140122 by The Southern Cross

The

S outhern C ross

January 22 to January 28, 2014

Reg No. 1920/002058/06

How we drive: The road to heaven

No 4858

Page 7

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Unexpected boost for public breastfeeding

Moerdyk’s proof that the Easter Bunny is real

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Page 10

Catholic schools an education beacon BY CLAIRE MATHIESON

The 2014 matrics of Holy Rosary School in Edenvale, Johannesburg, visited the Grade Rs on the first day of school. For the matrics, it is their “last first day”, and for the Grade Rs it is their “first first day”. Seen here with the Grade Rs are Akhona Mabasa, Courtney Knowles, Michela Agostinetto and Chantelle Smith.

Mugabe ‘not like Jesus’ STAFF REPORTER

PRIEST has rejected a statement by a Zimbabwean commentator that compared President Robert Mugabe with Jesus Christ, saying that most politicians would need to “make a u-turn” in their conduct to act Christ-like. Psychology Maziwisa, a former critic of Mr Mugabe and now deputy director for information of the ruling Zanu-PF, has repeatedly compared the president to Christ. “{I}t is clear that President Mugabe comes closer than most people when it comes to applying Christ’s teachings,” Mr Maziwisa suggested. Harare-based Jesuit Father Oskar Wermter disagrees with Mr Maziwisa. “When rulers obsessed with power and addicted to lording it over us realise that organised religion represents another centre of power, they want a share of it—in fact a big bite of it—and want to invade it and take possession of it, control-freaks that they are,” he said. “Rulers and their henchmen, bodyguards and praise singers—disguised as press officers—like to appear at religious functions and present themselves to the faithful as belonging to them, even if they have to put on white gowns to make the point,” Fr Wermter told The Southern Cross. He said the politicians’ approach is “quite clever”.

“They try to pretend to be obedient followers of religion so that the religious people are obedient to them and their kingdom as well.” The Jesuit said the carrying of Bibles by dictators is a ploy to get the Bible-readers’ votes. He noted that attempts to give Mr Mugabe divine attributes have been on-going for the last 34 years. “Again and again sycophantic supporters of the regime have done this.” Fr Wermter compared the country’s government’s attitude to the story of King Herod whose paranoid suspicion causes a bloodbath as he tries to eliminate the baby who threatens his royal throne. In fact, he said, throughout the Bible, religion and politics clash. From Jesus’ act of not wanting to fight the Romans for political power to his followers in Jerusalem telling authorities that “we must obey God rather than man” (Acts 5:29). “Christians are no anarchists, but in a conflict situation they follow God’s laws,” Fr Wermter said. “God wants servant leadership, leaders who spend themselves in working for their people and the common good. As he did himself: he never lived in a palace, and he rode on a donkey, not a war horse.” If rulers want to be compared to Jesus they have to make a dramatic U-turn, the Jesuit told The Southern Cross. “They have to face the truth, past and Continued on page 3

HE Catholic Institute of Education (CIE) has released its statistics on the performance of Catholic schools in the 2013 matric examinations. Candidates at Catholic schools who wrote the Independent Examination Board (IEB) examination, mostly private schools, obtained a 99,4% pass, with a 57% overall Bachelor pass. In keeping with the increase in the National Senior Certificate pass—the state school exams—Catholic schools obtained a 91% pass, a 4,6% increase from 2012. The total number of candidates who wrote at Catholic schools was 8182, of whom 7408 passed. In 2012 Catholic schools which offered the State examination had an 83,5% pass. This increased in 2013 to 88,7%. It is in the Bachelor passes that the Catholic schools show the most marked advantage. Bachelor passes in Catholic schools writing the state exam amounted to 55,5%, a significant 25,2% above the overall state Bachelor pass. Notably, more learners in Catholic schools took the important subjects of mathematics and science than the national rate. In Catholic schools, 61% wrote mathematics compared to the national average of 43%, with 78,3% passing the subject, against the national average of 59%. In science 41% of children in Catholic schools wrote compared to the national average of 33%. Here 79,5% passed against the national average of 67,4%. “While these results are to be welcomed, and schools to be congratulated, schools must continue to explore the quality of the passes in order to afford young people the best opportunities for further study,” said CIE deputy-director Ann Baker. “At Catholic schools academic results must always be underpinned by the development of the whole child, a person who understands the Gospel values that build a better world and is willing to serve,” she said.

enny Pasensie of the Catholic Parliamentary Liaison Office, an office of the Southern African Catholic Bishops’ Conference, commended the Class of 2013 for finishing their schooling despite the many shortcomings of our educational system. He called on the government to improve the quality of education which South African children receive. “We need to see that the [education] minister is in charge of education, and not the unions; that teachers know their subjects;

that a Grade 9 learner can read with comprehension; that no leaner is left behind; and that tertiary institutions are confident that the 12 years spent within the schooling system have prepared young people well enough to cope with the demands of tertiary education,” Mr Pasensie said. Despite the congratulatory mood of improved national matric passes, the highest in 20 years, there is the “undeniable truth that the achievements of the 78,2% who passed are significantly devalued by an educational system that is geared towards quantity rather than quality”, Mr Pasensie said. “The nagging question...is whether the steady increase in the pass rate since 2009 is evidence of a system that is slowly beginning to improve, or whether it is merely the result of a politically expedient elevation of quantity over quality,” he said, referring to the minimum pass requirement of 30%. Mr Pasensie pointed to the warning signs of the Grade 9 annual national assessments results which revealed that most Grade 9 learners are very poor at literacy and numeracy. “So what happens to these learners?” Mr Pasensie asked. “Are they, as many argue, being ‘culled’ to make sure that the matric results look better?”

vona Rebelo of the Catholic Schools Office in Cape Town said the act of culling had been noticed. “Many schools are savvy and manipulate the system to advantage their matric results— culling in Grade 11, forcing learners to choose ‘softer options’ that will not impact negatively on the final matric results,” she said. “I’m always impressed with those schools which take the risk of allowing their weaker learners to stick with their choices and try to support them through thick and thin—those schools which are now sitting with learners and helping them to access supplementary examinations,” Mrs Rebelo said. Fr Smangaliso Mkhatshwa of the Moral Regeneration Movement, a former deputyminister of education, praised Catholic schools whose track record stood out in their prioritisation of the poor and the predominantly black communities. Despite limited resources, their schools produced outstanding results. And today, while the number of these schools has declined, Catholic schools can be a “beacon of light in a society that is still plagued by social inequalities, class, poverty and unemployment”, he said. “It is an injustice to poor children to feed them with an inferior education even as the government pumps billions of rands into the education coffers,” Fr Mkhatshwa said.

FATIMA • LOURDES • AVILA with Bishop João Rodrigues & Günther Simmermacher Join The Southern Cross and the Diocese of Tzaneen on a Pilgrimage of Prayer for the Sainthood Cause of Benedict Daswa to places of Our Lady in France, Spain & Portugal!

25 September to 6 October 2014

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The Southern Cross, January 22 to January 28, 2014

LOCAL

Spiritual focus in 2014 Lenten Appeal STAFF REPORTER

HIS year the bishops have added a spiritual component to the customary Lenten Appeal programme in the form of a series of reflections on the Sunday gospels during Lent. They will run under the theme “Belonging to Christ—Committed for Mission” and will include a series of reflections contained in a booklet, available from any diocesan office or parish priest. “This initiative falls in line with the bishops’ efforts to respond to

the call for ongoing faith formation,” said Mgr Barney McAleer, head of evangelisation at the Southern African Catholic Bishops’ Conference. “These Lenten reflections highlight the awareness and importance of family life, both the immediate family, parents and siblings but also the faith family to which we all belong, namely the parish family,” Mgr McAleer told The Southern Cross. He added that the programme was fitting as this year’s synod will also address the challenges of marriage and family life.

“Baptism has brought us into a relationship with the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. As we mature in faith our personal encounter with Christ begins to impact on our Catholic lifestyle,” said Mgr McAleer. “We grow in our awareness of our call to share in his mission. “We grow in awareness of how we have to be disciples and witnesses. “We grow in awareness that it is up to us to build the kingdom in the world, in the home, the workplace, and in the social and political domains of life.

“We become aware that the values of Jesus of honesty, tolerance, integrity, responsibility and accountability depend on each one of us living out these values at home and in the community.” He added that this was the basis for the transformation of the world. “We belong to Christ, and his mission to build the kingdom in the hearts of all is now our mission.” Mgr McAleer said the spirituality of the Lenten programme will help everyone understand that Lent is not simply about making sacrifices and contributing to the outreach

initiatives of the Church but that “Lent is a time for spiritual growth and a deeper understanding of who we are as Catholics and what the Lord expects of us”. “Anyone reading the speeches and comments of Pope Francis will recognise the echo of his words and vision in these Lenten reflections. “The Holy Father calls for a Church transformed, a Church that is prepared to leave the security of the sanctuary and enter into the hurly burly of daily life where we can make a difference and promote our gospel values.”

Nine more Fatima statues on offer STAFF REPORTER

T Rory Steyn, ex-bodyguard of the late Nelson Mandela, visited Holy Rosary School staff in Edenvale, Johannesburg, as part of the school’s staff development day. Mr Steyn gave insights into the police force, government and presidential anecdotes and stories. He emphasised that South Africans have been part of an extraordinary period of history, and should not waste the opportunity to pass on Madiba’s good work. Mr Steyn spoke of the future of the country being held in our hands—in the classroom. He added that we should hold our presidents accountable. He is seen here with Holy Rosary Primary School principal Isilda de Oliveira (left) and High School principal Jacinta Lucas.

HIRTY-SEVEN more statues of Our Lady of Fatima are arriving in South Africa from Portugal, destined for parishes that have committed themselves to promoting the rosary, prayer and devotion to Our Lady of Fatima. Parishes awaiting the arrival of a statue allocated to them are asked to liaise with their diocesan chancery for collection. Nine more statues are available as a gift to parishes who apply for them. The handcrafted statues are donated by a retired Portuguese businessman, who asks not to be named. He has so far donated 91 statues to parishes in South Africa, Namibia, Zimbabwe and Malawi. The nine statues currently on offer will bring the number of donations

to a round hundred. The offers for statues were made in several stages in The Southern Cross. The delicate statues, which are available in sizes of 75cm and 55cm in height, are suitable only for indoor use, and cannot be used in outdoor sites such as grottos. The donor asks that the statues be positioned in a prominent place in the main sanctuary. Parishes must commit to recite the holy rosary, as a community and in prayer groups, on the night of the 12th to the 13th of each month, if possible with Benediction, singing, candles, white flowers, and petitions. Prayers should be offered for the hungry, sick and unemployed, an end to crime, abortion, rape, drug abuse, domestic violence and gangsterism, and for lapsed Catholics to

return to the Church. Parishes must apply through their priest. They must provide the full parish name, address, e-mail and phone number, and the page number on which the parish is listed in the Catholic Directory 2011/12. They must also provide the address and phone numbers of the local diocesan office, and the name of a contact person there. Parishes are also asked to indicate whether they have a prayer group, and its size, or whether they are planning to form one. If possible, parishes are asked by the donor to provide a photo of the place in which they intend to place the statue, should they be awarded one. Applications, which should indicate the preferred size, may be sent to jjvcamara@gmail.com

SPRINGFIELD CONVENT SCHOOL, WYNBERG Applicants are invited for the following post

JUNIOR SCHOOL TEACHER LIBRARIAN To commence April or July 2014

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 fully qualiﬁed as a Junior School teacher and librarian; • be registered with SACE; • have experience in running a school library / media centre; • have competent computer skills and experience in library/media computer administration systems; • have experience in teaching in the Intermediate Phase; • be willing and able to promote the school's Catholic ethos; • be willing to become fully involved in the school's curricular and co-curricular programme;

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

Reference: Junior School librarian post

Closing date for applications: FRIDAy 21 FEBRUARy 2014

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 minimum requirements of the advertised post will result in applicants automatically disqualifying themselves from consideration.

