Catholic News 2
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Bishop Cornelius Korir, the Bishop of Eldoret and Chairman of the Kenya Conference of Catholic Bishops-Catholic Justice and Peace (KCCB-CJPC) has asked religious groups and media to strive to unite Kenyans as general elections draw near.“Religious groups should handle the people well without division. At the same time, the media has to handle the voting well without causing chaos. Sometimes we are not aware that we are causing chaos. We don’t want this country to be divided again by ethnicity,” he said.The Bishop was speaking recently during a religious leaders and media engagement at Nairobi’s Sarova Stanley Hotel.He expressed regret that some sections of media and religious groups were at the forefront of promoting hatred during the 2008 General Elections. He emphasised that mistakes of the past should never be repeated.“In 2008 there were some media groups that were really promoting hatred... There were some Bishops who were not accepted in particu...
Bishop Cornelius Korir, the Bishop of Eldoret and Chairman of the Kenya Conference of Catholic Bishops-Catholic Justice and Peace (KCCB-CJPC) has asked religious groups and media to strive to unite Kenyans as general elections draw near.
“Religious groups should handle the people well without division. At the same time, the media has to handle the voting well without causing chaos. Sometimes we are not aware that we are causing chaos. We don’t want this country to be divided again by ethnicity,” he said.
The Bishop was speaking recently during a religious leaders and media engagement at Nairobi’s Sarova Stanley Hotel.He expressed regret that some sections of media and religious groups were at the forefront of promoting hatred during the 2008 General Elections. He emphasised that mistakes of the past should never be repeated.
“In 2008 there were some media groups that were really promoting hatred... There were some Bishops who were not accepted in particular areas because of the comments they made.” The Bishop added, “We would like to appreciate all Kenyans, all ethnic backgrounds. We are 44 communities in Kenya. How do we bring these 44 together? We have to acknowledge the ethnic background of each group. We have to acknowledge the gift God has given to each group,” Bishop Korir said.
Fr Lucas Ong’esa the Deputy Secretary General of KCCB called upon Kenyan media to play its role properly in ensuring peaceful elections.
“The role of media during (the) electioneering period is paramount... It is, therefore, our request that the media being part and one of the institutions in Kenya be part of the process that can ensure that there are free, fair, credible and peaceful elections,” he said.
The religious meeting brought together representatives from the Kenya Conference of Catholic Bishops (KCCB); Seventh-Day Adventists; National Muslim Leaders Forum (NAMLEF); Evangelical Alliance of Kenya (EAK); Hindu Council of Kenya; Interreligious Council of Kenya; Supreme Council of Kenya Muslims (SUPKEM); Organization of African Instituted Churches and the National Council of Churches of Kenya (NCCK).
Bishop Cornelius Korir is known in Kenya for his role in peace building among the warring pastoralist communities of northern Kenya.
(CISA in Nairobi)
Email: engafrica@vatiradio.vai
The head of the Indonesian Archdiocese of Semarang hosting the central event of the 7th Asian Youth Day (AYD) considers it a “huge blessing” for the local Church. Archbishop Robertus Rubiyatmoko of Semarang, noted that the AYD challenges the region’s Catholic community to put into practice the diocese’s missionary pastoral project for 2016-2035. "Our greatest concern is for the Church to give more room to our youth so that they can contribute more to the development and life of the Catholic Church," he told AsiaNews. The AYD got under way on Sunday with the preliminary ‘Days in the Dioceses’ (DID), where over 2000 young Catholic participants from 21 countries, including Indonesia, are being hosted in 11 of Indonesia’s 37 dioceses from July 30 to August 2. While living in local Catholic families, they will share and learn about the faith and also celebrate ...
The head of the Indonesian Archdiocese of Semarang hosting the central event of the 7th Asian Youth Day (AYD) considers it a “huge blessing” for the local Church. Archbishop Robertus Rubiyatmoko of Semarang, noted that the AYD challenges the region’s Catholic community to put into practice the diocese’s missionary pastoral project for 2016-2035. "Our greatest concern is for the Church to give more room to our youth so that they can contribute more to the development and life of the Catholic Church," he told AsiaNews.
The AYD got under way on Sunday with the preliminary ‘Days in the Dioceses’ (DID), where over 2000 young Catholic participants from 21 countries, including Indonesia, are being hosted in 11 of Indonesia’s 37 dioceses from July 30 to August 2. While living in local Catholic families, they will share and learn about the faith and also celebrate and interact with local communities and youth groups.
The young people will then converge in Yogyakarta city of Semarang Archdiocese for the main AYD event, August 2-6, which will include a variety of events such as adoration, confession, Mass, reflections, testimonies, workshops, group sharing, country exhibits and cultural performances. The theme of the 7th AYD is “Joyful Asian Youth: Living the Gospel in Multicultural Asia!”
