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Last Updated: 19 February 2013

Says History of Ecuador Refutes Criticism Against Pope

APARECIDA, Brazil, MAY 22, 2007 (Zenit.org).- The Catholic Church has been the protagonist in the liberation of indigenous peoples in Latin America, says a bishop from Ecuador.

Bishop Néstor Herrera of Machala, president of the episcopal conference of Ecuador, responded to accusations leveled against Benedict XVI by Humberto Cholango, president of the Confederation of Peoples of the Kichwa Nationality.

Cholongo stated that he firmly rejected the declarations made by the Pope while the latter was in Brazil. At the same time, Cholongo reiterated his solidarity with presidents Evo Morales of Brazil, Fidel Castro of Cuba and Hugo Chávez of Venezuela.

Bishop Herrera, in a statement sent from Aparecida, Brazil, where he is participating in the general conference, said that Cholongo's statement "doesn't surprise me in the least, given the political loyalties of these indigenous leaders."

"It gives the impression that they wish to forget that the Catholic Church has been the proponent of their liberation," he added.

Richness

The 73-year-old prelate continued: "This has been very clear in Ecuador: not least because many members of the Church defend -- together with Bishop Leónidas Proaño, [who lived from] 1910-1988 -- the right of the indigenous peoples to be in charge of their own destiny.

"Also because the current social and political leaders of the indigenous people were educated by the Church, and they were loyally supported on the occasion of the 500th anniversary of their resistance."

The president of the Ecuadorian bishops added: "The Holy Father spoke for bishops, in a historical perspective, in a theological plane, that doesn't cease to consider the importance of the 'rich religious traditions' of the indigenous ancestors.

"The Pope noted that it was not an 'imposition of a foreign culture,' because no one can embrace the faith along the way of imposition, and because the Gospel is above cultures."

"This same Holy Father has often deplored the shadows and injustices recorded in the past," Bishop Herrera continued. "But in any case, the 'wealth of diversity' open to authentic progress has arrived."

"We cannot concentrate only on shadows," he said. "There are many more lights than shadows, starting from the beginning of the evangelization in America, where the authentic Christian sense of many was the first and constant defender of the indigenous peoples."

Utopia?

Cholango's protest was directed to Benedict XVI's words during his opening address at the 5th General Conference of the Episcopate of Latin America and the Caribbean.

The Pope said: "The Utopia of going back to breathe life into the pre-Columbian religions, separating them from Christ and from the universal Church, would not be a step forward: Indeed, it would be a step back. In reality, it would be a retreat toward a stage in history anchored in the past.

"The wisdom of the indigenous peoples fortunately led them to form a synthesis between their cultures and the Christian faith which the missionaries were offering them; hence the rich and profound popular religiosity, in which we see the soul of the Latin American peoples."

Code: ZE07052202

Date: 2007-05-22

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APARECIDA, Brazil, MAY 22, 2007 (Zenit.org).- The bishops meeting for the 5th General Conference of the Episcopate of Latin America and the Caribbean approved the outline for the final document of the meeting.

According to Bishop José Lacunza Maestrojuán of the Diocese of David, Panama, the outline agreed upon Monday will lead to a document focusing on seven principles set out by Benedict XVI during his visit.

The principles will be based on three concepts -- discipleship, mission, life -- and be organized according to three categories -- see, judge, act.

The document will begin with a look at the situation in Latin America in terms of its social, political, economic and cultural life and will also include a study on the situation of the Church on the continent.

Beyond this, the document will discuss what it means to be a disciple and a missionary.

Bishop Maestrojuán explained the bishops now divide themselves into seven working commissions, supported by another 17 subcommissions, to write the texts of the final document, which will be subject to a vote at the plenary session.

Code: ZE07052214

Date: 2007-05-22

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Expresses Support for Pope Amid Ongoing Slander

VATICAN CITY, MAY 22, 2007 (Zenit.org).- Accusations that the Church is homophobic are "simply ideological and false," says Archbishop Angelo Bagnasco.

Archbishop Bagnasco, president of the Italian bishops' conference, made this statement Monday during the inauguration of the 57th Assembly of Italian bishops in Rome, being held in the Vatican through Friday. The archbishop has recently received threats for upholding the definition of marriage as a relationship between a man and a woman.

Archbishop Bagnasco said: "It is certainly unpleasant that accusations of homophobia are sometimes hurled at the Church and its members.

