Archive for the ‘Peace and Reconciliation’ Category

Troubled horizons in the Middle East

January 25, 2010

The period running up to parliamentary elections in Iraq in March will be critical for the long term security of a country beset by violence.

Caritas fears that extremists will use the elections to carry out acts of violence and that the poor will suffer the most.

Mosul, Kirkuk, and Dora in Baghdad will be hot spots according to Caritas, which is carrying out assessments of vulnerable communities in those areas to be able to plan for displacements of people and urgent needs of those caught in conflicts.

Iraq Catholic Hierarchy

Last November, the Reunion of Aid Agencies for the Oriental Church (ROACO) held a meeting in Erbil, Northern Iraq, bringing together Iraqi bishops, the Nuncio, Iraqi church partners, and the Sacred Congregation for the Oriental Churches, Oeuvre d’Orient, MISSIO, Misereor, Aid to the Church in Need, I.C.O. (Austria), D.K.A. Austria (Kath. Jungschau Osterreichs), Archbishopric of Cologne, and Caritas Germany, Caritas Iraq and Caritas Middle East and North Africa (MONA).
(more…)

Pope Benedict’s message for the World Day of Peace 2010

December 17, 2009

If you want to cultivate peace, protect creation

Respect for creation is of immense consequence, not least because “creation is the beginning and the foundation of all God’s works”, and its preservation has now become essential for the pacific coexistence of mankind. Man’s inhumanity to man has given rise to numerous threats to peace and to authentic and integral human development – wars, international and regional conflicts, acts of terrorism, and violations of human rights. Yet no less troubling are the threats arising from the neglect – if not downright misuse – of the earth and the natural goods that God has given us. For this reason, it is imperative that mankind renew and strengthen “that covenant between human beings and the environment, which should mirror the creative love of God, from whom we come and towards whom we are journeying”. Read more…

Si tu veux costruire la paix, protège la creation

Le respect de la création revêt une grande importance, car «la création est le début et le fondement de toutes les œuvres de Dieu» et, aujourd’hui, sa sauvegarde devient essentielle pour la coexistence pacifique de l’humanité. Si, en effet, à cause de la cruauté de l’homme envers l’homme, nombreuses sont les menaces qui mettent en péril la paix et le développement intégral authentique de l’homme – guerres, conflits internationaux et régionaux, actes terroristes et violations des droits de l’homme – les menaces engendrées par le manque d’attention – voire même par les abus – vis-à-vis de la terre et des biens naturels, qui sont un don de Dieu, ne sont pas moins préoccupantes. C’est pour cette raison qu’il est indispensable que l’humanité renouvelle et renforce «l’alliance entre l’être humain et l’environnement, qui doit être le miroir de l’amour créateur de Dieu, de qui nous venons et vers qui nous allons». Lisez…

Si tu quieres promover la paz, protege la creación

El respeto a lo que ha sido creado tiene gran importancia, puesto que «la creación es el comienzo y el fundamento de todas las obras de Dios», y su salvaguardia se ha hecho hoy esencial para la convivencia pacífica de la humanidad. En efecto, aunque es cierto que, a causa de la crueldad del hombre con el hombre, hay muchas amenazas a la paz y al auténtico desarrollo humano integral —guerras, conflictos internacionales y regionales, atentados terroristas y violaciones de los derechos humanos—, no son menos preocupantes los peligros causados por el descuido, e incluso por el abuso que se hace de la tierra y de los bienes naturales que Dios nos ha dado. Por este motivo, es indispensable que la humanidad renueve y refuerce «esa alianza entre ser humano y medio ambiente que ha de ser reflejo del amor creador de Dios, del cual procedemos y hacia el cual caminamos». Leer..

Hondurans take first steps

December 1, 2009

Caritas Honduras joined other non-governmental organizations and the Metropolitan University of Honduras as part of the “Hagamos Democracia” (“We make Democracy”) initiative during recent Presidential elections.
(more…)

Palestinian solidarity day

November 27, 2009

 

The Separation Barrier dividing Palestinians and Israelis

In 1977, the General Assembly called for the annual observance of 29 November as the International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People. On that day, in 1947, the Assembly adopted the resolution on the partition of Palestine.

As part of the observance of the International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People on 29 November, Caritas Jerusalem made this statement.

 

Letter of Solidarity of Caritas Jerusalem in observance of the International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People

Today, as we observe the International Day of Solidarity with Palestinians, we remember the dispossession and displacement of thousands of Palestinian families as a result of the establishment of the State of Israel in 1948. For 62 years, Palestinians have been deprived of their inalienable right to self-determination and a Palestinian State has not yet seen light. The 1967 occupation of the West Bank and Gaza has deepened the suffering and pain of the Palestinians and numerous political efforts and initiatives came to pass over the past decades, to no avail, and the situation in the Palestinian Territories is increasingly troubling.
(more…)

Africa Synod: Message from the President of Caritas Africa

October 5, 2009
Z2102180

Archbishop Cyprian sits between Muslim and Orthodox Christian colleagues at a peacebuilding conference in Uganda

By President of Caritas Africa Archbishop Cyprian Kizito Lwanga Archbishop of Kampala, Uganda for the Africa Synod of Bishops in the Vatican.

