Agenzia Fides News Reports: Persecution: Ordination: Egypt Update

AFRICA/EGYPT - “The situation is apparently returning to normal but protesters do not intend to ease off” says missionary

Cairo (Agenzia Fides) - “The situation is returning to normal even if the protests continue in Tahrir Square, where speakers alternate, making addresses using a speaker system,” Fr Luciano Verdoscia, a Comboni missionary who works in Cairo tells Fides. “Yesterday I witnessed a touching moment when the people who died in recent clashes were remembered. I also heard the speech of a famous writer and activist for human rights, Sakina Fouad, which can be summarized in three points: why hasn't the Government heard us when we denounce the corruption and lack of democracy? Where were the protesters when we denounced this situation? The Egyptian people is a great people, of culture and of great historical heritage, but that has yet to express itself in the international context. He concluded that leadership must be taken by people who love the Country, not those that exploit it.”
“I asked some demonstrators if they were planning to design the future of the country,” continued Fr Luciano. “They told me no, because now they are only interested in the protest and in reiterating the request for the resignation of President Mubarak. But there are already programs that are being spread around the protest movement.”
“In this regard, opposition to Omar Seleiman's leadership seems to be emerging (the former intelligence chief appointed as vice-president), initially accepted because the contract for the pipeline from Egypt to Israel would be assigned to a person close to him. Demonstrators are calling for the formation of an interim caretaker government. A list of names has also been released that could be part of the executive.” 
According to Father Luciano, “the situation is not resolved, also because adherers to the protests grow and there are several other squares occupied by the protesters. There might be new surprises.” 
Regarding any signs of fatigue by the people about the protests, Fr Luciano replied: “Most people want change and want to continue the protest. There are, however, Mubarak's supporters who are pressing for a rapid return to normality. In particular, business people and those who somehow live a decent life under the scheme are asking: what awaits us now? We are facing a terrible crisis, because every day we lose millions of dollars. This situation must end, they say, because otherwise our lives will be completely devastated.” 
The missionary describes a polarisation between those who want a rapid return to normality and those who instead want to continue the protest until the regime changes: “the first group claim that Mubarak has made a reasonable proposal (to govern until elections in September, in which he will not be standing). Thus, we wait until September. It is not the end of the world. The other group's answer is no because they believe the regime wants to ensure succession, and that nothing will change. The protesters want a radical change.” (LM) (Agenzia Fides 8/2/2011)

AFRICA/SUDAN - Southern Sudan is officially independent; a Bishop denounces the atrocities of the LRA

Juba (Agenzia Fides) – The definitive results on the referendum held 9-15 January on Southern Sudan's independence were published yesterday, 7 February. 98,83% of voters said yes to independence. Preliminary results were published on 30 January and the same victory percentages were given then. The announcement was received with joy by a festive crowd in Juba, the capital of the new State, which will be officially created in July.
Southern Sudan, however, needs to address various problems, among which the violences perpetrated by the Lord's Resistance Army (LRA). Bishop Edward Hiiboro Kussala of Tombura-Yambio, who yesterday issued Fides with an alarm about the presence of these Ugandan guerillas in his diocese (see Fides 7/2/2011), published a statement in which he calls for an end to the violence perpetrated by the LRA that has killed over 2,700, abducted over 3,500 others, displaced at least 500 thousand people and made life very difficult in Western Equatoria.
The B proposes a four-point strategy to counter LRA’s threat: increase protection of civilians; arrest of Joseph Kony and senior commanders; promote the defection of LRA fighters; and increase humanitarian access and provide continued relief to affected communities together with a negotiated peace settlement. (LM) (Agenzia Fides 8/2/2011)

ASIA/INDOENSIA - Three churches attacked, a priest struck; for Bishop Pujasumarta it is “orchestrated violence”

