaign’s video within two weeks of launching.

The Southern Cross, August 25 to August 31, 2010

LOCAL

Bishops call for ‘tolerance and sensitivity’ STAFF REPORTER

HE bishops of Southern Africa have affirmed the “positive changes” that have flowed from Vatican II, but said the council cannot be divorced from the teachings of the Church. In their pastoral statement, the bishops discussed the channels of teaching authority and governance in the Church, headed by the pope in collaboration with the cardinals and bishops around the world. The bishops also warned that dialogue in the Church should refrain from the use of labels such as “restorationists”, conservatives or progressives, but rather “address the issues”. They emphasised that disagreements between bishops should be handled with “tolerance and sensitivity”. The statement was intended as a clarifying overview in response to an address in Cape Town by Bishop Kevin Dowling of Rustenburg, according to Fr Chris Townsend, information officer of the Southern African Catholic Bishops’ Conference. In his address, Bishop Dowling

critcised what he perceived as an abrogation by the Vatican of the principle of subsidiarity. The Catechism of the Catholic Church defines subsidiarity as the principle whereby “a community of a higher order should not interfere in the internal life of a community of a lower order, depriving the latter of its functions, but rather should support it in case of need and help to coordinate its activity with the activities of the rest of society, always with a view to the common good”. The Southern African bishops affirmed the principle, saying that “the very structure of the Church”—from the parishes to the pope—“is evidence of the principle of subsidiarity in the Church”. However, they said, “subsidiarity must be counterbalanced with our faithfulness to discipleship”. While each person must be free to follow his or her conscience, there is a need for a proper formation of the conscience. The bishops noted that there are some who fear that there are moves in the Church hierarchy to undo the progress of Vatican II,

while others “feel that the changes brought about went too far”. “It is important to recognise that the changes cannot be undone. It is nonetheless true that the council itself must be interpreted and applied in the light of the history of the Church’s teaching and cannot be divorced from it.” Acknowledging the tensions in the Church, the bishops said “the teaching authority strives to build unity in the midst of these tensions”. They defined that authority as residing with “the College of Bishops as the successors of the apostles in communion with and under the leadership of the pope who is the successor of St Peter”. They said that synods of bishops “are one means of consultation and listening to one another” in the collegial exercise of teaching authority by the pope in collaboration with cardinals and bishops. The bishops said communication with the Roman curia in the Vatican goes both ways, as does the local bishops’ communication

with the laity. “The curia appreciates and requests the advice of local bishops' conferences. Likewise, we as local bishops consult in dialogue with the faithful in our own territories. “So for example in Southern Africa we are already engaged in the first phase of a widespread Inter-diocesan Consultation which will climax in 2012.” Explaining collegiality within dioceses, the bishops said: “In his own diocese the local bishop is the teaching authority in concordance with the teaching of the Church. He exercises this role in collaboration with the priests, deacons, religious and the laity through such structures as the presbyteral council, diocesan pastoral council and parish pastoral councils.” The bishops stressed the notion of “a listening Church”. “It is most important that the Church is a listening Church, being aware and empathetic to the struggles and choices that people have to make in their everyday life. “It is the responsibility of the

Church’s authority to call continually all its members to live the Gospel values and virtues in our times, especially in the face of powerful forces such as secularism, materialism and other forces with their vested interests that lure and lead people away from the Gospel. “It is precisely through such dialogue that the Church is not inward-looking as sometimes claimed. It sincerely seeks guidance and solutions to questions of morality, economic justice, poverty and the many other crises that people face in their lives,” the bishops said. They added that “the radical nature of the teaching of Christ” is often in conflict “with the mainstream of human thinking”. This, they said, has been so since biblical times. “Nonetheless we, your bishops, must be bold in our fidelity to the Gospel. We call upon all Catholics to be equally bold in standing up for the doctrinal, social and the moral teaching of the Church. Doing so is a crucial part of the evangelising mission of the Church for transforming society.”

Wheelchair-bound men: Kings for a day Kitchens to go cold BY CLAIRE MATHIESON

BY CLAIRE MATHIESON

CATHOLIC woman from Pretoria, who is fighting cancer, has organised a fishing tournament for men in wheelchairs as a way to celebrate her life and the life of others. Helene Smal of St Pius X parish, Waterkloof in Pretoria, was diagnosed with terminal lymphoma cancer in November 2009. A member of the choir and lifelong charity worker, Mrs Smal called for prayer and positive attitudes as she underwent a successful six-months course of chemotherapy. Her friends and family said “she just never gives up”. “She was so glad to be spared and given more time that she went out and organised a fishing tournament for men in wheelchairs in Durban,” her husband Gerard Smal said. The event was held at the Naval Dockyard in Durban harbour— usually a restricted fishing area— with permission from the chief of South Africa's navy, Vice-Admiral Rofiloe Johannes Mudimo. With total of 82 wheelchairbound and three blind participants, Mrs Smal also arranged 265 helpers to assist. Volunteers helped

Being diagnosed with cancer has not stopped a Pretoria Catholic from thinking of others. Helene Smal organised a fishing day for blind men and men in wheelchairs. to fish, cook and serve the men. Speaking of the day that included breakfast, an afternoon braai and special gifts for all involved, participant Kobus Kotze of Ballito said: “I never knew that ordinary people cared so much”. Another participant added: “Before I landed in a wheelchair, I never did any charity, and now you guys are doing it all for me at no cost!” Mrs Smal said the biggest reward was to be of service to the men. “We were all united in ser-

vice and every helper wants to be there again next year. The men were able to talk about their world with each other, make new friendships and feel like kings. “By trying to help others, you end up feeling better in the end.” Mrs Smal attributed her current health to the charity work she’s done throughout her life. “I have a ‘bucket list’ and this is one of the many things I want to do. Many people didn’t think I’d be here today, so I have to make the most of my time.”

OME of Cape Town’s most well-known food kitchens are facing possible closure. Operated by Catholic Welfare and Development (CWD), The War against Malnutrition, Tuberculosis and Hunger, or WARMTH, kitchens have not been able to keep up with the rise in food prices and the number of people in need and, as a result, may be forced to limit their services. CWD also attributes the recent difficulties to a decline in health and nutrition funding—a direct result of the rand strengthening against foreign currency. Over 50 kitchens have been struggling. In addition to this, the international recession has meant major donors and funding agencies have had to decrease their funding. While the strengthening of the South African economy is seen as positive, statistics show more than 34% of the country’s households are living on less than R16 a day. The WARMTH kitchens provide meals to at least 5 000 vulnerable people throughout the greater Cape Town area daily, at an estimated operating cost of R100 000 per year.

“At CWD we still maintain that hunger remains the biggest challenge that South Africa faces. The accessibility of food remains a huge issue for many South African’s especially for those living with HIV/Aids, TB, the elderly and the youth,” said Alrika Hefers, head of marketing for CWD. Today the WARMTH projects have extended their interest to also empower local women. Ms Hefers said that women in various communities “run the kitchens as a business charging R1 for a meal of soup, stew and rice. “Although each kitchen starts off as a welfare response in desperate communities, they gradually progress to the point where they become sustainable, and ultimately economically viable,” she said. The 2008 General Household Survey done by Statistics SA indicated that 3,3 million children were living in households where child hunger was reported, she said. “We appeal to corporate, business and Government sector to support us to keep our kitchens open and feed thousands each day.”  For more information visit www.cwd.org.za or contact the CWD on 021 425 2095.

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LOCAL

The Southern Cross, August 25 to August 31, 2010

involvement key to Hospital on cutting Youth a better Zimbabwe edge in HIV fight Y BY MUNYARADZI MAKONI

BY MAURICIO LANGA

FEW hundred men have already undergone circumcision at the newly opened Medical Male Circumcision Clinic in Cavershan Road in Pinetown, KwaZulu-Natal. The facility, which is a satellite clinic for St Mary’s Hospital in Mariannhill, was opened this month and is part of a HIV/Aids prevention exercise. The hospital saw a need to open a facility for male circumcision due to the growing number of registered patients coming in for circumcisions at the hospital. Studies show that circumcision reduces the rate of infection of HIV by about 60%. Dr Douglas Ross, St Mary’s chief executive officer, said it is encouraging to see how young men are positively responding to the initiative. He said in the first two weeks of the official opening of the male circumcision clinic, it conducted 156 circumcisions. Dr Ross said the hospital provided circumcision before as an elective procedure. As part of the project and hospital policy, all men who are interested in the procedure must undergo a HIV test and counselling before the surgery. The clinic has competent staff trained to handle high volumes of people coming for the procedure, Dr Ross said. The project is done in

Dr Douglas Ross with a group of young men who underwent circumcision at St Mary’s circumcision clinic. PHOTO: MAURICIO LANGA partnership with St Mary’s, the KwaZulu-Natal Department of Health, the US government and the Centre for Disease Control. Dr Ross said the project is sanctioned by the Department of Health (DoH). Earlier this year the DoH announced that circumcision would be a focus area and all healthcare providers were to commence work in this area of preventative care for HIV and Aids. St Mary’s is also encouraging pregnant mothers and mothers of baby boys to think about circumcising their babies.

Sheena Marlin, St Mary’s marketing manager, said the main challenge faced by the hospital is to educate the community that circumcision is a preventive method. She said another challenge is linked to cultural resistance by some Zulu men to accept circumcision. “It is for this reason that the KwaZulu-Natal premier’s office, as well as King Goodwill Zeliwthini, are driving this as a lead project,” said Marlin. Some patients who commented after the procedure said it is safe and not painful.

