Following the Palestine Authority’s request to the UN to recognise Palestine as a state, Bishop William Shomali, auxiliary bishop of Jerusalem, appealed for prayer.
“Jerusalem will attain peace through the power of God, and not merely through the acts of politicians,” said Mgr Shomali, who is also vicar of the Latin Patriarchate for Jerusalem and the Palestinian Territories. The bishop was reacting to mounting tension in the region. He said Christians should remain in the Holy Land and work for peaceful change. He also called for an end to the Israeli blockade of Gaza.
Latin Mass ‘lifeless’
In his memoirs, as reported in the Irish Times, Bishop Edward Daly said he was disappointed by the celebration of the Latin Mass which he found to be lifeless and somewhat meaningless. On the other hand, the Irish bishop is happy with the Mass in the vernacular language.
Mgr Daly resigned earlier than usual because he suffered a stroke.
Europe’s growing religious intolerance
Archbishop Dominique Mamberti, the Vatican secretary for relations with states, said true religious freedom means that those who believe should not be hindered from giving a contribution to their countries’ political development. He told an Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe meeting that Christians were being marginalised and efforts made to ban religious expressions from public life.
The organisation’s Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights has reported “a growing intolerance of Christians” – including desecration of places of worship, arson and other property damage, and attacks on worshippers and religious leaders in the organisation’s 56 member states.
Cardinal fears conflict
Cardinal Christoph Schönborn, Archbishop of Vienna, is still hoping of solving through dialogue and cooperation a stand-off with about 400 Austrian priests. These members of groups called Priests’ Initiatives are critical of the position of the Church on priestly celibacy, the ordination of women and the indissolubility of marriage.
They are also against Church rules on issues ranging from homosexuality to the reception of Communion by divorced and remarried Catholics. The cardinal has said that “if it comes to actions that clearly contradict Catholic teaching on faith then it can lead to serious conflict”.
Indian Prime Minister urges end to bias
Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said there is a perceived bias that the police are harsher with the nation’s religious minorities. He was reacting to complaints by religious minority groups that police officers – who are mostly Hindus – often remained spectators when Hindu fanatics attacked members of other religious groups. Among the more recent attacks were those occur-ing in 2008, when Hindu mobs hounded Christians in Kandhamal.
No Muslim prayers on Paris streets
The increase in the Muslim population in France has led to some Muslims praying in the streets due to lack of place in mosques. The French interior ministry has banned such public prayers in Paris and has offered Muslims the possibility to rent a large military depot.
(Compiled by Fr Joe Borg)