Semarang (Agenzia Fides) – Three churches attacked, a Catholic priest struck, clashes between protesters and police. This is the balance sheet following a day of tensions in Temanggung, a city in the Archdiocese of Semarang, in central Java.
Sources in the local Church inform Fides that today, 8 February, more than 1,500 Islamic extremists unleashed violence in response to a ruling by a local court, judged “too mild”, which sentenced 58 year old Christian Antonius Bawengan to five years in prison, accused of having distributed offensive leaflets against Islam. The protesters demanded the death penalty, but the court applied the maximum penalty for that crime.
The extremists - which according to Fides sources included militants from the Islamic Defenders Front - staged protests, shouting, “Death, death!” They burnt two Protestant churches (Bethel Church and Pantekosta Church) and attacked the Catholic Church of Sts Peter and Paul, trying to desecrate the tabernacle. Fr Saldanha, the parish priest, defended the Eucharist and was struck: he is now in a state of shock. More than 1,000 police officers intervened to quell the protests and, after clashes between officers and demonstrators, the situation normalised throughout the day.
Archbishop Johannes Pujasumarta of Semarang, who is also Secretary of the Episcopal Conference, told Fides: “We are shocked by this event. Violence is never a good solution. We call on everyone, Muslims and Christians, to address issues with a sense of civility and in a spirit of fraternity. I invite the Catholic faithful and all Christians not to react to the violence. We want to be a sign of peace to all.” The Archbishop is drafting a message to the faithful, denouncing the violence, but also calling for peace and reconciliation.
On the roots of violence, Archbishop Pujasumarta said: “The town of Temanggung is normally a quiet place. The extremists have come from outside. This suggests that the violence was planned and orchestrated.”
The view is shared by Fr Ignazio Ismartono, a Jesuit, for years in charge of interreligious dialogue in the Episcopal Conference. The Jesuit priest told Fides: “The violence which has occurred in recent days against the Ahmadis, and now this anti-Christian violence: the rise of intolerance - in a context such as Indonesia, marked by peaceful co-existence - suggests that there are dark forces who want to fuel tensions in society. The violence in Temanggung was in preparation for days, but the police did nothing to prevent public disorder.”
Another element to consider, notes Fr Ismartono, is “that the blasphemy law is subject to restrictive interpretations and abuses. A committee headed by former Indonesian President Abdhrrahman Wahid, noted Muslim leader, and composed of many NGOs, had called for the law's abolition and revision, but last year the Constitutional Court confirmed the legitimacy of the blasphemy law. The risk is that it becomes a weapon to attack the minorities such as Ahmadis and Christians” (see Fides 21/4/2010).
According to a recent report by known independent research institute “Setara Institute for Peace and Democracy”, in 2010 there were over 216 cases of flagrant violations of religious freedom in Indonesia. 43 Christian places of worship, the report said, were attacked. (PA) (Agenzia Fides 8/2/2011)

VATICAN - At the Angelus the Pope hopes that Egypt “may rediscover tranquillity and peaceful coexistence, in a shared commitment for the common good”

Vatican City (Agenzia Fides) – In his Address prior to reciting the Angelus on Sunday, 6 February, taking his cue from Sunday's Gospel passage, the Holy Father Benedict XVI emphasised how Jesus, through these words directed at his disciples: “You are the salt of the earth.... You are the light of the world,” he intends to give them “the meaning of their mission and of their witness”. From the letter of the prophet Isaiah, also from Sunday's Liturgy, one sees that, “wisdom embodies the beneficial effects of salt and light: in fact, the Lord's disciples are called to bring new 'flavour' to the world, to preserve it from corruption with the wisdom of God, which shines fully in the face of the Son.... United to Him Christians can - amidst the shadows of indifference and selfishness - diffuse the light of God's love, true wisdom which gives meaning to the life and activities of mankind.” Then the Pope spoke about World Day of the Sick, which will be celebrated on 11 February, as “a good opportunity to reflect, to pray and to raise the awareness of the ecclesial community and of civil society towards their sick brothers and sisters”. After the Angelus he made an appeal for Egypt: “Currently I am following the delicate situation in the dear nation of Egypt,” said the Pope. “I ask God that that land, blessed by the presence of the Holy Family, may rediscover tranquillity and peaceful coexistence, in a shared commitment for the common good”. (SL) (Agenzia Fides 7/02/2011)

Links: 
The complete text of the Pope's Address at the Angelus in Italian
http://www.fides.org/ita/documents/Angelus_06022011.doc

VATICAN - Episcopal Ordination: “It is time for mission: the Lord sends you, dear friends, into his harvest”

Vatican City (Agenzia Fides) – Saturday, 5 February, in St Peter's Basilica, the Holy Father Benedict XVI conferred Episcopal Ordination upon the following five priests: Msgr. Savio Hon Tai-Fai, of the Salesian Society of St John Bosco, appointed Secretary of the Congregation for the Evangelisation of Peoples; Msgr. Marcello Bartolucci, appointed Secretary of the Congregation for the Causes of Saints; Msgr. Celso Morga Iruzubieta, appointed Secretary of the Congregation for the Clergy; Msgr. Antonio Guido Filipazzi, appointed Apostolic Nuncio, and Msgr. Edgar Pena Parra, appointed Apostolic Nuncio to Pakistan. Assisting the Holy Father were, Card. Angelo Sodano, Dean of the College of Cardinals and Card. Tarcisio Bertone, Secretary of State.
“It is time for mission: the Lord sends you, dear friends, into his harvest” said the Pope in his Homily, explaining that “the work of the harvest in the field of the Lord, in the field of human history” is that which “brings the light of truth to humankind.... It brings them the good news that it is not only words, but an event: God, Himself, has come among us.” Even today “the work in God's field is particularly urgent,” said Benedict XVI and “the labourers are few”, that God can only come through “the door of our prayer.” “So this time of thanksgiving for the realisation of being sent on mission is, in particular, also the hour of prayer: Lord, send workers into your harvest!” The Pope then recalled the two definitions of the mission of Bishops from the Liturgy: “that of being labourers in the harvest of world history with the task of healing, of opening the doors of the world to the Lordship of God that His will of may be done on earth as in heaven; ... and that of co-operating in the mission of Jesus Christ”. 
Recalling the theme chosen by the Christian Communities of Jerusalem for the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity this year - “They devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and in fellowship, in the breaking of bread and in prayers.” (Acts 2:42) - the Pope then stressed that, “in these four basic elements of the Church's being, the essential task of its Pastors is also being described.” (SL) (Agenzia Fides 7/02/2011)

