From Jerusalem On Palm Sunday

By Deal W. Hudson
Inside Catholic.com
Posted on April 05, 2009, 1:38 AM


From my window at the Notre Dame Center in Jerusalem I watched the sun come up over the old city. Pilgrims from everywhere have filled every room to celebrate Holy Week at "ground zero" of our faith. In a few hours, we will start the Palm Sunday procession from the Mt. of Olives down and up the hills west of the city until we reach St. Stephen's Gate where Jesus was welcomed so many centuries ago. It will be an occasion of joy which I hope everyone who reads this will, one day, experience for themselves. There will be groups of singing, chanting, even dancing Catholics from around the world -- and, having seen this three times before, I know it will be difficult for me not to join in.


The weather today is perfect, mid-sixties and sunny skies. Already the knights and ladies of the Equestrian Order of the Knights of the Holy Sepulchre are gathering in the lobby in their white robes. I will not be walking with them, but will be cheering from the sidelines.

The head of the center, Fr. Juan Solano, is already making his rounds, greeting pilgrims and making ready for Mass and the procession. Everyone is smiling, and not a grim church-going face in sight.

It is good to be here. Later I will report on the procession and the people I meet along the way.

The next time you are thinking about a trip to Rome, for the second, third, or fourth time, I hope you will consider coming here, and don't worry about the stories you hear about the "danger." There are times to stay away, but they are few and far between.

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The Prayer

This Irish prayer is attributed to Saint Patrick and often referred to as the "breastplate" of St. Patrick--words that shield.

I arise today
Through the strength of heaven;

Light of the sun,
Splendor of fire,
Swiftness of wind,

Depth of the sea,
Stability of earth,
Firmness of rock.

I arise today
Through God's strength to pilot me;
God's might to uphold me,
God's wisdom to guide me,
God's hand to guard me.

Afar and anear,
Alone or in a multitude.

Christ shield me today
Against wounding:

Christ with me,
Christ before me,
Christ behind me,

Christ on my right,
Christ on my left,

Christ beneath me,
Christ above me,
Christ in me.

I arise today
Through the mighty strength
Of the Lord of Creation.


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Vatican Takes Aim at Catholics in Politics

New document says church opposition to abortion, euthanasia, and same-sex marriage not up for negotiation.

BY The Associated Press

Vatican City, January 16, 2003--(AP) The Vatican took aim Thursday at Roman Catholic politicians, telling them church teaching demands they defend "the basic right to life from conception to natural death."

A new set of guidelines approved by Pope John Paul II for Catholic politicians said church opposition to abortion, euthanasia and same-sex marriage was not up for negotiation.

Their release comes a week before major demonstrations planned in the United States by abortion rights and anti-abortion groups and amid continuing efforts, mainly in Europe, to legalize euthanasia and gay marriages.

The Vatican said it was publishing the document now because of medical and scientific advances and because of the "emergence of ambiguities or questionable positions in recent times."

The guidelines, prepared by the Vatican's orthodoxy watchdog, the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, make no changes to the church's long-held positions. Rather, they serve as a reminder to Catholic politicians of church teachings, so that when they vote for legislation or otherwise influence public policy, they do so in line with the church's "nonnegotiable ethical principles."

In particular, the document said laws concerning abortion and euthanasia "must defend the basic right to life from conception to natural death. In the same way, it is necessary to recall the duty to respect and protect the rights of the human embryo."

It said laws safeguarding marriage between man and woman must be promoted and that "in no way can other forms of cohabitation be placed on the same level as marriage, nor can they receive legal recognition as such."

The document also referred vaguely to issues of peace, saying Catholics should not confuse the church's promotion of peace and rejection of violence with "secular" pacifist and ideological visions. The pope's opposition to war in Iraq is likely to make him a rallying point in the event hostilities erupt. "The church recognizes that while democracy is the best expression of the direct participation of citizens in political choices, it succeeds only to the extent that it is based on a correct understanding of the human person," the document said. "Catholic involvement in political life cannot compromise on this principle."