OUNG people should not be used as tools for political violence in Southern Africa, said Innocent Kasiyano, coordinator of Student Christian Movement of Zimbabwe. “It’s a sad trend that youths are used as tools of political violence and agents to instill fear in communities, that must be stopped,” Mr Kasiyano told The Southern Cross. Mr Kasiyano said this while attending the 6th People’s Summit organised by the Solidarity People's Network (SASPN) at the Catholic Cathedral Hall in Windhoek, Namibia. Mr Kasiyano, a Catholic, said the involvement of youths in making political decisions in the 14member Southern Africa Development Community (SADC) would help groom better leaders. “The participation of youths should not only be limited to lower government structures,” said Mr Kasiyano, adding that there was a need to sensitise other youths in the region on their social and economic rights. Mr Kasiyano, who coordinates 36 branches averaging 20 members across Zimbabwe, said holding the People’s Summit—a gathering of faith-based groups, civic organisa-

tions and trade union members— parallel to the 30th SADC heads of state gave the SASPN an opportunity to lobby on a number of issues. “We want the leaders to allow youth bodies to monitor general elections in the region at least two to three months before the actual voting to prevent violence,” he said. He said young people must be part of the national healing process in Zimbabwe, which was recommended by the Global Political Agreement that brought together Zanu-PF and the two opposition parties after political violence before and after the rerun of the 2008 general elections. Mr Kasiyano said national healing was not enough, and that transitional justice should take its course. He proposed a truth and reconciliation commission such as the one held in South Africa. “As part of civil society we are not a government in waiting, but we are there to fight for the voice of the marginalised to be heard,” he said. The Student Christian Movement of Zimbabwe is a mass-based grouping, which consists of 27 tertiary institutions and high schools that mainly focus on conflict transformation, peace building initiatives and leadership training

‘St Thérèse worked a miracle for me’ BY CLAIRE MATHIESON

S the relics of St Thérèse of Lisieux tour South Africa, a Catholic has said that an ailment she had suffered after having a stroke in June had spontaneously disappeared after touching the reliquary holding the French saint's bones, Mgr Clifford Stokes, vicar-general of the archdiocese of Cape Town, said that Welcome Estate parishioner Matrida Jonkers “related to me her experience after touching the reliquary”. Mrs Jonkers suffered a stroke in

June, leaving her in daily pain. “As I could not use my right arm, I suffered continuously and was dependent on my husband and children to take care of me,” she said. “After many grueling visits to the physiotherapist, I convinced myself that this pain I was enduring was going to be there for the rest of my life,” she said. She said that on touching St Thérèse’s reliquary, “I felt something move up my arm, almost like waves of electricity. I was taken to a place I have never been in my whole life. It was a very old place

with stones paved around in a circle around me. “Words cannot describe the beauty and the peace that surrounded me. When I looked again I was back in the church, yet the warm, electrical feeling stayed in my arm”. Ms Jonkers reports her pain is gone and describes her experience as a miracle. “My pain has gone. I can stretch out my arm, move it sideways without pain.” The relics will travel to Midrand, Port Elizabeth, Rivonia and Yeoville parishes in Johannesburg in September.

ATTORNEYS NOTARIES CONVEYANCERS

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SPRINGFIELD CONVENT JUNIOR SCHOOL Applicants are invited for the following post

PRE-PRIMARY CLASS TEACHER From 1 January 2011 Springfield is a day school for girls from Pre-School to Matriculation, set in beautiful gardens on Wynberg Hill in the southern suburbs of Cape Town. Founded by Irish Dominican Sisters in 1871, Springfield has a caring, Catholic atmosphere, a proud academic record, vibrant Music and Art Departments and excellent facilities for Sport. The successful applicant will be: - a fully qualified, enthusiastic teacher - able to teach children in both Pre-Reception and Reception - registered with SACE - willing and able to promote the school's Catholic ethos - willing to teach Religious Education in line with the school's ethos - willing to become fully involved in the school's curricular and co-curricular programme.

Immaculate Conception Pilgrimage

St Augustine’s Pilgrimage

Volunteers at the Dan-Ag Centre in Cape Town, with chairwoman Denise Delcarme (back middle) and newlyweds Jeffrey and Lisa Boooysen (front), a homeless couple for whom the centre provided a celebration on their wedding day. The centre helps people who are homeless find permanent residence in the city. For more information or to offer support, Ms Delcarme can be contacted on 079 869 4319.

TO COMMEMORATE YOUR SPECIAL OCCASION, PRINT YOUR LOGO & EVENT ON T-SHIRTS!! CONTACT ALLEDENE CUPIDO AT PRISON CARE AND SUPPORT NETWORK MONDAY TO FRIDAY BETWEEN 09.00 - 13.00. We offer reasonable rates. Please fax or email the office for a quotation. Contact numbers: 021 697 4174 (Telephone & Fax 021 697 1348 Email: prisoncare@mweb.co.za

Apply in writing, giving details of qualifications, experience and the names of three contactable referees, including your Parish priest or Minister, to: The Principal, Springfield Convent Junior School, St John’s Road, Wynberg, 7800; or Email postmaster@sfc.wcape.school.za

Closing date for applications: Friday 10 September 2010 The school reserves the right not to proceed with the filling of this post. An application will not in itself entitle the applicant to an interview or appointment, and failure to meet the requirements of the advertised post will result in applicants automatically disqualifying themselves from consideration. No faxed applications accepted. Candidates not contacted shall consider their applications unsuccessful.

INTERNATIONAL

The Southern Cross, August 25 to August 31, 2010

Church scandals like vuvuzelas T

HE clergy sexual abuse scandal, diminishing numbers of priests and an overemphasis on professionalism may be colouring how the leaders of religious orders think about the priesthood, said the Redemptorist who has been named to a Vatican post overseeing religious life. Archbishop-designate Joseph Tobin, recently appointed secretary of the Congregation for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life, made the remarks in a speech at the annual assembly of the Conference of Major Superiors of Men. He urged the religious order leaders to ask God to “put his fin-

ger, the Holy Spirit, into our ears and on our tongue” to overcome the figurative deafness caused by such issues. Citing the gospel of Mark, Archbishop-designate Tobin compared the abuse crisis, the decline in vocations and the stress on professionalism to the sound of vuvuzelas that often drowned out all other sounds during some games played during the football World Cup. Clergy sexual abuse has provoked repugnance throughout the Church and has led some people to see religious leaders as hypocritical and arrogant, said the former Redemptorist superior general. “The leadership of the institutes

of consecrated life has paid a heavy toll in reacting to these scandals,” he said, noting that many often talk of nothing else during visits to Rome. Declining numbers and the increasing age of the priesthood, coupled with commitments to ministry to be maintained, are also a concern to leaders of religious orders, Archbishop-designate Tobin told the religious leaders. “We religious have been ‘hoodwinked into discouragement’,” the US-born archbishop-designate said, recalling the 2006 address of Franciscan Father David Couturier to the major superiors on the status of religious life. “As a result the language of abundance that has traditionally characterised religious life has been replaced by a vocabulary and mode of thinking centered on diminishment.” He suggested that the

decline in vocations could end if religious orders offered young men a “clear sense of mission in community while respecting their religious needs, instead of seeking to make them clones of ourselves”. Overemphasising professionalism, the third factor affecting thinking about the priesthood, comes at the expense of mystical thinking about the future of priestly ministry, he said. “There is an undeniable, and in my opinion, entirely appropriate value attached to some values of professionalism in consecrated life,” he said, citing the need for the intellectual formation of priests and the use of management and organisational strategies in planning and evaluation. However, he continued, “the problem is when consecrated life is reduced to professionalism, no longer witnessing clearly to...the folly of the cross”.

Archbishop-designate Tobin suggested that the priests recall the healing of the deaf man in the seventh chapter of the gospel of Mark. The story, which was also the assembly’s focus, placed Jesus in what he called a “religious and social no-man’s land, a place where pious Jews would not be comfortable. I am convinced that God is calling the consecrated to witness to God and God’s kingdom in a similar ‘place’ today,” he said. “The ‘place’ for consecrated people today is the space where people are excluded from their full dignity as sons and daughters of God, redeemed by Jesus Christ and sanctified by the Holy Spirit. “We must ask ourselves whether we have been deafened by certain master narratives, vuvuzelas, that are particularly forceful because they convey true elements but, if we are to be faithful, can never be allowed to have the final word.”— CNS

Disease threatens millions of Pakistanis affected by floods BY CAROL GLATZ

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AKISTAN is facing new dangers posed by disease as emergency response teams and international aid agencies struggle to rush supplies to millions of people forced to flee the country’s worst flooding in 80 years. Jack Byrne, Catholic Relief Services’ (CRS) country representative to Pakistan, said the aid effort has been hampered because bridges and roads have been washed away by monsoon rains and the ensuing floods since late July. The floods that started in the northern part of the country have generally followed the Indus River, moving southward to Sindh and Punjab provinces. In parts of the northern provinces where floodwaters have receded, people are returning and “are having a hard time identifying where they lived,” Mr Byrne said. “People are still on the move in and around Sindh,” Mr Byrne told Catholic News Service from his office in Islamabad, the capital. “Thousands are just living on the road.” Hundreds of thousands of people displaced by the floods have made their way to the major cities of Karachi and Lahore, taxing each community’s effort to provide adequate food and shelter, he said. At a news conference in Islamabad, Daniel Toole, UNICEF regional director for South Asia, said up to 3,5 million children are in danger of contracting diarrhea, cholera and upper respiratory infections through contaminated

A young flood victim holds out a pot for food while chasing a vehicle along a roadside in Pakistan’s Muzaffargarh District in the province of Punjab. The floods have killed more than 1 600 people and forced two million from their homes. PHOTO: ADREES LATIF, REUTERS/CNS

water and insects. The floods have affected up to 20 million people and a fifth of the area of the country of 170 million people. An estimated 1 500 people have died. The United Nations reported that food rations and clean water have reached only 500 000 of the estimated two million people left homeless by the floods. The United Nations launched an appeal for $460 million in emergency relief funds, even though agency officials expected that rebuilding and recovery will require billions of dollars. Mr Byrne said some relief agencies are concerned that donor fatigue is setting in. “The donor response has been slow,” he said. “It’s what the UN calls perception deficit, people thinking the money is not going where it’s needed because they

think the government is corrupt. Pakistan is saddened that the world has been slow to respond.” Mr Byrne said the funds collected by CRS have been used to provide emergency kits which contain cooking sets, water purification tablets, bottled water, blankets and soap. “We would like to have 20 000 kits distributed by the Eid celebration, the end of Ramadan.” The agency has also started providing transitional shelter to people in the north. The simple wooden structures will provide adequate housing for the short term as people begin to re-establish their routines, he explained. Once people are settled into new housing, cash-for-work programmes will hire people to rebuild roads, clear drainage channels and build small bridges.—CNS

