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Reg no. 1920/002058/06 no 4866

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Church leaders: We must protect Thuli’s office By CLAiRe MATHieSon

R not everybody was impressed with the famous visitor to the church of Santa Maria dell’orazione in the suburb of Setteville di Guidonia, on the northern outskirts of Rome. Pope Francis addressed parishioners during a pastoral visit to the parish. (Photo: Paul Haring)

Pope: Read Bible on way to work By Cindy Wooden

F you get a seat on a crowded bus or train, you should use your travel time to read a few lines from the Bible, Pope Francis told members of a suburban parish filled with people who commute to Rome for work. “A Christian’s first task is to listen to the word of God, to listen to Jesus, because he speaks to us and saves us with his word,” the pope said during a homily at the parish of Santa Maria dell’Orazione in Setteville di Guidonia, on the north-east outskirts of Rome. Everyone should carry a small Bible or pocket edition of the Gospels and should find at least a few minutes every day to read the word of God, Pope Francis said. The pope suggested a bus-ride reading of the Gospels, when possible, “because many times on the bus we’re packed in and have to maintain our balance and defend our pockets” from pickpockets. “But when you have a seat” on the bus or a minute or so free somewhere else, “pick up the Gospel and read a few words”. God tells the disciples and all followers of Jesus to listen to his son “to nourish our faith”, the pope said. “He makes our faith

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more robust and stronger with his word.” People listen to the radio, to television and to gossip throughout the day—but “do we take a bit of time each day to listen to Jesus?” Pope Francis asked. Earlier in the day, leading the recitation of the Angelus with visitors in St Peter’s Square, Pope Francis asked members of the crowd to commit to reading a few lines of the Gospel each day. “Next Sunday tell me if you’ve done this [and] if you have a little Bible in your pocket or purse to read a passage during the day,” he said. “This is important. It’s Jesus who speaks to us in the Gospel. Think about that.” The church of Santa Maria dell’Orazione, inaugurated in 2002, was packed for the pope’s Mass. Hundreds of people lined the streets leading to the church. Pope Francis began his evening visit to the parish with the younger generation, met with the sick and people with disabilities and heard confessions before Mass. After the Mass, he went onto the rooftop terrace of the church to greet the hundreds of people gathered outside. He asked them to pray for him that he would be a good bishop and not make too many mistakes.—CNS

ESPONDING to harsh and sustained criticism of the Public Protector, Church leaders have warned that undermining the institutions of the Constitution harms our democracy. Fr Peter-John Pearson, director of the Catholic Parliamentary Liaison Office (CPLO) of the Southern African Catholic Bishops’ Conference, commented on the recent upsurge in criticisms directed at Public Protector Thuli Madonsela in the wake of the release of reports that have been critical of the government, the South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) and the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC). “This is not about Thuli. This is about ensuring that we don’t allow political affiliation to get in the way of an important democratic institution,” Fr Pearson said . He said that Chapter Nine Institutions— which include the Public Protector, the IEC and the Auditor General—enhance democracy. “These offices are intended to have the most objective minds; they are taken out of political favour,” Fr Pearson told The Southern Cross. Anglican Archbishop Thabo Makgoba of Cape Town, the primate of his church in South Africa, has also defended the office of the Public Protector. He issued a strongly worded statement which criticised Christian leaders who had condemned reports by the Public Protector. “We in the churches deeply regret that certain clergy have ganged up against the public protector in the name of the church,” Archbishop Makgoba said in a statement. “They have done so without adequate knowledge of her reports and their intervention only serves to undermine the fight against corruption,” he said. The Christian leaders had criticised Ms Madonsela for her probe into SABC chief operating officer Hlaudi Motsoeneng, IEC chairwoman Pansy Tlakula, and the report on the president’s residence in Nkandla. The religious leaders said they were concerned with “demonic forces which planned

to derail the revolution and the freedom of our people”. The group’s spokesman, self-styled bishop Pule Makgethi, said they represented African independent churches which had a combined membership of more than 1 million. He declined to name the churches. Archbishop Makgoba’s statement called on civil society to join forces in defending the office of the Public Protector. “It is shameful to see the dirty tactics being employed by politicians against the Public Protector.” Similarly, Fr Pearson said to detract or knock the office because of short-term political gains can be damaging to the office of the Public Protector. “The office is there to bring value to the democracy. This is not a theological issue,” he said. “Common good requires institutions that don’t have political leniencies.” Fr Pearson said popes through the past 50 years—from Pope Paul VI to Pope Francis— have believed no political system is ideal. “But democracy is the best that we have. We need strong democratic institutions to ensure this.” The CPLO director said there could be reasons to criticise the office—if one goes looking for problems. “But on the whole, I think [Ms Mandonsela] is doing a good job and the office is acting as it should,” he said. “All reports should be interrogated. It’s part of our public participation which is accepted in a healthy democracy,” said Fr Pearson. But, the reasons for criticisms “should not be an attempt to debunk the system”. Meanwhile Trevor Manuel, minister in the presidency, has warned fellow ANC members and the public to stop attacking constitutional institutions. The minister urged respect for institutions of state regardless of who holds office. “You don’t have to like the individual, but you have to respect the office,” he said. Mr Manuel, who is stepping down as planning minister after the May elections, said attacks on institutions of state such as the courts and the Public Protector would weaken these bodies.

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