The guidelines don't mention punishment - such as excommunication - for Catholic politicians who fail to toe the line. Rather, they frame the issue as one of "conscience." "Scientific progress has resulted in advances that are unsettling for the consciences of men and women, and call for solutions that respect ethical principles in a coherent and fundamental way," the document said. "Catholics, in this difficult situation, have the right and the duty to recall society to a deeper understanding of human life and to the responsibility of everyone in this regard," it said.

The Vatican stressed it wasn't trying to dictate policy or interfere in matters of state, but to "instruct and illuminate" Catholic political leaders. And it challenged the idea that ethical pluralism "is the very condition for democracy."
The document was released a week before the 30th anniversary of the U.S. Supreme Court's Roe v. Wade decision legalizing abortion. Demonstrations by abortion rights and anti-abortion groups are planned for next Wednesday.

The Vatican never disguised its irritation with Geraldine Ferraro, a Catholic and the U.S. Democratic vice presidential candidate in 1984, for her position that she opposed abortion but also opposed outlawing it. Recently, former Italian Premier Giulio Andreotti, a practicing Catholic, said he deeply regretted having signed the law legalizing abortion in Italy when he was prime minister in 1978.

The Vatican has also been campaigning against efforts to legalize same-sex marriages and offer the unions the same benefits granted traditional heterosexual marriages.
Bishop Wilton Gregory, president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, welcomed the publication of the document, saying it "addresses some of the profound challenges faced by Catholic politicians and voters who are confronted with various moral and social issues in the context of a democratic society." He said he hoped the document would encourage U.S. Catholic politicians to continue to "respect the most essential moral values of our human nature." The Vatican released similar statements from German and Italian cardinals along with the document on Thursday.

While not offering concrete examples of legislation for Catholic politicians to promote, the document proposed a model for them to emulate: St. Thomas More, the 16th-century lawyer and diplomat who refused to renounce the pope and recognize the king as head of the English church. King Henry VIII had More beheaded for his positions. Two years ago, Pope John Paul II made More the patron saint for politicians. "He taught by his life and his death that 'man cannot be separated from God, nor politics from morality,"' the document said.

source: http://www.beliefnet.com

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In midst of conflict, church can bring peace, pope says at audience

By Carol Glatz
Catholic News Service

VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- Working in areas of conflict and misery, the church has an important duty to be an instrument of peace and reconciliation, Pope Benedict XVI said.

But countries also must recognize the right of their citizens to share in their nation's wealth if there is to be truly lasting peace, he added.

The pope used his April 1 general audience in St. Peter's Square to review his March 17-23 visit to Cameroon and Angola.

Even though his first papal trip to the African continent was limited to two nations, the pope said he "ideally wanted to embrace all of the people of Africa and bless them in the name of the Lord."

Today, the church is accompanying a new Africa, which is working "to strengthen its political independence and national identity in a globalized world," he said.

"Being in the midst of numerous and dramatic conflicts that unfortunately still torment different regions of the continent, the church knows that it must be a sign and instrument of unity and reconciliation by putting into practice the teachings of the Gospel so that all of Africa may together build a future of justice, solidarity and peace," he said.

Angola is one country that has just emerged from a long civil war and is in the process of rebuilding and healing divisions, said the pope.

"But how can this reconciliation and reconstruction be made authentic if they come at the expense of the poorest who have the same right all people do to share in the resources of their nation," he asked.

For this reason his apostolic voyage to Africa was also meant to be a sign of encouragement for those promoting the common good in society, he said.

"All is lost with war; everything can be revived with peace. But tremendous moral stamina is needed to rebuild a nation and here, once again, the role of the church ends up being important as it is called to educate by working thoroughly in renewing and forming consciences," he said.