"We calmly say that this criticism is simply ideological and false, and contrary to the spirit and practice of total acceptance of all people."

Archbishop Bagnasco, responding to criticism directed at Benedict XVI, said: "I would like to express to the Pope the heartfelt closeness of the Italian bishops' conference for the superficial slanders made against him."

Serving joy

Archbishop Bagnasco, serving as chairman of the bishops' meeting for the first time, explained the mission of the conference: "It is Christ and his Gospel that urges us on, nothing else.

"We proclaim him as the measure of our humanity, not to reveal weaknesses or underline defeats, but to show obedience. That is essential, first and foremost, for us as bishops and promoters of true freedom for all."

"When we appeal to consciences," continued Archbishop Bagnasco, "it is not in order to be intrusive, but to call people back to those things without which each person would lose their bearings, especially for those less fortunate."

"Our words contain no hidden meanings," underlined the archbishop. "With the utmost transparency we are at the service of joy."

"We do not see a sad people, hollowed out by nihilism and tempted by decadence. We see a people who are alive, capable of renewing themselves through their own resources and discipline, able to lead their young people, able to speak credibly in an international assembly."

Code: ZE07052201

Date: 2007-05-22

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Last Updated: 19 February 2013

Church burning, threats to forcibly convert to Islam, plague Baghdad Christians.

ISTANBUL, May 21 (Compass Direct News) – Church leaders in Iraq reported that kidnappers have demanded a huge ransom for the release of a Chaldean priest abducted in Baghdad over the weekend.

“They phoned us, they want money and we cannot say anything else,” Baghdad’s Chaldean Auxiliary Bishop Shlemon Warduni told Compass regarding the abduction of Father Nawzat Hanna Saturday morning (May 19).

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Sfeir at Baabda Palace: ‘Very good meeting’ with Lahoud
Towards a presidential election on September 25
Monday Morning, Beirut - www.mmorning.com - Via CWNews.com - 2007-05-22

The cardinal was escorted from his official residence in Bkerki to the palace by an escort of the Republican Guard and received with full official honors at the palace, where he was the president’s guest for lunch.

The two men’s last meeting goes back to 2006 when Lahoud attended an easter service in Bkerki and held a meeting with the patriarch. Since then no meeting had taken place.

After the meeting Patriarch Sfeir said the meeting was “very good” and that it covered various current issues on the Lebanese scene. The meeting was an occasion to discuss the upcoming Lebanese presidential election.

Click here for story at www.mmorning.com (link will open in new window).  

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"Urges an Anthropology Respectful of the Human Person"

GENEVA, MAY 21, 2007, (Zenit.org).- Here is the address Archbishop Silvano Tomasi, the Holy See's permanent observer at the U.N. offices in Geneva, gave at the World Health Assembly being held from May 14 to 23. The address was titled "The Holy See and Modern Challenges in Health Promotion."

* * *

Madam President,

1. The Holy See delegation wishes to convey its congratulations upon your election as president of this august assembly as well as its sincere gratitude to Dr. Fernando Antezana Araníbar, who provided such excellent leadership for the World Health Organization executive board as it fulfilled its burdensome responsibility to discern succession to the post of director-general following the untimely death of Dr. J.W. Lee.

2. My delegation also expresses congratulations to Dr. Margaret Chan upon her appointment as director-general of the World Health Organization. We welcome her designation of the health of women and of the people of Africa as major concerns during her tenure in office. The Catholic Church has traditionally been in the first line in the promotion of the authentic health of women, by helping them to harmonize their physical, psychological and social well-being with moral and spiritual values. In this line, the Catholic Church is also convinced of the God-given, equal and complementary dignity of women and men.

The Catholic Church also prioritizes the most fruitful expression of complementarity between woman and man -- that is, the family which is founded upon lifelong and mutually faithful marriage and which continues to serve as the mainstay of human society. This vision of human dignity, strongly promoted by the Holy See, also is shared by citizens in many WHO member states.

In this same regard, it is the fervent hope of this delegation that discussion on and implementation of Resolution EB 120.R6, "Integrating Gender Analysis and Actions into the Work of WHO" will never be utilized to "justify" doing harm to or destroying human life during one of its most vulnerable stages -- when still within the mother's womb. Furthermore, the Holy See wishes to invite the WHO member states once again to understand the term "gender" as grounded in biological sexual identity, male or female.