Catholic opens UN’s Year of Youth

STUDENT at a Jesuit-run university who is a leader in an international movement of Catholic students has urged the world to consider how much young people can contribute to shaping a more peaceful world during opening ceremonies for the International Year of Youth at United Nations headquarters in New York. Maya Saoud, a member of the Pax Romana, a worldwide organisation of students working to bridge divides, told global representatives that the participation of young people in the political process “is the essence of fairness, of equality”. The student at Fordham University in the United States said: “If young people are not treated like viable players in the field of

politics, then a grave injustice is being committed.” Focusing on the year’s theme, “Dialogue and Mutual Understanding”, Ms Saoud cited the work of Pax Romana in training young people to understand that dialogue and overcoming conflict is the only path to peace and greater understanding among people. She called upon world leaders to recognise how important such training can be in the effort to achieve a less violent and more just world. “We are asking you for your help, for your understanding and for your willingness to make available all that is necessary to ensure that young people are empowered,” Ms Saoud said. “We are asking you to please understand the valuable

natural resource that is the youth. “Unlike other resources, we do not spark wars and conflicts. We do not create contempt between the haves and havenots. We do not increase economic inequality, suffering and devastation. We are the resource that does the very opposite. Utilise the youth for the sake of our collective future. Allow us to create a global environment where dialogue and mutual understanding are preferred over the destructiveness and terror of conflict,” she said. The International Year of Youth concludes in August 2011. It marks the 25th anniversary of the first UN-designated year dedicated to improving the lives of young people between the ages of 15 and 24.—CNS

INTERNATIONAL

The Southern Cross, August 25 to August 31, 2010

Orthodox liturgy in Turkey gives Christians hope BY CINDY WOODEN

Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew of Constantinople celebrates an Orthodox liturgy for the feast of the Dormition of Mary at the Panagia Soumela monastery near Trabzon, Turkey. Thousands of Orthodox pilgrims from Greece, Russia and Georgia attended the liturgy at the monastery for the first time since 1923. PHOTO: UMIT BEKTAS, REUTERS/CNS

Bomb threat at Lourdes

HE Shrine of Our Lady of L o u r d e s , including its chapels and grottos, was evacuated for several hours following a bomb threat that turned out to be false. Vatican Radio reported that French police received a phone call at 11:39 saying that four bombs would go off at 15:00 at the shrine complex. A police official told the news agency Agence France Presse, “the call came from a phone booth” and the caller, a male, “seemed

d e t e r m i n e d enough” that police decided to evacuate the shrine. A police search of the area did not result in any explosives being found and a 16:30 eucharistic procession was held as planned, the news agency reported. Some 30 000 pilgrims were participating in feast day services at the shrine, but by the time the bomb threat was made, many of the pilgrims were already away from the sanctuary having lunch.—CNS

HE Turkish government’s decision to allow the Orthodox patriarch to celebrate a liturgy at the ancient Panagia Soumela monastery near Trabzon was a sign of hope for all members of Turkey’s Christian minority, said a Jesuit priest. “The present government has promised they really will pay attention to the needs of the Christian minority; the Christians have said we want concrete signs, so this is a positive step in the right direction,” said Jesuit Father Thomas Michel, who lives and works in Ankara, the Turkish capital. Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew of Constantinople celebrated the Orthodox liturgy for the feast of the Dormition of Mary at the Panagia Soumela monastery, which was founded in 386. The current building, which is maintained by the government as a museum, dates from the 13th century. It was closed in 1923 after most Greeks were forced out

Nigerian archbishop praises president BY PETER AJAYI DADA

IGERIAN President Goodluck Jonathan could go down in history as the man who helped set his country on the path to free and fair elections, a prominent Catholic leader said. Abuja‘s Archbishop John Olorunfemi Onaiyekan said although the president’s first 100 days in office were a short time for assessing his achievements, he had started well with the appointment of the chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). “Our prayers and most fervent wish for him are to courageously face the electoral issue,” said the archbishop. “If that is the only thing he can achieve, his name will be written in letters of gold in the history of Nigeria.” Mr Jonathan, a Christian from the South, took office after the May 5 death of President Umaru Yar’Adua, a northern Muslim. The country has a history of alternating presidents from

the predominantly Muslim North and the predominantly Christian South. Archbishop Onaiyekan said the issue of how an incumbent could ensure a free and fair election was a challenge for Nigeria’s leaders. “I am not saying that Mr Jonathan should run the election so as to lose, but he should run the election in such a way that it will be free and fair,” he said. “We will know if it is free and fair, because we are on the ground. That is the major job he has now in the few months…left ahead of him,” the archbishop added. He also appealed to the president to tackle corruption in the country. “If a president is so anxious to win an election and he begins to compromise with bad enemies who are politically more powerful, then he himself will not be a good umpire,” he said. “But if he is able to let the truth be told and allows INEC to do its work properly…I believe we will achieve success in the country.”—CNS

Church has a role in fighting climate change BY DAVID AGREN

EXICAN Catholic officials acknowledge not being experts in the subject of climate change, which some scientists predict will impact Mexico by taxing scant water resources, producing more intense storms and forcing even more outward migration from parched rural areas. They insist, however, that the Church has a role to play by reducing its own potentially polluting practices

and educating the faithful and public at large and helping those who might be negatively affected by a changing climate. “This issue we’re addressing at the conference is a subject of enormous worry for the Catholic Church.” The organisers of the church conference expressed no doubts of the science of climate change, however, predicting it would provoke longterm problems in Mexico. Inaction, they added, is not an option. —CNS

of Turkey and most Turks were forced out of Greece under the terms of the Treaty of Lausanne. Fr Michel, an American who has ministered in Trabzon, said the Panagia Soumela Monastery “is one of the most beautiful places on earth. It’s in a pine forest with waterfalls and the monastery is perched on a cliff”. Fr Michel said: “Christians here don’t feel persecuted by the government”, but there are church properties confiscated by the government in the 1920s— including an Orthodox seminary near Istanbul and the Catholic Church of St Paul in Tarsus—that Christians would like to be able to use again. “In any society with a vast majority of the population belonging to one religion, someone will discriminate against the minority,” Fr Michel said, but most Turks are open-minded and respectful of people’s different beliefs. “In my discussions with Turks, they always emphasise the fact that Turkey is a place where you can find a mosque, a synagogue

and a church side by side,” he said. Turkey’s population is about 99% Muslim. Meeting Kenan Gursoy, Turkey’s ambassador to the Vatican, in January, Pope Benedict asked that the country grant full legal recognition to the Catholic Church. While Turkish Catholics enjoy religious freedom, he said, the Church as a whole “is waiting for civil juridical recognition” under Turkish law. The lack of legal status sometimes has made it difficult for the Catholic Church and other Christian communities in Turkey to own and buy property officially and to build or operate churches, schools and hospitals. Mr Gursoy told the pope that Europe would benefit culturally, economically and politically from having Turkey as a member of the European Union; since Turkey became an EU candidate country in 1999, it has been asked to undertake reforms to improve its human rights record, including its treatment of religious minorities.—CNS

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The Southern Cross, August 25 to August 31, 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

Giving a real choice

HE Catholic Church’s opposition to abortion is immutable, but it also finds expression in different, complementary ways. This week’s first feature article in a series of four on Catholic response to abortion in South Africa includes the views of people at the coalface of the Church’s activities in providing alternatives to mothers considering aborting their unborn child. Other articles in the series will look at organisations that provide services to such women, the experience of adoption as well as public protest. While the Church’s opposition to abortion publicly finds voice mostly in sanctions—in particular deliberately pronounced excommunications and threats of withholding the Eucharist from some Catholic politicians—and protests that sometimes include intemperate language, the compassionate dimension of the Church’s response is not widely known. The pro-choice lobby arguably benefits from this imbalance. Few people are likely to be persuaded by threats, sanctions and what they may perceive to be harassment. To those who do not believe that life begins at conception, or hold that unborn life does not matter up to a particular point in its gestation, the pro-life arguments can seem unreasonable, even oppressive—especially if these are accompanied by an aggressive pitch or inconsistency in the application of the right to live. In countries where abortion is legal, it might be impossible to turn back the tide. Even in the United States, where six of the previous nine administrations described themselves as pro-life, there is no prospect of a change in the law. In a country such as South Africa, where there is no expectation that the Choice for Termination of Pregnancy Amendment Act will be overturned, the primary objective must be containment. The bishops of Southern Africa in 2007 rightly said that since

the law was unlikely to be repealed, the harmful effects of legalised abortion must be limited. New lines of persuasion must be developed, perhaps by appealing to scruples in ways that are more charitable than the language of canonical discipline and exclusion. For its pro-life message to be seen as credible, the Church must find ways of making known its ministries to pregnant women in troubled circumstances and to women who are suffering post-abortion trauma. It is right to protest against abortion as a matter of principle. It can help form the collective conscience and potentially persuade women to explore alternatives to terminating a pregnancy. But protest must be seen to be backed up by action. The government must be engaged in offering alternatives. There is no reason for the government to celebrate the number of abortions it has facilitated, even if it does not share the Church’s moral perspective. Every abortion is a tragedy—a life killed. And behind most abortions, there are stories of human tragedy. Added to that is the profound psychological trauma many women experience after an abortion. Surely government’s mission must be to address the conditions that lead to the need for abortions—about 87000 a year in South Africa— rather than take encouragement from increasing rates of terminations. And while so many women still make use of access to abortions, as the law allows them to, the government should also give concrete support to alternative options, such as those presently offered by Church institutions and independent organisations such as Birthright. The state should seek to reduce abortions by supporting and creating relevant social services and structures, which in turn would give proper meaning to the term “choice” in the Act’s title.