Only Christ can truly transform people and society, Pope Benedict said; "therefore, returning to God, converting oneself to Christ means moving forward toward the fullness of life."

At the end of his general audience talk, the pope met with two Italian nuns who had been held captive for more than 100 days in Kenya.

Sister Caterina Giraudo, 67, and Sister Maria Teresa Oliviero, 61, were seized by armed men Nov. 10 in northeastern Kenya near the border with Somalia and were freed unharmed Feb. 18.

Pope Benedict had appealed twice for their release.

Cardinal Severino Poletto of Turin, who accompanied the sisters when they greeted the pope, thanked the pope for his appeals.

The nuns are from Cuneo, near Turin, and are members of the Contemplative Missionary Movement of Father Charles de Foucauld. They have both served in Kenya since the early 1970s.

POPE-AUDIENCE Apr-1-2009 (520 words)
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Hundreds of migrants drown trying to reach Europe

By Cindy Wooden
Catholic News Service

ROME (CNS) -- The drowning death of hundreds of people trying to immigrate to Europe through Libya in late March is a sign of the desperation of the poor and persecuted, and of the failure of government efforts to stop illegal immigration, several Catholic agencies said.

"These people have no alternative but to entrust themselves to human smugglers who often treat them as meat," said Berardino Guarino, project director for Fondazione Migrantes, an Italian Catholic organization that assists migrants.

At least 200, and perhaps as many as 300, immigrants were listed as missing and presumed dead after three boats sank off the coast of Libya in rough waters March 27-29. An Italian merchant ship rescued another 300 people and recovered 21 dead bodies from the water the night of March 28-29 after the fishing boat they were packed onto sent out a distress call.

Authorities said those trying to cross the Mediterranean to Italy from Libya included people from Bangladesh, Egypt and other parts of Africa. Refugees and the desperate poor from Asia and Africa cross the Libyan desert to the coast where they pay smugglers for a place on crowded, rickety fishing boats headed for Europe.

Guarino told Vatican Radio March 31 that poverty and oppression mean the influx of migrants to Europe "will not end easily, which means we must find ways to create humanitarian channels so that these people can arrive in Italy without these dangerous voyages."

"We must remember that on these boats there are refugees, people who have a right to asylum," he said. "The question will not be resolved simply by patrolling the coasts."

Oliviero Forti, director of the immigration office of Caritas Italy, told Vatican Radio, "Unfortunately this was a disaster waiting to happen. The fact that governments are enacting increasingly restrictive measures just means that the routes are changing."

Focusing only on blocking immigration has not worked and will not work, he said.

"We need a truly effective policy of international collaboration with the countries of origin and the countries of transit," he said.

"Evidently the conditions causing people to leave are so serious that even this risk (of drowning) is recognized and put into the calculation," Forti said. "Thousands of people cross the sea each year and several hundred -- maybe as many as 1,000 -- meet their deaths."

The Rome-based Community of Sant'Egidio, expressing its condolences to those who lost loved ones at sea, asked the Italian government and the international community for "policies of solidarity, acceptance and respect for asylum-seekers and migrants."

"People call them 'illegals' in a simplistic way and usually do not know the pain and suffering they have experienced, and they deny them their dignity, respect and a welcome," said a March 31 statement from the community.

"Many enter irregularly because they are fleeing war, persecution, corruption, hunger, thirst or catastrophes and it is impossible for them to get a regular entrance visa," the statement said.

The Sant'Egidio members called for "a farsighted policy of development cooperation, particularly for Africa, to concretely help young people remain in their countries in order to contribute to their development."

END

LIBYA-DROWNED Apr-1-2009 (520 words)

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Vatican says arrest of Chinese bishop is obstacle to dialogue

By Carol Glatz
Catholic News Service

VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- The recent arrest of a Chinese bishop and other instances of religious persecution in China are obstacles to dialogue, said the Vatican.

