Archbishop Ramon Arguelles of Lipa, the Philippines, has called for the removal of the country’s President Benigno Aquino III.
He said the President is not entitled to hold onto his post because of what he has done and failed to do. The Philippines government reacted by accusing the bishop of sedition.
Arguelles is part of the National Transformation Council, an ecumenical effort that opposes Aquino.
Leila de Lima, secretary of the Philippine Department of Justice, said the government “will not relent in applying the full force of the law against them in order to protect the people”.
Venezuela government ‘trampling rule of law’
Archbishop Roberto Lückert of Venezuela accused President Nicolas Maduro and his government of showing dictatorial tendencies and of working to destry democratic rule in the country. He made his strong comment after Caracas mayor Antonio Ledezma was arrested by the police and accused of being involved in an attempted coup.
Lückert said the Maduro government, which inherited power from the late Hugo Chavez, is “trampling every rule of law”.
Help the vulnerable
The following are extracts from the UK election pastoral letter of the Bishops of England and Wales: “Many families in our communities struggle to make ends meet; housing and living costs are high. Many do not have a living wage to support them and their families. Too many have to turn to the State for additional income and to external voluntary support such as food banks.
“Government policies should be assessed on the ways in which they impact those most in need, including the homeless or hungry, and how they support and strengthen the family’s capacity to flourish.
“Catholics seek to recognise the signs of God’s goodness everywhere, promote mutual understanding, defend the fundamental rights and freedoms of all, including the right to practise their religion, both in private and in public, and the duty to strive to contribute to the common good of all.”
Pope to organised crime: ‘Convert’
Speaking to pilgrims from the Cassano all’Jonio, Italy, Pope Francis said: “External gestures of religiosity that are not accompanied by a real and public conversion are not enough to be considered in communion with Christ and his Church.
“Religiosity is not enough to credit as believers, those who with the malice and arrogance typical of criminals, make lawlessness their lifestyle. To those who have chosen the path of evil and are affiliated to criminal organisations I renew the pressing invitation to conversion: “Open your heart to the Lord! The Lord is waiting for you and the Church welcomes you if your willingness to serve the good is as clear and public as was your choice to serve evil.”
Mexico not amused
The Mexican government has protested with the Vatican because of words allegedly spoken by the Pope.
La Alameda, an Argentine NGO opposed to drug trafficking, published a note attributed to Pope Francis in which the Pontiff reportedly using the word “Mexicanisation” in the context of drug problems.
“Hopefully we are in time to avoid Mexicanisation,” Pope Francis reportedly said in his note to an Argentine lawmaker. “I was talking to some Mexican bishops, and it is terrifying.”
The Vatican has declined to confirm or deny the Pope’s reported comments.
(Compiled by Fr Joe Borg)