A March for Economic Freedom.

The numbers marching for Julius Malema's ANC Youth League March for Economic Freedom probably wasn't as many as he had hoped for but it does hi-light the issue of massive unemployment amongst young people in particular and the hopelessness of the situation of many people in our country.

The "demands" are secondary to "I need a job" and they are just political window dressing, Free Education, Free Electricity, Confiscate Land without compensation, change the Constitution to do so, Nationalise the Mines....that is all a smoke screen because it would make no difference to any of the unemployed on that march if the demands were acceded to overnight.

I have great sympathy for the need for Economic Justice, it's part of being a Catholic where the life and dignity of the human person with a preferential option for the poor and vulnerable goes way back before Leo XIII 's Rerum Novarum in 1891.  Benedict XVI's has of course expanded on this very recently but human nature always seems to get in the way.  In our democracy the politician must always pander to those who will put him into power, the poor and vulnerable, but seems never to have their interests at heart.  Julius Malema is an obvious example in terms of his wealthy lifestyle and yet his constituency don't seem to see the dichotomy.  I was much amused by his chanting "We want what the whites have got,"  when he personally has more than most whites!  He is just one example and if we look beyond our borders it seems to be almost universal that politicians are there for short-term personal gains rather than really helping the poor.

If we are really honest nobody likes the poor and homeless.  We hate being constantly harassed at every traffic light by a beggar or a hawker and wonder if they really want to steal from you.  They make me feel guilty and I admire St Francis of Assisi  more and more because of his personal courage in embracing not only the leper but also living with and caring for the outcasts of society, the poorest of the poor.  It's a humbling thought when you look out of the car window.

To end on a lighter note.  There is a fine British Anglican blog, a bit right wing for me, I must admit called Archbishop Cranmer.

I hasten to add that Thomas Cranmer has not risen from the flames which we Catholics were instrumental in lighting it is merely a namesake.  I found this illustration on the blog though as a Catholic I naturally dispute the date.

Leave the date as it stands and it could be a badge for the Ordinariate of Our Lady of Walsingham.

Caritas aids one million people in East Africa as Pope makes food crisis plea

Why aren't the Church's efforts better known?  This is an amazing achievement!

"Drought triggered the current crisis, but it’s as much a manmade as natural disaster." said Caritas Internationalis Humanitarian Director Alistair Dutton

Credits: Eoghan Rice/Trocaire

Pope Benedict XVI on Wednesday 5 October highlighted the plight of 13 million people at risk in East Africa’s ongoing food crisis. Somalia, Kenya, Ethiopia and other parts of the region face a severe food crisis caused by drought, conflict and social injustice. Somalia is the first famine of the 21st century, with hundreds of thousands of people in danger and one in three children suffering from malnutrition.

Pope Benedict urged the international community to tackle the humanitarian emergency. He invited everyone “to offer prayers and practical help for so many brothers and sisters so harshly tested, particularly the children in the region.”

The Caritas network of Catholic aid agencies is helping over one million people in East Africa’s food crisis, providing families with food, clean water, and a way to support themselves in the future. Caritas is developing and implementing programmes worth more than €30 million ($41 million).

Presented to Pope Benedict were Bishop Giorgio Bertin, Apostolic Administrator of Mogadishu and President of Caritas Somalia; Paolo Beccegato, Head of the International Department for Caritas Italy; Ken Hackett, outgoing CEO of Catholic Relief Services (a U.S. Caritas member), and Alistair Dutton, Caritas Internationalis Humanitarian Director.

“Caritas members all over the world have moved quickly to help prevent suffering in East Africa through our partners on the ground,” said Dutton. “We will continue to care for the hungriest and most vulnerable victims.

“Drought triggered the current crisis, but it’s as much a manmade as natural disaster. We must tackle chronic underdevelopment and help communities adapt to changing climates across the region. We must seek an end to conflict in Somalia if this is to be the only famine in East Africa this century.”

The Pontifical Council Cor Unum is hosting a meeting 7 October in the Vatican, inviting Catholic aid agencies including Caritas and representatives from the Church of England to discuss new efforts to tackle the crisis. In Ethiopia, Caritas and its church partners have distributed food to approximately 500,000 people and is providing clean water to an estimated 250,000 people. In Kenya and Ethiopia, diocesan partners run feeding centres for malnourished children. To aid refugees fleeing Somalia, Caritas members are working in refugee camps to build sanitation facilities like showers and latrines.