AYD - 'huge blessing'
In his latest pastoral letter to the diocese, Archbishop Rubiatmoko stressed that "the 7th edition of AYD is a huge blessing for the archdiocese of Semarang." "We must have great confidence in young people and prepare them from now on to develop their skills so that they become community leaders in society," said the prelate whom Pope Francis appointed on March 18. The prelate urged all the bishops to work together with youth. "With them we must plan our pastoral apostolate and together with them we can create a culture of life and a civilisation of goodness."
AYD’s opening ceremony will take place at the Yogyakarta Convention Hall. The final ceremony will be held at the Indonesian Airforce Academy. Fr Johannes Dwi Harsanto, chairman of AYD Standing Committee, said that at least 20,000 young Indonesians from Java and all other parts of the country are expected for the closing event that will culminate with a Mass.
Messenger of evangelical joy
Bishop Pius Riana Prapdi, bishop of Ketapang, president of the Youth Commission of the Catholic Bishops' Conference of Indonesia (KWI), the presence of young Catholics from different nations and from many provinces of Indonesia is a symbol of what the Church represents: being the messenger of evangelical joy. "I am excited and I welcome all the participants coming to Yogyakarta,” he told AsiaNews.
The choice of Yogyakarta as the venue for the 7th AYD venue was obvious, given the city’s fame as a centre of education, fine art, culture, literature and popular art. Thousands of university students from many parts of the country converge in the multi-ethnic city.
Bishop Prapdi said that the AYD, held in various cities of the Asia since 1999, owes it to St. John Paul II who took young people seriously, recognizing their concerns and hopes. He thus challenged them to give their lives for Christ, launching out in the New Evangelization.
"Young Asians, the Catholic Church gives you the task of proclaiming to the world the joy that comes from the encounter with Christ,” Bishop Prapdi urged. “Welcome to Yogyakarta and enjoy this precious time to experience the evangelical joy in an atmosphere of pluralism and diversity in Indonesia," he added. (Source: AsiaNews)
The appointment of a Catholic woman to one of Bangladesh’s top bureaucratic posts has been welcomed with great enthusiasm by the minority Christian community of the predominantly Muslim nation. Nomita Halder from Shelabunia Church in Khulna Diocese was appointed acting secretary of the Expatriate Welfare and Overseas Employment Ministry. She is the first Christian in Bangladesh to hold such a high post in the civil service since independence from Pakistan in 1971. Halder had served as a personal secretary to Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina since 2014."Nomita Halder's appointment is a matter of joy and honor to minority Christians in Bangladesh,” noted Cardinal Patrick D’Rozario, Archbishop of Dhaka. “She has been very helpful to the church in times of need, and hopefully her new post will broaden the scope of her support to the community further," the cardinal said in remarks to UCANEWS.Nirmol Rozario, president of B...
The appointment of a Catholic woman to one of Bangladesh’s top bureaucratic posts has been welcomed with great enthusiasm by the minority Christian community of the predominantly Muslim nation. Nomita Halder from Shelabunia Church in Khulna Diocese was appointed acting secretary of the Expatriate Welfare and Overseas Employment Ministry. She is the first Christian in Bangladesh to hold such a high post in the civil service since independence from Pakistan in 1971. Halder had served as a personal secretary to Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina since 2014.
"Nomita Halder's appointment is a matter of joy and honor to minority Christians in Bangladesh,” noted Cardinal Patrick D’Rozario, Archbishop of Dhaka. “She has been very helpful to the church in times of need, and hopefully her new post will broaden the scope of her support to the community further," the cardinal said in remarks to UCANEWS.
Nirmol Rozario, president of Bangladesh Christian Association described Halder's appointment as an "inspiration" to the Christian community. "She has been appointed to the post deservedly. She has proved the notion that minorities can’t get top government posts is wrong,” Rozario told UCANEWS. “We had a state minister from the Christian community and now we have a secretary. It is not just a matter of joy but also a great source of inspiration," he said.
Muslims account for 90 percent of Bangladesh’s 160 million population. Hindus come next with 8 percent and the rest belong to other religions including Buddhism and Christians. The majority of the estimated 600,000 Christians are Catholic. (Source: UCAN)
PARIS (AP) -- French actress Jeanne Moreau, a smoky-voiced femme fatale who starred in Francois Truffaut's love triangle film "Jules and Jim" and whose award-winning, seven-decade career included work with some of the world's most acclaimed directors, has died. She was 89....
SEOUL, South Korea (AP) -- South Korea's latest leader took office at an uneasy moment in his country's history, inheriting the wreckage left by an ousted and excoriated predecessor. Among his lesser-noticed promises was a vow to improve quality of life in a society of long hours and hard work - to help break the chains to people's desks, to let them take a breath and relax a bit....
MOSCOW (AP) -- Russian President Vladimir Putin has demanded the United States cut its embassy and consulate staff in Russia by 755 people, underlining his displeasure with U.S. sanctions and heightening tensions between Washington and Moscow....
