Quotes and news

Ten priests, one sister and one lay pastoral worker were murdered in 2012, according to Fides, the news agency of the Congregation for the Evangelisation of Peoples. Six were killed in Latin America, four in Africa and two in Asia.

Most were killed in attempted robbery: Some discovered thieves in their homes and their bodies were found with signs of torture and cruelty. Others were attacked in the street and robbed of their belongings or their car.

The Congregation does not propose “to use the term ‘martyrs’, since it is up to the Church to judge their possible merits and also because of the scarcity of available information in most of cases, with regard to their life and even the circumstances of their death”.

Children as God’s gifts

During his message on the occasion of the feast of the Holy Family, Pope Benedict XVI offered a special prayer for “all the families of the world”, encouraging parents to ensure the proper education of their children and especially to be mindful “that faith is a precious gift to be nourished in their children through personal example”.

The Pope reminded parents that they are “neither the friends nor masters of their children’s lives, but the guardians of this incomparable gift from God”.

The Pope also prayed that every child is welcomed as a gift from God.

Pope’s prayer intentions

The Pope’s prayer intentions for January are:

“That in this Year of Faith, Christians may deepen their knowledge of the mystery of Christ and witness joyfully to the gift of faith in him.

“That the Christian communities of the Middle East, often discriminated against, may receive from the Holy Spirit the strength of fidelity and perseverance.”

Vatican supports Monti

L’Osservatore Romano said Mario Monti’s participation in the Italian election was “an appeal to restore the highest and most noble sense of politics”. His government would emphasise “care for the common good”, the newspaper said.

The position of the Vatican’s semi-official paper was considered by many as a statement of the Church’s support for Monti’s new political formation.

Political opponents of Monti made fun of the endorsement, saying the Vatican newspaper had on previous occasions supported Silvio Berlusconi, who was embroiled in a number of sex scandals.

But Cardinal Angelo Bagnasco, president of the Italian bishops’ conference, supported the editorial stance, saying that “the honesty and ability of Monti has been commonly recognised”.

Pakistan persecution

The Pakistani Bishops Conference’s Justice and Peace Commission has reported that nine places of worship were damaged, destroyed or looted in the country last year.

Fides said five churches, three Hindu temples and a mosque of the Islamic sect of the Ahmadi were attacked in 2012.

Officials with the Justice and Peace Commission urge the adoption of a ‘specific law’ similar to existing legislation for the protection of women, to safeguard minorities against acts of violence.

Vatican Radio reported that last December, Swedish Christian charity worker Bargetta Almby was killed by gunmen in Pakistan. Almby, 72, was managing director in Pakistan of Full Gospel Assemblies, a Church fellowship founded in the US.

(Compiled by Fr Joe Borg)