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Photo: Pope Francis and Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I embrace.
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CWN - Two people were killed and three people were injured as mortar shells landed near Cathedral of Saint George in Damascus, according to media reports.
L’Osservatore Romano reported that the mortar fire originated in Ghouta, an area controlled by Syrian rebels.
The cathedral is the headquarters of the patriarchate of the Syriac Orthodox Church. The church ceased to be in full communion with the Holy See following the Ecumenical Council of Chalcedon in 451.
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Tackling Violence Committed in the Name of Religion
Wednesday 31 January – Friday 2 February 2018
Chaldean Patriarch Louis Raphael Sako
Offering Gratitude
Thank you for your concern in organizing this Conference about Tackling Violence Committed in the Name of Religion. It is a pleasure to be here, promoting peace and dignity for humankind regardless of religion and nationality.
Introduction
In general, the core of the religious “message” is to call people for worshiping God; cooperating among them; protecting nature; achieving peace and security. However, it is a pity that all religions have used some forms of violence during the history.
Interfaith conflict is a scandal. It is a crime that people are persecuted because of their faith, as it happened in Iraq (100 churches have been attacked, burnt or destroyed since 2003 but also many mosques). The same thing happened, in Syria, Egypt, Nigeria, and against Muslims of (Rohingya) in Myanmar, and other countries around the world.
If different religions have a sincere dialogue to understand the importance of the spiritual dimensions of religions, such as the urge to obey God, respect humankind and environment. They will definitely bring peace to the world.
Two Major Factors are contributing to Religious Violence:
Scripture
Major problem in religion is when we interpret the scripture literally. Religious authorities should look for an exegesis and an update in order to move from the “rigid letter” to the appropriate meaning that allows us to understand the “message” properly and apply it on our daily life. Saint Paul in the second Epistle to the Corinthians says: "for the letter brings death, but the Spirit gives life" (3/6).
As we are living in a different age compared to the religious era, new concerns and values are emerging on the surface, such as freedom, human rights, women issues, democracy, secularism, justice, equality etc. Hence, there is a genuine need to look at the reality and do what suits the lives of people without sacrificing their doctrine and moral values. The Church realized that and made a big progress.
Politics
The use of religion in political matters and personal interests is distorting it.
1. Since Crusades, the Arab world has linked the loyalty of Middle – Eastern Christians to the West. This confusion is so common, that it is very hard to be removed from their minds.
2. The Israeli – Palestinian conflict is also creating tension. The Arab world believes that the west is supporting Israel against Palestinians. This mentality motivated political Islam to take over this region, using violence.
Some Solutions
Countering extremism and terrorism, religious authorities should work together to develop an effective strategy that responds to challenges of current and future times to achieve peace.
No matter how discouraging are the chances, we are firmly convinced, that the future is promising due to our persistence in strengthening life's respect and promoting peace by:
1. Assuring that Governments are applying the established charter of human rights for all citizens, and avoid creating “second-class citizenship”. Especially that Christians and other minorities are facing thousands of problems on daily basis caused by constitution and the sectarian culture. So, it is necessary to get rid of certain laws that treats Christians as 2nd class citizens.
2. Reforming the Constitutions and laws in order to respect life, promote peace and stability.
3. Granting equal citizenship to all people, away from religious preference. It does not matter I am Christian or Muslim. The main thing is, I am an Iraqi citizen and I have the right to live in freedom and dignity.
4. Updating religious national education programs, as well as helping other religious and ethnic communities to avoid the re-emerging of extremists and terrorist groups, such as al Qaeda and ISIS.
5. Promoting humanitarian and national participation to endorse a spirit of tolerance, affection and respect for the right of religious and intellectual pluralism.
6. Eliminating the ideology of jihad in Islam or holy war in Christianity and other religions, since every country has an army and police to protect citizens and defend the homeland.
7. Preserving the Christian patrimony. Especially that there are churches and monasteries since the 5th century standing as a living witness of Christianity on this land.
In conclusion, I believe that our mission as Christians and Muslims in the Middle East is to educate our people how to achieve peace, mainly by living together in harmony. It may take time, but we won’t give up.
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Zenit.org - Pope Francis visited Rome’s Greek-Catholic Community of Ukrainians today at the Basilica of St. Sophia on Via Boccea, northwest of Rome, Jan. 28, 2018.
The Pope arrived around 4 p.m., after having celebrated Mass this morning at Rome’s Marian Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore, and after having his traditional noon Angelus.
Jumbotrons were set up outside the church transmitting coverage to the faithful unable to be inside. Faithful welcomed the Pope with Ukrainian Christmas songs because for Greek-Catholic Ukrainians, following the Julian calendar, it is still Christmastime, since the Feast of the Presentation of Jesus at the Temple is February 18.
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Cairo (Agenzia Fides) - The Copts of Egypt have suffered growing political and social marginalization since the 1950s. But this trend has actually reversed in the last seven years. And many unpublished facts - such as the visit of President Abdul Fattah al-Sisi to the Cathedral to congratulate the Copts on their feasts and restoring the demolished churches restored such balance, eliminating clamorous discrimination against Egyptian Christians. This is what Coptic Orthodox Patriarch Tawadros II underlined during his meeting with the leadership and journalists of al Ahram publishing group. The Patriarch's visit took place on Tuesday, January 23, during the inauguration of an exhibition of the oldest historical publications of the newspaper.