Who do we thank for SA’s blessings? believed in the value of Peace and the nation prayed. Through this belief the transition came peacefully without any of the expected violence. 2010—The Fifa World Cup. The eyes of the world were once again focussed on South Africa. Many were aprehensive at the thought of South Africa hosting an event of this magnitude. How wrong we were, the world came to know Africa through the South African people. Bafana Bafana and the other African teams did us proud when

they displayed the true spirit of Africa playing like gentlemen and giving truth to the value of sportsmanship. South Africa is truly blessed. We have been placed under the patronage of “Mary Assumed into Heaven”, celebrated on August 15. It is Mary who continues to bless us protectively. her motherly care ensured that these two historical events were experienced so peacefully Thank you Mary, Queen of Peace. MA Gilardi, Swellendam

Charity and tradition Justifying apathy?

less meetings and allowed them to function as priests, not businessmen. A couple of Sundays ago, we heard St Luke’s gospel—Mary and Martha. I liken today’s priests as the Marthas and the olden day priests as the Marys in that gospel reading Lily P Fynn, Johannesburg

994—The end of apartheid. The eyes of the world were focussed on South Africa. For years we had all been warned to anticipate a bloodbath when the apartheid regime came to its knees. We were faced with a change to democracy. The African National Congress came to power and South Africa was blessed with the head of state of all time...Nelson Mandela. In the background he was ably assisted by a man endowed with so much positive energy Archbishop Desmond Tutu. Both these men

ELIEF in the inherent dignity of the human person is the foundation, as far as I know, of all Catholic social teaching. The obligation to “love our neighbour” has both an individual and a community dimension. In South Africa our society is organised by economics, politic, law, and policy. These directly affect human dignity. Everyone has a role to play. Catholics have always been generous to the poor, in a quiet way without media attention. We do this as individuals, to our families, the parish, special collections; to the broader community—is this not an ancient Catholic tradition? There are many reasons why Catholics are in church out of Mass times to pray, for special intentions, to worship God. Our Church helps with education, hospitals, and the likes. The reported billions of wasted government expenditure is the direct cause of babies dying in state hospitals, as has been widely reported. I do not care about competing wants on the fiscus. The issue is the wasted expenditure—the white elephant stadiums built for the World Cup as opposed to caring for the community, the dying mothers, children dying needlessly and aborted babies. Chris Moerdyk (“Deeds rather than rhetoric” June 30), what has a popemobile and seven million Catholics got to do with the greater issues that affect the poor in South Africa. Your starting solution is the every day modern prophet’s first cry. We have heard it before. Malcolm Bagley, Cape Town

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.

HRIS Moerdyk justifies the failure by Catholics to defend Almighty God and our faith against often blasphemous attacks by stating inter alia that this is “turning the other cheek” (August 11). Unfortunately, however, this excuse is often used to justify what is nothing less than apathy on our part. Over the years, I recall several letters in the secular press by Muslim believers, which defended our Lord and his blessed mother against various blasphemies, but which were not accompanied by similar letters from any Christians. Further, in theological discussions I have had with my neighbour, a Muslim iman, he always states the words “Peace be upon him” after mentioning the name of Jesus Christ (to him “Isah” and a great prophet). We could all benficially reflect on the above religious attitudes of Muslim believers, especially with regard to blasphemy of any kind. Damian McLeish, Johannesburg

Meditation in the face of abortion

AM one of those who was left to die after surviving an abortion. Please let us stop acting like animals. Women, just meditate about your own life and why your mother did not abort you. Why she gave you a chance a live and play your own role on earth, and why you yourself do not give that same chance to your own child? Maybe he or she would play the role in the world which you yourself couldn’t play. Now you have killed that child what are you going to say to God? How are you going to look at that child? Where will your soul go? Please women think before you act. I ask the doctors who help women to commit such a sin to have the same meditation mentioned above. I ask them to save life and not destroy it. I also invite governments of all countries in the world to stop this evil in their countries. Please leaders, give the unborn children back their right to live. Please do that for the love of God. Nonhlanhla Ngcobo, Anerley, KZN

Priests not businessmen

AGREE with Chris Moerdyk (“Volunteers from hell”, July 21) regarding the lives of modern day priests. I would even go further and ask this question: have our priests lost sight of their true vocation? That of ministering to their flock as Jesus did? At the clebration of Holy Mass is about the only time one sees a priest these days. I don’t think young men become priests just to attend meetings and involve themselves with finances. The Church must employ the appropriate people to deal with finances, find volunteers (that word again) to sit on charities etc. It is time the Church freed our priests from the stranglehold of end-

A mixed bag

F one examines traditional marriage vows, it is immediately apparent that the primary good of marriage is not procreation, but the sacrificial giving of oneself to another that both may grow in holiness. This view is amply supported by Holy Scripture, the Song of Songs extolling sexual love not for its procreative dimension, but rather purely for its unitive dimension. That the unitive aspect of sex outweighs, and may be separated from, the procreative is further evidenced by the church permitting contraception via natural family planning. Vatican II spoke of “the holding of councils in order to settle conjointly, in a decision rendered balanced and equitable by the advice of many, all questions of major importance” (Lumen Gentium 22). That the question of contraception was then removed from this Council beggars belief. As does the foisting on the lay faithful of the opinions of a handful of Pope Paul VI’s curial officials as concerns artificial contraception as if they were infallible and divine decree. Paradoxically, the influence of fallible curial opinions on the Catholic population appears to have eroded since the publication of Humanae Vitae. Studies by the US National Opinion Research Center as far back as 1974 indicated that 83% of US Catholics approved of artificial contraception for married couples. And Catholic countries like Spain, Portugal and Argentina have recently legalised same-sex civil marriage, in spite of curial pronouncements to the contrary. I found it deeply intriguing that both nations who made it to the final of the recent soccer World Cup permit same-sex marriage, as does the host nation. Perhaps God does have favourites after all—that is, the marginalised and despised, and those who show them compassion. Dr Vincent W Couling, Pietermaritzburg

Take it or leave it

NOTE that Chris Moerdyk has joined the ranks of the Romebashing faithful (August 4), accusing the Holy See of “hypocrisy”, “insensitivity” towards sex scandals , “adding insult to injury” and “archaic” gender discrimination—no doubt he would emit another rousing hurrah if the next pope to visit the South Africa was accompanied by her husband! Mr Moerdyk is right about one thing—his expressed opinions will not bring about “death by stoning or excommunication,” but might they not, one wonders cause him and other of like mind to reconsider their membership of a Church whose hierarchy is guilty of misconduct as ascribed? WE Muller, Centurion

Supplement to The Southern Cross, August 25 to August 31, 2010

PERSPECTIVES Mphuthumi Ntabeni

Pushing the Boundaries

Newman’s brand of liberalism

WAS reading the review of Cardinal John Henry Newman’s new biography, Newman’s Unquiet Grave: The Reluctant Saint by John Cornwell, in the London Book Review. The reviewer, Professor Terry Eagleton, one of my favourite contemporary thinkers, says: “Newman was aware that he was regarded in some circles as a saint, but thought he was quite unworthy of the honour.” We know that the Catholic Church has throughout the ages regarded humility as one of the signs of sainthood, which is why it is not surprising that Pope Benedict is taking the process of Cardinal Newman’s canonisation to its penultimate step by beatifying him. The other requirement of a posthumous miracle has also been reported in the US. Among the things Newman thought would count against his saintliness was the fact that he was a “literary man”. Cardinal Newman’s writings had tremendous influence on unlikely characters, such as James Joyce, who thought Newman had one of the most polished writing styles in English. I concur. I find Newman’s arguments eloquently put, in a clean classical style which is as attractive as it is persuasive. Eagleton seems amused by the biographer’s tendency to force the virtues of secularism on Cardinal Newman, at the expense of his religious convictions—making much more of how he wrote than what he wrote about. Still Eagleton finds the new biography refreshing because of the fact that it is not preoccupied with the cardinal’s supposed sexual orientation, casting its interests wider than other contemporary analysts have managed. Eagleton says the cardinal was “first and foremost a writer” whose genius lay in “creating new ways of imagining and writing about religion”. Additionally, Newman was a writer of internalised morals, but I suppose that was left out for the sake of appeasing a readership that takes interest only in works with no religious overtones. Newman doubtless believed literature—great literature—refines our sensibilities, deepens our understanding of human nature and sharpens our moral acuity. I’ve observed many biographers flounder when it comes to explaining Cardinal Newman’s political and religious beliefs. The closest they get is labelling him a conservative, which illuminates nothing. This seems to me because they start at the wrong end of the analysis, and do not attempt to define the meaning of the terms they talk about. There are basically three major liberal strands of thought over the past several hundred years: utilitarianism (Bentham, Mill), contractual or “procedural” liberalism, and liberalism grounded more deeply in Aristotelian theories of virtue. The last is a distinctly minority viewpoint close to Newman’s beliefs. It stresses the importance of group solidarity without falling prey to igniting ethnic and religious tensions. Politically and philosophically, this is an interesting turning point in liberal thinking and has managed to attract even black people, for example US President Barack Obama. This liberalism takes into account the public or common weal, and distinguishes itself from individualistic liberalism which does not leave room for group solidarity. This new strand has been termed “virtuous liberalism”. continued on page 15

REMEMBERING OUR DEAD “It is a holy and wholesome thought to pray for the dead, that they may be loosed from their sins” (II Macc XII,46) Holy Mass will be celebrated on the first Sunday of each month in the All Souls’ chapel, Maitland, Cape Town at 2:30pm for all souls in purgatory and for all those buried in the Woltemade cemetery. For further information, please contact St Jude Society, Box 22230, Fish Hoek, 7975 Telephone (021) 552 3850

Ordination and trials In the third part of Fr Austin’s series on the life of Cardinal John Henry Newman, who will be beatified by Pope Benedict we witnessed his conversion to Catholicism after six years of spiritual struggle.