Links: 
The full text of the Holy Father's Homily, in Italian
http://www.fides.org/ita/documents/Ord_Ep_05022011.doc

EUROPE/SPAIN - 1,000 babies under 5 years die in the world every hour due to easily preventable causes

Madrid (Agenzia Fides) – With a new initiative, the Catholic volunteer NGO “Manos Unidas”, which works against hunger, poverty, malnutrition, sickness, lack of education and underdevelopment, presented the campaign “Su mañana es hoy”, in reference to the attainment of the fourth Millennium Development Goal, the reduction of infant mortality. The goal is not merely a reflection on the problem but, given the seriousness, a desire to find solutions and immediate actions to intervene. According to statistics, every hour in the world a thousand children under 5 years of age given the seriousness due to easily preventable causes. The early deaths are consequences of unjust policies and an irregular distribution of wealth throughout the world. (AP) (7/2/2011 Agenzia Fides)

AFRICA/EGYPT - “We are returning to normality even if protests are continuing,” missionary states

Cairo (Agenzia Fides) - “The situation seems to be returning to normal, even if protests are continuing in Tahrir Square,” Father Luciano Verdoscia told Fides, the Comboni missionary who has worked for years in Cairo. Fr Luciano states that “these days of protests have deeply affected Egypt, also on an economic level, because all commercial avenues have been blocked, while business people, especially those in tourism, are working hard to recover.”
The meeting yesterday between Vice-President of Egypt, Omar Suleiman, and representatives of the opposition, among which there were two leaders of the Muslim Brotherhood, has not led to an agreement, because the Muslim Brotherhood would continue to demand the resignation of President Mubarak. “At the start the Muslim Brotherhood had refused to deal with the Government because they made the resignation of President Mubarak a precondition. So it was an unexpected meeting,” says the missionary. Fr Luciano takes a cautious stance on the dialogue: “we need to see how talks develop between the Government and the Islamic Brotherhood. We need to keep in mind that different forces will enter the dialogue, so there are not only the Muslim Brotherhood that represent the opposition.
“It seems to me,” continues the missionary, “that in Egyptian society opinion prevails that no group has priority over the others. There are different social groups that do not want an Islamic government. Firstly, persons associated with Mubarak: the members of his party, the members of the security forces and contractors who have had huge advantages in recent years. Furthermore, young people demonstrating in the streets want democracy. The same Muslim Brotherhood say they want democracy and look to the Turkish model (where the party in power is inspired by Islam and democracy). There are also various tendencies within the Muslim Brotherhood, ranging from the most radical to a moderate wing, who says they want to come to power via a democratic process. If then we come to power by a democratic path, primacy will be given to Islamic principles, and this would create a problem for the other elements of Egyptian society.
“In Tahrir Square, Christians have prayed, and some newspapers have published images where you see Christians raise the Bible and Muslims, the Koran, saying: 'we are one people'. It is a good sign. We all hope that the path takes this direction. We hope that this transition takes place in the most painless way possible. The Egyptian people have a tradition, a history and culture not indifferent. What has happened is a sign of maturity of this population,” concludes Father Luciano. (LM) (Agenzia Fides 7/2/2011)

ASIA/INDIA - Strong fears for violence against Christians during days of Hindu festival

Bhopal (Agenzia Fides) – Strong fears for anti-Christian violence in Madhya Pradesh, the central Indian state, with the upcoming Hindu festival, “Narmada Samajik Kumbh” to be held from 10 to 12 February and which will see thousand of Hindu activists united from fundamentalist groups such as RSS and VHP. 
As reported to Fides, on the eve of the festival, representatives of Christian communities, including the Catholic Church in Madhya Pradesh, have signed a joint Memorandum submitted to the State Governor. The Memorandum points to the campaign of hatred against minorities, already going on for days, and calls to adopt “urgent preventive measures to protect Christian minorities.”
As reported to Fides by the All India Christian Council (AICC), which made a visit to the State: during the Festival “conversion rites for local Christians to Hinduism are scheduled,” and there are serious dangers of aggression and violence towards Christians. The State is already littered with posters that contain anti-Christian slogans while Hindu activists travel around with megaphones spreading hatred toward Christians. 
“We support the freedom of the majority community to hold a mass religious event. But we fear that - even if there is no violence and no forced conversions of Christians to Hinduism - the Hindutva campaign (the ideology that promotes only a fundamentalist Hindu India, ed) will poison the atmosphere in Madhya Pradesh and have a negative impact on relations between Christians and tribes in villages and cities,” says John Dayal, AICC Secretary General. The AICC notes that the penetration of Hindu extremist groups in the State is already creating problems for social services guaranteed by the Christians, especially in less developed districts. (PA) (Agenzia Fides 7/2/2011)

  

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