Broome, Australia, Mar 11, 2020 / 10:00 am (CNA).- Australian Bishop Christopher Saunders of Broome has temporarily stepped back from his duties following allegations of historical sexual abuse. The Vatican has begun an investigation into claims t… […]
Tokyo, Japan, Mar 11, 2020 / 04:00 am (CNA).- More dioceses in Japan have shut down Mass for the coming weeks in response to the ongoing outbreak of the coronavirus nationwide.
The majority of Japanese dioceses have now suspended all public worship.
10 dioceses of 16 have now suspended public Masses, according to Satoh Takaharu, a spokesman for the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Japan
This comes after reports and pronouncements from various individual bishops across the nation regarding temporary church closures.
The Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Japan says that the bishops have not made any sweeping or mandatory prescriptions on the virus outbreak, and the matter is left to the discretion of individual diocesan bishops.
“The CBCJ is not in a position to issue such directives as the situations vary in dioceses and the dioceses are taking necessary measures accordingly,” said Satoh.
Additionally, the CBCJ went on to say that decisions on the matter are not in any way influenced by the Japanese authorities. Churches are making precautionary choices by their own judgement.
“The CBCJ is not in contact with the Japanese government to decide what to do on Masses,” said Satoh.
As of March 10, 587 people in Japan have contracted coronavirus, and 10 have died.
Other religions’ places of worship in Japan have also closed temporarily, including mosques. Native Japanese religions — Shinto and Buddhism — do not have weekly obligations of attendance and have been less impacted by the outbreak.
The Archdiocese of Osaka, led by Cardinal Thomas Aquino Manyo Maeda suspended March 13th public Masses yesterday, and is expected to introduce additional measures this week.
Dioceses that had previously implemented Mass cancellations are now extending them.
The Archdiocese of Tokyo has now cancelled public Masses through March 29th, as well as all public church gatherings besides weddings and funerals.
“The other day, it was announced that Masses all throughout Italy, including the Diocese of Rome, had been suspended. In Japan, it is not yet clear when the infections will peak,” said an official update on the Archdiocese of Tokyo website posted today.
The update continues, “For events other than Masses, as much as possible kindly consider postponing or canceling them, except only for small gatherings. In case of holding such events, in addition to hand disinfection, kindly provide sufficient ventilation, keep a distance between each other, and try to finish as quickly as possible.”
The announcement from the Archdiocese of Tokyo also stressed that the dispensation from Mass is not a dispensation from religious observance, and urged Catholics throughout the community to worship in private for the time being.
“Since we are not relieved from our duty to pray on Sundays, let us find time to offer our Sunday prayers, in spiritual communion with the whole Church community.”
The news comes on the heels of worldwide church closures in countries affected by the coronavirus outbreak, including Pope Francis’ own Diocese of Rome.
Sydney, Australia, Mar 10, 2020 / 04:05 pm (CNA).- Australia’s High Court will hear on Wednesday arguments in the final appeal of Cardinal George Pell, who was convicted in 2018 on five charges of child sexual abuse.
The cardinal’s final a… […]
Colombo, Sri Lanka, Mar 10, 2020 / 11:10 am (CNA).- Cardinal Malcom Ranjith of Colombo has said he will lead public protests if the Sri Lankan government fails to produce a credible report on the 2019 Easter Sunday bombings. The cardinal said Saturday that questions about government inaction ahead of the attacks remain unanswered.
“I will not hesitate to hit the streets to safeguard the rights of our people,” Ranjith said March 7, according to the news site Outlook India. The cardinal had previously expressed support for an ongoing presidential enquiry into the attacks, which killed 259 people and injured more than 500.
Two Catholic churches, one evangelical Christian church, four hotels, and a housing complex were hit by a total of nine suicide bombers on Easter Sunday, 2019. The suicide bombers, who were all Sri Lankan citizens, belonged to an Islamist group known as the National Thowheeth Jama’ath.
In the aftermath of the attacks, Sri Lankan authorities were heavily criticized for failing to prevent the attacks. It has been reported that Indian intelligence services repeatedly warned Sri Lanka about the possibility of an attack occurring on Easter Sunday, including on the morning of the attacks.
“Nobody took serious note,” said Ranjith in June. “This disaster could have been prevented because if I knew that there was an attack planned I would have closed the churches and told the people to go home.”
Last month, the cardinal issued a call for full public disclosure of what was known in advance of the attacks, and what action was taken.