HE conversion of John Henry Newman in 1845 caused an uproar in England. Enemies branded him everything from a traitor to Protestantism, to a moral weakling. His own family were bewildered and upset; his friends at Oxford dismayed; political leaders disgusted. What hurt Newman most of all was the distress he caused those who believed the prophet and inspiration of the Oxford Movement had abandoned the cause. And, not least, his action resulted in a landslide of conversions among some of the most prominent people in England. In 1846 Bishop Wiseman of Birmingham suggested that he go to Rome to prepare for ordination to the Catholic priesthood. After six months of acclimatisation to Roman custom and practice, John Henry Newman was ordained priest in the cathedral of Rome, the basilica of St John Lateran. While in Rome he had become acquainted with the Oratory of St Philip Neri. St Philip, as part of the reform of the Church in the 16th century, had organised groups of secular priests into communities where they lived together in prayer, study and mutual support for their pastoral work. The house in which they lived was called the Oratory, and they were known as Oratorians. This model of living appealed to Newman, because it was the exact lifestyle that he and his companions had lived at Littlemore while Anglicans. So immediately after ordination in Rome, he and his companions entered the novitiate of the Oratorians. Six months later, armed with a letter of appointment from Pope Pius IX as superior in England of the Oratory, Newman and his companions returned to Birmingham. There on the feast of the Purification of Our Lady, February 2, 1848, the Oratory of St Philip was established for the first time in England. Once more this brilliant scholar and humble priest set about pastoral work among the poor. Somehow he managed to find time for the needs of his flock and also to continue his academic work. His ceaseless research resulted in book after book, theological tracts and sermons. But he was happiest of all when tending to the spiritual needs of his flock. Frederick William Faber, also an Oxford convert, joined Newman’s Oratory. But the two were a study in contrast and a deep personality clash developed between them. Faber, for the sake of peace and concord in the community, eventually went to London to establish an Oratory there. The Oratories of Brompton and Birmingham manifested the marked differences between the flamboyant, sentimental Faber and the controlled simplicity and intellectualism of Newman. Faber’s Brompton Oratory was grandiose, its liturgical style ornate; Newman’s Birmingham Oratory was modest and its devotions low key. Two persons were to enter Newman’s life and to cause considerable pain and disturbance to him in their different ways. The first was a renegade Dominican priest, Giacomo Achilli. At

Michael Austin SJ

The Newman Chronicles large in England during these sensitive times for the Catholic Church, he stirred the anti-popery foment by condemning Catholic priests as untrustworthy. He was the agent of the vehemently anti-Catholic Evangelical Alliance. Newman discovered that Achilli had been involved in serious sexual misconduct as a priest in Italy and he detailed the charges of this ex-priest’s sordid career in a public lecture. Egged on by the Protestant Evangelical Alliance, Achilli instituted an action for libel. The source of Newman’s information was an article written by Bishop Wiseman in the Dublin Review in 1850. Hastily, Newman sent to Wiseman, now archbishop of Westminister in London, for his documents to substantiate the accusations in his article; and to Rome for the evidence brought in the defrocking of this Italian priest. Unfortunately neither quarters realised the urgency of Fr Newman’s request. The Evangelical Alliance retained the services of two brilliant advocates and Newman was brought to trial. Achilli, on oath, denied all the charges made against him by Newman who was seriously handicapped without the documentation from Wiseman and Rome. He wrote: “The judges are clean against me, and a Protestant bias pervades the whole court. It seems certain I cannot get the justice a Protestant would.” The jury decided that Newman had failed to prove his accusations and was fined 100 pounds. Achilli hurriedly left for America knowing that he had lost the moral battle. Newman, naturally, was devastated at the outcome. The second person to cause Newman trouble, although not intentionally, was Archbishop Cullen of Dublin. At the suggestion of Rome, the bishops of Ireland requested Newman to establish a Catholic university in Dublin. “We will give you a free hand” they promised. Commuting between England and Dublin for the next three years, Newman estimated that he crossed the Irish sea at least 56 times— not an easy journey for a man of 57 years. And in the end it was all for a lost cause. He recruited an excellent faculty from among his fellow educators in England and Ireland. He was tremendously enthusiastic and his spirit was infectious. But he sensed that the Irish bishops were dragging their feet in the venture. They were not honest and never informed him that they did not really want a university at all. They continued to grumble about the expenses involved, the discipline of the university and its liberal ideas. They particularly objected to the hiring of lay faculty to teach Irish youth. This they considered to be the proper duty of priests. When Dr Newman finally grasped the fact that neither he nor his university were welcome in Dublin, he quietly resigned. What a waste of tremendous effort and energy he had expended on the project. “It was not Ireland or the Irish who were unkind to me”, he remarked. “The same thing would have happened in England or France. It was the clergy…”  This is the fourth in Fr Michael Austin SJ’s seven-part series on the life of Cardinal John Henry Newman.

YOU & The Souther n Cross

Has The Southern Cross played an important part in your life? Have you written for The Southen Cross? Do you have a great anecdote involving The Southern Cross? If so, we would love to hear from you for our SPECIAL 90TH ANNIVERSARY ISSUE in October. Please contact Claire Mathieson at 021 465 5007 or c.mathieson@scross.co.za before September 3 To advertise in that special edition, please contact Elizabeth Hutton at 021 465 5007 or advertising@scross.co.za

The Southern Cross, August 25 to August 31, 2010

Chris Chatteris SJ

Pray with the Pope

God in social progress General Intention: That in the less developed parts of the world the proclamation of the word of God may renew people’s hearts, encouraging them to work actively towards social progress. OST programmes of social development have similar broad aims, whether they are religiously-based or the product of secular thinking. Most people want to do away with hunger and disease. War, they believe, should become a thing of the past and giving to the secure peace in which education and economic development can flourish. However there’s always a vision of the world and of humanity underlying such programmes and how the programme pans out in practice will often be a result of this underlying vision. For example, if the programme’s vision of humanity includes the idea of the equality of the sexes, then this will probably come out in an insistence on a just sharing between men and women. The point of having the Word of God as one’s fundamental vision for social development is to anchor such development in a fundamental belief in a loving God, a redeemed people of God and God’s good creation. An exclusively materialistic basis for social development can of course cause it to go completely haywire. Stalin’s tendency to uproot whole peoples or Mao’s so-called “great leap forward” or fascist notions of a superior race are illustrations of how badly programmes of social progress can go wrong. We must of course also bear in mind that fundamentalist readings of the Word of God can have similar effects. Wars have been waged on fundamentalist understandings of the scriptures. Islam is currently going through a phase in which some extremists use the Koran to justify the terrorism of the suicide-bomber. Hence our prayer is not just for a Bible-based vision of social development, but one based on an interpretation of the bible informed by the tradition of the Church.

Love and democracy Missionary intention: That by opening our hearts to love, we may put an end to our numerous wars and conflicts which continue to bloody our world. UR intentions seem to be proposing the rather hippie idea of “all you need is love, love is all you need” or “love changes everything”. Clearly love has to be mindful of reality. The Gospel urges us to be as innocent as doves and as wise as serpents. Hence, built into this idea of love there has to be some realistic thinking about geopolitics and human nature. We must love, yes, but also create safeguards for peace. There’s a famous claim that democracies do not go to war with one another, or even that no two countries with a McDonald’s restaurant have ever gone to war with one another. Of course, it all depends on how you define “democracy” and “war” but the recent history of democratic countries lends some support to the theory. Does this mean that democracy, with all its checks and balances and its culture of accountability, might be a kind of safetystructure, constraining our violent, warlike impulses? I suspect the important thing about democracy is that it can prevent criminal personalities from taking power. A greedy and power-hungry thug who has absolute power over a state is certainly a danger to the neighbouring states. But democracies have been hijacked by precisely those kinds of thugs. This might lead us to the startling conclusion that our political structures can be an expression of love. Not in the starry-eyed sense of romantic love, but in a hard-headed, down to earth manner that is effective in building a world in which peace prevails and political thugs are kept at a safe distance from the levers of power. Therefore we should perhaps pray for the success of democracies, and in particular our own.

Tony Wyllie & Co. Catholic Funeral Home Personal and Dignified 24-hour service 469 Voortrekker Rd, Maitland Tel: 021 593 8820 48 Main Rd, Muizenberg Tel: 021 788 3728 Member of the NFDA

The Southern Cross, August 25 to August 31, 2010

COMMUNITY

Members of the Catholic Women’s League of the Durban North parish of Our Lady of Fatima visited St Joseph’s parish in Morningside to view the relics of St Thérèse of Lisieux, which are currently on tour in South Africa. SUBMITTED BY ANNA ACCOLLA

IN FOCUS

Lisa Dowling and Rosco Adams tied the knot on a sunny winter’s day at St George’s church in Simondium, Groot Drakenstein.

