CHURCHES IN BRIEF
Scotland: cardinal O’Brien’s tribute to BhattiCommemorating the first anniversary (March 2 2011) of the murder of Pakistani politician and human rights activist Shahbaz Bhatti, with a heartfelt appeal Cardinal Keith Patrick O’Brien, archbishop of St. Andrews and Edinburgh, primate of Scotland, called upon the faithful to continue the commitment in the defense of religious freedom. In a message that will be read out at a peace concert and rally in London on Saturday March 10, 2012, commemorating the first anniversary of Mr. Bhatti’s death Cardinal O’Brien said: “Shahbaz Bhatti was a truly remarkable hero whose legacy must live on in our own lives. The call of religious freedom was one he made his own and anyone who cares about the dignity of the human person will listen to his words". His Eminence drew attention to the Pope’s admiration for the "untiring battle for the rights of minorities" of the former Pakistani minister that "ended in his tragic death". The primate of Scotland recalled Bhatti’s last interview in which he spoke of the death threats he had received for campaigning against the blasphemy laws and about his own faith: "I want to share that I believe in Jesus Christ, who has given his own life for us. I know what is the meaning of [the] cross, and I am following the cross, and I am ready to die for a cause".England: mgr. Nichols on "Soho Masses"A note to shrug off criticism, guarantee full respect for the teaching of the Catholic Church as well as to reaffirm the "intention and purpose" of the pastoral provision for people of a same-sex orientation established by the Catholic Church of England 5 years ago. The pastoral provision is colloquially known as the "Soho Masses": these masses were established in 2007 by Card. Cormac Murphy O’Connor, Archbishop of Westminster at the time, and since then, they have been celebrated twice a month at the Church of Our Lady in Warwick Street. They are named after the Soho area where the Church is located. The initiative has attracted fierce criticism since a short video showing part of one the Masses was posted on YouTube. In a note released on 28 February, the Archbishop Vincent Nichols reaffirmed "the intention and purpose" of the provision. "That intention and purpose – he added – were clearly set out in the statement issued by the Diocese of Westminster in 2007 when the provision was started under the guidance of Cardinal Cormac Murphy O’Connor". Archbishop Nichols also referred to another significant document published in 1997 by Card. Hume, stressing that without a close reading of these two documents "the intention and purpose" of the Soho Masses cannot be understood. "These documents – he explained – outline three essential foundations: the dignity of all persons created by God; the moral principles concerning chastity and the Church’s teaching on sexual activity; and the pastoral care of Catholics who are of same-sex orientation. All who participate in the Mass are called to live the Church’s teaching through an ongoing conversion of life". In response to criticism, the Archbishop stressed: "These Masses are celebrated to ensure that their purpose is respected and that they are not occasions for confusion or opposition concerning the positive teaching of the Church on the meaning of human sexuality or the moral imperatives that flow from that teaching, which we uphold and towards which we all strive". In a note at the end of the statement, Archbishop Nichols made some remarks about the language to be used to describe homosexuality: "Whatever language is used, it is worth bearing in mind that the Church refuses to consider the person as a ‘heterosexual’ or a ‘homosexual’ and insists that every person has a fundamental identity: the creature of God and, by grace, his child and heir to eternal life". Ukraine: Lenten message of Sviatoslav Shevchuk"We should remember that fasting doesn’t only mean to limit food intake and entertainment. It means above all to abstain from sin, bad habits and passions. It is also a rejection of indifference, evil thoughts and selfishness", affirms His Beatitude Sviatoslav Shevchuk, head of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church (UGCC), in his Lenten pastoral message. His Beatitude invites all people "wounded by sins, burdened with infirmities and exhausted by daily chores, to rush into the arms of the Lord". His Beatitude points to the most important elements of the Great Lent: penance, prayer, and alms. "Refraining from entertainment during this time we should pay more attention to communication with God through participation in Lenten services in churches and through longer and more zealous prayer", writes the primate in his letter, wishing that the Lent gives all "a renewed spiritual life, awakening of Christian ardour, and love for God and neighbours in our parish communities and monasteries". Hungary: remembering victims of communismNationwide commemorations of victims of Hungary’s communist regime were held in Budapest on 25 February. The House of Terror Museum invited people to place flowers and light candles of remembrance, while the minister of defence Czaba Hende addressed participants of the event. He affirmed that only freedom "could give rise to cooperation, respect for human dignity and prosperity". According to the state secretary of the Justice Ministry Csaba Latorcai, young people should be encouraged to remember that the freedom their parents and grandparents had fought for is a gift which has to be guarded, while sharing responsibility for the future generations. Commemoration was associated with presentation of the award "Parma fidei", established in 2002 to appreciate efforts of the people within the Church who remained devoted to their faith and to Hungarian identity also during the communist regime. This year it was awarded to Catholic priest Istvan Katona, founder of the charismatic community Emmausz. He had been persecuted by the communists for his pastoral activities with youth and apostolate in massmedia, spending 2,5 years in prison for reproduction of religious documents without permission. "Dictatorships come and go, but the Church lives, the Church remains and after every dictatorship it becomes renewed, even more luminous", said the awardee, expressing gratitude for the prize.