No faxed applications accepted. Candidates not contacted shall consider their application unsuccessful.

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The Southern Cross, January 22 to January 28, 2014

LOCAL

Abbot Pfanner cause proceeds BY SYDNEY DUVAL

HE Commission of Experts in Historical and Archival Matters, the Historical Commission as it was commonly known, was an integral part of the inquiry into the beatification of Abbot Francis Pfanner. The commission had its final session at the Retreat House, Mariannhill, ending a journey that began in Durban in 2009 and involved 12 sessions. The session closed with members signing the final report on its work compiled by chairman Br Philippe Denis OP, professor in history of Christianity at the University of KwaZulu-Natal and chairman of the Church history society of Southern Africa. The commission was tasked to study and examine the historical profile—the character, personality, charism, work and attitudes—of the founder of Mariannhill, an Austrian Trappist monk whom Pope John Paul II described as “a man on fire for building the Kingdom”. Born in Langen, Voralberg, on September 20, 1825, Abbott Pfanner died at Emaus in KwaZuluNatal on May 24, 1909, having established several missions in then Natal and having founded the Sisters of the Precious Blood. The final report, together with the report of the Theological Commission, will be evaluated by the Congregation of the Causes of Saints, which will determine the abbot’s virtues required for beatification. Mgr Paul Nadal, the episcopal delegate, based his opening prayer on a reading from John 20:19-22 where Jesus appears to his disciples and says to them: “Peace be with you.”

Mgr Nadal said: “Jesus’s Easter gift to us is peace…Lord you send us into the world as instruments of your peace. With you we build the kingdom of love, justice, peace, truth and freedom. We are peacemakers.” Fr Henry Ratering CMM, archivist at Mariannhill, was thanked for the support he had given the late Fr Georg Lautenschlager CMM in promoting the process and devotion to Abbot Pfanner. Fr Lautenschlager died in office in 2010 and was succeeded as postulator of the cause by Fr Yves La Fontaine CMM, a former superiorgeneral of the congregation. Fr Ratering associated his closing reflection with a prayer by Abbot

Francis which says in part: “Teach me to see the world as you see it, as families and lonely hearts, parents and children, friends and lovers, just like me and those I love…give me a courageous and effective love that translates its goodwill into action…help us to come closer together as your great family united in love.” Bishop Stanley Dziuba of Umzimkulu, chairman of the process, in his final blessing, asked God to bless “the fruits of the work, and our passion, to rediscover the spirit of Abbot Pfanner and to present this great man to the world, to the Church and its contemporary missionaries”. n Sydney Duval served as secretary of the Historical Commission.

Zimbabwe’s Mugabe certainly ‘no Jesus’ Continued from page 1 present, and learn to heal rather than strike wounds, to reconcile with their enemies rather than indulge in hate speech, and to over-

Bumper Hurley weekend planned STAFF REPORTER

Fr Yves La Fontaine CMM (left), postulator of the cause of Abbot Pfanner, and Br Phillipe Denis OP, chairman of the Historical Commission. (Photo: Sydney Duval)

come their addiction to power, indeed, when the time has come, to let go of power altogether,” Fr Wermter said. He also warned Church leaders

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against following the ways of the political world. “If politicians are not to co-opt the Church for their purposes, you must not rule as they do either.”

EBRUARY 13 will be the tenth anniversary of Archbishop Denis Hurley’s death—an important landmark in a year that will see the opening of the Denis Hurley Centre, scheduled for completion towards the end of September. The anniversary celebrations organised by the Denis Hurley Centre Trust, in association with the Denis Hurley Peace Institute (DHPI), the archdiocesan Justice & Peace Commission and the Diakonia Council of Churches, will commence with Cardinal Wilfrid Napier of Durban blessing the foundation stone of the new building. The ceremony will be followed by a special Mass at Emmanuel cathedral at 18:00. On February 14, the annual Archbishop Hurley Lecture will be given by Fr Sean O’Leary M.Afr who will look at forgiveness and reconciliation through an African lens, based on the lessons learnt by the DHPI which is also celebrating its 10th anniversary in 2014. The lecture, hosted by the archdiocesan J&P, will take place in the Denis Hurley Hall at the Diakonia Centre at 19:00, preceded by a supper at 18:00. The February 15 programme includes a workshop on peacemaking in Africa from 14:00 with a panel of speakers from the DHPI, including Bishop Kevin Dowling of Rustenburg and Bishop Abel Gabuza of Kimberley, Fr O’Leary, Saydoon Sayed and Fr Peter-John Pearson. The event will be hosted by the Diakonia Council of Churches and chaired by its director, Nomabelu Mvambo-Dandala. The peace workshop will be followed by a Mass at 17:30 in the cathedral after which there will be a candlelight procession to the archbishop’s tomb where brief prayers will be led by Sr MarieHenry OP of the London-based Denis Hurley Association. The three Sunday Masses at the cathedral will each have a special liturgy and preacher: 07:45 Bishop

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Dowling will represent Pax Christi International in his capacity as vicepresident; Fr Sylvester David OMI will lead the 09:45 Mass, representing St Joseph’s Theological Institute; and Bishop Gabuza will celebrate Mass at 11:45 as liaison bishop for Justice & Peace of the Southern African Catholic Bishops’ Conference. A public report back meeting on the progress of the Denis Hurley Centre will be held in the cathedral at 15:00 on February 16, presided over by Auxiliary Bishop Barry Wood of Durban. It will include a motivational address by Fr Pearson, director of the Catholic Parliamentary Liaison Office, and a message from the CIDSE organisation which links European & North American Catholic funding organisations, given by Jacques Briard, their official representative for the Hurley anniversary. It is hoped that on the morning of February 17, the new premier of KwaZulu-Natal, Senzo Mchunu, will unveil the statue of Archbishop Hurley commissioned by the provincial government at the KwaThintwa School for the Deaf, which was founded by the archbishop. The busy month will also include a reception hosted by the Polish ambassador, Anna Raduchowska-Bruchwicj, for the Denis Hurley Centre and members of the Polish community in Durban on February 28 to mark the de Mello Award, which was presented to the Denis Hurley Centre in Krakow on October 17, 2013. Paddy Kearney, project coordinator of the DHC, said the centre is in its last phase of fundraising. A further R5,2 million is needed over the next nine months. n For more information , contact Mr Kearney on 072 8064 417. Donations can be deposited in the Denis Hurley Centre Fund, First National Bank, account number 6220 4261 002, branch code 221426. Please indicate your name and phone number so that your contribution can be recorded.

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Greece & Turkey Pilgrimage

Led by Monsignor Barney McAleer

“In the footsteps of St Paul”

10-22 June 2014 (Includes a 7 Day Cruise)

For itinerary or to book phone Michelle at Micasa Tours 012 342 0179, info@micasatours.co.za www.micasatours.co.za

The Southern Cross, January 22 to January 28, 2014

INTERNATIONAL

Red hat a call to service rather than honour BY FRANCIS X ROCCA & CAROL GLATz

S he named 19 new cardinals, Pope Francis stressed that their role would be one of service rather than honour. The new cardinals, including six men from Latin America and two from Africa, will be formally inducted into the College of Cardinals on February 22. Although cardinals are traditionally known as “Princes of the Church”, Pope Francis, who has pointedly refused many of the trappings of his office, characteristically dismissed any element of pomp in the distinction he had decided to bestow. In a letter to the new cardinals, the pope wrote that a red hat “does not signify a promotion, an honour or a decoration; it is simply a form of service that requires expanding your vision and enlarging your heart”. Pope Francis instructed the cardinals-designate to “receive this new designation with a simple and humble heart. And while you should do so with joy and happiness, do it in a way that this feeling may be far from any expression of worldliness, or any form of celebration alien to the evangelical spirit of austerity, sobriety and poverty.” The consistory will bring the total number of cardinals to 218 and the number of cardinals under age 80 to 122. Until they reach their 80th birthdays, cardinals are eligi-

ble to vote in a conclave to elect a new pope. Two current cardinal electors will turn 80 in March, bringing the number of electors back to the limit of 120 set by Pope Paul VI. (Other popes have occasionally exceeded that limit for short periods of time.) Some observers had predicted that Pope Francis, the first pope from Latin America, would use his first selections to make major changes in the composition of the cardinal electors, perhaps by boosting the presence of residential bishops from the global South and reducing that of Vatican officials or prelates from rich Western countries. Half of the new cardinal electors hail from statistically underrepresented regions in the southern hemisphere, including three of the world’s poorest countries: Ivory Coast, Burkina Faso and Haiti. Yet Pope Francis did not substantially reduce the representation of groups with a traditionally strong presence.

ive of the new electors are from Latin America, an increase by one-third of the current number from the region. Latin America, home to about 40% of the world’s Catholics, will account for about 16% of the group eligible to choose the next pope. Four of the new cardinal electors are from Italy, leaving that nation’s share practically unchanged at nearly a quarter. However, the pope

Vatican funeral for beggar who froze to death

ATICAN officials held a funeral Mass for Alexander Pawlewski, a beggar who was often seen on the streets of Rome and died from exposure to the cold. The Mass was celebrated by Archbishop Konrad Krajewski, the papal almoner, who is responsible for distributing donations to those in need on behalf of Pope Francis. Fr Policarpo Nowak of the Vatican secretariat of state delivered the homily. “Let us defend ourselves from the evil of selfishness and indifference, offering more time to our neighbour, and above all recognising his full dignity as a child of God,” Fr Nowak said. Mr Pawlewski, a 63-year-old Polish national, was found dead on the street with his sole possessions—a cardboard box he used as a bed and a blanket to keep warm. The Community of Sant'Egidio, which has helped the poor around the Vatican for more than 30 years, often provided him with assistance and took charge of organising his funeral in collaboration with the