The arrest of 74-year-old Bishop Julius Jia Zhiguo of Zhengding was "unfortunately not an isolated case: Other clergy are also deprived of their freedom or are subjected to undue pressure and restrictions in their pastoral activity," said the Vatican in a statement released April 2.

In the statement released after a meeting in Rome of the Vatican's Commission for the Catholic Church in China, the Vatican expressed its "deep sorrow upon hearing the news of the recent arrest" of Bishop Jia.

"Situations of this type create obstacles to an atmosphere of dialogue with the competent authorities," it said, noting Pope Benedict XVI's desire for dialogue which he expressed in his June 2007 letter to Chinese Catholics.

Bishop Jia, who has not registered with the government, was taken by five police officers from his residence in Hebei province March 30, the same day the Vatican commission on China began its meeting. Pope Benedict established the commission in 2007 to study issues related to the Catholic Church in China.

Several sources told the Asian church news agency UCA News they believe the action is related to a recent move toward reconciliation between the diocese's two Catholic communities: those registered with the government and those not registered.

During the Rome meeting, the commission's members talked about many of the complex problems the church in China faces -- problems "that stem not just from difficulties inside the church, but also from the uneasy relations with civil authorities," said the Vatican statement.

A major topic of discussion during the meeting was the formation of seminarians, consecrated persons and the permanent formation of priests, it said.

In association with bishops of the church in China, the commission "will try to promote an adequate human, intellectual, spiritual and pastoral formation of clergy and consecrated people," it said.

It said religious men and women "have the important task of living as faithful disciples of Christ and as members of the church, and to contribute to the good of their country as exemplary citizens."

The Vatican statement said the pope told commission members April 1 that it was important to help Catholics in China "let others know the beauty and reasonableness of the Christian faith and to present it as the proposal offering the best answers from an intellectual and existential point of view."

The commission is made up of Vatican and Chinese church officials.

Coadjutor Bishop John Tong Hon of Hong Kong, one of the commission's members, told Catholic News Service April 2 that the pope spent about 30 minutes listening to commission's last day of deliberations.

The pope then made brief comments telling the commission he knew that "we're all trying our best" to address the problems Catholics in China are facing and that they were "working for the good of the church in China," said Bishop Tong.

He said that in light of the church's designated year of the priest, which will run from June 19 to June 19, 2010, the Vatican might issue a special letter addressed to priests in mainland China.

The bishop said commission members also discussed worries that Chinese bishops approved by the Vatican may be forced to attend the government's upcoming National Congress of Catholic Representatives.

According to UCA News, Vatican-approved bishops might be forced to take part in the elections for chairpersons of the Chinese Catholic Patriotic Association and the government-sanctioned Bishops' Conference of the Catholic Church in China, which are expected to take place during the national assembly. The patriotic association was set up to uphold the principle of an "independent, autonomous and self-managed" church in China.

The Rome-based agency AsiaNews said March 30 that Chinese government authorities are reportedly not pleased with the prospect of the two church communities working together as they see the unregistered church being run by a "foreign power," the pope.

The Vatican has said the church is not involved with meddling in the country's internal affairs and it has expressed a willingness to move its nunciature from Taiwan to Beijing, as soon as diplomatic relations are established with China.

END
VATICAN-CHINA Apr-2-2009 (710 words)
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Jalan Terjal Kehidupan

Oleh Reginald Piperno Pr


TIDAK dapat kita dimungkiri bahwa banyak orang saat ini mulai dilanda mental instan atau mental cari gampang. Orang tidak lagi mementingkan soal proses tetapi yang dikejar adalah hasil yang ingin diraih. Entah dengan menggunakan cara yang halal atau pun tidak, itu bukan yang terpenting, asalkan apa yang dinginkan, atau apa yang dicita-citakan dapat terwujud. Ingin cepat kaya, atau banyak uang, orang tidak perlu berusaha atau bekerja keras, cukup dengan pandai memanfaatkan kesempatan, pintar membaca peluang, jeli melihat situasi, dan ahli dalam berretorika maka uang sendirinya mengalir ke rekening pribadi.

