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What SA can expect from 2018 BY ERIN CARELSE
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HE Catholic Church has developed a stronger voice on political and social issues, especially through the statements by the bishops’ Justice & Peace Commission and its chair, Bishop Abel Gabuza, and in 2018 that pressure needs to be maintained, according to a Catholic political analyst. With the election of Cyril Ramaphosa as president of the African National Congress, it has become even more possible to have a more constructive relationship and find ways of walking with government, said Mike Pothier, senior researcher for the Catholic Parliamentary Liaison Office (CPLO). Mr Ramaphosa now faces a complex task every bit as difficult as the one he faced 25 years ago when he led the ANC’s side in the negotiations for a post-apartheid, democratic dispensation, Mr Pothier noted. Mr Ramaphosa has spoken out strongly against state capture and has promised to tackle corruption, address land reform, job creation, education and economic growth. “Let’s hope that he succeeds and that he does not end up being martyred before he can complete his task,” Mr Pothier said. The analyst doesn’t anticipate a breakaway in the ANC as a result of the elections, but further crumbling, fragmentation and infighting is a possibility. Mr Pothier noted that there is a combination of political factors that are negatively affecting the economy. “There is a lack of vision, a lack of direction and a lack of planning,” he said. He predicted that Mr Ramaphosa will try to resurrect the National Development Plan, and engage with businesses and labour. “I doubt whether it makes a difference in the short term, because our economy is beset by political and structural problems. Even if Madiba was still the president and our politics was perfect, we would still have massive unemployment because the mines are in shutdown. Our mining industry is just a declining
industry, worldwide commodity prices for things like coal and iron have been depressed, and if the Chinese economy remains relatively slow it will continue to be the case,” Mr Pothier said. “We have these really deep structural economic problems which not even the world’s best president could solve overnight.” While there are signs that the economy is beginning to perk up a little bit, especially in agriculture, economic problems are going to be with us for a very long time, Mr Pothier said. However, Mr Ramaphosa’s success will help prevent the final downgrade of South African bonds to junk status. “[Rating agency] Moody’s still have us one notch above junk status, and they would probably review that in February or March. They may say the economy is looking kind of pear-shaped, but the Ramaphosa election does have the promise of creating stability, which could prevent us from that final downgrade—which will be huge. It will mean we import much less, food prices stabilise and should continue to do so and may even come down in some respects,” he said. If the economy begins to strengthen, with inflation remaining low, which it is, the Reserve Bank may have the confidence to reduce interest rates. Socially, most of the signs are fairly positive, Mr Pothier said. Many of our institutions are holding up very well, with the shining star being the judiciary. Parliament has also been reasserting itself with good work on the Eskom inquiry, the new SABC board and other interventions. The Church, he said, should continue to focus on the poor, with massive unemployment a big problem. “The Church has to be asking questions of government and business about how resources are applied and how they are shared, he said. “Business sits on huge amounts of cash, Continued on page 3
Willie Lamont, vice-chancellor of the Oudtshoorn diocese, is presented with the papal Bene Merenti medal by Fr Wim Sabo in St Nicholas church. Mr Lamont, who has worked in the chancery since 1977, was only the fourth-ever recipient of the papal medal in Oudtshoorn diocese. More on page 3.
Pope to visit Padre Pio shrine
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OPE Francis plans to mark this year’s 50th anniversary of the death of St Pio of Pietrelcina and the 100th anniversary of Padre Pio receiving the stigmata by visiting the famed Italian saint’s hometown and the paediatric oncology ward of the hospital he founded. Pope Francis will travel to Pietrelcina, the birthplace of the saint, and San Giovanni Rotondo on March 17, the Vatican announced. Both towns are in south-eastern Italy. The pope will visit the children receiving treatment for cancer at the Casa Sollievo della Sofferenza (House for the Relief of Suffering), before celebrating Mass outside the church of St Pio of Pietrelcina. Padre Pio was born as Francesco Forgione in Pietrelcina in 1887. He received the stigmata—wounds on his feet, hands and side corresponding to those Jesus suffered at the crucifixion—in September 1918, two years after the Capuchin friar moved to San Giovanni Rotondo. He died 50 years later—on September 23, 1968—at the age of 81. Pope John Paul II beatified Padre Pio in 1999 and canonised him three years later, on June 16, 2002 Pope Francis has praised St Pio as a devoted confessor, a channel of God’s mercy and a teacher of prayer. During the 2015-16 Year of Mercy, the
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A pilgrimage with Bishop Victor Phalana Feast day at shrine of Our Lady of Knock, PAPAL MASS in Dublin*, and much more * subject to confirmation
Pilgrims at San Giovanni Rotondo, the shrine of Padre Pio in south-eastern Italy. Pope Francis will visit the shrine in March. (Photo: Günther Simmermacher) relics of St Pio were brought to the Vatican for veneration. “The great river of mercy” that Padre Pio unleashed, Pope Francis said at the time, should continue through the prayers and, especially, the willingness to listen and to care for others shown by members of the Padre Pio prayer groups that exist around the world. Padre Pio, he noted, used to tell people prayer is “a key that opens God’s heart”.—CNS
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