Because farmers have lost crops and livestock to the drought, Caritas is distributing drought-resistant seeds and is giving more than 10,000 animals to needy farmers. Ongoing programmes will improve water systems and train farmers in conservation techniques so that communities are more resilient in the face of extreme weather.

Veritas & an Evening Mass

I was in Cape Town for the Veritas Awards this weekend, flew down Saturday morning and back to Johannesburg Sunday morning.  It has nothing to do with our rather dreary Catholic Radio Station of the same name; it is South Africa's oldest and biggest wine competition.  Veritas' 21st Birthday and the slickest, best organised yet with over 400 people at a formal dinner.

Dave Hughes, NOT St Vincent

One of my fellow Catholics who has been involved as a judge and chairs the judging panel is Dave Hughes.  He was be-medalled to the degree that I thought he must be a Papal Knight at least but they were all medals relating to his drinking abilities.  For some years now he has organised a St Vincent's Day Mass, St Vincent of Saragossa, the Patron of Vineyards, 22nd January, and it is attended by Catholics and non-Catholics alike.  A very jolly day, apparently though I have never been in the Cape at the right time to attend it.


St Vincent was a deacon martyred during the Diocletian Persecution in Valencia.  Why wine?  I haven't a clue.  He also looks after brick makers and sailors, maybe wine is the common thread.  As you can see from the dalmatic he was a deacon and we know a surprising amount about him as his "Acts" were widely read in the 4th century.  Dave's initiative in establishing the St Vincent's Day Mass as an annual event is to be applauded.

The result of my trip was having to attend an evening Mass at St Theresa's Edenvale.  It's convenient to go to as you will have realised from previous trips and the Mass was fine with a good homily only to end with my least favourite sing-a-long, Shine, Jesus, Shine......what nonsensical words......


This surely makes a lot more sense....click on....anyone can join in.

Feast of St Francis of Assisi.

I've been reading on Ship of Fools a discussion on what to do on or near the Feast of St Francis.  So many churches, particularly in the States, seem to be filled with pets to be blessed!

This is what an Episcopalian in New York City has to say:

St. Francis day is the most well-attended service of the year at my place. Bigger than Easter or Christmas (sadly!), with nearly 3,000 in attendance. Almost all have pets with them (dogs mainly, but the odd ferret, parrot and fish) and there is a procession of animals up the aisle, including a baby elephant, yak, a tortoise, baby swans, and a macaw. There is also a liturgical dance troupe with giant flags, which I feel is a bit overkill, and is just a nightmare for the ushers, as they have to keep the dogs out of the aisles so the dancers don't trip. There is an Ecology Fair after the service where animal blessing stations are set up. I do find it very frustrating though, since it is so well-attended and we do nothing for membership or fundraising. The Dean doesn't even ask people to come back. Ugh! It is such a lost opportunity.







Poor St Francis!  The encounter with the leper, the embracing of poverty, his rejection by many, including his own father, the hard physical labour, the establishment of the OFM, the attempt to stop the crusade and his meeting with the Sultan, the stigmata....the list is endless and all reduced to blessing goldfish!

From The Testament of St. Francis:

“…the Lord gave me, and gives me still, such faith in priests who live according to the rite of the holy Roman Church because of their orders that, were they to persecute me, I would still want to have recourse to them…..And I act in this way because, in this world, I see nothing physically of the most high Son of God except His most holy Body and Blood which they receive and they alone administer to others. I want to have these most holy mysteries honored and venerated above all things and I want to reserve them in precious places.”

The new Missal is coming our way at the beginning of Advent but as we have been using the not completely revised version for the people's parts for a couple of years now hardly anyone will notice.  The Altar Missals are here and there is a little booklet for the laity, if they feel they need one, with the all the new words.  I think it'll be a bit of a damp squib as not many really listen to what the priest is saying anyway.  Not for us complaints about the translation of "calix" in the Canon!


Apparently the new lectionary is out at the end of the first quarter of next year and readings are from the Revised Standard Version rather than the Jerusalem Bible....I wonder why?