Category: Documents

Activists condemn govt rights abuses in its war on drugs, efforts to put down communist rebels

Joe Torres, Manila, Philippines
December 10, 2019

Church leaders in the Philippines called on Catholics to protect the “common home” and “uphold the right to life” on International Human Rights Day on Dec. 10.

In a statement, the social action secretariat of the Catholic bishops’ conference said the annual observance should serve as a reminder that care for life and the environment is a Christian duty.

The church leaders noted that environmental degradation brought about by “destructive and extractive industries” is a “violation of the right to life of many Filipinos.”

“We call on the Christian faithful and the Filipino people to stand together in defense of the environment and the right to life,” read the statement.

Hundreds of activists marked the observance of Human Rights Day in the Philippines by taking to the streets of major cities to dramatize their call for human rights protection.

The group Alyansa Tigil Mina (Stop Mines Alliance) voiced concern at what they described as “alarming threats” against human rights defenders.

Global Witness, an international human rights group, identified the Philippines as the most dangerous country for environmental and human rights defenders.

Human rights defenders have been attacked and in some cases killed by unknown assailants allegedly part of illegal logging, destructive mining and corrupt agribusiness operations.

“We are the victims of destructive mining practices. We only aspire for a better future for our families, but we have become targets,” said Malou Verano of Alyansa Tigil Mina.

The group called on the government “to stop endangering environmental defenders” and start holding accountable those behind the destruction of the environment.

Trade union workers also complained of “rampant labor rights violations” and the alleged crackdown on activists and government critics.

Protesters carried red-tag placards and wore red tags at the demonstrations to signify the red-tagging of government critics, including labor organizations. Red-tagging refers to the government accusing individuals and groups of being communist rebel sympathizers.

The 2019 Global Rights Index of the International Trade Union Confederation ranked the Philippines as among the bottom 10 of the world’s worst countries for workers.

Government blames communists

In a statement released to mark Human Rights Day, the presidential palace said the recruitment of young people “by groups that advance terrorism” has become a serious threat.

Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea said the government is committed to quelling the threat posed by communist groups that allegedly recruit children and youth as soldiers.

“Children and youth, mostly from indigenous communities and as young as 11 years old, are trafficked by local armed communists … and forced into becoming warriors,” he said.

Part of the government’s campaign to “quell this terrorist threat” is the closure of tribal schools, a move that has been criticized even by Catholic bishops.

President Rodrigo Duterte has repeatedly denounced human rights and human rights advocates, who have criticized him for his pronouncements and his bloody war on drugs.

November 21, 2019

Kairos Palestine expresses deep disappointment that U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo has announced—in a statement that disregards the Geneva Conventions, international law and widespread global consensus—a radical departure from U.S. policy regarding the illegal colonial activities of the State of Israel.

In asserting that the United States will no longer deem West Bank settlements, including those in East Jerusalem, to be “inconsistent with international law,” Secretary of State Pompeo contravenes a 1978 legal opinion by the State Department—upheld with bipartisan support of former administrations—which determined that “while Israel may undertake, in the occupied territories, actions necessary to meet its military needs and to provide for orderly government during the occupation, for reasons indicated above the establishment of the civilian settlements in those territories is inconsistent with international law.”

Secretary Pompeo went on to announce that this move by the United States should not be viewed as the U.S. “prejudging the ultimate status of the West Bank.”  Recent actions by the Trump administration belie this statement.  These actions include moving the U.S. embassy to Jerusalem, defunding UNRWA, shuttering the Palestinians’ office in Washington, D.C., attempts to redefine who may be considered a Palestinian refugee, and embracing Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu’s annexation plans.  All these moves, including what to date has been revealed of the Middle East peace plan put forward by Trump’s son-in-law and advisor Jared Kushner, have to be interpreted as U.S. attempts to force the capitulation of Palestinians to the will of the State of Israel.

In our holy text, the story is told of King Ahab coveting the vineyard of Naboth the Jezreelite (1 Kings 21).  When Naboth refuses the king’s offer to purchase the land which Naboth describes as his “ancestral inheritance”, a plot is launched in the king’s household to take the land by force.  A false charge is made against Naboth, which leads to his being stoned to death, after which King Ahab sets out to take possession of Naboth’s vineyard.  In the same way that the Lord instructed the Prophet Elijah to intervene and confront the king, Kairos Palestine asks its partners—people of faith and those of good will—to call on leaders of the U.S. government to reexamine its failed role as a facilitator of peace between Israel and Palestinians.

