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Stop Myanmar Religious Hatred
Msgr. Charles Maung Bo, Archbishop of Yangon, stands inside a Vatican City CourtyardYangon (Agenzia Fides) - The leaders of the major religions in Myanmar launched a strong appeal to the nation to stop religious violence and build together the well-being and "a future of hope for the country": says a joint statement issued at the conclusion of a meeting held in Yangon by the U.S. Ambassador Derek Mitchell and sent to Fides Agency.
The ambassador and the entire international community had been asked to give a contribution to bring religious harmony in Myanmar - after clashes between Muslims and Buddhists registered in recent months – by His Exc. Mgr. Charles Maung Bo, Archbishop of Yangon, present at the meeting and signatory of the appeal as a representative of the Catholic Church.
"As a nation, we have begun a journey that is a new dawn of hope in our nation," reads the text sent to Fides Agency by Archbishop Bo and signed, among others, also by Muslim leader U Aye Lwin, of the "Islamic Center of Myanmar", and by the Buddhist leader Sitagu Sayadaw. The text urges all the people of Burma "to embark on a journey of friendship that will bring peace and prosperity for all."
Inheriting the Land
Brother’s Pond, Attleboro Shrine property, part of the land donated to the Massachusetts ConservancyLocated on rocky coasts, tucked into wooded hillsides, situated on scenic river fronts and open farm lands are monasteries, retreat houses, seminaries, schools and hospitals belonging to Religious Orders of women and men. We arrived with the immigrant populations from Europe or were founded in the United States to serve the needs of that population arriving on the North American continent. We were gifted with or purchased at minimal cost some of the most diverse and ecologically precious lands across this country. Today these lands have become an incredible resource to place at the service of other communities that are struggling to be heard, the very communities that tell us so much about the life of Spirit.
The decades of Renewal invited us to recall the stories of our beginnings and the vision of our founders. We made great efforts to reformulate our relationship with the world. We were in the world but not of the world. While we wanted to become agents for change, we now recognize that we moved ahead with a limited awareness of the complexity of ecological, cultural, political and economic forces in the world that we embraced.
The Earth Charter
Editor: From Wikipedia, we learn that the Earth Summit, also known as the Rio Summit, Rio Conference, Earth Summit (Portuguese: Eco '92) was a major United Nations conference held in Rio de Janeiro from 3 June to 14 June 1992. 255 governments participated, with 144 sending their heads of state or government.[1] Some 2,400 representatives of non-governmental organizations (NGOs) attended, with 17,000 people at the parallel NGO "Global Forum" (a.k.a. Forum Global), who had Consultative Status.It contains the basic areas of ecological concern, succinctly summarized. The mission of The Earth Charter Initiative is to promote the transition to sustainable ways of living founded on the following four core values:
Church Committed to Universal Healthcare
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| Archbishop Zygmunt Zimowski |
To Live Each Day with Dignity
The US Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) approved a statement on assisted suicide at their recent meeting. The Euthanasia Prevention Coalition (EPC) recognizes that people oppose assisted suicide for varying reasons and many of these reasons were well explained by the Bishops document: To Live Each Day with Dignity, published in November of 2011.Bishops’ Letter to Immigrants
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| Stained glass window of Our Lady of Guadalupe surrounded by accompanying images of the story |
The economic crisis has had an impact on the entire U.S. community. Regretfully, some in reaction to this environment of uncertainty show disdain for immigrants and even blame them for the crisis. We will not find a solution to our problems by sowing hatred. We will find the solution by sowing a sense of solidarity among all workers and co-workers —immigrants and citizens—who live together in the United States.Overturning Anti-Immigrant Law
Rev Luis Cortés_President of EsperanzaAs the Supreme Court prepares to take up legal challenges to Arizona’s controversial immigration law (SB-1070), more than 50 prominent Catholic, Protestant and Jewish groups [including CMSM and LCWR] signed on to an amicus curiae brief arguing for suspension of the law.Brother Sun, Sister Moon
Francis of Assisi (detail) by Cimabue (Benvenuto di Giuseppe, c. 1240–1302, a Florentine painter and creator of mosaics)There are certain people whose very name seems to connect to the heart of people of many nations and beliefs. One such name is Francis of Assisi (1182–1226). His way of looking at life was quite striking; his words and actions somehow attractive yet challenging. Many of us are familiar with his “Peace Prayer” that begins “Make me a channel of your peace…”
About a year before Francis died, he stayed in a small hut behind the convent of San Damiano in Assisi. Due to an ailment, he had to remain inside because his eyes could not tolerate daylight. One evening, after reflection and talking with the Lord, Francis fell asleep. When he awoke, he composed the first part of “The Canticle of the Creatures” in which he expresses that nature has meaning in itself because it is created by God.
In this month in which we have just celebrated the first day of Spring on March 20, listen to his words:
“Most High, all-powerful, good Lord! Yours are the praises, the glory and the honor and all blessing. To you, alone, Most High, do they belong, And no human is worthy to mention your name.
“Praised be you, my Lord, with all your creatures, especially Sir Brother Sun, Who is the day and through whom you give us light. And he is beautiful and radiant with great splendor; And bears the likeness to you, Most High One.
“Praised be you, my Lord, through Sister Moon and the stars; in heaven you formed them clear and precious and beautiful.
“Praised be you, my Lord, through Brother Wind, and through the air, cloudy and serene, and every kind of weather, through whom you give sustenance to your creatures.
“Praised be you, my Lord, through Sister Water, who is very useful and humble and precious and chaste.
“Praised be you, my Lord, through Brother Fire, through whom you light the night, and he is beautiful and playful and robust and strong.
A Pastoral Letter on Poverty
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| Bp. George V. Murry, S.J., Ph.D., Bishop of the Diocese of Youngstown, Ohio |
Jesus Was An Alien Too
migrant worker picks strawberries in FloridaI once participated in a workshop where the opening statement was: “Jesus Christ is an alien!” They went on to explain that, being divine, Jesus alienated himself by taking on our human nature. This, of course, came from Paul’s letter to the Philippians with reference to Jesus who, being in the form of God, did not count equality with God something to be grasped. But he emptied himself, taking the form of a slave, becoming as human beings are...” (Phil 2:6-7).
Migration is a far-flung phenomenom of our times. Many people, differently from Jesus, are aliens in our world today – over 175 million people live in country other than their country of birth. Most moved, as did my grandparents, searching for a better life. Some found fulfillment in their dreams. Others became – and still become – prey to exploitation with loss of human dignity, abuse of their human rights, victims of violence and prostitution. Many die while journeying to their dreams.
Missionaries are among those who have migrated to other countries. Being sent, not to seek a better life for themselves but to bring the Gospel to others, required a sacrifice and put into perspective Jesus’ words: And everyone who has left houses, brothers, sisters, father, mother, children or land for the sake of my name will receive a hundred times as much, and also inherit eternal life (Mt 19:29).