Pontifical Urban University. The funeral Mass came a month after Mr Pawlewski's death and was held at the university chapel. Members of the Community of Sant’Egidio, Vatican personnel and some of his fellow homeless friends attended the funeral. Friends said no family member ever took an interest in him. In his homily, Fr Nowak urged a greater openness to those who live in poverty. “Due to the economic, spiritual and moral crisis of today, the hearts of many are frozen and many are dying in inhumane conditions,” he said. “I can assure you that the homeless, the poor, are exactly like us and therefore, they have the right to a beautiful funeral, only sometimes these are people who die alone and no one knows of their death,” Fr Nowak said. Carlo Santoro of the Community of Sant'Egidio said loneliness “is something very common among those who live on the street. They truly suffer because of it.”—CNA

passed over the archbishop of Venice and the archbishop of Turin, both dioceses that traditionally come with a red hat. Four new cardinal electors are Vatican officials, three of them in offices that traditionally entail membership in the college. Such officials will continue to make up slightly more than a third of the cardinal electors. Three of the new cardinals are already over the age of 80 and therefore ineligible to vote in a conclave. The pope uses such nominations to honour men for their scholarship or other service to the Church. Among the new so-called honorary cardinals is Cardinal-designate Loris Capovilla, 98, who served as personal secretary to Bl John XXIII. Cardinal-designate Lorenzo Baldisseri, general secretary of the Synod of Bishops, already has a red cap from the pope. When then-Cardinal Jorge Bergoglio was elected pontiff on March 13, Archbishop Baldisseri was serving as secretary of the conclave. In his role as secretary, the former papal diplomat—a former nuncio to Zimbabwe—was among the first people to greet and pledge allegiance to the new pope before the pontiff presented himself to the world waiting outside. “When I came before him, I knelt. And it was at that moment that the pope placed a hand upon my head and then eased onto it the

Above from left: Cardinals-designate Parolin, Kutwa, Baldisseri, Langlois, (below from left) Stella, Nichols, Ouédraogo and Müller

red cardinal’s zucchetto” that had belonged to the new pope, the cardinal-designate told Vatican Radio. He said the newly elected pope told him: “You are a half-cardinal.” Here is the list of the new cardinals: Italian Archbishop Pietro Parolin, Vatican secretary of state, who will turn 59 on January 17. Italian Archbishop Lorenzo Baldisseri, general secretary of the Synod of Bishops, 73. German Archbishop Gerhard Müller, prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, 66. Italian Archbishop Beniamino Stella, prefect of the Congregation for Clergy, 72. English Archbishop Vincent Nichols of Westminster, 68. Nicaraguan Archbishop Leopoldo Brenes Solórzano of Managua, 64. Canadian Archbishop Gerald Lacroix of Quebec, 56.

Ivorian Archbishop Jean-Pierre Kutwa of Abidjan, 68. Brazilian Archbishop Orani Tempesta of Rio de Janeiro, 63. Italian Archbishop Gualtiero Bassetti of Perguia-Citta della Pieve, 71. Argentine Archbishop Mario Poli of Buenos Aires, 66. Korean Archbishop Andrew Yeom Soo-jung of Seoul, 70. Chilean Archbishop Ricardo Ezzati Andrello of Santiago, 72. Archbishop Philippe Ouédraogo of Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso, 68. Philippine Archbishop Orlando Quevedo of Cotabato, 74. Haitian Bishop Chibly Langlois of Les Cayes, 55. Italian Archbishop Loris Capovilla, 98. Spanish Archbishop Fernando Sebastián Aguilar, retired of Pamplona, 84. Saint Lucian Archbishop Kelvin Felix, retired of Castries, 80.—CNS

Pope puts abortion in context O BY FRANCIS X ROCCA

N successive days this month, Pope Francis and his top collaborator at the Vatican made public statements that provided a lesson in Francescan contextualisation of highly loaded moral issues. First, the pope told the Vatican diplomatic corps that he found it “horrifying just to think that there are children, victims of abortion, who will never see the light of day” (see page 5). That was strong language, especially for a pope who has spoken relatively little about abortion. His words had even more impact given the setting: in a room full of ambassadors, almost all of them from countries where abortion is legal in at least some cases. Pope Francis’ words were even more significant because of the kind of speech in which they occurred. Popes normally use talks to diplomats to survey crises and conflicts around the globe and urge the pursuit of peace, which is what Pope Francis for the most part did. In such a context, references to anything other than geopolitics are

bound to stand out. More specifically, Pope Francis’ mention of abortion came in the middle of a paragraph about threats to human dignity such as hunger and human trafficking—both issues about which the pope has spoken more often, as consistent with the priority he has set on helping the world’s poor. The appearance of abortion in that company suggests the defence of unborn life is at the heart of Pope Francis’ agenda. The next day came a statement no less striking or significant in its implications for Vatican policy, even though it did not come from the pope himself. Cardinal-designate Pietro Parolin, who as secretary of state is considered the highest Vatican official, met with US secretary of state John Kerry for a conversation that lasted an hour and 40 minutes. Peace in the Middle East, and particularly Syria, was Topic A. But, Vatican spokesman Fr Federico Lombardi SJ reported, they “also discussed the United States, especially the themes that have been the object of concern and discussion by the US bishops: the

health care reform and its relationship to guarantees of religious freedom”. That was evidently a reference to the contraceptive mandate: the Obama administration’s requirement that nearly all health insurance plans, including those offered by most Catholic universities and agencies, cover sterilisations, contraceptives and some abortion-inducing drugs—all of which are forbidden by the Church’s moral teaching. If there were any doubts about the Vatican’s support for the bishops’ stand, they were dispelled by Cardinal-designate Parolin’s decision to include the contraception mandate in a discussion of geopolitical priorities with President Barack Obama’s top diplomat—and then have the Vatican spokesman tell the press about it. “We cannot insist only on issues related to abortion, gay marriage and the use of contraceptive methods,” Pope Francis said in a widely quoted interview published last September. “When we speak about these issues, we have to talk about them in a context.”—CNS

WITH TWO BISHOPS TO HOLY LAND, ROME, PADRE PIO Join ARCHBISHOP STEPHEN BRISLIN and BISHOP DABULA MPAKO on a Southern Cross pilgrimage to the Holy Land, Rome and San Giovanni Rotondo, PLUS Istanbul. Accompanied by GÜNTHER SIMMERMACHER, editor of The Southern Cross and author of The Holy Land Trek

10 - 23 MAY 2014

For itinerary or to book phone Gail at 076 352 3809 or 021 551 3923 info@fowlertours.co.za www.fowlertours.co.za

INTERNATIONAL

The Southern Cross, January 22 to January 28, 2014

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Pope: Abortion, hunger VIVA SAFARIS are a threat to peace BY FRANCIS X ROCCA

OPE Francis has said world peace requires the defence of human dignity from violations such as world hunger, human trafficking and abortion. The pope made his remarks in his first annual address to the Vatican diplomatic corps, offering a survey of world conflicts and crises he said were caused by “envy, selfishness, rivalry and the thirst for power and money”. Speaking in the Apostolic Palace’s Sala Regia, the vast “royal hall” where popes traditionally received Catholic monarchs, Pope Francis spoke of what he has frequently called a “throwaway culture” exemplified by widespread food waste that leaves children starving or malnourished. “Unfortunately, what is thrown away is not only food or disposable objects, but often human beings themselves, who are discarded as if they were unnecessary,” the pope said. “It is

horrifying just to think that there are children, victims of abortion, who will never see the light of day; children being used as soldiers, abused and killed in armed conflicts; children turned into merchandise in that terrible form of modern slavery called human trafficking, which is a crime against humanity.” The pope also lamented what he called rising numbers of “broken and troubled families,” which he attributed to both moral and material factors: the “weakening sense of belonging so typical of today’s world” as well as the “adverse conditions in which many families are forced to live, even to the point where they lack basic means of subsistence”. Noting the devastation caused by typhoon Haiyan in November, Pope Francis warned against “greedy exploitation of environmental resources”, and quoted what he said was a popular adage: “God always forgives, we sometimes forgive, but when

Pope Francis and Vatican secretary of state Cardinal-designate Pietro Parolin with ambassadors to the Holy See. (Photo: Paul Haring/CNS)

nature—creation—is mistreated, she never forgives!” Most of the pope’s speech was devoted, as usual for the occasion, to geopolitical problems in different regions of the world. The pope called for an end to the almost three-year-old civil war in Syria, voicing hope for upcoming peace talks and praising neighbouring Lebanon and Jordan for accepting refugees from the conflict. He also noted what he called “significant progress” in ongoing negotiations over Iran’s nuclear programme. Pope Francis lamented the “exodus of Christians from the Middle East and North Africa”, as well as violence between Muslims and Christians in Nigeria and the Central African Republic. Without specifying countries, the pope noted sectarian tensions in Asia, “where growing attitudes of prejudice, for allegedly religious reasons, are tending to deprive Christians of their liberties and to jeopardize civil coexistence”. The pope recalled his July visit to the southern Mediterranean island of Lampedusa, an entry point for immigrants without legal permission to enter Europe, and voiced sympathy with those who, “in the hope of a better life, have undertaken perilous journeys which not infrequently end in tragedy”. After his speech, the pope personally greeted the attending ambassadors and their spouses. The Holy See has full diplomatic relations with 180 nationstates, the European Union and the Sovereign Military Order of Malta, as well as “relations of a special nature” with the Palestine Liberation Organisation.—CNS

An unexpected promoter of public breastfeeding BY CAROL GLATz

MOTHER whose child was baptised by Pope Francis has said that she felt encouraged by the pontiff’s invitation to breastfeed her baby during the Mass in the Sistine Chapel. Pope Francis assured mothers that breastfeeding their babies in public, even during a papal Mass in the Sistine Chapel, is OK. No chorus is as wonderful as the squeaks, squeals and banter of children, the pope said during a Mass in which he baptised 32 babies. “Some will cry because they are uncomfortable or because they are hungry”, he said during his brief and unscripted homily. “If they are hungry, mothers, let them eat, no worries, because here they are the main focus.” One of the mothers, Emer McCarthy, an Irish journalist at Vatican Radio, said that while most of the other mothers had brought baby bottles for feedings, she did not hesitate to breastfeed her daughter, Polly Rose, discreetly at appropriate moments during the ceremony. She said she hoped the pope’s encouragement would help overcome social taboos against breastfeeding in public. “Who would have thought the pope would be this great proponent?” The pope made a similar appeal in an interview with La

Emer McCarthy with daughter Polly Rose, who was one of 32 babies baptised by Pope Fancis in the Sistine Chapel. (Photo courtesy of Emer McCarthy) Stampa newspaper in December. In a world where so many children go hungry, people must help them eat, he said. He used the example of a young woman he saw at a Wednesday general audience whose child was crying desperately. “I told her, ‘Ma’am I think your baby is hungry.’ And she replied, ‘Yes, it would be time.’ I replied, ‘Well, please, feed him.’ She was modest and didn’t want to breastfeed him in public while the pope drove by,” the pope said in the interview.

