JPIC_en
Justice, Peace and Integrity of Creation
Forgive us our debts!
From 22 to 24 of April, I participated in Uberlandia, a city of Minas Gerais, in the Regional Prison Pastoral Assembly, an annual meeting that brings together all representatives of the State of Minas Gerais who work in this ministry. The theme was: Ecumenism, Justice and Mercy.
A justice who is the mother of peace, justice that is done with Mercy and Truth, justice is not only done with reason, not only with the heart, but Justice which is reason and heart together.
Justice often suffer from a stifling bureaucracy, old and conservative, a corruption that is evil in the world, who forgets to be restorative, seeking the good of all, to be punitive and elitist. There is an African proverb that says “in the trials you should go with a sewing needle and not with a knife to cut”, a justice that works to bring the lost humanity, even when you are guilty, because only through an act of mercy and not of condemnation will come the change, life and hope. If I did not believe it, I could not do my missionary service in the Prison Pastoral Care, where three times a week I meet the prisoners of male and female prison. It is my daily Gospel, where the wounds of guilt bleed and cause pain to whom committed the crime and to whom received it: “Forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors”.
To know how to forgive, to listen, through a journey that is done together, guilty and victim, through a reconciliation that completely changes your life, the weight of guilt and the weight of hatred.
In the days of the Assembly, I strongly felt my commitment to this path, as well as my colleagues who volunteer in prisons. None of us receives a salary, or admiration from people, on the contrary, they see us as “friends of the bandits and vagabonds” because the prisoners are considered the world’s waste, an evil to be eradicated rather to recover.
Everything we do is the result of our passion and our conviction of faith for a prison which can educate and not just punish, which can be more dignified and respectful, who knows how to create mercy and peace.
Brazil ranks fourth among countries with the highest number of prisoners in the world, after the United States, Russia and China. Human rights are not welcome in Brazilian prisons and other prisons in the world, this is also our “struggle” for full recognition.
Overcrowding, nonexistent sanitation, mice make detainees company, physical and psychological violence, illegal activities. All this happens when you visit prisons, where humanity and legality have no meaning in a complete contradiction with a structure create to rebuild and secure these values. These are the reflections, proposals and commitments we talked in our meeting, which encouraged and inspired our YES to this pastoral, remembering that there is no crime or sin that can eliminate man from the heart of the Merciful God.
Emma, CLM
Starts the cause of beatification of Father Ezekiel Ramin
The diocesan phase of the beatification process of “Servant of God” Father Ezekiel Ramin – already proclaimed “martyr of charity” by Pope John Paul II – began with the first public meeting on Saturday 9 April in the Italian city of Padua. Father “Lele” Ramin, a Comboni Misionary of Padua, died on July 24, 1985 in Cacoal, Brazil. Research on the reputation of holiness, based on the “super martyrdom” shows an awareness that the religious died in defense of its own faith, of peace and justice.
The work on the rogatory process opened in the church of the Comboni Missionaries in Via San Giovanni Verdara in Padua, with the institution of the court on the process “super martyrdom” and the oath of components. After a moment of prayer, Archbishop Pietro Brazzale, general coordinator of the rogatory presented the motivations and meaning. This was followed by the oath of Bishop Claudio Cipolla and members of the Tribunal for the diocesan rogatory: the delegate judge Mgr Giuseppe Zanon; the promoter of justice Fr. Antonio Medio; notary attorney of the minutes, Mariano Paolin, and notary and deputy general coordinator of the rogatory, Msgr. Pietro Brazzale.
Acceptance for a Better Europe
Forty Comboni Missionaries and Comboni Sisters stationed in the provinces of Europe took part in the Limone Symposium 2016, an event organized by the European Group of Theological Reflection that took place at St. Daniel Comboni’s birthplace on the shores of Lake Garda in Limone, Italy from March 29 to April 2. The topic for this year was, “Migration and Mission.” Refugees ad migrants must be treated s brothers and sisters and seen as an opportunity for building a more pluralistic society and for strengthening inter-religious dialogue. The European Union should stop the sale of weapons and should instead foster an end to injustice and war. What follows is the Statement of the Comboni Family, signed by the participants of the Symposium.
A Statement of the Comboni Family
ACCEPTANCE FOR A BETTER EUROPE
At the conclusion of the Symposium of Limone on Lake Garda 2016 (March 29-April 2, 2016), held on the topic of “Mission and Migration,” we, Comboni Missionaries, Comboni Missionary Sisters, Secular and Lay Comboni Missionaries working in various countries in Europe, want to express our solidarity with our brothers and sisters who come to us as they flee from war, persecution, dictatorships and environmental crises.
