Archbishop laments Russian intervention

Major Archbishop Sviatoslav Shevchuk, head of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church, told Vatican Radio that Russian tanks and other heavy armaments are arriving in eastern Ukraine every day.

“In last few months, more than 700 tanks entered that territory,” he said. “My question is: why? If we agreed to ceasefire, to start a political process, if we are in favour of saving human beings in that territory, why is somebody investing in war?”

He said the priests who were forced to leave that territory are returning, though they are in constant danger and receive threats. In Donetsk, there are three priests and three Greek Catholics parishes but there are no Roman Catholic priests.

Cardinal laments gender ideology

Cardinal Angelo Bagnasco of Genoa, the president of the Italian Episcopal Conference, described the fight against gender ideology as a “true war in defence of man”, according to a report in La Repubblica.

Gender theory was condemned both by Pope Benedict and also by Pope Francis.

According to the ideology, gender is not given by nature but is decided upon by the individual independently of his/her natural structure. Bagnasco said the ideology is “absolutely self-centered” and separates “culture from nature and the spirit from the body”, thus contributing to “incalculable psychological and relational consequences”.

Gay marriage is be ‘serious injustice’

In a pastoral letter on gay marriage the Australian Catholic bishops said: “If civil law ceases to define marriage as traditionally understood, it will be a serious injustice and undermine the common good.” Redefining marriage will have far-reaching consequences for all, said the bishops.

They argue it is “gravely unjust” to ignore the importance for children to have a mother and a father, committed to them and to each other for the long haul, and to destabilise marriage at a time when it is already under considerable pressure.

“Marriage,” the bishops said, “is the covenant of a man and a woman to live as husband and wife, exclusively and for life, and open to the procreation of children.”

Congolese are facing ‘genocide’ – Bishops

In a pastoral letter, the bishops of eastern Congo said: “For more than 20 years, the eastern populations [of Congo] have fallen victim to war and insecurity – in 2010, the victims numbered six million dead, and the toll continues. In recent times, the violence has reached an untenable intensity close to breaking point, as the killers dream up and implement ever crueller practices. These are true acts of genocide, war crimes and crimes against humanity.

“We pay homage to Congolese officers and soldiers who have shown devotion and shed their blood in this cause. But security, peace and territorial integrity do not, curiously, seem to have been priorities for our public authorities.

“The international community has been observing events with its drones. Must we wait for the mayhem to become generalised for the international community to rain a deluge of fire on this region under the pretext of combatting jihadism?”

Pope’s prayer intentions

The Vatican has released the prayer intentions of Pope Francis for June.

The Pope’s universal intention is: “That immigrants and refugees may find welcome and respect in the countries to which they come.”

His intention for evangelisation is: “That the personal encounter with Jesus may arouse in many young people the desire to offer their own lives in priesthood or consecrated life.”

(Compiled by Fr Joe Borg)