www.scross.co.za
June 20 to June 26, 2012
50th Eucharistic Congress in pictures
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Fr Rolheiser: How to break bad habits
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R5,50 (incl VAT RSA)
Reg No. 1920/002058/06
No 4780
What was behind Dali’s great artwork?
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SA Church aids Iraq’s reconciliation BY CLAIRE MATHIESON
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N order to learn from South Africa’s road to reconciliation, a delegation of Iraqi parliamentarians travelled to South Africa to investigate the post-apartheid social rebuilding process. The visit included a meeting with the Catholic Parliamentary Liaison Office (CPLO), along with two bishops, where the discussion ranged from the local Church’s experience with reconciliation, to the importance of religion and civil society, when dealing with a troubled past. South Africa was the third and final country visited by the delegation, following Bosnia-Herzegovina and Columbia. CPLO director Fr Peter-John Pearson said these very different countries were chosen because each represented a different stage of reconciliation. “Iraq has similar horrific stories in its history to South Africa. From the Suddam Hussein era to the US withdrawing to internal politics, human rights abuses and the lack of freedoms, Iraq has a history that needs to be dealt with before they will be able to move forward,” Fr Pearson said. Members of the Church delegation included representativies of the CPLO, Archbishop Stephen Brislin of Cape Town, second vice-president of the Southern African Catholic Bishops’ Conference (SACBC), and Bishop Kevin Dowling of Rustenburg, liaison bishop for the CPLO and co-president of Pax Christi, the largest Catholic peace-building organisation in the world. “Our representatives brought with them a wealth of experience with both foreign relations and dealing with South Africa’s own reconciliation efforts,” said Fr Pearson. Bishop Dowling spoke of his experience of appearing before the Truth and Reconciliation Commission when he represented the SACBC.
A delegation of Iraqi members of parliament and senior staff of the prime minister’s office with Iraq’s ambassador to South Africa, Dr Hisham Al-Alawi (fourth from right), and his staff met with Archbishop Stephen Brislin (sixth from left), Bishop Kevin Dowling (fourth from left) and Fr Peter-John Pearson, director of the Catholic Parliamentary Liaison Office (far left). (Photo: Stephen Docherty) There were three main areas of discussion during the meeting. “The importance of the recovery of truth was the first critical concept discussed,” said Fr Pearson. “This is the bringing of closure to issues and to diffuse outstanding problems. These are vital to progress and to nation building. It is important to address the gaps in social memory.” Fr Pearson said the delegation also acknowledged that reconciliation is a “long
term process”. “With every milestone we still see some distance along the road ahead,” Fr Pearson told The Southern Cross. He said repairing a country is a multifaceted task and issues will be dealt with over a long period of time. The lack of economic reconciliation was an example of an issue yet to be effectively tackled in South Africa. “Yes, it’s important to learn to get on with each other. But in a way it’s superficial.
It’s important, but it’s not the only issue, it’s the first of many,” Fr Pearson said. The third theme discussed brought to the attention of the Iraqi delegation was the importance of engaging civil society from the very beginning. “It’s important that civil society helps frame the concepts of reconciliation. The definition should emerge from conversations,” Fr Pearson said. It is here, he added, that the role of religion is highlighted. “It is a useful vehicle for understanding because it offers a huge amount of wisdom around such issues.” He said since the CPLO represented the country’s bishops’ conference at the meeting and because of the presence of two well respected bishops, the message was well received by the Iraqi delegation. The South African delegation urged their Iraqi counterparts to use civil society as much as possible in reforming their country’s future. “By keeping those voices engaged in the process, it’s possible to work it out,” Fr Pearson said. There is a danger of government defining the concept of reconciliation, but if it’s around religion, “there is hope, solidarity and other themes associated with religion”. Iraq has made positive strides in the improving its education system and social services, but there are still questions on how to bring all its people together—each affected by one of the many issues in the country’s complex history. “There is a multitude of issues that the country has faced and as such, much like South Africa, it will be a work in progress,” Fr Pearson said. While in the country, the Iraqi delegation, coordinated by the Iraqi ambassador to South Africa, also met with government officials and post-apartheid role players.
The bad news Durban Mass before old school is demolished for a change BY PADDY KEARNEY
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FTER keeping the cover price of The Southern Cross stable for almost two years, it has become necessary to increase it by 50c to R6,00 as of next week. This is the first cover price increase since early September 2010—and only the fourth since February 2004. In real terms, The Southern Cross now costs less than it did eight years ago. “The new price represents an increase of only 9% over the past 21 months. That’s almost half the rate of inflation,” said Pamela Davids, business manager of The Southern Cross. Unlike other newspapers, The Southern Cross is able to hold off more frequent price increases because it is not profit-driven, Ms Davids said. “We receive no subsidies and rely on sales and advertising revenue for our daily survival. But with much disciplined budgeting we have succeeded in holding off a price increase for longer than any other newspaper in South Africa,” Ms Davids said. “One issue of The Southern Cross still costs less than a chocolate bar, a can of cool drink or a litre of petrol—and it’s actually good for you,” she pointed out. The subscription price for the Digital Southern Cross will increase to R312 a year as of July 1, an increase of only R20,50. The price for postal subscriptions will remain unchanged for now, Ms Davids said.
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AST students of St Augustine’s Primary School, formerly housed in what is now the parish centre at Emmanuel cathedral, Durban, will have an opportunity to say farewell to their old school, before it is demolished to make way for the new Denis Hurley Centre. On August 16 Cardinal Wilfrid Napier of Durban will celebrate a Mass of Thanksgiving in the hall of the old school for all the past pupils. His concelebrants will be past pupils Fr Albert Danker OMI, who will preach the homily, Fr Joe Money OMI and Fr Stephen Tully, administrator of the cathedral. The lessons and intercessory prayers will be led by three past pupils of the school: Holy Family Sisters Joy Money and Myrtle Beaunoir and Oakford Dominican Sister Felicity Isaacs. The choir of the new St Augustine’s Primary, now located close to Greyville Racecourse, will lead the singing. After the Mass there will be an opportunity for past pupils to speak about their memories of attending school in the parish centre and to hear about the new Denis Hurley Centre, while enjoying a bring-and-share lunch. The present centre will be demolished once the plans for the new building have been approved by the eThekwini municipality. The new centre’s opening is scheduled for 2014. n For further information phone 031 201-3832
Above: The current parish centre, which formerly housed St Augustine’s Primary School, will make way soon for the new Denis Hurley Centre. On August 16 a Mass will be celebrated for former pupils of the school, giving them the opportunity to say goodbye to the building
Right: Architects Ruben Reddy and Gonzalo Prieto admire the model of the new Denis Hurley Centre alongside Emmanuel cathedral and the cathedral presbytery in Durban. The model was showcased at a recent exhibition at Durban’s International Convention Centre.