Regarding Africa, the Popes have repeatedly expressed deep concern over its anguished history "where many nations are still in the grip of famine, war, racial and tribal tensions, political instability and the violation of human rights"[1], and Pope Benedict XVI has exhorted the international community, "we must not forget Africa."[2]

3. My delegation wishes to commend, for particular attention by this assembly, the resolutions and recommendations with regard to the pandemics of tuberculosis, malaria and HIV, as well as those related to the projected exacerbation of avian and pandemic influenza. Much of the threat to health security caused by such diseases could adequately be addressed were the global human family to commit itself to affordable and action-oriented programs of research, vaccination, treatment and preventive education respectful of the natural moral law.

From Nov. 23 to 25, 2006, the Vatican's Pontifical Council for Health Care Ministry convened more than 500 experts to reflect on "pastoral aspects of the treatment of infectious diseases." In addressing those gathered, His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI emphasized the need to implement social justice in the sensitive area of treatment and nursing and therefore to ensure a fair distribution of resources for research and treatment.[3]

In this same perspective, as the chancellor of Germany prepared to assume the presidency of both the G-8 countries and the European Union, the Holy Father, in a letter to her, expressed the hope that there would be "a substantial investment of resources for research and for the development of medicines to treat AIDS, tuberculosis, malaria and other tropical diseases is needed. … There is also a need to make available medical and pharmaceutical technology and health care expertise without imposing legal or economic conditions."[4]

4. The Holy See shares the concern expressed by the secretariat of WHO in its report on "Better Medicines for Children," for the tragic loss of life each year among some 10.5 million children under five years of age; many of these children die of diseases that are treatable in adults but for which appropriate dosages and formulations have not yet been developed for pediatric use.[5]

Attention to this serious concern seems all the more compelling in light of the recently released report on "Scaling up Priority HIV/AIDS Interventions in the Health Sector," which noted, with much regret, that only 15% of HIV-positive children in need of anti-retroviral treatment actually have access to these life-saving therapies. Such treatment coverage is approximately one-half that achieved for HIV-positive adults.[6]

The international community can no longer turn a deaf ear to the life-threatening needs of children, many of whom can be counted among our most needy citizens but who represent, as well, the future of the human community. While steps are being taken to develop "Better Medicines for Children" and to revise and regularly update the Model List of Essential Medicines in order to include those appropriate for paediatric use, research that is ethically based, transparent, and carefully monitored, must be conducted on the safety of such medicines before they are approved for treatment of diseases affecting children.

5. As we approach the 30th anniversary of the historic Alma Ata Declaration on Primary Health Care, the Holy See delegation is pleased to note the strategic attention being encouraged at this World Health Assembly on such crucial topics as prevention and control of noncommunicable diseases, rational use of medicines, and, in particular, health promotion in a globalized world with a special focus on primary health care.

In all the deliberations during this assembly and in the subsequent implementation of World Health Assembly resolutions at national and local levels, my delegation urges a perspective on health security that is grounded on an anthropology respectful of the human person in his or her integrity and looks far beyond the absence of disease to the full harmony and sound balance of the physical, emotional, spiritual and social forces within the human person.[7]

Thank you.

--- --- ---

[1] Apostolic Exhortation of Pope John Paul II, "Ecclesia in Africa," No. 51.
[2] Address of His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI to the Diplomatic Corps Accredited to the Holy See for the Traditional Exchange of New Year Greetings, Monday, Jan. 8, 2007.

[3] Address of His Holiness Benedict XVI to the Participants in the 21st International Congress Organized by the Pontifical Council for Health Care Ministry, Clementine Hall, Friday, Nov. 24, 2006.
[4] Letter of His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI to Her Excellency Dr. Angela Merkel, Chancellor of Germany, Dec. 16, 2006.

[5] "Better Medicines for Children," Report by the Secretariat, World Health Organization, 60th World Health Assembly, A60/25, April 17, 2007.
[6] "Toward Universal Access: Scaling up Priority HIV/AIDS Interventions in the Health Sector," Progress Report by WHO, UNAIDS, UNICEF, April 2007, p. 6.

[7] Cf. Pope John Paul II, Message of the World Day of the Sick, Feb. 11, 2000, No. 13.

[Original text: English; text adapted]

Code: ZE07052112

Date: 2007-05-21