Fr Jerry Browne with newlyweds Ajay Sam and Shanita Ramjee. The couple married at Mater Dei church in Port Elizabeth.

edited by Nadine Christians

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

Grade 3 learners attending Star of the Sea school in St James, Cape Town, celebrated their First Communion. Pictured with the learners are (back) school teacher Susan Oosthuizen, former priest Mgr Jock Baird, Fr Roger Rossouw of St Philip parish in Strandfontein, and Yvonne Staniforth, Star of the Sea principal. SUBMITTED BY COLEEN MOLONEY

Members of the Rivonia parish spiritual group in Johannesburg meet every second month for home Mass at a parishioner’s home. SUBMITTED BY ELVIRA ROHRBECK

Archbishop Stephen Brislin of Cape Town presided at Mass to mark the joint celebration of the centenary of the construction of Sacred Heart church and the Salesian Institute in Green Point, Cape Town. SUBMITTED BY FRANCOIS DUFOUR SDB

CONGREGATION OF MARIANNHILL MISSIONARIES

Ora et Labora The Congregation of the Missionaries of Mariannhill, CMM, sprung from the Trappist Monastery of Mariannhill founded by Abbot Francis Pfanner in 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

St Anne’s residents, and senior citizens from Edenvale, Johannesburg, were treated to a tea and performance of the modernised version of William Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet as performed by learners of Holy Rosary School. SUBMITTED BY KENDA KNOWLES

FOCUS

The Southern Cross, August 25 to August 31, 2010

Abortion in 2010: Action is louder than words Almost 14 years since access to abortion was legalised in South Africa, Church commentators say that “termination of pregnany” has become big business. Church leaders in the fight against abortion say that the Catholic response must be to offer alternatives. CLAIRE MATHIESON reports.

HE Church must be seen to oppose abortion, but the fight against it should be proactive and offer alternatives, with an emphasis on compassion, counselling and caring, according to some Catholics. “The laws have been passed and the noise around abortion has decreased,” said Dominican Father Mike Deeb of the Justice and Peace Department of the Southern African Catholic Bishops' Conference. The Choice on Termination of Pregnancy Act came into effect in South Africa in February 1997. Before then pregnancy termination was highly limited. The law was justified as a bid to curtail illegal and dangerous backstreet operations, but there is evidence that abortion has become a lucrative industry. Fr Deeb suggested because it is law and there is little possibility that it will be changed soon, South Africans have allowed abortion to become “big business”. “You need only look at the lampposts in town, or the pamphlets handed out on our streets. There are ‘quick abortion’ adverts everywhere today. It’s frightening how commercial such a serious thing has become.” The Church’s response should be to attepmt to engage in dialogue on the issue, and especially do this at the grassroots level, the priest said. “The Church has expressed abortion as a terrible thing, but it is very unlikely that the government will scrap it anytime soon. Our role is to engage the issue, in the best way possible: on the ground. That is where we can make the biggest difference.” Durban’s Fr Massimo Biancalani, national director of the Right to Live Campaign, concurs: “The Church continues to strive to assist the person to make an informed decision based on accurate information and taking into account Gospel

values so that they are not lured into thinking that abortion is a ‘quick fix’. “There is no question that the abortion industry sells abortion as the solution to social and emotional issues. However abortion does not alleviate the underlying social and emotional causes and can in fact add to them by leaving the person worse off after the abortion.” According to the Human Science Research Council, reasons given for having an abortion in South Africa today are primarily related to low income and poor social conditions. Other reasons include medical defects and health risks to the mother.

n South Africa, a woman of any age and under 13 weeks pregnant, can request an abortion without giving reasons. Thereafter, abortion is permitted only until 20 weeks with reasons owing to health, economic or if the pregnancy was a result of rape. Dominican Sister Lethiwe Mazibuko, also of the Right to Live Campaign, said abortion has become another form of contraception. “Women are too busy with their lives and consider abortion to be convenient.” Sr Mazibuko said many women phone the Campaign’s crisis centre immediately asking for the price of an abortion, noting “the industry is so commercialised that women think this is their only option”. Moreover, Sr Mazibuko said, women will look for cheaper methods to terminate their pregnancies, which could lead to illegal and unsafe abortions— the very thing the law was supposed to prevent. “The abortion industry has lowered the moral standard of South Africa and has increased the emotional distress of many women who are not aware of the alternatives to abortion.” The nun pointed out that abortion often produces emotional trauma for women. “People are not coping with abortion. Abortion seems so easy and simple—this is the message that the industry has created. But there is no correct way to abort. “There is no quick fix. Abortion doesn’t give a sense of how important the woman is and how very important the baby is. It doesn’t improve the emotional side of the situation,” she said. Statistics South Africa figures show that most abortions are administered to women under the age of 18. About 87 000 abortions are reported in South Africa every year. According to law, health pro-

It has been said that a woman who has an abortion would go through emotional trauma after the procedure.

fessionals must encourage these young women to inform their family members of their decision. However, no formal counselling needs to be provided. Having counselled many women who have had abortions, Fr Deeb said that abortion “is for many the most traumatic experience of their lives”. He said there was a need for a more respectful, nuance approach towards women who are considering termination of their pregnancy. “Alternatives need to be promoted. We need to provide women with more support and counsel them through their situations.” Fr Deeb said groups providing alternatives to abortion must become more visible. “Adoption needs to be seen as an option as common place as the abortion industry is today,” he said. “As a Church, Church commentators said more focus should be placed on alternatives to abortion. PHOTOS: TOBY MELVILLE, REUTERS/CNS we need to have an open approach that will encourage women to seek advice in order to make the right decision.”

ince the law was passed in 1997, various surveys have shown the majority of South Africans continue to believe abortion is wrong. However, said Fr Deeb, “we need to be very careful not to throw judgment in the direction of a woman who has had an abortion. Instead of labeling and name calling, we need to develop an educational process to help people choose a life orientated approach”. Sr Mazibuko agreed, saying that all women in this position should be treated with compassion—particularly those who have aborted before. “We must not judge, must not insult and must not call these women names.” Fr Deeb added that such an approach would only result in offending these woman and chase them away. “Whatever the reason, whether it [abortion] is perceived as necessary or as convenient, one must always look at the sin and not the sinner,” Fr Biancalani said, speaking of the need for the Church to focus on the issue of abortion and the easy accessibility to it, and not on those who are forced into it. “We need to alleviate the negative social conditions that can lead people seeing abortion as a solution.” The solution to back street abortions and unwanted pregnancies, Fr Deeb said, has to involve discussion about conditions under which abortion flourish. Sr Mazibuko said the status of women in many of the country’s communities has not improved. She said the lack of resources and support were obstructing the progress of South African women. Fr Deeb explained that in communities with a patriarchal culture, women are not given a choice in family planning. These women often feel they cannot cope with children. He also highlighted poverty as problematic. “These women see abortion as a form of contraception to avoid greater poverty,” he said. Another big issue is rape. “We as a Church need to make sure these women feel they have other options. We need to be the voice of the voiceless,” Sr Mazibuko said, speaking of the unborn children and the organisations that provide adoption services but are not given as high a public profile as the abortion industry. “If we are in a position to prevent abortion, let’s do it!” she said. “It’s our moral responsibility as a Church to continue standing for respect.”

Be a light to others

Servants of the Holy Childhood of Jesus.

In the Spirit of God Incarnate, we follow the way of the Gospel. We have dedicated ourselves to the service of disadvantaged women and children and to the education of the young. Is God calling you to be a witness to the Light that is Jesus? If so, please contact: Sr Gregoria, P. Bag 553, Eshowe 3815. Tel: 076 3492752

The Southern Cross, August 11 to August 17, 2010

FOCUS

St Francis of Assisi, Standerton, Mpumalanga

Parish’s mission to make the home ‘the first church’of God

T FRANCIS of Assisi in Standerton, Mpumulanga, has been selling The Southern Cross for over 30 years. And, said parish priest Fr Anselm Njoku CSSp, we “encourage our parishioners to always read it as to be more informed regarding the events of the Catholic Church”. He added that the parish uses “some stories and topics in The Southern Cross as part of the sermon or homily”. In a brief history of the parish, Fr Njoku told The Southern Cross the parish has “four communities, but the two main communities are St Francis, Standerton, and Our Lady of Lourdes, Sakhile”. Both were founded in 1949 and fall under the diocese of Dundee. The parish, which has a 700strong congregation, is “constantly growing” said Fr Njoku. He said that members come from far and wide with “new Catholic members joining our communities from other places”. “The parish is constantly growing from the point of view of the infant and adult baptisms,” said Fr Njoku. It is involved in various activities, which include donations to the less fortunate.

“Apart from the liturgical activities, we do have youth activities, small Christian community activities, sodality activities and catechetical instructions. “We have a home-based care project, conduct pilgrimages, and give Christmas food parcels to the less privileged in the community of Standerton,” said Fr Njoku. He said most of the activities parishioners are involved in take place outside of church hours, and added that many of the young people in the parish, are “very active in youth programmes”. Even though the parish is involved in many activities in the community, said Fr Njoku, there are still a number of concerns facing the parish and congregation. “The challenges the Church is facing includes religious indifference, lack of commitment, the unavailability of parental Christian exemplary life and support to children, little of no time at all for God and for Church activities, inadequate preparation before receiving the sacraments,” he said. “For some, sacraments like baptisms, the Holy Eucharist, confirmation and marriage have been reduced to a mere formality, while the sacrament of penance is gradu-

Parishioners of St Francis of Assisi in Standerton (below), and Our Lady of Lourdes in Sakhile.

ally forgotten and not appreciated,” said Fr Njoku. He said that to overcome these challenges a revitalisation of the home as the “first church” was necessary. This, he said, was where “the cradle knowledge of

God, faith and initiation into Christianity, and where part of the liturgy is first practiced”. Meanwhile, the parish is also celebrating a milestone this year. This month, two parishioners celebrate their golden jubilee. “Judith Sithebe and Anna Motha from Our Lady of Lourdes

community will be celebrating their golden jubilee as members of St Anne’s sodality. “The whole parish congratulates them on their jubilee celebration and their faithfulness to God. “We [also] thank The Southern Cross for chosing us as Parish of the Month” Fr Njoku said.