“The people of this country have a right to know the truth about the Easter bomb attacks,” said Ranjith on Feb. 18. “We hope that our political leaders will work to fulfill that obligation.”
Speaking to reporters on Saturday, the cardinal repeated his concerns and his impatience with the lack of progress with ongoing government investigations.
“I can sense that some of the things which need to come out are being hidden – who was responsible? Who aided them and kept contact with them?”
“There must be questioning from the highest to the very lowest level,” the cardinal said.
Speaking at a separate event on Sunday, Ranjith said that “investigations into the Easter Sunday attacks have revealed that current government-related ‘big people’ have also been involved, and no action has been taken against them.”
Sri Lankan President Gotabaya Rajapaksa, who assumed office in November 2019, has worked with Ranjith on the investigation into the attacks, and asked him to appoint a representative to a special presidential commission examining the bombings.
Ranjith did not nominate a representative, and instead appeared before the commission himself on December 6 and 7 last year.
Ranjith said at the time that he wished to represent the concerns of both the victims and the country’s Catholic community.
Referencing the forthcoming parliamentary elections in Sri Lanka, scheduled for April 25, Ranjith said on Sunday that he was not seeking a change of government, but justice for the victims of the attacks. “We will take to the streets with our people whether we have this election or not,” he said.
In addition to his calls for more transparency from government authorities, Ranjith has also announced services to mark the anniversary of the attack, with prayer services and holy hours at all churches in the archdiocese from April 17-21 to pray for the bombing victims and their families.
“It is the responsibility of the Archdiocese of Colombo to never forget all those who lost their lives in this tragic attack on that day,” the cardinal said last month.
Two of the prayer services will be held at St. Anthony’s Shrine in Kotahena and St. Sebastian’s Church in Negombo, the locations of the attacks. Those services will be held on April 20.
Borongan, Philippines, Mar 9, 2020 / 03:36 pm (CNA).- The Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines has highlighted the value of women, noting that abuse of women is “an affront to God.”
“God made man and woman according to his own image and likeness. Every offense against the dignity of women is a direct offense against God himself,” said Bishop Crispin Varquez of Borongan, chairman of the CBCP’s Commission on Women.
“Every woman is entitled to the respect of every man and other women; no woman should ever be treated as a mere object for another person’s satisfaction.”
The prelate issued a statement following International Women’s Day on Sunday. He decried the terrible actions women often face, such as prostitution, sexual abuse, violence, and discrimination.
In recent years, Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte has been accused of making light of comments about rape. During a 2018 speech, the president said: “As long as there are many beautiful women, there will be more rape cases,” UCA News reported.
Joms Salvador, secretary-general of women’s group Gabriela, said abuses against women have only worsened under the current presidential office. Protesters at a Sunday rally set fire to an image of Duterte, whom they have accused of being a misogynist, according to UCA News.
Varquez highlighted the unique value of each gender. He said, while each sex is different, they provide a complementary good and deserve the same amount of respect.
“There are specific tasks in life that only a woman can do just as there are specific tasks that are meant only for a man. But man and woman are equal in dignity. Their true relationship is to complement and complete each other,” he said.
He drew attention to the Blessed Virgin Mary, emphasizing her role in salvation history. He said, through her “fiat,” she became the mother of God and the mother of the Church.
In a woman’s womb “life comes as a gift from God. Through her, God forms and nurtures a new human person. Indispensable and unique is her service and contribution to the family, the Church, and the social order,” he said.
“To them I say then, nurture what is good in your families. Raise God-loving, responsible and happy children, remembering that it is in your homes, no matter how humble, that we begin to form citizens of the world.”
Tokyo, Japan, Mar 4, 2020 / 07:00 pm (CNA).- Some Japanese dioceses have suspended Masses for several weeks due to the ongoing coronavirus epidemic across the country.
Last week, the Archdiocese of Tokyo cancelled all public Masses for more than two w… […]
Manila, Philippines, Mar 4, 2020 / 06:18 pm (CNA).- After a recent military attack in the southern Philippines, a bishop has called on the government and rebel forces to withdraw soldiers from tribal communities.
Bishop Valentin Dimoc, Vicar Apostolic of Bontoc-Lagawe and the Filipino bishops’ chair for indigenous peoples, has asked both state and non-state military to leave tribal lands alone following reports on displaced communities and civilian violence.