“Jesus Christ does not teach us a spirituality ‘of closed eyes,’ but one of ‘alertness,’ one which entails an absolute duty to take notice of the needs of others and of situations involving those whom the Gospel tells us are our neighbours….

The gaze of Jesus, what ‘his eyes’ teach us, leads to human closeness, solidarity, giving time, sharing our gifts and even our material goods.”- Pope Benedict XVI, Promoting Volunteerism, Vienna, Austria, September 10, 2007

In order to fulfill the vision of Caritas Africa, which is to have life in its fullness (John 10:10), we consider that our mission is to bear witness to the Love of God (Acts 1:8) by working for the integral development of the human being with priority attention to the poor and the most destitute. Africa is daily confronted with enormous challenges and very large segments of the populations of many countries in Africa are suffering from conflicts, social unrest, wars as well as from natural disasters and calamities such as drought, floods and cyclones. Diseases, including HIV/AIDS, malaria and others that are less publicised, are also causing a lot of difficulties to individuals and families.
(more…)

Zimbabwe Bishops on need for reconciliation

October 2, 2009

By Zimbabwe Catholic Bishops’ Conference

God Can Heal The Wounds Of The Afflicted: A Pastoral Letter on National Healing and Reconciliation, 1 October 2009

1. Introduction

The Spirit of the Lord is upon our land and God is ready to heal us. Today, as we struggle with the Global Political Agreement, national economic recovery, the national constitutional process, national healing, national visioning, etc., we must acknowledge and recognize the significance of this historical moment. God has given us an opportunity to face and resolve our crises.

We, your Bishops, said in 2007 that “Our crisis is not only political and economic but first and foremost a spiritual and moral crisis”.[1] Every problem has a religious dimension. Noone’s heart can be at rest as long as people are haunted by evil memories, never acknowledged and straightened out.  This crisis can only be resolved if we, the people of Zimbabwe, confess our sins, are forgiven, fully accept each other and once more commit ourselves to work together in solidarity, justice and peace.
(more…)

Ugandans talk peace

September 12, 2009

Archbishop Cyprian Lwanga of Kampla, President of Caritas Africa convenes the Conference on Sustainable Reconciliation, Justice and Peace

Archbishop Cyprian Lwanga of Kampla, President of Caritas Africa convenes the Conference on Sustainable Reconciliation, Justice and Peace. Credit: Nicholson/Caritas


By Patrick Nicholson

Religious, political and cultural leaders met for the first time together to discuss peace and reconciliation in Kampala 10-12 September. The “Conference on Sustainable Reconciliation, Justice and Peace” was organized by the Interreligious Council of Uganda and Caritas Uganda, and supported by Caritas members in Ireland, the UK, and the USA (Trocaire, Cafod, and CRS).
(more…)

Riots breakout in Kampala as peace builders meet in Uganda

September 11, 2009

View from the building where delegates meet for the Conference on Sustainable National Reconciliation, Justice and Peace. Nicholson/Caritas

View from the building where delegates meet for the Conference on Sustainable National Reconciliation, Justice and Peace. Nicholson/Caritas


By Patrick Nicholson in Kampala

Sometimes scripts write themselves. As delegates at a peacebuilding conference for Uganda spoke about the need to seek reconciliation, gunfire cracked outside and the black smoke from burning tires blew past the window.

(more…)

East Timor celebrates its tenth birthday

August 31, 2009

A local woman from East Timor mourns for her relatives during the 10th commemoration for pro-Independence activists that were killed in 1999's vote for independence in Dili, East Timor August 26, 2009. Courtesy of Reuters.

A local woman from East Timor mourns for her relatives during the 10th commemoration for pro-Independence activists that were killed in 1999's vote for independence in Dili, East Timor August 26, 2009. Courtesy of Reuters.

24 year occupation by Indonesia
100,000 deaths during the occupation
10 year anniversary of East Timor’s independence.

East Timor may be one of the youngest countries in the world but it has a long and painful history in its recent past. Dominated geographically by the imposing chain of islands that make up Indonesia, East Timor found itself taken by force by its neighbour in 1975.

When Indonesia left the country in 1999, leaving in its wake a terrorised population who had fled their homes, it destroyed much of the infrastructure. The effects are still being felt day and the country is battling unemployment, low wages and a lack of access to education. (more…)

Violence is not the answer in the Niger Delta

May 29, 2009
Children orphaned by fighting stand in the ruins of their home in Dooshima 11 at the Ibi district of Taraba state, in north-central Nigeria, May 1,2004. REUTERS/George Esiri. www.alertnet.org

Statement by His Excellency, Archbishop Felix A. Job, Catholic Archbishop of Ibadan and President, Catholic Bishops Conference of Nigeria, on the Current Military/Militant Clashes in the Niger Delta in Nigeria.

We, the Catholic Bishops of Nigeria view with grave concern the current sustained clashes between militant groups in the Niger Delta, especially in the areas of South West Warri and its environs, and the Joint Military Taskforce of the Federal Government of Nigeria.

As the Chief Shepherds of the people of God in Nigeria, we are particularly pained by the suffering, displacements and deaths of innocent citizens in the Niger Delta Region which have resulted from “operation Cordon and search” since May 12, 2009. This military operation has mostly brought about untold hardship on the ordinary citizens of the rural communities in the Niger Delta.
(more…)