We state that accepting the stranger, as Pope Francis has strongly underlined = “refugees are the living flesh of Christ” – is a fundamental dictate of the Gospel. We also wish to stress that our openness to others, to their cultural and religious diversity is a source of growth which enriches our identity as human beings and as Christians.
We worry about the increase of prejudice and of feelings of Islamophobia in our society, peddled by politicians and intellectuals who, by way of gross simplifications, do not seem to want to distinguish between Islam and Islamic terrorism, often insinuating that violence is part of the very fabric of the religion of Islam. This prejudice and these hostile stands strengthen feelings of exclusion in our Muslim brothers and sisters. The consequences are particularly destructive among the young members of second-generation immigrants, who more easily than others may end up joining the ranks of the Islamic State.
We unequivocally state our commitment in favor of inter-religious dialogue, of the deeper understanding of other faiths, and our common stand in the rebuilding of a society based on respect for diversity and religious plurality. We can only envision the existence of a pluralistic humankind.
As members of the Comboni Family in Europe we wish to express our total condemnation of the recent agreement on migration between the European Union and Turkey (March 18, 2016). The closing of borders by several European countries in order to block the entrance of refugees and the deportation of so-called illegal immigrants is a clear violation of international agreements legalizing the right of asylum. We believe that the presence of immigrants in our countries is a social, cultural and even economic asset.
While Europe is busy building walls to block the exodus of refugees – exodus determined mainly by wars in the Middle East and in Libya – too little is being done to put an end to these conflicts that are the reason for this forced migration. Therefore, we demand that our governments stop the sale of weapons to warring nations and exercise pressure on these countries so that they may arrive to a peaceful solution.
As members of the Comboni Family we apologize for our silence as we face the scandal of the race towards global rearmament. We recognize our complicity with this financial-economic system that allows a few to own almost everything, thus robbing a large segment of humankind of what is necessary, a system that needs weapons and wars in order to survive.
As Christians, disciples of Jesus of Nazareth, we renew our commitment to the building of a more just and livable world for all.
Limone sul Garda, Italy
Saturday, April 2, 2016
In the confines of human trafficking
On March 5th, in the house of the Divine Word Missionaries in Lisbon, we participate in the seminar on “Human Trafficking” organized by CAVITP and guided by Sister Gabriella Bottani, Italian Comboni Missionary Sister.
Human trafficking is a complex reality that violent life of specific individuals, their families and communities. An approach, smart, with heart, courage, structured, professional and above all networking is required.
It was no accident that the phrase chosen for the opening of the meeting was “Put out into deep water, and let down the nets for a catch” (Lk 5,4).
So we ask: What are these deeper waters in our lives: our trust in God, our fears and weaknesses, our look at the wounds of our brothers, the love to God and the neighbor…?
The network presented, it was concrete. Founded in 2009, the “Talita Kum” network is the International Network of Consecrated Life Against Trafficking in Persons. An international network of networks, which brings desires and expertise in the fight against this scourge that destroys many lives.
The approach to this problem has many facets.
In prevention rather than warn of the dangers that may lurk behind an attractive work offer from the other side of the world, mind giving prospects happy life in the place where people live, propose alternatives that engage positively the people on a project of meaningful life.
The warning must be launched at various levels, especially in education. Because we all have to do with this, in community, warn of situations, complaint, the protection of victims and relatives (two sides of a reality that can be separated by thousands of kilometers).
The study and research of the phenomenon are also crucial for a methodical and increasingly coordinated and effective action, multidisciplinary… because the resolution of the problems caused to the lives of people is never limited to policing. A psychological, sociological, spiritual view, a comprehensive care that cannot be limited in the short term is required.
During the meeting, some real testimonies of people rescued from trafficking networks were also presented. True stories that tell the greatness of the victims who crossed oceans of pain and fear and were able to return to life… no doubt with many scars, but standing examples of courage and a sign of hope for us all.
I was especially impressed by the testimony of a mother to see her daughter back home and still labeled and stigmatized by the community of origin exclaiming with pain: …but she’s my daughter!
How different will be the world, when we would be able to look at all the victims in such a way … with a look of love. We will be truly contemplative then because, as Pope Francis says, who loves contemplates (cf. EG 199).
Finally, as a challenge, I share here the challenge of Talitha Kum network on what each of us can do to join this cause. Let us do it!
What can you do to help?:
- Learn about human trafficking in the world and in your country.
- Contact and meet organizations in your country that are committed against human trafficking.
- Participate as a volunteer in prevention activities and political denunciation.
- Support this cause with prayer.
- Support and participate in campaigns against trafficking.
- Buy products in centers of socio-economic reintegration of survivors of trafficking.
- Support financially.
“If you want to go fast, go alone.
If you want to go far, go together”.
(African Proverb)
Pedro Moreira, CLM
