In a pastoral statement on the upcoming general election, the Catholic Bishops of Ireland said: “Democracy is fundamentally about people working and walking together to foster the common good. Democracy is damaged by indifference and by a splintering of society or a fixation on individual interests.

“A general election is a moment in which all citizens, and not just political parties, should reflect and take stock of the health of the nation and especially on how we respond to the plight of the most vulnerable.

“Democracy flourishes when it is rooted in a shared social ethic. To succeed, good social policy requires economic stability and sustained growth. But economic growth on its own does not necessarily generate social equity. Social equity has a logic of its own which must be worked on to achieve its aim. Our comparatively wealthy Ireland has still a long path to travel in this task.”

Migrants threatening Christian refugees

Cardinal Rainer Woelki of Cologne, Germany, said non-Christian refugees in transit camps set up for migrants are threatening Christian refugees. He lamented that these threats were not being given enough importance by government authorities. He said that persecution is a current reality and was also manifested in the violence targeted against Christian refugees.

Philippine bishops on pornography

In a Lenten pastoral message on pornography, the Philippines’ Catholic Bishops’ Conference said: “To those who have been exploited and victimised by the pornography industry, nothing you have done to you can separate you from the love of God in Christ Jesus…

“To those who make and distribute pornography, you should heed the stark warning of the Lord Jesus: ‘Whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him to have a great millstone hung around his neck and to be drowned in the depths of the sea’. (Matt. 18:6)…

“To those who struggle with pornography, do not allow shame, fear or pride to prevent you from returning to God, the Father of Mercies, who loves you beyond all your other loves.”

Call for more religious liberty in Myanmar

Cardinal Charles Maung Bo of Yangon, Myanmar, said he hoped the country’s new government would work for national reconciliation, including forgiving the military leaders who ruled the nation for the past 50 years.

He called for more respect for religious liberty for all religions in the country that is 89 per cent Buddhist. He also appealed to the government to return to the Church its schools, which were confiscated in the 1960s, and to recognise the Church’s right to open schools and build convents.

Crisis threatens Church in Israel

Jerusalem patriarchate vicar general Bishop Giacinto-Boulos Marcuzzo said the Catholic Church faces a “complete crisis” in Israel. He said local government officials are asking the Church to pay taxes that it had not even been asked to pay in the Ottoman period. The taxes are being directly taken from bank accounts.

Since the number of tourists has dropped by almost a third during 2015 the Church’s income has fallen considerably. This has badly hit Christians in the Holy Land who depend on tourists for their income.

He said people should not be afraid to visit as“Jews and Muslims consider the pilgrim a person in search of God and respect him”.

(Compiled by Fr Joe Borg)