Month: March 2016

columns2016

Down from the cross and into our lives

Post author By Web administrator
Post date March 27, 2016

by Leela Ramdeen, Chair, CCSJ and Director, CREDI

“Jesus, who was crucified, is risen!…The message which Christians bring to the world is this: Jesus, Love incarnate, died on the cross for our sins, but God the Father raised him and made him the Lord of life and death. In Jesus, love has triumphed over hatred, mercy over sinfulness, goodness over evil, truth over falsehood, life over death.” – Pope Francis, April 20, 2014.

The quotation above is taken from Pope Francis’ Ubi et Orbi Easter Message in 2014, entitled: ‘Come and See’.
Inter alia, he said: “In every human situation, marked by frailty, sin and death, the Good News is no mere matter of words, but a testimony to unconditional and faithful love: it is about leaving ourselves behind and encountering others, being close to those crushed by life’s troubles, sharing with the needy, standing at the side of the sick, elderly and the outcast… ‘Come and see!’… Love is more powerful, love gives life, love makes hope blossom in the wilderness.”

Tags Easter

columns2016

Address racism: ‘the elephant in the room’

Post author By Web administrator
Post date March 20, 2016

“Every form of social or cultural discrimination in fundamental personal rights on the grounds of sex, race, colour, social conditions, language, or religion must be curbed and eradicated as incompatible with God’s design” (Gaudium et Spes, 29,2)

The world will observe The International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination tomorrow, March 21.
As UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon says, this “is an opportunity to renew our commitment to building a world of justice and equality where xenophobia and bigotry do not exist. We must learn the lessons of history and acknowledge the profound damage caused by racial discrimination.”
The theme this year is: Challenges and Achievements of the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action – 15 years after.

Tags racism

columns2016

Mercy – God’s ID card

Post author By Web administrator
Post date March 13, 2016

Today’s Gospel, John 8:1-11, reminds me of the title of Pope Francis’ first book: “The name of God is Mercy” (Jan. 12), in which he reveals his vision of God’s mercy in a series of interviews with Vatican reporter Andrea Tornielli (July 2015).

The Old Testament Law prescribed the death penalty for a long list of crimes, including adultery. John’s account demonstrates God’s mercy and reminds us that we are all sinners – saved by God’s loving mercy and by the sacrifice of His son on the cross. So, let us not judge others and appear to be self-righteous as the Scribes and Pharisees, who were hoping to trap Jesus. We are called to be merciful as our Father in heaven is merciful.

Tags mercy

columns2016

Celebrating the Feminine genius

Post author By Web administrator
Post date March 6, 2016

“Women don’t just bear life but transmit to us the ability to see otherwise, they see things differently…” Pope Francis

Tuesday, March 8, the world will observe International Women’s Day which, as the United Nations (UN) states “is a time to reflect on progress made, to call for change and to celebrate acts of courage and determination by ordinary women who have played an extraordinary role in the history of their countries and communities.”

Tags event, women