Press Office promotes parish work

S of this month, starting with St Francis of Assisi parish in Standerton, every new Parish of the Month will receive a valuable Southern Cross Press Office, free of charge for a year. The Press Office will be permanently displayed on the Southern Cross website and can contain as much information as you wish. With a Southern Cross Press Office, a Catholic parish, diocese, reli-

gious order, school, charity, organisation, institute or business will be able to: • Publish a press release in their Press Office, containing any information such as new developments, special events, special articles…even Mass times etc. • Once a month your Press Office and latest press release will be featured on the main news page of The Southern Cross’ website and • Once a month your latest

press release will be featured on The Southern Cross e-mail newsletter. Press Offices are available for a reasonable fee to any Catholic parish, diocese, religious order, school, charity, organisation, institute or business wishing to use the power of The Southern Cross website and eNewsletter to promote themselves and disseminate important information.  Contact Sean Twomey at pressoffices@scross.co.za

The Southern Cross, August 25 to August 31, 2010

Mgr Gerald Petersen

Newman’s liberalism

continued from page 11 Virtuous liberalism puts into a balancing mixture what is good about liberal ideals, like religious tolerance, equality before the law, and representative democracy. Further still, it assumes and seeks to affirm a dense network of social relations we in Africa know as ubuntu. What I think confounds many people about the likes of Newman is that he’s also what is referred to as a “soft anti-liberal”. Soft, because they verbally malign liberalism yet, when faced with practical choices, reveal a surprising fondness for its protection of individual freedoms. Because virtuous liberals are also almost always against the erosion of social memory (injustice through the back door), you are likely to find them standing with the poor and oppressed, advocating major assaults on economic inequality, for example. This explains why, though Newman was not a socialist, he did not encourage the elite privilege of his birthright, which led to him founding the Literary and Historical Society while he was rector of the newly established Catholic University of Ireland in Dublin, that opened up tertiary education for the under-privileged. Since I found the last biography of Newman a little too heavy on elaboration and light on evidence for my taste, I look forward to reading Cornwell’s, especially since Cardinal Newman was a tremendous influence in my conversion to Catholicism.

onsignor Gerald Michael Petersen was born December 17, 1941 in Bellville, Cape Town, and was educated at Holy Cross Convent, Parow and ChristianBrothers College, Green Point. He trained for the priesthood—philosophy and theology—at St John Vianny Seminary, Pretoria. Ordained in 1967, he worked at various parishes over the years including St Paul in Somerset West, St Jude in Vredenburg, St Augustine in Paarl and St Raphael in Khayalitsha. Mgr Petersen also served as a part-time chaplain to five units of the South African Army in the Western Cape. A tireless campaigner, Mgr Petersen was nominated leader of the Renew Team in 1990, elected to the Presbyteral Council, appointed to the College of Consultors in the same year and again in 2000.

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The title of Monsignor was conferred on him in 1992. Towards the end of 2009, he left parish duties in Khayalitsha due to ill health and was accomodated at the Lawrence Henry Retirement Centre until he died in July. At his request, Mgr Petersen was cremated and his ashes were buried in the grave of his brother, Fr Basil Petersen, in the priests plot of Woltemade cemetary.

FAMILY CALENDAR 2010 FAMILY THEME: “Families Play the Game.” August theme: HOW MEN AND WOMEN PLAY THE GAME

29th August 22nd Sunday. Jesus the Mediator of the New Covenant. Bible Sunday. Catholics have become more committed to bible, reading and studying over recent years and using different methods for doing so. Reading and sharing in families is an important skill to learn so that men and women, boys and girls can learn to value and love the Word of God and understand the role and message of Jesus as the mediator of the New Covenant, the new relationship of love with God.

COMMUNIT Y CALENDAR

Sundays year C, weekdays cycle 2

Sun August 29, 22nd Sunday of the year: Sir 3, 17-20,28-29; Ps 68:4-7,10-11; Heb 12:1819,22-24; Lk 14:1,7-14 Mon August 30, Bl Ghebre Michael : 1 Cor 2:1-5; Ps 119:97-102; Lk 4:16-30 Tue August 31, feria: 1 Cor 2:10-16; Ps 145:8-14; Lk 4:31-37 Wed September 1, feria: 1 Cor 3:1-9; Ps 33:12-15,20-21; Lk 4:38-44 Thur September 2, feria: 1 Cor 3:18-23; Ps 24:1-6; Lk 5:1-11 Fri September 3, St Gregory the Great: 1 Cor 4:1-5; Ps 37:3-6,27-28,3940; Lk 5:33-39 Sat September 4, feria: 1 Cor 4:6-15; Ps 145:17-21; Lk 6:1-5 Sun September 5, 22nd Sunday of the year: Wis 9, 13-18; Ps 90:3-6,12-14, 17; Phlm 9-10,1217; Lk14:25-33

CAPE TOWN:  Adoration Chapel, Corpus Christi church, Wynberg: Mon-Thurs 6am to 12pm; Fri-Sun 6am to 8pm. Adorers welcome  021-761 3337  Good Shepherd, Bothasig Perpetual Eucharistic Adoration in our chapel. All hours. All welcome 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  Rivonia parish social evening ‘Night Fever’ September 18, 18:30, Barnyard Broadacres. For tickets contact Elvira 011 803 1229 or elvira@rivoniacatholic.co.za. KIMBERLY:  St Boniface High School celebrates its 60th anniversary in 2011. The St Boniface Past students Union is currently preparing to celebrate this event. Past students are requested to contact Union’s PRO & chairman of the board of govenors, Mr Mosalashuping Morundi  073 768 3653 or at sbonifa@iafrica.com for further information PRETORIA:  First Saturday: Devotion to Divine Mercy. St Martin de Porres, Sunnyside, 16:30.  Shirley-Anne 012 361 4545 To place your event, call Claire Allen on 021 465 5007, or e-mail c.allen@scross.co.za

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Thoughts for the Week on the Family

Mass readings for the week

Father Xico with partially completed church building

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DEATHS GREEN—Mary Theresa (nee Weissensee). Our dearest mother was taken peacefully to her eternal home on July 31, 2010, with the Blessed Virgin Mary close to her heart. You will always be close to our hearts. We miss you and love you dearly. All our love from Bernardine, Margaret and families. IN MEMORIAM HOUGHTON—William Arthur Delaney (Bill), passed away 20 years ago on August 29, 1990. Lovingly remembered by his wife, Agnes, daughters, Mary, Margaret, Bridget, Barbara, sons-in-law, Walter, Derek, Ben, grandchildren, Stephen, Jeannine, Ryan, Lauren, Catherine, Elizabeth, Susan and their families. May his dear soul rest in peace. SETSUBI—Monica Maleshwane. 7/05/1958— 14/08/1994. O Lord God, who supports us all day long, till the shadows lengthen and evening comes and the busy world is hushed and the fever of life is over and our work is done. Then Lord in your mercy, grant us a safe lodging and a Holy rest and peace at last, through Christ our Lord. Amen. Your family. PRAYERS HOLY St Jude, apostle and martyr, great in virtue and rich in miracles, kinsman of Jesus Christ, faithful intercessor of all who invoke you, special patron in time of need. To you I have recourse from the depth of my heart and humbly beg you to come to my assistance. Help me now in my urgent need and grant my petitions. In return I promise to make your name known and publish this prayer. Amen. Thanks for prayers answered. CB. O MOST beautiful flower of Mount Carmel, fruitful vine, splendour of Heaven, blessed Mother of the Son of God, Immaculate Virgin, assist me in my necessity. O Star of the Sea, help me and show me where you are, Mother of God. Queen of heaven and earth I humbly beseech you from the bottom of my heart to succour me in my necessity. There is none who can withstand your power, O Mary conceived without sin, pray for us who have recourse to thee. Holy Mary, I place this cause in your hands. “Say this prayer

for 3 consecutive days and then publish. PPM. THANKS GRATEFUL thanks to Virgin Mary, Sacred Heart of Jesus, St Jude and St Daniel for assistance received. MVC. EMPLOYMENT OFFERED

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House, Simon’s Town: “Come experience the peace and beauty of God with us.” Fully equipped with amazing sea views. Secure parking, ideal for rest and relaxation. Special rates for pensioners and clergy. Tel: Malcolm Salida 082 784 5675 or mjsalida@mweb.co.za PEACEHAVEN holiday flats, Scottburgh. Self-catering accommodation with magnificent sea views. We offer 24-hour security, secure parking, 6 DSTV channels, a laundromat and braai facilities on the premises. Three minute walk to main beach and shops. Special pensioner rates during low season periods Tel: 039 976 1344/ 978 3400; Fax: 039 978 1476, email: peacehaven@scottburgh .co.za SEA POINT: Double room, own bathroom in heart of this prestigious suburb, near all amenities. Tel: 072 236 2996. SOUTH COAST: 3 bedroom house, Marine Drive, Uvongo Tel: Donald 031 465 5651, 073 989 1074. STELLENBOSCH: Five simple private suites (2 beds, fridge, microwave). Countryside vineyard/forest/moun tain walks; beach 20 minute drive. Affordable. Christian Brothers Tel: 021 880 0242 / cbc—stel@mweb.co.za UMHLANGA ROCKS: Fully equipped self-catering 3 bedroom, 2 bath room house, sleeps 6, sea view, 200 metres from beach, DStv. Tel: Holiday Division, 031 561 5838, holidays@lighthouse. co.za

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CAPE WEST COAST Yzerfontein: Emmaus on Sea B&B and self-catering. Holy Mass celebrated every Sunday at 6pm. Tel: 022 451 2650. FISH HOEK: Self-catering accommodation, sleeps 4. Secure parking. Tel: 021 785 1247. FISH HOEK, Cape Town: Self-catering holiday accommodation from budget to luxury for 2 to 6 people. Special pensioners’ rate from May to October. Tel/fax 021 782 3647, email:alisona@xsinet. co.za

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GORDON’S BAY: Beau tiful en-suite rooms available at reasonable rates. Magnificent views, breakfast on request. Tel: 082 774 7140. E-mail: bzhive@telkomsa.net

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IFAFA BEACH—KZN South Coast: Self-catering cottage on the beach R100pppn. Min rates apply. Fantastic facilities. 5 min to Church. Ph 079 547 9980.