During the visit, Pope Tawadros praised the contribution made by Al Ahram - a newspaper founded in 1875 by two Syrian brothers residing in Alexandria in Egypt - in the cultural growth of modern Egypt. (GV) (Agenzia Fides, 25/1/2018)
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Leader of Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church Reminds War in Ukraine Is “Greatest Humanitarian Catastrophe” Since WWII
January 26, 2018Deborah Castellano LubovInterviews
ACN - Aid to the Church in Need
Zenit.org - In the days ahead of the Pope’s visit to Rome’s Greek-Catholic Community of Ukrainians on Sunday, the head of the Greek Catholic Church in Ukraine, Major Archbishop Sviatoslav Shevchuk of Kiev-Halyc, says he is very grateful for the Holy See’s attention given to Ukraine, but still not satisfied with the declaration signed by Francis and Russian Patriarch Kirill in Cuba two years ago.
In an interview with ZENIT, His Beatitude Shevchuk discussed the historic gesture.
Four years ago, he said, Ukraine suffered the aggression of a neighboring country, Russia. According to UN agencies today in Ukraine there are 2 million internally displaced persons. It is a crisis that continues and escalates. These statistics demonstrate the most serious humanitarian crisis in Europe after the Second World War. In spite of this, it is a ‘forgotten war,’ as was said by Vatican Secretary of State, Cardinal Pietro Parolin, during his visit to Russia last August.
The Pope’s visit Sunday to the Basilica of St. Sophia on Via Boccea, northwest of Rome. will be followed by Ukrainians all over the world. Although it is not technically a parish, it will be the first ‘parish visit,’ if you will, by Pope Francis since the start of the New Year.
Pope St John Paul II visited St. Sophia in Rome in 1984, to pay homage to the tomb of Cardinal Josyp Slipyi, the Head of the Greek Catholic Community of Ukraine who was harshly persecuted under the Soviet regime, including 18 years in prison, before eventually being freed. Blessed Pope Paul VI was there, previously in 1969, for the consecration of the Basilica, the initiative of Cardinal Slipyi.
The Pope will arrive at 4 p.m. and about 3,000 people are expected. There will be jumbotrons outside the church transmitting coverage to the faithful unable to be inside. For Greek-Catholic Ukrainians, following the Julian calendar, it is still Christmastime, since the Feast of the Presentation of Jesus at the Temple is February 18. Therefore, Major Archbishop Shevchuk said we should not be surprised to hear Ukrainian Christmas songs welcoming the Supreme Pontiff.
During the encounter, the Major Archbishop of Kiev will present the community to the Pope, there will be some greetings, and the Pope will descend into the crypt to pray at the tomb of Salesian Ukrainian Bishop Stepan Czmil. Then, before returning to the Vatican, he will see the mosaics of the basilica. With January 22 marking the 40th Anniversary of the bishop’s passing, Bishop Czmil was sent as a missionary in 1948 to Buenos Aires and would teach at the Salesian school that young Jorge Bergoglio attended. Through him, one of his first educators, Bergoglio would be introduced to the Byzantine rite and get to know the Greek Catholic Community of Ukraine.
Discussing the current situation in Ukraine and how so many have been forced to flee, the Major Archbishop of Kiev noted that the Pope knows us and is very sensitive to the theme of migration. Stressing the big heart Francis has for mothers and grandmothers, he added, the Pope will see that many who find themselves in St. Sophia are women.
On a lighthearted note, the Major Archbishop spoke about the vitality of the Greek-Catholic Community of Ukrainians in Rome. He shared about the enthusiastic children who partake, some of whom will welcome the Pope Sunday, and how often Ukrainians bring elderly Italians with them to the Masses, and that already, they know some of the Ukrainian hymns. In Italy, Ukrainian women often take care of the elderly.
During an encounter with journalists in the Vatican, Major Archbishop Sviatoslav Shevchuk was asked whether a possible trip to Ukraine is foreseeable. He responded: “We have made the invitation, we hope it will be a prophetic step, which can guide the Pope’s steps towards Ukraine. The Pope has already been invited to the Ukraine by both the Latin and Greek-Catholic bishops and by the Ukrainian President and government.
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Kottayam:
Facing allegations over a controversial land deal, the head of the Syro-Malabar Church Cardinal George Alencherry yesterday said all issues relating to it would be resolved soon.
"The issue will be resolved soon," he said in his first public statement on the controversial land deal in the Ernakulam-Angamaly archdiocese, in which the church allegedly suffered a huge financial loss.
Addressing a mass at a Church at nearby Kuravilangad on Jan 21, he thanked all those who gave him strength through their prayers
He urged them to continue with their prayers.
"There is no place for division among Christians. Certain things occur due to the shortcomings. That will be rectified," Alencherry said.
The Cardinal's statement came after a section of faithful of the Syro-Malabar Church accused Cardinal Alencherry, who is also Archbishop of Ernakulam-Angamaly Archdiocese, of selling prime land of the archdiocese in Kochi for "a very low price".
They had alleged the role of land mafia in the sale of land in a "non-transparent manner", violating even civil and canon laws.
Supporters of the Cardinal had dubbed the charges against the chief priest as a 'misinformation campaign.'
The All India Catholic Almaya Forum had urged the priests to stop the campaign being carried out against the Cardinal.
They had alleged that a handful of priests were trying to defame the Syro-Malabar Church, having over 55 lakh followers and 35 dioceses.
The Presbyteral Council of Ernakulam-Angamaly Archdiocese had alleged that a commission appointed by the Archbishop to inquire into the land business had found serious violations of canon and civil laws.
According to the priests, the commission found that revenue from sale of 3.06 acres of the land in Kochi city was expected to fetch Rs 27 crore as per the understanding, but officially only Rs nine crore had been shown as sale proceeds.
They claimed that an amount of Rs 18 crore was 'shrouded in mystery' and remained unaccounted.
Source: Malayala Manorama