Ingin mendapat jabatan atau kedudukan, orang tidak perlu bekerja professional atau tidak butuh keahlian, cukup dengan rajin mencari muka, pandai menebar pesona, dekat dengan yang berkuasa maka kedudukan dan jabatan dengan sendirinya akan diperoleh. Atau untuk menjadi seorang penguasa, orang tidak butuh kepandaian atau keahlian, tidak butuh kerja keras, cukup punya banyak uang, ditambah sedikit relasi dengan yang berkuasa, lalu sedikit dukungan masyarakat maka otomatis kekuasaan akan dicapai.

Inilah gambaran mental instan yang tengah melanda manusia-manusia jaman kini. Tujuan atau hasil yang ingin dicapai menghalalkan segala cara. Sampai pada simpul ini, manusia sebenarnya telah melenyapkan atau melunturkan nilai-nilai luhur kehidupannya. Harga diri dan nilai kemanusiawiannya mengalami degradasi yang memprihatinkan.

Tragis memang! Tapi itulah gambaran paling tranparan tentang situasi kehidupan kita. Ingin menggapai sesuatu dengan cara gampang, tanpa perlu berusaha dan bekerja keras. Jalan-jalan terjal kehidupan sering kita hindari untuk meraih sukses. Proses perjuangan dan kerja keras tidak lagi menjadi hal yang sangat penting untuk menggapai sesuatu tetapi hasil itulah yang menjadi tujuan utama.

Bacaan Injil minggu ini mengetengahkan kepada kita tentang jalan-jalan terjal yang mesti dilalui Yesus untuk mencapai kemuliaan. Kepada orang-orang Yunani yang ingin bertemu denganNya Yesus berkata,”Sesungguhnya jika biji gandum tidak jatuh ke dalam tanah dan mati, ia akan tetap satu biji saja; tetapi jika ia mati ia akan menghasilkan banyak buah. Barangsiapa mencintai nyawanya akan kehilangan nyawanya dan barangsiapa kehilangan nyawa karena Aku, ia akan memeliharanya untuk hidup yang kekal”.

Pernyataan Yesus ini mau menunjukkan kepada kita tentang sikap iman yang mesti kita hayati sebagai pengikut-pengikut Kristus. Iman kita telah lahir dan tumbuh setelah melalui proses panjang, melewati jalan-jalan terjal dan padang gurun kehidupan. Jatuh dan bangun dalam menumbuhkan dan mempertahankan iman kita akan Kristus, telah menjadi sejarah panjang yang senantiasa menggema dalam diri setiap orang yang mengaku diri sebagai pengikuti-pengikut Kristus. Iman kita justru lahir dan tumbuh ditengah badai tantangan dan gelora gelombang penganiayaan.

Oleh karena itu, bagi setiap kita yang mengaku diri beriman kepada Kristus, kita diajak untuk berani menghadapi tantangan, berani menolak tawaran-tawaran yang melumpuhkan daya juang kita untuk bisa meraih sukses atau untuk dapat memperoleh sesuatu. Menghindari dari tantangan dan menggunakan “jalan pintas” atau “mental instan” untuk memperoleh sesuatu adalah bentuk nyata dari sikap pengingkaran terhadap iman kita sendiri. Sebagai orang Katholik (Kristen), kita diajak untuk selalu menghargai setiap proses, menghargai setiap perjuangan untuk menggapai apa yang kita inginkan.

Yesus telah menunjukkan kepada kita tentang sebuah kebenaran hakiki, bahwa benih harus mati untuk bisa menghasilkan buah. Tanpa mati dan ditanam dalam tanah, maka benih tidak akan menghasilkan apa-apa kecuali mengalami kerusakan dan kehancuran. Dan untuk dapat menghasilkan buah dibutuhkan proses yang panjang. Sampai disini, kesabaran, keuletan, ketekunan dan perjuangan kita diuji. Benih tidak mungkin menghasilkan buah melalui jalan pintas atau sistem instan. Tahap demi tahap mesti ia lewati.