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KNYSNA: Self-catering garden apartment for two in Old Belvidere with wonderful lagoon views. Tel: 044 387 1052.

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23rd Sunday – Year C (September 5th) Readings: Wisdom 9:13-19, Psalm 90:3-6, 12-14, 17, Philemon 9-10, 12-17, Luke 14:25-33

UR God is different, and answering the call that comes to each of us from God is no easy matter; so the task is to try and decide whether it is worth it. The first reading comes from a prayer placed on the lips of Solomon, by the author of the Book of Wisdom, which was written for Greek-speaking Jews in Alexandria (Egypt). The prayer asks God for wisdom, on the grounds that no one “will know God’s plan, or conceive what the Lord wants”. He makes the point that we are so weighed down by our mortal plight that “we can scarcely guess at the things on earth, and we struggle to find what is to hand—who can track down the things that are in heaven?” For this unknown Jewish theologian, God is way beyond us: “No one knows your plan, unless you give them wisdom, and send your Holy Spirit from on high.” The psalm meditates on the shortness of human existence, in comparison with the life of God. “For a thousand years in your eyes are like a single day, yesterday, for it passes, a watch in the night.” Another image that the psalmist produces is one that is

Everything depends on God Fr Nicholas King SJ

Scriptural Reflections powerfully eloquent in the arid climate of the Near East, “like grass that sprouts green in the morning, by the evening it is withered and dry”. So what are we to do about it? Like Solomon in our first reading, our task is to demand God’s wisdom: “So teach us to count our days that we may gain wisdom of heart.” And there is an urgency about the prayer, “Come back, O Lord. How long? Have mercy on your servants.” At the heart of the matter is the absolute conviction that everything depends on God: “Make the works of our hands stand firm; make the works of our hands stand firm.” The second reading is an excerpt from the shortest of Paul’s surviving letters, the enchanting postcard that we call the Letter to

Philemon. It should be the starting place for any study of St Paul. Paul is writing from prison on behalf of a runaway slave called Onesimus (“Profitable”). Paul is taking a huge risk in sending Onesimus back to his master, who might be entitled to beat him, brand him, or even put him to death. And Paul is doing his best to bring Philemon to see the slave, not as a piece of cattle that has done the wrong thing, but as a brother in Christ, “so that you might have him for eternity, not as a slave, but as something more than a slave, as a beloved brother” (and if you listen carefully, you can hear Philemon bellow “A beloved WHAT!?”). And Paul finishes off with the slightly menacing line: “If you regard me as part of your community, welcome him as you would welcome me.” God, Philemon, is no doubt reflecting, is indeed very different. And the same could be said by the crowds attending Jesus as his journey to Jerusalem moves towards its crisis. For Jesus turns to them, and almost tries to put them off, “If someone comes to me, and they do not hate their own father and their mother and their wife and children and brothers and sisters—

Nuns had a holy cross to bear R ECENTLY I received a most delightful letter from Vincent Rayne, chairman of the parish council of St Thomas’ church in Mossel Bay, explaining just why the Holy Cross Sisters earned their name. Some time ago, Vincent decided to update the history of St Thomas’ church, dealing mainly with the buildings on the present site and the clergy who laboured for souls over the years. In 1868 the present church site in Mossel Bay was bought and a house built. For a long time it served as presbytery and chapel. Between 1873 and 1882, while the French Missionary Fathers of Lyon were there, the only other building erected was a small hut that was used as a school. In 1885, when the area fell under the vicar-apostolic of the Western Province, a more suitable one-roomed school was built. In August 1895 Mossel Bay got a young priest, Fr Bernard “Bernie” O’Riley, who did wonderful work for the mission. One of his first achievements was to convince Bishop Rooney that it was necessary for the Holy Cross Sisters to run the school and obtained permission from him to convert the little school into a church and at the same time to convert part of the presbytery/chapel into a school with a much larger teaching area. When the Sisters arrived in April 1904 they moved temporarily into the property across the road that had been donated to the church. They stayed there until the school was converted into a church in September the following year. Fr Bernie moved into the premises the Sisters had been staying in and the “old” presbytery and the chapel

CONRAD

Chris Moerdyk

The Last Word

became the school. Because of the new church and the fact that the Sisters were so successful, they approached Fr Bernie to get him to arrange for the building of a larger school. He agreed, but could not again turn to his bishop or to his parishioners for further assistance. In the end someone suggested that he write to a Mr Page in Cape Town. In his letter to Mr Page in May 1907 Fr Bernie wrote: “It is not often that I venture to trouble you with a letter, but the urgency and genuine necessity of the case I am about to put before you induces me to plead on behalf of the little Community of Sisters of the Holy Cross who are making a hard struggle here to educate our Catholic children under almost impossible circumstances, and I feel confident that their case will appeal to your wonted kindness and generosity. The matter is in reference to the convent school here. “For a couple of years that the Sisters have opened a convent and school in Mossel Bay they have done remarkably well in spite of the many difficulties they had to contend with. They have a school of over 50 children (which is their sole means of support), but they could easily have double that number if they had only school accommodation, having refused many applications since. As it is, they have entirely sacrificed their own comfort and accommodation

for the benefit of the school and the children. “There are four decent rooms in the house that does them for a convent and three of these they have given over entirely as school rooms to the children whilst the Sisters themselves sleep and live mainly in the garret of the house and you can imagine what it is like in this climate to sleep and spend the day beneath the bare zinc roof of a house, not to say anything of the damaging effect it must have on their health. “Moreover they have no government grant for the school which would be of great assistance to them, but they dare not even apply for such for were it granted, to a certainty their present school accommodation would be condemned by the inspector on his first visit and the grant consequently withdrawn.” Mr Page eventually loaned Fr Bernie £500 on condition that he said 500 Masses for Mr Page’s intentions. As soon as they had been said, the principal and interest would be cancelled. The main reason for highlighting this was because during Vincent Rayne’s research—after having read about how these wonderful nuns had sacrificed so much for the Church, the God they loved, their religion and for the families at the time—he decided to go up into the garret himself to have a look around. “I was amazed to find what I did about the few Sisters in those tough times. That garret was apparently their ‘home’ for nearly two years! “Those Sisters certainly carried their cross,” said Vincent. He writes about his experience of going up into the garret, during which his torch battery ran out: “That was scary. How could they have coped without proper ventilation, light and ablutions? How did they climb in and out of that area? I struggled and I’m quite athletic, despite my 68 years! It must have been like a furnace during the humid summer months and freezing cold during winter. “Vincent’s research, assisted by Sr Mechtildis, has identified the “Garret Dwellers” as Srs Philothea Krugger (superior), Mary Louise Mayer, Sebastiana Steinfels, Gonzaga Hageneder, Wilhelmina Wägeli and Frumentia Gollhofer. Sr Philothea was one of the pioneer Holy Cross Sisters who came to South Africa from Switzerland in 1883. It’s a wonderful story that highlights just how dedicated the early clergy and religious were in their quest to bring Christ to our country.

and, indeed, their whole life—they cannot be my disciple.” For our invitation is to do what Jesus did, and “take up the cross”. Otherwise, once more, “they cannot be my disciple”. So we are challenged to get out our calculators, and see if we can afford to do it: “Any of you who has a plan to build a tower, first sits down to work out the expense...any sovereign going out to war against another one first sits down to work out if with ten thousand troops he can face up to one who is coming against him with twenty thousand.” And if the sums do not work out, then “while he is still a long way off, he sends a deputation to negotiate the details of a peace-treaty”. Then the lesson is drawn: “Each of you who fails to say goodbye to all your possessions cannot be my disciple.” That threefold “cannot” underlies how serious the matter is. For if we have understood it correctly, there is no choice but to follow Jesus on the journey, wherever it may be leading, because that is the only way we shall make sense of our lives. God is different; and our lives need to reflect that all-embracing fact.

Southern Crossword #406

ACROSS 4. Patron of New York’s cathedral (7) 8. St Peter’s brother (6) 9. I die not for publication (8) 10. Are they her gemstones? (6) 11. Exultant (6) 12. He’s of this world, not the next (8) 18. Jesus is the good one (8) 20. St Francis’ home (6) 21. She’s at the séance’s centre (6) 22. Region Jesus met the woman at the well (John 4) (7) 23. At the rear in faster navy (60 24. Refusing to admit (7)

DOWN 1.One of the tower-builders in Genesis 11? (7) 2. Worshippers so drear (7) 3. The law provides abundance (6) 5. What the pope may grant you (8) 6. Prescribed ceremony (6) 7. Mary has…the better part (Luke 10) (6) 13. One who may play in church (8) 14. Dwells (7) 15.First man with insect won’t change his mind (7) 16. Break free (6) 17. Ignited no particular list of prayers (6) 19. Satisfy, if you don’t mind (6)

SOLUTIONS TO #405. ACROSS: 1 Abbots, 4 Gallic, 9 Created heaven, 10 Inkwell, 11 Doyen, 12 Harps, 14 Issue, 18 Altar, 19 Replete, 21 Hail, Holy Queen, 22 Spends, 23 Rely on. DOWN: 1 Arctic, 2 Breakfast time, 3 Tithe, 5 Agendas, 6 Love your enemy, 7 Canons, 8 Idols, 13, Parched, 15 Pathos, 16 Truly, 17l Heenan, 20 Pique.

CHURCH CHUCKLE

N Anglican clergyman, after discussing ecumenism with a certain pope (who was not in favour of it), afterwards asked the pope for a blessing. The pope gave him the blessing but it was in the form used for blessing incense at High Mass:I belo benedicaris in cufus honore cremvellis. In English it means: “May he bless you in whose honour you will burn.” Today, our popes are much more ecumenically-minded.

Send us your favourite Catholic joke, preferably clean and brief, to The Southern Cross, Church Chuckle, PO Box 2372, Cape Town, 8000.