The pope’s remarks “underline how natural it is, how motherhood and maternity are natural and have a place, even in church, even in the Sistine Chapel”, Ms McCarthy said. Typically, the babies that are baptised by the pope at the annual liturgy are children of Vatican employees. This year, Pope Francis also included one couple who do not work at the Vatican, but had requested the pope baptise their second child. The couple, Ivan Scardia and Nicoletta Franco, both work for the Italian military police in the central Italian town of Grosseto. However, while they are Catholic, they were married civilly and not in the Church, which caused a slight “glitch” when they had to send the requested paperwork to the Vatican, Mr Scardia said. “But they called me back right away and this problem, too, was taken care of,” he told the Italian daily Corriere della Sera. Mr Scardia said they consider themselves to be believers and wanted their 7-month-old daughter to receive the sacrament of baptism. He said they did not get married in the Church because “we were in a hurry and there wasn’t time to organise a church ceremony. Maybe we will get married in the Church sometime later.”—CNS

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The Southern Cross, January 22 to January 28, 2014

LEADER PAGE LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Pope’s hermeneutic of tenderness

Editor: Günther Simmermacher

Politics in the Church

HEN a politician is given the opportunity to speak to the congregation at a church service, there will invariably be some controversy. So it was when President Jacob Zuma addressed a Mass in Mariannhill, celebrated by the local ordinary, Bishop Mlungisi Pius Dlungwane. The purpose of the presidential appearance at the Mass was to mark a donation of R500 000 by the Jacob Zuma Foundation to help fund the new translation of the Bible into isiZulu, a project of the Catholic metropolitan province of Durban and headed by Bishop Dlungwane. In his address, Mr Zuma spoke about the importance of making the Bible available in the vernacular of the people. Bishop Dlungwane was correct in allowing Mr Zuma to address the congregation, as a donor of the translation project (through his foundation) and as the president of the country. This must not be understood as an implied endorsement by the bishop or the Church of Mr Zuma, his government or his political party. Presumably the bishop or his aides advised Mr Zuma that a Mass is an inappropriate venue for calculated electioneering, and that the president’s address should reflect that. By and large, the speech was uncontroversial, giving much praise to the Catholic Church’s role in addressing South Africa’s social and structural problems. Mr Zuma’s address at the Mariannhill Mass must be seen as an exceptional circumstance. Especially in an election year, the Catholic Church, like all faith groups, must be watchful that it is not going to be misused for campaigning. For the past two decades, the Catholic Church in South Africa has been mindful that it should not give the appearance of partisanship. In their pre-election statements, the bishops are invariably diligently impartial. There is no reason to expect that this year’s pastoral guidance on the forthcoming election will be any different. In their 2009 pastoral, the bishops counselled that it is “up to each one of us to decide which party has the policies and commitment” to address the challenges facing South Africa. In 2014, these challenges are dominated by issues such as

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.

crime, poverty, unemployment, lack of service delivery and housing, as well as escalating corruption, a sluggish economy and the on-going HIV/Aids crisis. The bishops have an obligation to inform the Catholic voter’s mind by raising issues that speak to the teachings of the Church, aware that no political party meets all the criteria of Catholic doctrines. However, if that engagement in informing the Catholic voters’ minds goes wrong, even if only in isolated cases, there is a risk of the whole Church being perceived as being partisan. In recent elections, for example, some US bishops overstepped the boundaries between raising pertinent issues and effectively endorsing particular candidates or parties. In a democracy, this is not helpful, neither to the electoral process nor to the mission of the Church. The responsibility for ensuring the Church’s impartiality also rests with pastors. While individual clergy may personally prefer one party over another, they should not seek to influence their parishioners’ electoral choices. Fr Oskar Wermter SJ, the Harare-based social commentator, this week neatly sums up what we should expect, above all, from our political candidates: “God wants servant leadership, leaders who spend themselves in working for their people and the common good.” It would be fair for the Church to point out that a kleptocratic oligarchy which fails the tests of accountable ethics and has abandoned the poor does not meet the benchmarks that are implicit in Fr Wermter’s definition. Likewise, the Church has the right, and even the obligation, to point out where a party fails on matters of Catholic doctrines, such as abortion, euthanasia and the social teachings. However, it would not be appropriate for the Church or her clergy to advise the faithful for which party they should vote, or withhold their vote from. In some cases this could even amount to coercion of voters, which is unacceptable to the Church. The decision of which party to support in an election must be left to the informed conscience of the voter who must be guided by moral principles to distinguish between right and wrong, and between truth and deceit.

OPE Benedict XVI is often remembered for and quoted on his “hermeneutic of continuity”, which is for him the interpretive key for any discussion on Vatican II. Hermeneutics is the art of interpretation. The more I read and reflect on Pope Francis (such as his recent apostolic exhortation Evangelii Gaudium), the more I believe that the key to interpreting him is through what I call his “hermeneu-

Political platform

E write to express our concern and dismay at the use of the beautiful cathedral at Mariannhill as a political platform for ANC electioneering. As Catholics we have been to Mass at Mariannhill and attended concerts there, and have always felt aware of the spiritual upliftment we have received. To see this place being used as nothing better than a public rostrum for President Jacob Zuma’s last desperate stand to gain credibility with an increasingly disenchanted and disbelieving electorate, is disappointing to say the least. Our entire family—children, children-in-law and the two of us— were actively involved in South Africa’s struggle for democracy, and as such, of course, were admirers and supporters of the late Archbishop Denis Hurley. We understand the Church’s role in politics which we fully support. But President Zuma’s track record should be criticised by the Church and not supported by allowing him, together with government ministers, to use the Church to attempt to score political points. We have read much of what he said at the Mass in Mariannhill, and must confess ourselves shocked and disappointed. We should like to hear the Church’s response to our concerns. Pam and Charles Paul, Howick

Clerics obsessed

HAVE been following with interest the debate on the bishops’ book God, Love, Life and Sex. Cardinal Wilfrid Napier’s column (January 8) and letter (January 1) seems to suggest that not living by that book (which he considers to be on the same level as Scripture) is to make yourself vulnerable to judgment, and he advocates a blind obedience (also for priests). He questions why the debate for the upcoming Synod of Bishops seems to have locked on a small portion of the widely rejected encyclical Humane Vitae. The answer is simple: it is because the Catholic bishops are in-

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tic of tenderness”. Time and again he refers to God’s tenderness and exhorts us all—even the most “macho” male—to the virtue of tenderness. Significantly I am writing this on the feast of the Baptism of the Lord, where the Father’s voice is heard: “You are my Son, the Beloved. My favour rest on you.” For Pope Francis this is the starting point of all our faith, our theology, our ministry, our canon law,

terested only in how lay people live their sex lives. For years we have heard only about condoms, gays and abortions. I get the impression that Catholic clergy are fixated on sex and think that's what lay people worry about and do every day. Pope Francis recently said that we should not be fixated on single issues, but South Africa’s cardinal is often in the press talking, in one form or another, about the same issue: sex. It helps normal, hard-working families very little. Many families today are under financial pressure. Has the cardinal ever tried to negotiate structures like tax breaks for families or insisted that parishes have structures that really support families in a pragmatic way? The new English of the Mass is an example of just how family-unfriendly the Catholic Church is. Most people with young families find going to Mass very difficult because it is not child-friendly. Does he care about that? We struggle to make ends meet, give kids a good education, access affordable health, deal with debt, pay taxes and worry about the future and retirement. None of those issues are supported much by the Church. All we ever seem to be told is how, when and with whom we can sleep. No wonder a discussion on a synod on family pounds on Humane Vitae—it’s all the bishops have to offer lay people. A “spiritual spring cleaning” with a good dose of reality should start at the top. Lynette Paterson, Johannesburg

Outstanding book

HE book God, Love, Life and Sex by the bishops of Southern Africa as co-authors is an outstanding piece of postcard theology and cathechesis. In simple language, it presents the Church’s teaching on complex issues and important moral dilemmas of our day. It is eminently readable. As a parish priest, I applaud the bishops, and thank them for their work, and their help. Naturally, some people will question their methods and/or their conclusions. That is to be expected, and if some of the criticisms are valid, I’m sure the second edition will take them into account. Personally, I find nothing to criticise. I hope a copy has been sent to the bishops’ conference of England and Wales, where I’m sure it would receive a warm welcome. Some bishops’ conferences around the world would not be united enough to give such clear and authoratative teaching. Fr John F Doran, Viljoenskroon

Rules as fortress

T seems to me that Cardinal Wilfrid Napier has lost the plot with uncharitable sophistry and ducking and diving behind rules and regulations. (“Obedience to bishops binds priests”, January 1.) Strangely, the rules quoted apply only to priests, and by implication, the “errant” priest’s failure and disobedience. No mention of rules for the archbishop, no wisdom or forgiveness, no compassion, no fatherly leadership, only authoritarian accusations and defamatory condemnation. The cardinal’s argumentum ad misericordiam does not change the

our life as Christians. Before you are “out of line” with the teaching of the Church, before you are disloyal, before you are a “traditionalist” or a “Vatican II” Catholic, before you are gay or divorced and remarried, you are beloved of God. Imagine Pope Francis’ hermeneutic of tenderness becoming increasingly evident in the columns and letter pages of The Southern Cross! Fr Larry Kaufmann CSsR, Johannesburg fact that he chose to reprimand a priest in a public and humiliating way. No matter the perceived “sins”, the leader and so-called shepherd of his flock cannot hide behind a list of water-muddying points to justify his scandalous behaviour. I wonder how Pope Francis would have handled this debacle? Praise the Holy Spirit for the choosing of a cardinal as pope who has no need to defend himself with unnecessary casuistry. I think it is time to agree that God, Love, Life and Sex has caused enough nonsense and we should move on. Some like the book, but I think many others would say it should “not be tossed aside lightly. Instead it should be flung with immense force.” Tony Meehan, Cape Town

Mandela’s soul

FFICIAL Catholic reactions to the death of Nelson Mandela puzzle me on several levels. Three features in your issue of January 1 come to mind: the photo of a cardinal celebrating a requiem Mass for the deceased; a strong editorial call for unqualified penitence on the part of white South Africans for the evils of apartheid; and a blanket forgiveness without further ado of a black priest targeted by a white assailant. Reacting to the editorial, I see no reason for innocent young Germans who did not take part in the Holocaust to have to bend like oxen under the yoke of misdeeds perpetrated by Hitler and his ilk 80 years down the line. Having met Germans and South Africans who gloried in the Third Reich and apartheid, I can assure the editor that if all of us had shared their sick outlook, fewer white South Africans would have voted yes in the 1992 referendum. It is not enough for the priest who does not wish to know the identity of his racist assailants to forgive them. He should try to identify them, have them arrested before they can attack others and then pray that God will forgive them too. As one who met Nelson Mandela face to face, I can attest to his amazing charism. Therefore I could come to grips with the remark of the TV interviewee who said: “To us he is like Jesus Christ.” But what message is intended to the Catholic rank and file when a cardinal would celebrate a public requiem Mass for any individual, however prominent or approachable, who unapologetically affirms his socialist beliefs and under whose government abortion on demand became available in South Africa. Like all the dead, Nelson Mandela needs prayers for the repose of his soul—not our deification. Luky Whittle, Kroonstad 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. Letters can be sent to Po box 2372, Cape Town 8000 or editor@scross.co.za or faxed to 021 465-3850

PERSPECTIVES Chris Chatteris SJ

Pray with the Pope

The wisdom of age General Intention: That the Church and society may respect the wisdom and experience of older people.

