SACBC's Latest News
Zimbabwe Refugees
Thursday, 13 December 2007 14:45
I was a stranger and you welcomed me (Matthew 25:35)
A Pastoral Letter to all Catholics and people of good will concerning the treatment of Zimbabwean refugees in Southern Africa.
In the 9 months since our last statement on the situation in Zimbabwe, things in that country have not improved. In fact, the living conditions for people in Zimbabwe have deteriorated to the point where continued survival has become a struggle for the majority of people. In Bulawayo, for example, there were only 50-60 burials in July and August 2006. In July 2007 there were 746 burials and in August 867! As your bishops and pastors, we consider the situation to constitute ‘events seriously disturbing public order’. (OAU Refugee Convention Article 1 paragraph 2: 1969
THE CHALLENGE OF A SLOGAN
Wednesday, 14 November 2007 17:32
The slogan of the World Social Forum (WSF), “Another World is Possible” expresses two important things:
First, that the world, as we experience it today (especially by the large masses of marginalized peoples), is increasingly getting ill. The symptoms are clear:
- The world is producing wealth as never before, yet the poor are getting poorer. They don’t count, they have no voice. Democracy remembers them only before elections.
- The economic policies imposed on us all by the superpowers are destroying our home, the Earth. Some leaders are now worried about global warming; one of the many wounds human activity has caused the cosmos, beautifully created by God.
- A few super-rich enjoy too much of the world’s wealth destined for all. We (even Christians) celebrate their “success”, and our youth want to be like them. We even shed some tears when they do some “charity”, though justice is nowhere to be seen…
- The idea, constantly injected into our brains, is that this world is the best possible world we can get… that there is no alternative. Anyone saying the contrary is labelled as a dreamer, as naïve, or simply as ignorant.
- The very African, very human, and very Christian ideal of Ubuntu seems to be fading away, eaten up by consumerism and a “mind your own business” mentality.
Connecting Values one heart at a time
Monday, 22 October 2007 15:04
The IFRB (Independent Forum for Religious Broadcasting) extends an invitation to you and interested colleagues to attend the Annual Forum.
The IFRB represents Faith Communities in Training and Advocacy for a free, informed, respectful and representative Media Environment. Membership of the Forum includes media representatives of African Traditional practice, Baha’i, Buddhist, Hindu, Islamic, Jewish and Christian Faith Communities.
Nuncio dies in US
Thursday, 11 October 2007 12:18
Holy See nuncio to Australia, American born Archbishop Ambrose De Paoli has died in a Miami hospital.
L'Osservatore Romano reports that the 73-year-old archbishop had been diagnosed with leukemia in March 2005.
"Despite the treatments he underwent, he was physically very debilitated in the last few weeks" and doctors recommended that he return to the Archdiocese of Miami, where he was incardinated, it said.
The newspaper said Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone, Vatican secretary of state, sent Archbishop De Paoli a message in late August, assuring the archbishop of his prayers and those of Pope Benedict XVI, "asking the Lord to grant him serenity, comfort and strength."
The archbishop sent a brief message to the Vatican Oct. 6, "expressing his devotion and his gratitude to the Holy Father," the newspaper said.
Born Aug. 19, 1934, in Jeannette, Pa., he was ordained to the priesthood for the then-Diocese of Miami in 1960. After completing a degree in canon law, he entered the Vatican's diplomatic corps in 1966.
He served in Vatican embassies in Zambia, Venezuela and Canada before working in the Vatican Secretariat of State.
Ordained a bishop in 1983, he served as the Vatican's chief representative in Sri Lanka, then as the Vatican representative in southern Africa, in Lesotho and in Swaziland.
The Vatican and South Africa established diplomatic relations in 1994 after the dismantling of apartheid, and Archbishop De Paoli became the Vatican nuncio to the country.
After serving as nuncio to Japan, he was named nuncio to Australia in late 2004.
Allegation of child sexual abuse
Monday, 01 October 2007 12:54
Allegation of child sexual abuse made by Mario D’Offisi against the Late Bishop Reginald Orsmond, founder of Boys’ Town, South Africa and Bishop of Johannesburg
The Catholic Church in Southern Africa notes with great sadness the alleged child sexual abuse of Mario D’Offisi by the late Bishop Reginald Orsmond during their time together at Boys Town in the 1960’s
The Catholic Church in Southern Africa has a clear position against sexual abuse of any kind and we have been consistent in strongly condemning this deplorable behaviour within the church and within society as a whole. We have a clear protocol for dealing with allegations of sexual abuse of children. This protocol involves child welfare, the SAPS and other competent authorities.
Bishop Reginald Orsmond was a larger-than-life character in the lives of so many people. He is remembered by many for his fearless championing of the Boys Town idea for troubled youth and for his wise and skilful leadership of the Diocese of Johannesburg from 1984 to 2002. It is unfortunate that these allegations come years after his death.
In accordance to our commitment to pastoral care of those who perceive themselves as victims, we invite Mr D’Offisi and all others who feel that they are victims of abuse by Catholic Clergy and Religious to share their story with a competent church authority so that swift and compassionate action can be taken.
The church invites all to pray for Mr D’Offisi, the family of the late Bishop Reginald Orsmond and the many people who loved Bishop Reg as leader of the Catholic Church in Johannesburg. All will be hurting due to these allegations. We all hope that whatever processes are undertaken, justice may be served to the benefit of all affected by this.
The Protocol for dealing with sexual abuse of children is posted on our website: http://www.sacbc.org.za/Site/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=89&Itemid=101
Pastoral Forum
Monday, 06 August 2007 19:08
The overall call (issue and concern) was that faith formation has to be improved in a relevant and contextual way at every level of life ….
Vision:
A common vision that pulls us all together:
Christ Centered leadership of all the Baptised and Confirmed living their relationship with Christ and one another so as to be light to the World , crossing social and cultural barriers to make the church’s work effective and give transforming witness.
WE BELONG TO EACH OTHER
Monday, 06 August 2007 17:08
WE BELONG TO EACH OTHER
A meeting organized by the GrOW (grain of wheat) group was held on 24th March 2007, in the Johannesburg Diocesan Cathedral Hall. There were over fifty participants from the Pretoria and Johannesburg Dioceses. This meeting focused on reporting on the World Social Forum (WSF) held in Nairobi (Kenya) in January 2007.
This year, the WSF celebration was held in Africa (Nairobi 20th –25th January 2007). The WSF gathers together people from all over the world, it is a gathering of civil society including faith- based individuals and groups.
World Social Forum
Monday, 06 August 2007 17:04
People gathered from all over Africa and from all parts of the world in Nairobi, Kenya for the World Social Forum (WSF) in January this year. It was an opportunity to highlight and celebrate Africa and her social movements with reflective thinking, democratic debate of ideas, and a free exchange of experiences. The WSF is not just an event - it is a process of seeking and building alternatives in a world dominated by unbridled capitalism.
THE CHALLENGE OF A SLOGAN
Monday, 06 August 2007 17:02
THE CHALLENGE OF A SLOGAN
The slogan of the World Social Forum (WSF), “Another World is Possible” expresses two important things:
First, that the world, as we experience it today (especially by the large masses of marginalized peoples), is increasingly getting ill. The symptoms are clear:
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