Catholic News Service published briefs on the following topics: Philippine’s martial law; Failure to protect child migrants; Talks between Pope and Italian President; Charges of corruption against South African parliament; Media reporting on refugees, and Zbigniew Brzezinski remembered.
Philippine bishop: Martial law makes farce of Independence Day
MANILA, Philippines (CNS) — Martial law in the southern Philippines and security forces’ clashes with a local terrorist group in Mindanao made a mockery of Independence Day celebrations June 12, said a Philippine bishop. “As long as there is martial law and unrest in Marawi City, the ‘independence’ of our nation is a farce,” said Bishop Arturo Bastes of Sorsogon. His remarks were reported by ucanews.com. The celebration was marred by protest rallies and demonstrations condemning ongoing clashes in Mindanao and martial law. Bishop Bastes said by declaring martial law, the government “trample(s) on the freedom of citizens.” Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte declared martial law across the southern region of Mindanao May 23 after a local terrorist organization claiming to have ties with the Islamic State group attempted to occupy Marawi. “People are not in the mood for celebrating,” said the bishop, adding that he supported the demonstrations against the declaration of martial law “in my own little way.”
Vatican: Failure to protect child migrants an insult to human dignity
VATICAN CITY (CNS) — Too often, national and international policies leave migrant children at the mercy of traffickers and sexual predators and are signs of a widespread failure to protect the innocent, a Vatican official said. In addition, policies that involve criminalizing and detaining child migrants “are an insult to human dignity” and are “the dramatic evidence of existing inequalities and failing systems,” said Archbishop Ivan Jurkovic, Vatican observer to U.N. agencies in Geneva. “The grave error of the detention model is that it considers the children as sole, isolated subjects responsible for the situations in which they find themselves and over which they have little, if any, control,” the archbishop said. “This model wrongly absolves the international community at large from responsibilities that it regularly fails to fulfill.” Archbishop Jurkovic spoke about the plight of child migrants during a U.N. Human Rights Council panel discussion June 9 on “Unaccompanied migrant children and adolescents and human rights.”
Pope, Italian president talk migrants, environment, jobs
VATICAN CITY (CNS) — Generosity, hard work, solidarity and a recognition of the dignity of the human person are essential for facing the major challenges posed by natural disasters, a large influx of migrants and a crisis in creating jobs, especially for young people, Pope Francis told Italian President Sergio Mattarella. Making a formal visit June 10 to the Quirinal Palace, Italy’s presidential residence, Pope Francis said he looks at Italy with hope because “the dignity of the person, family and work” are values that inspired generations of Italians — including his forebears — and continue to inspire people today. Using those values to “transform challenges into occasions for growth,” he said, is seen particularly in “the welcoming of the numerous refugees who have landed on your shores,” the rescue work in the Mediterranean carried out by Italian ships and the vast network of volunteers who assist the newly arrived migrants. Still, Pope Francis said, it is not right that Italy and a handful of other countries have been left taking care of so many migrants and refugees. “It is indispensable and urgent to develop broad and incisive international cooperation” to assist, resettle and help integrate the new arrivals.
South African Council of Churches calls for dissolution of parliament
CAPE TOWN, South Africa (CNS) — Following its own findings of severe corruption in government, the South African Council of Churches called for the dissolving of parliament and new general elections. The government “has lost its moral legitimacy” and new polls are needed, the South African Council of Churches said in a June 10 statement. The Southern African Catholic Bishops’ Conference is a member of the council, which met June 6-8 near Johannesburg. In April 2016, the council set up an “unburdening panel” for anyone who had participated in or knew of corrupt activities. The report, based on that panel, reveals an elite group “that parcels out contracts and other opportunities for their circles against the interests of good governance and against the common good of the South African citizenry,” the statement said. Members of parliament display “complete moral bankruptcy in the execution of their responsibilities in upholding the laws of the land,” it said.
U.S. bishop: Media can counter fears by showing refugees as real people
VATICAN CITY (CNS) — By telling individual stories and putting a human face on migrants seeking a new home, the media can help inspire communities to assist and not be afraid of newcomers, said one U.S. bishop. “One thing we really need to work on, especially in the United States, is to do advocacy work and education of the community because there is still a lot of resistance to the welcoming of the immigrant and refugees,” retired Bishop Ricardo Ramirez of Las Cruces, New Mexico, told Catholic News Service June 12. “People are afraid. And I think we have to listen and understand where that fear comes from, but at the same time we have to educate people about human rights, about the Church’s tradition” and how so many Americans are decedents of immigrants, he said on the sidelines of a meeting at the Vatican. Bishop Ramirez, who is a consultant for the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops’ Committee on Migration, was one of dozens of bishops and directors of offices for migrants and refugees attending a special session sponsored by the Dicastery for Integral Human Development June 12-13.
Brzezinski recalled as brilliant strategist committed to faith, family
WASHINGTON (CNS) — Zbigniew Brzezinski, who served as national security adviser to President Jimmy Carter and was a noted author, lector and statesman, was remembered at his June 9 funeral Mass as brilliant political strategist who was deeply committed to his Catholic faith. “Dr. Brzezinski was indeed a man of faith. His faith influenced his whole life,” said Msgr. W. Ronald Jameson, rector of the Cathedral of St. Matthew the Apostle. “We celebrate the life Dr. Brzezinski had for many years … and we celebrate his new life, his eternal life.” Brzezinski, 89, died May 26 at Inova Fairfax Hospital in Falls Church, Virginia. The cause of death was not reported. Msgr. Jameson was the principal celebrant of Brzezinksi’s funeral Mass at the cathedral. More than 500 people -- including former President Jimmy Carter and former Secretary of State Madeleine Albright – attended the liturgy. Carter, who referred to Brzezinski by his nickname “Zbig,” said his former national security adviser “was a man of wisdom and sound judgment shaped by his faith.”