HERE is a powerful scene in Stephen Pressfield’s thrilling historical novel of the life of Alexander the Great, Alexander: The Virtues of War, in which the Greek conquerer parleys with his enemy, the Indian King Porus, who is somewhat older than him. The conversation goes well until Porus offers to teach Alexander the art of being a king. Stung by the suggestion that he has not yet matured into true kingship, the furious Alexander breaks off the diplomatic exchange. However, Porus is clearly correct—for all his brilliance as a warriorruler (someone who rules by fear), Alexander has not yet learned the art of being a true king (someone who earns the loving respect of his subjects). Alexander is an extreme example of the able and successful young person who still needs to imbibe the wisdom of elders, but who lacks the patience and humility to do so. Such a young person often sees the inherently conservative nature of the wisdom of elders as an obstacle or brake on their ambitions. However, if the young person doesn’t grow in wisdom, the danger of a brilliant career burning out prematurely is acute. In Alexander’s case, this is precisely what happened. He died at the age of 32 and his empire rapidly fell apart. One sometimes sees the “Alexander effect” among young priests or seminarians who, often through no fault of their own, have missed out on the mentoring wisdom of older clergy. For example, when I was teaching preaching I noticed that the themes the students chose for their practicum were often aimed in a rather arrogant and moralistic fashion at imaginary parishioners old enough to be their parents or even grandparents. In an attempt to pass on a little wise and helpful advice I would playfully put this question to them: “Are you old enough to say this?” Let us pray for a respect for wisdom and for wisdom itself, especially among the newly ordained!

Evangelise together Missionary Intention: That priests, religious, and lay people may work together with generosity for evangelisation. NE thing that Pope Francis is making clear to us is that mission takes place everywhere, not just in the traditional “missionary” countries. We have long known this of course, but it’s extremely helpful to hear it from Francis and to see him putting it into practice. He seems to pop up everywhere preaching the Gospel with his pithy and memorable one-liners— in season and out of season, online and offline. And people are taking note, not just Catholics. I recently chuckled at a comment after an article on the pope on a secular website that said: “I’m Jewish and I love this pope!” Pope Francis has clearly made missionary outreach the theme of his papacy and leads daily from the front in his own diocese of Rome. It seems to me to be fascinating that his local work—daily homilies, the Angelus addresses—so rapidly goes universal. As Gandhi might say: “He is being the change he wants to see in the world.” But Francis obviously can’t do this job alone. Priests, religious and laypeople are invited in this month’s intention to be evangelists. The statistics suggest that the Church in Africa has already responded well to this call, but no evangelist worthy of the name is likely to be found sitting on their laurels. There is a powerful moment in the Spiritual Exercises of St Ignatius, which of course the Jesuit pope has made, where Ignatius asks the retreatant simply to kneel before the crucified Lord and ask: “What have I done for Christ? What am I doing for Christ? What ought I to do for Christ?” An apostle of prayer could make that his or her prayer for this month as a way of discerning a practical response to this intention.

The Southern Cross, January 22 to January 28, 2014

Raymond Perrier

The road to heaven T

HERE is an activity that we might spend more time doing than eating, watching TV, shopping, talking to our friends or even praying. It permeates our lives and causes many deaths. And yet do we ever reflect on how we find God in this? It is driving. Like many readers, I recently returned to a daily work schedule which involves driving to work, from work, and for work. After work, I even drive to a gym so I can then walk on a treadmill! And during those now distant weeks of holiday, I also spent many hours driving. So where do we find God in this all-consuming activity? I have never read a spiritual book, attended a theology class or heard a homily that dealt with the morality of driving. A priest I know tells me that he has rarely heard anyone confess to bad, careless or drunken driving. And yet whether we drive, how we drive and how we behave when we drive, all have deeply moral implications. Some might be tempted to dismiss this as a trivial reflection but let me put some hard figures on it. During the “festive season” over 1 300 people were killed on South Africa’s roads (and an additional 28 000 were seriously injured). In fact, in relation to the size of population, South Africa is in the Global Top 10 in terms of road deaths. Each of those deaths, as well as being a personal tragedy, has serious implications in terms of family life, national economic development, use of limited healthcare resources and the wasting of public and private time. The number of 1 300 deaths is the equivalent of 30 Marikana shootings in the space of one month. The road to heaven may be paved with good intentions but it is also littered with accidents, death and mayhem. I fear that the fundamental problem is that we do not take driving seriously. Imagine if an inventor came up with some great new device called an autogizmo. This clever thing would make life massively more convenient if used well. But if used carelessly or without proper training or

while under the influence of alcohol, it would certainly be lethal to the user and to other passers-by. Would we give this autogizmo to 17year-olds to use unsupervised? Would we delight in adverts and films that glamorise the careless use of the gadget? Would we make jokes at parties about fellow guests who were going to use the autogizmo while drunk? Would we not feel ashamed if we ourselves were found using the gadget in a way that put other lives at risk?

e have become so addicted to our cars that we forget that when used carelessly they are also lethal weapons. I have seen middle-class mothers collecting their precious children from the school gates in expensive 4-wheel drives so that they face no possible risk—and then drive away with one hand on the wheel and the other hand and half their brains attached to a cellphone. Many people have in their cars a rosary or a medallion of Our Lady or even of St Christopher. I fear that some Catholics treat these as a kind of talisman or lucky charm which will guard them against injury and so almost gives them permission to drive as badly as they like. I suggest that instead we think of such religious images as a conscience reminder: if you can’t have your mother in the car all

Some 1300 people were killed on our roads this festive season. So, do we take driving seriously? (Photo: Jusben/Morguefile)

Faith and Society

the time telling you to slow down, maybe the imagined voice of Our Blessed Mother will have the same calming effect. Or imagine if St Christopher’s voice acted as a kind of theological GPS offering us Scriptural verses to guide us on the roads ahead: • When you are tempted to cut up someone who has cut you up: “Blessed are the merciful, for they will have mercy shown to them” (Mt 5:7). • When you have been stopped by traffic cops and are tempted to offer a bribe: “Woe to those who call evil good and good evil, who put darkness for light and light for darkness” (Is 5:20). • When you are driving and feel that that cellphone call is more important than someone’s life: “Do not sweep my soul away with sinners in whose hands are evil devices and whose right hands are full of bribes” (Ps 26:9-10). • When someone offers you “one for the road”: “Woe to him who makes his neighbours drink” (Hab 2:15). • When you are tempted to fly into a rage at someone else’s bad driving: “Whoever says ‘you fool’ will be liable to the judgment of hell” (Mt 5:22). • When you drive past the hitch-hiker so obviously in need of a lift: “By chance a priest was going down the road and when he saw him he passed by on the other side” (Lk 10:31). • When you drive over the speed limit because you think the speed cameras are not watching: “For we are brought to an end by your anger; you have set our iniquities before you; our secret sins in the light of your presence” (Ps 90:7-8). • When you slip through a red light thinking that it was so recently green: “Let your Yes be Yes and your No be No” (Mt 5:37). I wish us all safe driving in 2014 and hope that we do not anticipate Heaven for ourselves or anyone else earlier than we are due.

Why family means to belong Toni Rowland W OW, yippee! How pleased I am that the United Nations and I are singing from the same hymnsheet. The UN Economic and Social Council issued a report in preparation for the 20th anniversary of the UN International Year of the Family (IYF). It notes: “Over the years, the international community has recognised the importance of family-centred policies and programmes as part of an integrated rather than sectoral approach to development. “The international community has agreed that the family is the fundamental unit of society, entitled to protection by society and the State, and acknowledged that notwithstanding different family forms and structures, families are fundamental to social development.” Families at the centre. Family first. A strong family focus in all aspects of social life. The IYF should be an important milestone and celebrate a paradigm shift away from focusing in isolation on women’s or children’s issues but looking more holistically at women and children from a family perspective, something to which we all belong. As the document suggests, it is not that we should stop considering the issues around women’s empowerment and abuse, but to do so from a different angle. The document contains many reports from countries on their progress in developing family policy that takes families on board as partners, not just as beneficiaries.

From welfare to well-being is a nice way of putting it. The South African government’s White Paper on the Family is our local response and one that we all should be pushing to have implemented. Could it be part of the election campaign? The upcoming Lenten booklet of the Department of Evangelisation, together with the Family Life Desk of the Southern African Catholic Bishops’ Conference is taking up the theme of belonging. “Belonging to Christ, committed to Mission” is its title.

elonging is an aspect of life that is, by its nature, family-focused. Where do we first belong, and how painful is it when that sense of belonging is betrayed? Belonging is a human and also a spiritual need; as belonging to Christ reminds us. Belonging can however be overdone at these various levels too and can become an unhealthy enmeshed relationship, possibly between mothers and sons, even in older age. A healthy balance is required, something that even applies to our relationship with God and the Church. A healthy balance then in family life, between work and family, God, leisure, sleep and one’s health can be worked towards using a Life Pie Chart. Such a chart is included as an activity for evaluating ourselves with the January family reflections in MARFAM’s Thoughts for the Day with God and Family. Take an average 24-hour day in your particular and unique life situation and list

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how much of it is spent on different activities. Is there too much or too little sleep, or private or family time? The IYF themes will be incorporated into the different family reflections, booklets, workshops and so on over the next months. Family balance is one theme, family poverty is one too and intergenerational solidarity another. A reader neatly simplified the latter as “3G families”. I like the sound of that and it may also be relatable to younger family members. Let’s ask ourselves how many of us are living in 3G families and how well is it working? I hope that one of the New Year resolutions would be spending time together, talking, sharing, laughing, crying, playing and praying about our own family issues. Our theme for the year is “Families Together, That’s Us”. As well as addressing some of the challenges facing families, as noted in the Special Synod’s questionnaire that should have been completed by now, may it also be a year to grow as individuals and grow together. PS: February’s theme is “Love—the Basic for Care” and will focus on marriage, with World Marriage Day celebrated on February 9. Contact me for more info on this at homefun@icon.co.za

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The Southern Cross, January 22 to January 28, 2014

The top achievers at St Catherine’s school in Germiston, Gauteng, were (from left) Brandon Higgins with four distinctions, Buyanda Sibanyoni with two distinctions and Star Borrageiro with two distinctions.

COMMUNITY Matrics 2013

Thenjiwe Nokhonongo (left) and Palesa Mabaso (right) from St Matthew’s Secondary School in Soweto achieved four and seven Dominican Convent distinctions respectively. They are pictured School in Johanneswith their parish priest of Holy Rosary parish burg’s top candidate was in Phiri, Fr Melese Tumato, MCCJ. Cameron Rajah, who achieved seven distinctions

Top learners Saralee Curtis and Brittany Wallace of Holy Rosary Convent School in Edenvale, Johannesburg, achieved nine and five distinctions each. Pictured are (from left) Meghan Hawksworth, Brittany Wallace, Saralee Curtis and Megan Marais.

Lorenzo Andrews, from Dominican Grimley School for the Deaf in Cape Town, achieved three distinctions.

Lungi Winnie Sepotokele, top learner at St Martin de Porres in Orlando West, Soweto, achieved seven distinctions.

Learners from St Dominc’s Priory receive their results. The school achieved a 100% pass rate. (From left) Alice Browne, Pedro Gonsalez Morales, academic head Esme Verfuss, Loren Lindoor, Luke Kirk. (Inset) Sajal Gerdharee is pictured receiving his results while in Paris, France.

Brescia House in Johannesburg’s top learners with eight distinctions (top from left) Kendyl Renzulli, Michelle Mostert, Christin Thomas, Michelle Njoroge and Caroline Fairon. Learners with seven distinctions (bottom from left) Kirsten Young, Jessica Stride and Jing Ying Luo.

The top learners at St Martin de Porres in Orlando West in Soweto (from left) Thembekile Mnguni, Sibongile Charmaine Tshabalala, Msizi Hlatshwayo, Ntokozo Mazibuko and Lungi Winnie Sepotokele.