Nearly 100 families were reportedly forced to flee from Diatagon, a village in the Surigao del Sur province, Feb. 29. Government troops had swept through the area looking for communist rebels, the human rights group Karapatan said, according to UCA News.
Three people were injured during a shootout among the houses of the village. The attack also injured a five-year-old child.
Army spokesman Ezra Balagtey blamed the rebels for the violence in the village. He said they were trying to prevent “the establishment of a government school for tribal children,” UCA News reported.
Bishop Dimoc issued an appeal to the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples and Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process. He encouraged the establishment of “peace zones” which would prohibit any arm groups from entering the tribal areas.
“The military and the communist (rebels) must honor such policy,” said the bishop, noting that it will help diminish displacement, violence, and bloodshed, LICAS News reported.
On Feb. 29, communist leader Jose Maria Sison said the group was still open for peace talks but not with government officials. He said he would rather negotiate with clergymen than politicians.
Three Filipino bishops accepted roles as negotiators at the 43rd Samar Island Partnership for Peace and Development.
Bishop Crispin Varquez of Borongan expressed hope that these peace talks would lead to an end to the insurgency, which has affected Samar’s economy and development.
“We are more than willing to cooperate and do the work for peace and progress of the island,” Bishop Varquez said, according to Philippine News Agency.
Paris, France, Mar 3, 2020 / 07:00 pm (CNA).- Asia Bibi is a Pakistani Catholic woman who was sentenced to death in 2010 for blasphemy against Islam. After more than eight years in prison, she was acquitted by the Supreme Court of Pakistan in 2018.
“I was accused because of the name of Jesus and I knew I would be freed because of Jesus,” Bibi said at a Paris press conference last week.
Bibi said that during her time on death row, her faith “was always strong because I knew that God was with me, God never leaves you alone, he always accompanies you.”
Together with French journalist Anne-Isabelle Tollet, Bibi has written her autobiography,“Enfin Libre” (Free at Last). The English edition is due out in September.
According to UCA News, Tollet campaigned for Bibi’s release and is the only journalist to interview her in Canada, where Bibi was granted refugee status last year.
Bibi has been living with her husband and two daughters in Canada since last May. Her refugee status is due to expire at the end of this year, and she is seeking political asylum in France, where she met with French president Emmanuel Macron Feb. 28.
Accompanied by her daughter at the press conference, Bibi recounted how the priest who baptized her told her parents that “this little girl will be tested by God.”
“My parents told me that and I knew that something would happen one day,” she said.
During her incarceration, even when she was sentenced to death by hanging, Bibi said she prayed to God for his help to overcome her ordeal.
“If you trust in God, your faith becomes stronger,” she said.
“I knew I was going to be released because I was accused because of the name of Jesus and I would be freed because of Jesus,” Bibi said.
A mother of five, Bibi especially thanked all the people who prayed for her during her years in prison, especially pope emeritus Benedict XVI.
“When my husband came to tell me that His Holiness the Pope prayed for me, I felt really blessed from the bottom of my heart because I knew that was a blessing from God. I was very happy, I don’t have the words to thank him,” she added.
Bibi said one of her greatest desires is to meet Pope Francis.
Asked how her children handled her years in prison, Bibi’s daughter broke into tears.
“Don’t worry, your mom is here,” Bibi consoled her daughter.
“All these people have come to see you, to meet you, to give you their love…smile,” Bibi added.
Bibi also honored the memory of the Minister for Minorities, Shabbaz Batthi, who was assassinated for defending her innocence and opposing the law on blasphemy.
She said she mourned his death very much and that “whoever dies for the truth and for his faith, is always alive, he never dies.”
Anne Hidalgo, the mayor of Paris, named Bibi an honorary citizen of the city Feb. 24, RTL news reported.
A version of this story was first published by ACI Prensa, CNA’s Spanish-language news partner. It has been translated and adapted by CNA.
Beijing, China, Mar 2, 2020 / 03:00 pm (CNA).- New pictures and video appear to show Catholics praying outside of churches closed by the government in the Diocese of Mindong, China.
Pictures and video provided to the magazine Bitter Winter, published … […]
Hong Kong, China, Feb 26, 2020 / 12:30 pm (CNA).- The Diocese of Hong Kong has told Catholics to make use of online resources following the cancellation of Masses in response to the coronavirus. Catholics in mainland China, where all pla… […]
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