Melalui perumpamaan tentang biji sesawi Yesus telah mengedor kesadaran kita sekalian bahwa hanya orang-orang yang menghargai proses, berani menghadapi tantangan dan berani melewati jalan-jalan terjal kehidupanlah yang akan menuai kebahagiaan. Tanpa usaha dan perjuangan, tanpa kerja keras dan pengorbanan, kita hanya akan mengalami kebahagian semu dalam kehidupan ini.

Yesus sendiri telah membuktikan hal ini. Seluruh perjalanan hidupNya adalah sebuah perjalanan Salib. Ia ditolak, dicercah, dianiaya bahkan harus menerima kematian secara tragis di kayu Salib.

Ia sendiri telah menjadi biji sesawi kerajaan surga yang harus mati, dikuburkan dan bangkit untuk menghasilkan buah yakni kegembiraan dan kemuliaan. Proses menuju kebahagiaan dan kemuliaan yang dialami Yesus mesti melewati jalan panjang. Ia rela menanggalkan ke-AllahanNya dan menggambil rupa sama seperti kita manusia. Ia mengalami situasi manusia yang syarat dengan aneka kesulitan dan tantangan. Ia pun menerima penderitaan sebagai jalan menuju keselamatan.

Beriman dan percaya kepada Kristus berarti kita juga harus mengikuti jalan yang telah dilalui oleh Yesus sendiri. Adalah sebuah pengingkaran diri dan pengingkaran iman kita sendiri kalau kita menggunakan jalan pintas dan mental instan untuk mencapai sesuatu.

Iman Katolik (Kristen) adalah iman yang bertumbuh di tengah tantangan, iman yang lahir dari penganiayaan demi penganiayaan, karena itu pengorbanan dan perjuangan kita dituntut. Yesus telah menawarkan kepada kita para pengikutNya suatu jalan yang amat lain yakni jalan pengorbanan.

Kesuksesan atau keberhasilan hanya akan terasa indah kalau ia lahir dari sebuah usaha, pengorbanan dan kerja keras. Tanpa tetesan keringat, darah dan air mata, kesuksesan atau keberhasilan akan terasa hambar. Harga diri kita sebagai orang Katholik atau pengikut Kristus hanya bisa kita tunjukkan lewat sikap kita yang menghargai proses kehidupan termasuk keberanian untuk melewati jalan-jalan terjal, kerikil-kerikil tajam dan padang gurun kehidupan ini.

Pertanyaan untuk kita renungkan. Apakah sebagai orang Katholik kita telah sungguh menghargai proses atau perjuangan untuk meraih sukses ? Ataukah kita lebih sering memakai jalan pintas atau system instan untuk menggapai sesuatu yang kita inginkan ? Jawabannya ada dalam hati kita masing-masing. Hanya diri kita dan Tuhan sajalah yang tahu.

Namun sebagai pengikut-pengikut Kristus, kita diajak untuk tidak gampang menggadaikan harga diri kita, menggadaikan iman kita dengan bermental instan dan cari jalan pintas untuk meraih sesuatu. Menghargai proses, berani melewati jalan-jalan terjal kehidupan, setia meniti lika-liku kehidupan kita adalah perwujudan dari sikap iman kita akan Kristus yang telah rela menderita, wafat hingga bangkit dari antar orang-orang mati. Ibarat emas yang hanya bisa diuji kemurniaannya dalam tanur api, begitupun sebagai orang-orang Katholik (Kristen), kedewasaan iman kita hanya akan diuji dalam keberanian kita untuk meniti jalan-jalan terjal kehidupan ini.
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