Marist Brothers Linmeyer in Johannesburg learners (from left) Bianca Dias and Cindy Makita achieved eight distinctions, and Joel Oommen and Monique Marques seven distinctions.

Send your photos to pics@ scross.co.za CBC Mount Edmund in Pretoria’s top achievers were (from left) Reza Cassim with seven distinctions, Jessica Human with six, and Anesu Takawira with five.

The Southern Cross in association with Mariannhill Mission Press invites you to send us

WEDDING PHOTOS

The COUPLE OF THE yEAR and two runners-up will receive prizes of photographic canvas prints sponsored by MARIANNHILL MISSION PRESS.

Photos may picture only the bride and the groom, and must be in horizontal format. Digital pictures must have a width of at least 640 pixels. Caption must state the bride’s maiden name, the groom’s name, the names of the parents, the date of the wedding, the name and location of the church, and the name of the officiating priest. The name of the photographer (and website, if professional) may be given as well. Please include contact details of the bridal couple. Send your wedding photos to pix@scross.co.za or Wedding Pics, The Southern Cross, PO Box 232, Cape Town, 8000

By sending the photo to The Southern Cross you agree that the couple depicted consents to publication in print and on The Southern Cross’ website and/or Facebook page, and to use for promotional purposes related to The Southern Cross and (in reference to the competition) by Mariannhill Mission Press.

SPRINGFIELD CONVENT SCHOOL congratulates all our 2013 Matric pupils and staff on our outstanding matriculation results 100% Bachelor pass rate with 425 subject distinctions Springfield is proud to be placed in top 10 schools in the Western Cape Congratulations to Nicole Dunn placed in top 10 pupils in the Western Cape

The Southern Cross, January 22 to January 28, 2014

FOCUS

Hope in the midst of misery In the Cape township of Masiphumelele 42 000 residents struggle to overcome hardship in an area originally planned for 5 000. SYDNEY DUVAL reports on the comprehensive outreach to the area’s poor and distressed by a Catholic organisation.

FTER more than 40 years on the road, crisscrossing the Cape Peninsula and beyond from the Cape Flats to Atlantis, Catholic Welfare and Development (CWD) is still breathing life and hope into numerous communities in desperate need of solidarity and compassion, and material and psychosocial support. These are the people who have been damaged and blown about by unjust policies and uncaring attitudes. Their hurt lingers on—something like a super-imposed DNA. Siyakhulisa Community Development Centre was established in the Kommetjie neighbourhood in 1993 with funding obtained by then CWD director Peter Templeton. It was blessed and opened by Auxiliary Bishop Reginald Cawcutt, with Sandy Dowling as the first manager. She set up house in the landmark facility known as the Pink House, which began its outreach by engaging with people under threat of removals from places like Noordhoek, Ocean View and Simon’s Town. Siyakhulisa continues today—a measure of its impact—as the vibrant nerve centre for a host of community and interfaith enterprises. The building is pink, but the name also serves as an acronym: Promoting Ideas, Needs and Knowledge; Helping Others Understand Self-Empowerment. Ms Dowling went on to help create Valley Development Project as a CWD initiative before it became independent. Its main concern was to give the community its own voice— to empower people to negotiate directly with the provincial authorities to obtain the legal right to access land—meaning the right to stay as permanent residents at Masiphumelele and not as vulnerable squatters. The spirit of service, compassion and solidarity, nurtured as integral to the heart and soul of CWD from its very beginnings, lives on in the work of Denise Klassen, who describes her main objective as leading the community from dependency

(Left) Siyakhulisa’s Denise Klassen introduces Karl-Heinz and Manuela Feichtinger from Germany to a group of zimbabweans having a simple sit-down meal in between repairing their dwellings that were damaged by fire at Masiphumelele. (Right) As more newcomers seek accommodation at Masiphumelele, the push for land has forced the community to make a home on the very edge of the wetlands—with living conditions affected by inadequate sanitation and drainage. (Below) Two children from the Wetlands Community take a sunshine bath alfresco. (Photos: Sydney Duval). to self-reliance. This is affirmed by the number of small businesses, from spaza shops to the hairdressing salon run by a young woman whose styling matches the carefully fashioned interior of her business. The Pink House is something of a green belt surrounded by many simple but sturdy, well-kept and cheerful homes. Ms Klassen has been with CWD for nine years, including five years as current Siyakhulisa manager. We met her the day she was at the Pink House, organising crisis relief parcels, called “crisis basins”, which had been secured through new CWD director Malcolm Salida as part of a wider effort to help affected residents rebuild their dwellings and lives after three fires—two in early December and one on Christmas day—killed four residents, destroyed 124 shacks and displaced 361 people. Also present were Karl-Heinz and Manuela Feichtinger from Germany, an agricultural businessman and his teacher wife, whose combined efforts back home support orphans and vulnerable childrens affected by rural poverty and isolation at Nkandla in KwaZulu-Natal. They wanted first-hand experience of an urban township community, and were introduced to Masiphumelele which comprises residents mainly from the Eastern Cape, some 3 000 Zimbabweans and a sprinkling of Somalis, Malawians and Chinese. Ms Klassen had help that day from two enterprising local youngsters who quickly repaired a broken window in the Pink House for R70,

including the glass. She also had help from Nombulelo Gunuza, a street committee leader with a forceful personality, who ensured an effective distribution of crisis relief parcels, clothing and household provisions for her area of responsibility. Assisting them were WARMTH Kitchen staff Jennifer August and Maria Jacobs, and caretaker Dereck Alexander. Through support from CWD in December, Siyakhulisa had so far distributed 162 Buckets of Love and 94 relief parcels among beneficiaries. Guided by Ms Klassen and Ms Gunuza, the visitors did a walkabout through narrow alleys and pathways to areas affected by fire. Along the way they saw the shells of shacks and mounds of debris being cleared away. They met and talked to residents involved in rebuilding or repairing their dwellings with shiny new corrugated iron sheets, doors and windows, with newly laid electricity for power and light—always encouraging sources and signs of hope that can light up the darkest interior. Later Ms Klassen took over to lead us past Bl Isidore Bakanja Catholic church, named after the 19th century Congolese martyr, which shares its presence with other faiths, down to a maze of overcrowded shacks that form the Wetlands Community. Living conditions here are affected by inadequate infrastructure, sanitation and drainage for an area susceptible to flooding and already bursting at the seams—and coping with more and more newcomers

and a consequential land invasion to the very edge of the wetlands. Ms Klassen said the overall issues affecting Masiphumelele include inadequate recreational facilities for children, widespread unemployment which is alleviated only by temporary piece work, poor education and skills, the ongoing influx of people, alcohol and drug abuse, and domestic abuse of children. The day with Siyakhulisa had a bright moment of surprise. Ms Klassen brought out a red wheelchair, secured through the bread-tag programme, and urged Mr Feichtinger to push it to a dwelling up the road. There we found Nokufika Nomadwayi, aged 82 and bed-rid-

den for three months. Ms Klassen and Mrs Feichtinger helped Mrs Nomadwayi out of her bed and placed her in the wheelchair. She was pushed to the sunlight seeping through her doorway. Her smile became the sunlight. A six-hour rendezvous and journey with the Pink House through Masiphumelele had revealed distressing poverty and also signs of goodness and hope. Altogether a shared experience of the human spirit rising above adversity through partnership work inspired by a theology of love and caritas that brings different worlds together.

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The Southern Cross, January 22 to January 28, 2014

BOOK

More from Moerdyk Files Last week we published excerpts from the anthology of Chris Moerdyk’s best Southern Cross columns, titled Moerdyk Files. Here we offer our readers another peek into the book with edited excerpts.

Proof that the Easter Bunny exists

HENEVER I think of Easter, I can’t help but recall all those times I have painted myself into a corner and the Good Lord has held out a helping hand to extricate me with my dignity intact. The ultimate example of “ask and ye shall receive” was an Easter Sunday when my eldest son was ten years old and a know-all of note. After returning from morning Mass, I would send the kids into the kitchen while I supposedly would go on a recce to see if I could spot the Easter Bunny. Meantime, all I would be doing was to maintain that devious tradition of planting Easter eggs in every nook and cranny I could find in the garden. Upon completion of that task, I would rush into the kitchen, yelling: “Quickly, come and see! The Easter Bunny!” Then I would look terribly disappointed as the children flew out of the door and say: “Oh shame, what a pity, you just missed him.” That Easter 30 years ago, as I was about to set off on my recce, my eldest sidled up to me and told me that I was not fooling him one bit. There was, he declared, no such thing as an Easter Bunny, and if I did not stop treating him like a child he would expose my scam by telling his younger brother and sister that not only was the Easter Bunny a figment of my romantic imagination, but that Father Christmas didn’t exist either. Before I knew what I was doing I was bending down and looking him in his pre-pubescent eye. Through clenched teeth I told him that he would be finding himself devoid of Easter eggs, pocket money and any form of paternal recognition for ten

years on the trot if he said one single word to his brother and sister. Instead of just leaving it at that, I went and painted myself into a corner again. “Just you watch, you doubting Thomas,” I said, “I will prove beyond any doubt that the Easter Bunny not only exists but has the capacity to deliver billions of Easter eggs to billions of children all at the same time.” Somewhat shaken and wide-eyed at my unbecoming Easter behaviour, the boy slouched condescendingly into the kitchen. As I planted the Easter eggs, I asked God what he thought had possessed me to make such a rash promise, and, without waiting for an answer, I asked if he would be kind enough to somehow bail me out of the predicament into which I had so blindly flown. I rushed into the kitchen yelling hysterically about the Easter Bunny, shooed the kids out into the garden with my eldest, still in full slouch mode, bringing up the rear. As he set foot into the garden, and a split second before I came up with the usual “Oh shame, you’ve just missed him” line, my daughter, wide-eyed and speechless for the first time in her little life, pointed at the hedge as the biggest white rabbit I have ever seen hopped through a hole, went bounce... bounce...bounce across our garden, and disappeared into the neighbouring garden. There was the mother of pregnant pauses. My children looked at me and asked why I was pointing heavenwards instead of towards the point where the rabbit had disappeared. “I am not pointing at the sky,” I said, “God is holding my hand.” Not giving them a chance to ask what that meant, I turned to my son and said: “Don’t ever tell me again that you don’t believe in the Easter Bunny.” He is 40 years old now and not a Christmas or Easter goes by that he doesn’t phone to reaffirm, with all the sincerity he can muster, his belief that the Easter Bunny is alive and well and that Father Christmas can come down a chimney even if a

house hasn’t got one. I’m sure God forgave me for lying through my teeth when the children asked me if I knew anything about where that rabbit had come from. I didn’t say a word even when I found out the next day that my neighbour had bought it at the pet shop to give to his nephew for Easter. While he was trying to get it out of its cage and into a gift basket, the bunny escaped and headed for the hedge between our gardens—at precisely and exactly the right moment. I believe it was divine intervention and indeed, a miracle, all the same. Not so much in what happened, but in the timing which was far too perfect to be mere coincidence.

