The Netherlands: the bishops’ mourn plane crash victimsExpressions of consolation were conveyed to the parents, relatives and friends of the victims of the plane crash in Tripoli (Lybia) by Dutch bishops in a communiqué released May 12. In their message the bishops expressed their sympathy with the relatives, and said they will recite special prayers asking they be given support and comfort in their daily lives, to help them address this tragic loss. In the next days the parishes will call the faithful to pray in the parishes for the memory of victims and for the survivors. The Afriqiyah Airways airbus 330 that crashed in the airport of Tripoli had taken off in Johannesburg, South Africa. According to information supplied by the air company, 104 people were on board (93 passengers and 11 members of the crew). “The plane exploded right before landing and disintegrated”, said an officer in charge of security at the airport of Tripoli, who confirmed 103 deaths, (70 Dutch and 22 Libyan citizens). The sole survivor is a ten-year-old Dutch boy. England: the bishops’ good wishes to the new premier The good wishes and the prayers of the Catholic community of England and Wales to the new British Prime Minister, David Cameron, and to all of his new government coalition of conservatives and Liberal Democrats, the first in post-war era, were conveyed by archbishop Peter Smith, vice- president of the Bishops’ Conference of England and Wales in a communiqué issued May 12. “”On behalf of the Catholic community of England and Wales – Mgr. Smith writes – I would like to ensure the Prime Minister and his new government coalition of our prayers at the beginning of their work at the service of the common good of our society”. “”In expressing our best wishes to the new government – the archbishop goes on – it is good for all of us to recall that many of the deeply-rooted problems of our society may only be faced through a renewal of our shared values. A change for the better may not be left to politicians alone. It needs the contribution of all of us”. Clifford Longley, BBC commentator and advisor to the Catholic weekly “Tablet”, told SIR that this “might find favour with Catholics because of the Lib Dems, who take special care of the poorer ones”. Their programme includes a proposal to tax wealthy citizens, increase taxes on second homes and investments, and cut income tax for low-income brackets; a care for the poorer ones that reflects the concerns of the British Catholics. According to Longley “the fact that two parties reached an agreement is a good thing. They have different ideologies, but it is important for politics to be led by principles, not only by the need to form a government”. “The Churches appreciate the fact that today’s British politics is less controversial and aims at cooperation. An attitude that has not yet been understood by the tabloids, which keep stirring up divisions and looking for scandals”, concludes Longley. Romania: the beatification of Msgr. BogdanffyNext October 30 Roman Catholic bishop Szilard Ignac Bogdanffy (1911-1953), auxiliary of Oradea and Satu Mare, who died October 3 1953 at 42 in the prison of Aiud, will be beatified in the Roman-Catholic cathedral of Oradea, Romania. The bishop is the first martyr of the Romanian Church during Communism that is elevated to beatification. Past March 27 Benedict XVI authorized the Congregation for the Causes of the Saints to issue the decree on his martyrdom. This week the bishop of Oradea, Msgr. Laszlo Bocskei, met in Rome archbishop Angelo Amato, prefect of the same Congregation, to define the date and place of the ceremony. “The news of the beatification of bishop Bogdanffy – said Msgr. Ioan Robu, metropolitan archbishop of Bucharest and president of the Bishops’ Conference of Romania – is reason for joy in the entire Catholic Church in Romania. Msgr. Bogdanffy, as priest and bishop, served the dioceses of Oradea and Satu Mare. As a martyr for faith, he conveys joy to the entire Catholic Church”. He was consecrated to the office of bishop in clandestinity in 1949, soon after having been brought to prison, where he died in 1953. Msgr. Bocskei invited the Primate of Hungary, Cardinal Peter Erdö, to preside over the celebration.
