The
S outher n C ross
July 6 to July 12, 2016
Reg No. 1920/002058/06
Is it People versus Politicians?
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No 4984
www.scross.co.za
Face-to-face with ISIS’ Christian victims
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R8,00 (incl vAt RSA)
Apparitions of Our Lady in Argentina
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‘SA politicians fuel violence’ BY BRONWEN DACHS
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Our Lady of Mercy in Durban’s catechism class visited the Denis Hurley Centre’s feeding programme in the inner city with gifts of cake and farm vegetables. As part of their catechism and Year of Mercy courses, they shared a meal with some of the city’s homeless, unemployed and refugees. (From left) Evan Raaths, 10, Abdul Hakkem and Jordan Durkin, 9, enjoy cake together. (Photo: Rogan Ward)
OUTH African Church leaders have urged an end to pre-election violence and criticised politicians for fuelling it. “We are disappointed that our political leaders have not been loud enough in their condemnation of recent factional violence and political assassinations,” said Bishop Abel Gabuza of Kimberley, chair of the Southern African Catholic Bishops’ Conference’s Justice & Peace commission. At least three people have been killed in the Tshwane area around Pretoria, in riots triggered by the ANC’s choice of a mayoral candidate for municipal elections, scheduled for August 3. Shops have been looted and cars and buses set alight in violent protests over economic hardship. Politicians “are mobilising the young people in our communities, especially the unemployed youth, to engage in pre-election violence,” Bishop Gabuza said. He urged young South Africans “not to allow themselves to be used by politicians who show signs that their primary interest is greed for power and government tenders”. The SA Human Rights Commission warned that politically motivated murders and other acts of intimidation ahead of the polls are endangering citizens’ constitutional rights.
The commission’s statement came after arrests for the murders of two ANC members in KwaZulu-Natal, said to be politically motivated. South Africa’s political leaders have not “been vigorous enough in disciplining their candidates and members involved in disrupting campaign rallies of other parties and in creating no-go zones,” Bishop Gabuza said. “At the root of many social ills, including the current upsurge of pre-election violence, one finds greed and patronage politics.” This political culture must be stopped before it destroys the country and sends it “into a downward spiral from which it will struggle to recover,” the bishop said. The SA Council of Churches, of which the bishops’ conference is a member, asked clergy to intervene in politically divided communities before the elections. “The ugly scenes we have witnessed in Tshwane are totally out of place in the democratic culture of our country‚ and we condemn this in the strongest possible terms‚“ the Johannesburg-based council said. “Sinful greed leads to the killings of people who stand in the way” of a preferred election candidate or a corrupt business deal, it said. The council urged members to “intensify prayers and interventions in communities where peace must be restored‚ to maintain coexistence across political divisions”.—CNS
Benedict ‘feels protected’ by Francis BY JuNNO AROCHO EStEvES
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N his first public address in almost a year, retired Pope Benedict XVI expressed his sincere gratefulness to Pope Francis, saying that his goodness “from the first moment of your election, in every moment of my life here, touches me deeply”. “More than the beauty found in the Vatican Gardens, your goodness is the place where I live; I feel protected,” Pope Benedict said. He also conveyed his hope that Pope Francis would continue to “lead us all on this path of divine mercy”. Pope Francis led a Vatican celebration for the 65th anniversary of Pope Benedict’s priestly ordination. The two were joined by the heads of Vatican offices and congregations and several guests, including a delegation
from the Orthodox Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople. Those gathered gave Pope Benedict a standing ovation as he made his way into the Clementine Hall. A few minutes later, Pope Francis entered the hall and made a beeline for his predecessor. Pope Francis has made no secret of his admiration for the retired pontiff, often comparing him to a “wise grandfather at home”. Pope Francis praised Pope Benedict’s life of priestly service to the Church and recalled his writings on Simon Peter’s response to “Jesus’ definitive call: ‘Do you love me?’” “This is the hallmark dominating an entire life spent in priestly service and of the true theology that you have defined—not by chance—as ‘the search for the beloved’. It is this that you have always given witness to and
continue to give witness to today,” he said. When Pope Francis finished speaking, Pope Benedict clasped his hands together to signal his thanks to the pope. He rose to his feet and stretched out his arms to embrace Pope Francis. Pope Benedict vividly recalled his ordination 65 years ago, remembering a Greek word a priest ordained with him wrote on the remembrance card of his first Mass: “Eucharistomen” (“We give you thanks”). “I am convinced that this word, in its many dimensions, has already said everything that can be said in this moment,” the retired pope said. The word “eucharistomen,” he added, can bring everyone closer to that “new dimension” of thanksgiving given by Christ, who transformed the cross, sufferings and evils of the world “into grace and blessing”.—CNS
Pope Francis and retired Pope Benedict embrace at the anniversary celebration of Pope Benedict’s 65th year of ordination as a priest. (Photo: CNS)