The day Mandela was sentenced

RIDAY, the 12th of June 1964 was the day Nelson Mandela and his fellow accused in the Rivonia Trial were to be sentenced in the Palace of Justice on the north side of Church Square in Pretoria’s city centre. The police were under orders to keep black “agitators”, black “troublemakers”, in fact probably just all blacks, away from the city in case they had the effrontery to try and get close to the Palace of Justice to hear the verdict. They also had orders to keep foreign television news crews away. At the time I was the Southern African news editor in the Johannesburg office of United Press International. On the day I was accompanied by my colleague, Ernie Christie, who headed up UPI Newsfilm television, to both cover the story and do commentary into camera. We left Johannesburg early in the morning but were turned back by a police roadblock on what was then the main road to Pretoria, just about where the South African mint is situated in Midrand today. We tried going via Hartebeespoort Dam but hit another roadblock round about where Lanseria Airport would eventually be built. We were now running out of time. With my mother’s family having come from Premier Mine east of Pretoria, I knew that neck of the woods quite well, so we headed towards Delmas and then cut through Rayton to Premier Mine (now known as Cullinan) and then

The Moerdyk clan in 2013, contemplating the existence of the Easter Bunny. sneaked our way through Pretoria’s suburb of Colbyn and managed to park our car near Pretoria Central Railway Station. We walked towards Church Square with Christie’s camera equipment in cheap suitcases, telling the police who stopped us that we were tourists from Durban who were on our way to our hotel and then to Loftus Versveld rugby stadium to watch Currie Cup rugby the next day. Our mission was to augment the news coverage of UPI bureau chief Neil Smith, who was in the courtroom, with TV coverage and commentary from outside the Palace of Justice. All the way in, Christie was fretting about shooting newsfilm on a deserted Church Square that might not reflect the historic drama that was taking place in the courtroom. He needn’t have worried because about 2 000 people—all black—had gathered on Church Square and simply stood their ground when police shouted, threatened and cajoled them into moving. It was a bizarre sight, seeing for perhaps the first time in history so many black faces and nary a white one on Church Square. Many carried placards in support of their leaders who were awaiting their fate. All sombre and silent. Apprehension and despair evident in every face. Christie set up his TV camera on Church Square to give him the best view of the crowds and the façade of the Palace of Justice that housed the Supreme Court. The crowd was still sparse and scattered around the whole of the square, and as I started to do my first commentary into camera we heard warning hisses from those people near us. I turned to see a po-

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liceman and his dog coming towards us with some considerable determination and intent. About a dozen or so metres from us, he let the dog off its leash and it came at us snarling, its hackles up and teeth bared. It knocked over Christie’s camera and tripod and managed to give me a nip on the leg just before Christie took a swipe at it with a fairly heavy 16mm Bell & Howell “Filmo” camera he used for fill-in shots. The dog took off and the policeman, now mad as a snake, chased after it while swearing at us and saying that he would come back and get us. We starting picking up our equipment and getting ready to run like hell from what we believed would be the arrival of half the South African Police Force intent on getting even with us for daring to hit one of their prized Alsatians with a camera. Then the most remarkable thing happened. The crowd that was spread sparsely over Church Square suddenly came together around us in a protective laager of humanity. They asked us to please carry on telling our story and not to worry about the police because none of them was about to move an inch. Never in my life have I felt so safe. Some 27 years later I had the privilege of meeting Nelson Mandela. I told him the story, proudly showing off the scar on my leg where the dog bit me. When I told him how those crowds of people gathered round to protect us, he just smiled. Clearly that sort of gesture was nothing new to him. n Order Moerdyk Files for R150 (plus R15 p&p in SA) from books@scross.co.za or www.books. scross.co.za or call 021 465 5007.

St Maria Goretti, Riverlea 40 Year Anniversary Sunday 16 March 2014 All parishioners and past parishioners are invited to the celebrations.

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The Southern Cross, January 22 to January 28, 2014

CLASSIFIEDS

Another chance to see two popes canonised STAFF REPORTER

Our bishops’ anniversaries This week we congratulate: January 27: Bishop Kevin Dowling of Rustenburg on the 23rd anniversary of episcopal ordination. January 28: Archbishop Stephen Brislin of Cape Town on the 7th anniversary of episcopal ordination. The Southern Cross apologises for printing the incorrect solutions in last week’s issue (January 15). Below are the solutions to last week’s Southern CrossWord and this week’s solutions.

Southern CrossWord solutions

SOLUTIONS TO 585. ACROSS: 5 Sack, 7 Bernadette, 8 Lame, 10 Reformer, 11 Status, 12 Sought, 14 Scared, 16 Albums, 17 Dramatic, 19 Lens, 21 Abstinence, 22 Stud. DOWN: 1 Abel, 2 Ancestor, 3 Adores, 4 Staffs, 5 Seer, 6 Catechumen, 9 Antichrist, 13 Unbelief, 15 Detests, 16 Arctic, 18 Mead, 20 Step.

Southern CrossWord solutions SOLUTIONS TO 586. ACROSS: 1 Gibeah, 4 Hordes, 9 Shadow of doubt, 10 Epistle, 11 Ashen, 12 Limbs, 14 Asked, 18 Plaza, 19 Old Bill, 21 Axiomatically, 22 Lining, 23 Drawer. DOWN: 1 Goshen, 2 Beatification, 3 Aloft, 5 Ordeals, 6 Daughter-in-law, 7 Satins, 8 Covet, 13 Brahman, 15 Sprawl, 16 Booth, 17 Slayer, 20 Decor.

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DEATH

HE canonisation pilgrimage to Rome and Assisi, headlined by The Southern Cross and Radio Veritas, is now fully booked, with only waiting-list booking accepted—but there is still a chance to join this once-in-a-lifetime journey to see Popes John XXIII and John Paul II canonised on April 27. Radio Veritas has launched a draw for two tickets on the pilgrimage, which will be led by station director Fr Emil Blaser OP and Claire Mathieson, news editor of The Southern Cross. The winners will receive two fully-paid places on the pilgrimage, including flights (from Johannesburg), transfers, accommodation with breakfast and dinner, entrance fees, travel insurance and so on. The prize excludes visas. Only 2 000 tickets at R350 each will be sold for the draw, Fr Blaser said. This year’s draw follows last year’s successful draw in which Daphne Matloa of Johannesburg won the prize of a Radio Veritas pilgrimage to the Holy Land and Jordan. Fr Blaser said he is “very excited about the pilgrimage and I’m sure Catholics will respond positively and snap up the draw tickets for an opportunity to win

CLASSiFiEDS

two tickets to attend this unique event in the Church’s history”. He added that the fee of R350 to enter the draw is very reasonable for a prize that is valued at more than R53 000. The draw is being run by Lydia Orsmond and Julia O’Connor of Dynamic Organisation Team. The winner will be drawn at the end of March. To buy a ticket, SMS your name to 35710 and a member of the team will call you back with banking details and further information, or go to www.radioveritas.co.za to enter, or call Lydia at 083 601 6177 or Julia at 082 871 8360. n To read the itinerary of the canonisation pilgrimage go to www.fowlertours.co.za/?p=313 and for a place on the waiting list contact Gail at info@fowlertours.co.za or phone 076 352 3809

Liturgical Calendar Year A Weekdays Cycle Year 2 Sunday, January 26, Third Sunday Isaiah 8:23, 9:3, Psalm 27:1, 4, 13-14, 1 Corinthians 1:10-13, 17, Matthew 4:12-23 or 4:12-17 Monday, January 27 2 Samuel 5:1-7, 10, Psalm 89:20-22, 25-26, Mark 3:22-30 Tuesday, January 28, St Thomas Aquinas 2 Samuel 6:12-15, 17-19, Psalm 24:7-10, Mark 3:31-35 Wednesday, January 29 2 Samuel 7:4-17, Psalm 89:4-5, 27-30, Mark 4:1-20 Thursday, January 30, St Hyacinth Marescotti 2 Samuel 7:18-19, 24-29, Psalm 132:1-5, 11-14, Mark 4:21-25 Friday, January 31, St John Bosco 2 Samuel 11:1-10, 13-17, Psalm 51:3-7, 10-11, Mark 4:26-34 Saturday, February 1, Memorial of the BVM 2 Samuel 12:1-7, 10-17, Psalm 51:12-17, Mark 4:35-41 Sunday, February 2, Presentation of the Lord Malachi 3:1-4, Psalm 24:7-10, Hebrews 2:14-18, Luke 2:22-40 or 2:22-32

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LOvING FATHER bless us, the people of AFRICA, and help us to live in justice, love and peace Mary, Mother of Africa, pray for us For payer leaﬂet: sms 083 544 8449

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HErDE—Charlotte Elizabeth (Lottie) (Kohler) Dearly loved mother, mother-in-law and grandmother died peacefully on 13.01.14. She will be sorely missed. Siobhan, Gary, Matthew and Stuart Brown. MHDSRIP HErDE—Charlotte Elizabeth. Our dearly loved sister, sister-in-law and aunt died peacefully on 13.01.14. Sadly missed by Charles, Margaret, Ursula, Renata, Maureen, Lawrence, Winnfried and their families. MHDSRIP. KgATLHAnE—Sr Remigia. Holy Cross Sister, Sr Remigia, aged 85, passed away at Holy Cross Convent, Fatima House Retirement Home, Aliwal North, on January 9, 2014. Lovingly remembered by her family from Taung and the Holy Cross Sisters. May she rest in peace! LÜCKing—Sr Tharsilla. Holy Cross Sister, Sr Tharsilla, aged 84, passed away at Holy Cross Convent, Fatima House Retirement Home, Aliwal North, on January 5, 2014. Lovingly remembered by her family circle in Germany, the Holy Cross Sisters, her friends and the Aliwal North Community. May she rest in peace!

in MEMoriAM

DA SiLVA—Terence. In loving memory of my dear husband who passed away 25/1/2006. Always remembered by his wife Mary, all family and friends, parishioners of Holy Family and Our Lady of Fatima Church, Bellville and Legion of Mary. Rest in peace.

PErSonAL

AborTion is murder—

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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. MY most loving Father, You have promised, “I am the God who heals you” (Exodus 15:26) I place in your loving care my sick body, worried mind, my emotional wounds and sinful nature. I believe that only You have the power to heal me completely. Loving Father, I trust in Your love for me, Help me to love You more. Help

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Italy and Medjugorje Tour leader Fernanda Laranjeiro June 2014

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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

me to increase my faith in You. I surrender to you (here mention your illness or emotional hurt) Cleanse me with the precious blood of Jesus, purify me and set me free from anger, resentment, hatred, unresolved hurts and greed. Help me to remember that the power of the Holy Trinity dwells within me and all power to forgive and overcome sin is in me. Fill me with Your Holy Spirit and Your peace. Amen. You, o eternal Trinity, are a deep sea into which, the more I enter, the more I find. And the more I find, the more I seek. o abyss, o eternal Godhead, o sea profound, what more could you give me than yourself? Prayer of Awe—St Catherine of Siena.

