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Full speed ahead
Vatican Bank scandal
The Pope in Britain
Tribalism and the Church
www.scross.co.za
September 29 to October 5, 2010 Reg No. 1920/002058/06
No 4695
R5,50 (incl VAT RSA)
SOUTHERN AFRICA’S NATIONAL CATHOLIC WEEKLY SINCE 1920
Inside The Nanny at Nazareth house Fran Drescher visits Nazareth house. —Page 2
Calls for reform in schools Cosatu calls for reform in the education system.—Page 3
Zambian bishop threatened Bishop John Duffy of Mongu has been threatened by MMD over comments he hasmade—Page 4
Irish priests oppose new liturgy A new association of Irish priests hopes to voice opposition to he new liturgy to the Vatican apostolic visitation .—Page 5
What do you see in the mirror? Henry Makori writes about praying to your personal God.—Page 9
What do you think? In their Letters to the Editor this week, readers discuss hats off to those who give, lost in translation, Sr Philothea Krugger, the rejected ones, giving without debt, and exploring Newman—Page 8
Couples taking part in the Southern Cross Passion Pilgrimage to the Holy Land and Oberammergau this month renewed their wedding vows at Cana, where Jesus performed his first miracle at the wedding feast. The ceremony was conducted by the tour´s spiritual direrctor, Bishop Zithulele Mvemve. With him are (left) Lawrence Felix and in front of him, wife Joan; Herman van Wyk and in front of him wife Heather; Jeanne and Peter Anderson with Annaline and Wayne Lawrence in front of them; Colin Francis and in front of him wife Marilyn; Lucy and Mark Wilson with Bishop Mvemve in front of them; and Margaret and Francis Hlobo. PHOTO: GÜNTHER SIMMERMACHER
This week’s editorial: There is no denying the truth
Dachau martyr beatified
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MARTYRED German priest who died at the Nazi concentration camp of Dachau, was praised for his courage and faith in God during a beatification Mass in Munster, Germany. Blessed Gerhard Hirschfelder’s bravery in denouncing the Nazi regime was not a sign of “recklessness”, but of “the power of faith”, German Cardinal Joachim Meisner of Cologne said in his homily. Even during his arrest and imprisonment, the young priest found strength by rejoicing in the Lord, the cardinal said, and his closeness to Christ “filled him with humble confidence” and hope. Born in 1907 in Glatz, Germany, Blessed Hirschfelder grew up, studied and worked in an area known as Silesia—originally a Polish territory that became part of Bohemia, Austria, Prussia and Germany after the 14th century. He was ordained a priest in 1932, the year before Adolf Hitler came to power. Although Nazi authorities denounced him as an opponent to the regime, Blessed Hirschfelder continued to criticise the dictatorship in his homilies. He was arrested in 1941 and sent to Dachau, where he died of hunger and illness in 1942 at the age of 35.
MPs too tied to party interests BY CLAIRE MATHIESON
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HE Catholic Parliamentary Liaison Office (CPLO) has discussed the need for greater accountability from South Africa’s parliament. A round table discussion in Cape Town, attended by both local and international Catholic interest groups, encouraged discussion on the role of parliament. In attendance was Member of Parliament (MP) for the African Christian Democratic Party (ACDP), Steve Swart, who admitted to parliament’s actions being “slightly disappointing but incredibly promising”. Mr Swart said accountability was necessary for a healthy democracy and good governance of the country. He identified a common problem with the country’s leadership: MPs were being loyal to their party first and their voters second. “To what degree are MPs listening to the people?” Mr Swart said, citing the so-called “abortion on demand” legislation that was passed into law in 1997 while the majority of civil society was against the bill and parliament had received numerous objections and faced multiple protests. “Even members within the ruling party were opposed to it, yet the party leadership instructed its members to approve it and so the law came into being,” he said, adding that those members who abstained from voting in support of the bill on moral grounds were disciplined. Mr Swart referred to the Civil Union Bill and the arms deal as other examples of the ruling party’s leadership instructing its members to act in the interest of the party. But the role of parliamentarians should be to represent the best interests of the people who put them into power. While some delegates at the round table discussion felt that MPs had addressed their concerns—this was only possible when
civil society was prepared to be extremely vocal and when all MPs were present. The parliamentary system provided for members to respond to the public, but, as Mr Swart explained, there were various incidents where members were absent from portfolio meetings and thereby not responding to the public’s concerns. “Accountability is key,”Mr Swart said. “Parliamentarians are not just there to take instructions from their parties—they need to be representing the people who voted them into those positions in the first place!” Mr Swart said the current government under the leadership of President Jacob Zuma came into power with much expectation, with Mr Zuma saying it was important for government to be held accountable. But to what extent has this happened? Various monitoring portfolios had been put in motion by parliament to ensure accountability. The proposed budget office would monitor the expenditure of the national budget, but this had yet to be implemented. Mr Swart said structural reform would be beneficial—where leaders would be directly accountable to the constituency. Voters should be able to vote for the person they wanted in power and not necessarily the party. In South Africa it was the party voted into power that thereafter decided on the leadership. The round table discussion also emphasised the importance of independent researchers giving input into the work being done by parliamentary members—this would be a direct means to measure progress and make members accountable for their actions. The biggest concern of the international delegates was that of voter education. Some felt many in South Africa voted along loyalty lines, not delivery lines. continued on page 2
African bishops: Continent has not shared in poverty reduction BY BRONWEN DACHS
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LTHOUGH average incomes in Africa have risen, the continent had not shared in the global success in reducing poverty, African bishops said before a visit to Europe to share their concerns over efforts to reduce extreme poverty worldwide. The bishops called for a new approach in Africa, focusing on implementing the Millennium Development Goals in Africa, using the “principles of morals and ethics, economic growth, subsidiarity, common good and benefits accruing from resources”. World leaders will meet for a three-day summit at the United Nations headquarters to review the eight goals set in 2000 with a 2015 deadline. Health issues are the backbone of the development goals, which include cutting child mortality rates by two-thirds, halving world hunger, reducing the maternal mortality rate by three-quarters, providing universal access to health care for women, and reversing the spread of HIV and Aids. Bishop Francisco Silota of Chimoio, Mozambique, said “inadequate ambition, the lack of a human rights approach, and an emphasis on outcomes at the expense of processes” had caused problems for the Millennium Development Goals. Noting a “growing awareness” in Africa “that we Africans, and Africans only, will find our way out of poverty”, he said the Church in Africa played an important role and “is often the only actor, in the cases of the absence of effective governments, to reach remote communities”. The Church’s “experience puts us in a strong position to inform government policy for Africa’s development”, Bishop Silota said.—CNS