The
S outher n C ross
May 22 to May 28, 2019
reg No. 1920/002058/06
No 5136
www.scross.co.za
Interview with Winter Theology ‘happiness’ priest
The Church cannot sell God as a product
Page 2
Page 7
Bishops call for national strategic plan By erIN Carelse
T
HE Southern African Catholic Bishops’ Conference (SACBC) has congratulated the Independent Electoral Commission and all political parties for creating a conducive environment for free and fair elections and has called for the building of the economy and the tackling of corruption to commence. The ruling African National Congress (ANC) won the parliamentary elections with 57,5 percent of the vote, the electoral commission said, announcing the official results. “While some parties have recorded discontent about certain incidents during the elections, these do not appear to have significantly impacted on the integrity of the elections,” the bishops said in a released statement. They called on parties to “put the country first” and work “to arrest the collapse of the economy and the looting of state resources, and to spur economic growth so that it creates jobs”. The bishops noted that one of the key messages the citizens of South Africa have delivered through the 2019 elections is that the current social contract, which is based on the Constitution negotiations in the early 1990s, needs both renewal and repair. “The citizens should not be taken for granted. The dwindling in voter turnout, as well as the incidents of protest during the elections, are a stern warning to all political parties that, 25 years into constitutional democracy, there is a need to renegotiate the social contract between the ruling elite and those living on the margins of the economy,” the bishops said. They said they expect all political parties in the sixth parliament, and not just the ruling party, to put the country first
and work collectively to develop effective measures to arrest the collapse of the economy and the looting of state resources, and to spur economic growth so that it creates jobs. “We call on the ruling party to develop a national strategic plan, with measurable targets that can be subject to accountability, to address youth unemployment, which is a ticking time-bomb and has at some level contributed to the disenchantment and voter apathy among the youth,” the bishops urged. An issue of grave concern, they pointed out, which also poses a serious threat to our young democracy, is that of high levels of corruption. In particular, they expect the president of the country to: • Ensure that those suspected of corruption and state capture are not appointed into the cabinet and parliament. • Ensure that the country’s bloated cabinet is reduced by half. • Introduce new measures to strengthen the investigative and prosecutorial arms of the criminal justice system and its ability to operate without political interference and prosecute those involved in corruption and state capture. • Reverse the collapse of good governance and widespread looting at stateowned entities such as Eskom and SAA. • Introduce more effective measures to protect the integrity of the Public Investment Corporation. • Introduce stronger measures to address the irregular, fruitless and wasteful expenditure in government departments and municipalities. “Now that the elections are over, we expect the president of our nation to dispense with the politics of expediency and show a firm hand in dealing with those implicated in corruption and state capture,” the bishops said.
r12 (incl Vat rsa)
Six more appearances of Risen Christ
Page 9
the two Bishops Men’s Conference was held at Holy Family College in Glenmore, Durban. Cardinal Wilfrid Napier sent the following message: “What a pleasure and privilege to be given a key part to play in that historic gathering of Catholic men. I was most impressed by the candour and openness when they were reporting on the activities of the different groups. I really was proud of them and what they are doing for their families, their parishes, their Church and their communities. I must congratulate you for the key role that you have played and continue to play. May God bless them and all they are doing in the name of Jesus!”
Pope invites young people to pledge to build a new economy By Carol Glatz
P
OPE Francis has invited young economists and entrepreneurs around the world to help create a “new and courageous culture” that finds creative ways to do business, promote human dignity and protect the environment. “We need to correct models of growth incapable of guaranteeing respect for the environment, openness to life, concern for the family, social equality, the dignity of workers, and the rights of future generations,” the pope said in a letter inviting young people to take part in a new initiative. This initiative, to be launched at Assisi in Italy in March 2020, invites young men and women in economics or business to join the pope and “enter into a ‘covenant’ to change today’s economy and to give a soul to the economy of tomorrow”. Such an economy is “one that brings life not death, one that is inclusive and not exclusive, humane and not dehumanising, one that cares for the environment and does not despoil it”, the pope said in the letter. He added that given “a need to ‘reanimate’ the economy”, there was no better place to launch the initiative than in Assisi, “which has for centuries eloquently symbolised a humanism of fraternity” and peace, and would be “a fitting place to inspire a new economy”. St Francis of Assisi is the Church’s “outstanding example of care for the vulnerable and of an inte-
gral ecology”, the pope said, which is why the event in Assisi is titled “The Economy of Francis”. The environment and all of creation need “a sound economy and a sustainable development that can heal its wounds and assure us of a worthy future”, Pope Francis wrote. “Given this urgent need, each one of us is called to rethink his or her mental and moral priorities, to bring them into greater conformity with God’s commandments and the demands of the common good,” he said. “But I thought especially of inviting you, young people, because your desire for a better and happier future makes you even now a prophetic sign, pointing towards an economy attentive to the person and to the environment.” The pope told young people that “if you listen to what your heart tells you, you will feel part of a new and courageous culture, you will not be afraid to face risks and work to build a new society”. “Your universities, your businesses and your organisations are workshops of hope for creating new ways of understanding the economy and progress, for combating the culture of waste, for giving voice to those who have none, and for proposing new styles of life,” he wrote. “Only when our economic and social system no longer produces even a single victim, a single person cast aside, will we be able to celebrate the feast of universal fraternity,” Pope Francis said.—CNS
S outher n C ross Pilgrimage
CATHOLIC FRANCE 6-16 October 2019
Led by Bishop Joe Sandri
Lourdes, Paris, Nevers, Paray-le-Monial, Avignon, Marseilles, Orleans and more...
For more information or to book, please contact Gail at info@fowlertours.co.za or phone/WhatsApp 076 352-3809
www.fowlertours.co.za/sandri