HoLiDAY ACCoMMoDATion

FiSH HoEK: Self-catering accommodation, sleeps 4. Secure parking. Tel: 021 785 1247. KnYSnA: Self-catering accommodation for 2 in Old Belvidere with wonderful lagoon views. 044 387 1052. LonDon, Protea House: Single R350, twin R560 per/night. Self-catering, busses and underground nearby. Phone Peter 021 851 5200, MAriAnELLA: Guest 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@gmail.com SEDgEFiELD: Beautiful self-catering garden holiday flat, sleeps four, two bedrooms, open-plan lounge, kitchen, fully equipped. 5 min walk to lagoon. Out of season specials. Contact Les or Bernadette 044 343 3242, 082 900 6282. STELLEnboSCH: Christian Brothers Centre. 14 suites (double/twin beds), some with fridge & microwave, others beside kitchenette & lounge, ecospirituality library. Countryside vineyard/forest/mountain views/walks; beach 20 minute drive. Affordable. 021 880 0242. www.cb centre.co.za Email: cbc stel@gmail.com STrAnD: Beachfront flat to let. Stunning views, fully equipped. One bedroom, sleeps 3. Seasonal rates. From R600 p/night for 2 people—low season. Garage. Ph Brenda 082 822 0607. VEnuEXCELLEnCE: Looking for excellent holiday accommodation in South Africa? Visit www.venuexcellence.com The Southern Cross is a member of the Audit Bureau of Circulations of South Africa. Printed by Paarl Coldset (Pty) Ltd, 10 Freedom Way, Milnerton. Published by the proprietors, The Catholic Newspaper & Publishing Co Ltd, at the company’s registered office, 10 Tuin Plein, Cape Town, 8001.

The Southern Cross is published independently by the Catholic newspaper & Publishing Company Ltd. Address: PO Box 2372, Cape Town, 8000. Tel: (021) 465 5007 Fax: (021) 465 3850 www.scross.co.za Editor: Günther Simmermacher (editor@scross.co.za), business Manager: Pamela Davids (admin@scross.co.za), Advisory Editor: Michael Shackleton, news Editor: Claire Mathieson (c.mathieson@scross.co.za), Editorial: Claire Allen (c.allen@scross.co.za), Mary Leveson (m.leveson@scross.co.za) Advertising: Elizabeth Hutton (advertising@scross.co.za), Subscriptions: Avril Hanslo (subscriptions@scross.co.za), Dispatch: Joan King (dispatch@scross.co.za), Accounts: Desirée Chanquin (accounts@scross.co.za). Directors: C Moerdyk (Chairman), Archbishop S Brislin, P Davids*, S Duval, E Jackson, B Jordan, M Lack (UK), Sr H Makoro CPS, M Salida, G Simmermacher*, z Tom

opinions expressed in this newspaper do not necessarily reflect those of the editor, staff or directors of The Southern Cross.

NOAH OLD AGE HOMES

We can use your old clothing, bric-a-brac, furniture and books for our 2nd hand shop. Help us to create an avenue to generate much needed funds for our work with the elderly. Contact Ian Veary on 021 447 6334 www.noah.org.za

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The Presentation of the Lord: February 2 Readings: Malachi 3:1-4, Psalm 23, Hebrews 2:14-18, Luke 2:22-40

EXT Sunday we celebrate the Presentation of Jesus in the Temple, a day which many people regard as bringing our Christmas celebrations to an end. It is not, we should notice, an especially comfortable coming-into-the-Temple. The first reading, from Malachi, which in our bibles makes the last scroll of the Old Testament, has us shivering in our boots. “Look—I am sending my messenger” (malachi in Hebrew, hence, perhaps, the name of the book), and that sounds all right, until we hear “and who shall abide the day of his coming? Who can stand when he appears?”, followed by a decidedly alarming image of “refining”, which is not at all comfortable. But there is a happy ending, for “the sacrifice of Judah and Jerusalem will please the Lord”. We cannot, however, take it for granted. The psalm for next Sunday likewise depicts the coming of the Lord into his Temple, and the cry goes up: “Gates, lift up your heads!...and the King of Glory shall come in!” Then we get a far from gentle picture of this king: “The Lord, a mighty warrior, the Lord a warrior of battle”, and a triumphant final recognition of his identity: “The Lord of

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Child Jesus presented in Temple Nicholas King SJ

Sunday Reflections

hosts, he is the King of Glory”. The second reading, however, offers us a rather less overwhelming picture of the Lord’s coming. It comes from Hebrews, written by one of the finest theological minds in the entire New Testament. Here he is meditating on the significance of Jesus, and emphasising, as the early Christians found they had to emphasise, the reality of Jesus’ humanity. We cannot allow ourselves to think of a Jesus who is utterly beyond our experience. Instead, as Hebrews puts it, “he completely shared in the children’s flesh and blood, in order that through death he might cancel out the one who had the power over death, that is to say the Devil”.

So we are talking of real suffering, and an all too real battle, and “therefore he had to be like his brothers and sisters in every respect, so that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest with regard to the things concerning God, so as to atone for the sins of the people”. The vital part of the argument is this: “In so far as he suffered by being tempted, he is able to assist those who are being tempted.” Here, therefore, the discomfort is that experienced by Jesus, not the fear aroused in us by the God of the big battalions. The gospel presents us with God’s messenger coming, as predicted in the first reading, to his Temple, but in a very helpless guise, a baby brought by his parents “to offer him to the Lord”. They bring an offering, but we should notice that it is the offering prescribed for the poor (“a pair of turtle-doves or two young pigeons”). Then our attention is turned to nothing more dramatic than a very old man, of the name of Symeon, “and this man was just and pious, waiting for the comfort of Israel”. The important point here is that God is in

Killing in the name of God I

N his deeply insightful book, Violence Unveiled (1996), Gil Bailie takes us through a remarkable section of the diaries of Captain James Cook, the famed British scientist and explorer. Visiting the island of Tahiti in 1777, Cook was taken one day by a local tribal chief to witness a ritual where a man was sacrificed as an offering to the god Eatooa. The man was being sacrificed in the hope that this particular god would give the tribe some assistance in an upcoming war. Cook, though friendly to the local peoples, could not conceal his detestation for what he considered both a barbaric and superstitious act. In a conversation with the chief afterwards, Cook told him, through an interpreter, that in England they would hang a man for doing that. Cook found the idea of killing someone to appease God to be abhorrent. Yet, as the great irony inside this story makes clear, we have never stopped killing people in God’s name, we have only changed the nomenclature. They called it human sacrifice; we call it capital punishment. In either case, someone dies because we feel that God needs and wants this death for some divine reason. All peoples, right up to this day, have always done violence in God’s name, believing that the violence is not only justified but is in fact necessitated by God. God, it is argued, needs us to do this violence in his name. For this reason, ancient cultures often offered human

Conrad

Fr Ron Rolheiser OMI

Final Reflection

sacrifice. During the medieval ages, as a Christian Church, we had the Inquisition believing that God wanted us to kill people who were in doctrinal error. Today we see a new form of this in a number of extremist Islamic groups who believe that God wants infidels of all kinds put to death for the sake of religious purity. We have forever justified killing and other forms of violence in God’s name, often pointing to texts in Scripture, which seemingly show God as ordering violence in his name. But, in this, we have been wrong.

espite a number of texts which, on the surface, seem to indicate that God is ordering violence (but which are really archetypal and anthropomorphic in nature and do not justify that interpretation) we see, if we read the Bible from beginning to end, a progressive revelation—or at least a progressive realisation on our part—of the non-violence of God, a revelation that ends in Jesus who reveals a God of radical non-violence. Our faulty idea of the God of the Old Testament who seemingly orders the exter-

mination of whole peoples is indeed primitive and superstitious when placed beside the concept of the Father of Jesus who sends his Son into the world as a helpless infant and then lets him die helpless before a mocking crowd. The God whom Jesus reveals is devoid of all violence and asks that we no longer do violence in God’s name. To offer just one example: In John 8:211 we see the story of the woman who has been caught in adultery. A crowd of pious persons bring her to Jesus and tell him that they have caught her in the very act of committing adultery and that Moses (their primary interpreter of God’s will) has ordered that, for this offence, she needs to be put to death. Jesus, for his part, says nothing. Instead he bends down and begins to write on the ground with his finger. Then, looking up, he tells them: “Let the person among you without sin cast the first stone!” Then he bends down and writes for a second time with his finger. Unbelievably they get the message and lay down their stones and go away. What has happened here? The key for interpretation is Jesus’ gesture of writing on the ground with his finger. Who writes with his finger? Who writes twice? God does. And what God writes with his finger and writes twice are the Ten Commandments, and he had to write them twice because Moses “broke” them the first time. Coming down the mountain, carrying the tablets of the commandments, Moses caught the people in the very act of committing idolatry and he, gripped in a fever of religious and moral fervour, broke the tables of stone on the golden calf and on peoples’ heads. Moses was the first person to break the commandments and he broke them physically, thinking violence needed to be done for God’s cause. Then, having broken them, he needed to go up the mountain a second time and have them rewritten by God. But before rewriting them, God gave Moses a stern message: “Don’t stone people with the Commandments! Don’t do violence in my name!” The people who wanted to stone the woman caught in adultery understood Jesus’ gesture. Their divine interpreter, Moses, had it wrong. Too often, though, we are still, in a variety of forms, stoning people with the Commandments, falsely believing that God wants this violence.

charge: “He had been warned by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he saw the Lord’s Messiah.” Not only that, but the Spirit takes a very decisive hand in the narrative: “He came into the Temple in the Spirit”, at just the moment when Jesus’ parents arrive. Then “he took him into his arms”. Now before you worry about this intrusion, the word for “took” is a “hospitality word” in Luke’s gospel, and therefore we are meant to applaud Symeon, the more so as he immediately “blessed God”, and recited the Nunc Dimittis, with which the Church has sung itself to sleep for a millennium and a half. “Now you are letting your slave, Master, go in peace, in accordance with your word…” Then he and Anna point to what God is doing in this tiny child, and we applaud as she “praised God and spoke about him to all those who were waiting for the redemption of Israel”. And our gospel concludes with Jesus negotiating the passage into adulthood: “The child increased and became strong, filled with wisdom; and God’s grace was on him.”

Southern Crossword #586

ACROSS

1. Saul joined the prophets here (1 Sm 10) (6) 4. Rhodes produces large groups (6) 9. Scepticism in the shade? (6,2,5) 10. Sleep it off to the letter (7) 11. Pale-faced in Lent (5) 12. Members of the body (5) 14. Offered a prayer (5) 18. Spanish square (5) 19. Not young British police (3,4) 21. O my, I call a taxi self-evidently (13) 22. Turncoat will reveal it (6) 23. Will he attract you with his sketches? (6)

DOWN 1. Joseph told his brothers to live here (Gn 45) (6) 2. It precedes sainthood (13) 3. Float about into the air (5) 5. Prolonged painful sufferings (7) 6. A son’s wife (8-2-3) 7. Saints’ fabrics (6) 8. You are commanded not to do this (5) 13. Hindu caste mixes with barman mostly (7) 15. Ungainly way to sit in the pew (6) 16. Private compartment for Salvation Army founder (5) 17. What St George was to the dragon (6) 20. Credo about stage scenery (5) Solutions on page 11

CHURCH CHUCKLE

Christian man had just died and was on his way to heaven. When he got to the gates of heaven he met an angel. The angel asked him what God’s name was. “Oh that’s easy,” the man replied, “His name is Andy.” “What makes you think his name is Andy?” the angel asked incredulously. “Well, you see, at church we used to sing this song: ‘Andy walks with me, Andy talks with me.’” Send us your favourite Catholic joke, preferably clean and brief, to The Southern Cross, Church Chuckle, PO Box 2372, Cape Town, 8000.