Secretary of State Pompeo and the government of the United States must understand that God’s community of justice, peace and provision for all—coming on earth as it is in heaven—may be delayed but will not be denied.  As stated in the document, Kairos Palestine: A Moment of Truth, “In the absence of all hope, we cry out our cry of hope.  We believe in God, good and just.  We believe that God’s goodness will finally triumph over the evil and hate and of death that still persist in our land.  We will see here ‘a new land’ and ‘a new human being’, capable of rising up in the spirit to love each one of his or her brothers and sisters.” (Kairos 10)

The Palestinian Christian initiative/ Kairos Palestine is initiated and led by Palestinian Christian leaders both clergy and lay people representing the different Christian denominations in Palestine

Email of Bishop Quevedo to Archbishop Valles

Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith Circular Letter to the Presidents of the Episcopal Conferences Regarding the Writings and Activities of Mrs Vassula Rydén

From the Vatican, 25 January 2007

Your Eminence / Your Excellency,

The Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith continues to receive requests for clarification in relation to the writings and activities of Mrs Vassula Rydén. These requests address in particular the import of the Notification of 6 October 1995, and the criteria to be considered by the local Church in judging whether the writings of Mrs Vassula Rydén may appropriately be disseminated.

In this regard, the Congregation wishes to state the following:

1) The Notification of 1995 remains valid as a doctrinal judgment of the writings examined.

2) Mrs Vassula Rydén, however, after dialogue with the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, has offered clarifications on some problematic points in her writings and on the nature of her messages which are presented not as divine revelations, but rather as her personal meditations (see Vassula Rydén: Letter of 26 June 2002, published in True Life in God, vol. 12, XXI-LI). From a normative point of view therefore, following the aforementioned clarifications, a case by case prudential judgment is required in view of the real possibility of the faithful being able to read the writings in the light of the said clarifications.

3) Finally, it remains inappropriate for Catholics to take part in prayer groups established by Mrs Rydén. Concerning the question of ecumenical meetings, the faithful are to follow the norms of the Ecumenical Directory, of the Code of Canon Law (canons: 215; 223, ‘ 2 and 383, ‘ 3) and of Diocesan Ordinaries.

Thanking you for your attention and with sentiments of esteem, I am

Yours sincerely in Christ,
William Cardinal Levada
Prefect
Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith
Circular Letter to the Presidents of the Episcopal Conferences Regarding the Writings and Activities of Mrs Vassula Rydén
From the Vatican, 25 January 2007

NOTIFICATION*

Many Bishops, priests, religious and lay people have sought an authoritative judgement from this Congregation on the activity of Mrs Vassula Ryden, a Greek Orthodox residing in Switzerland, who in speech and in writing is spreading in Catholic circles throughout the world messages attributed to alleged heavenly revelations.

A calm, attentive examination of the entire question, undertaken by this Congregation in order to “test the spirits to see whether they are of God” (cf. 1 Jn 4:1), has brought out – in addition to positive aspects – a number of basic elements that must be considered negative in the light of Catholic doctrine.

In addition to pointing out the suspect nature of the ways in which these alleged revelations have occurred, it is necessary to underscore several doctrinal errors they contain.

Among other things, ambiguous language is used in speaking of the Persons of the Holy Trinity, to the point of confusing the specific names and functions of the Divine Persons. These alleged revelations predict an imminent period when the Antichrist will prevail in the Church. In millenarian style, it is prophesied that God is going to make a final, glorious intervention which will initiate on earth, even before Christ’s definitive coming, ah era of peace and universal prosperity. Furthermore, the proximate arrival is foretold of a Church which would be a kind of pan-Christian community, contrary to Catholic doctrine.

The fact that the aforementioned errors no longer appear in Ryden’s later writings is a sign that the alleged “heavenly messages” are merely the result of private meditations.

Moreover, by habitually sharing in the sacraments of the Catholic Church, even though she is Greek Orthodox, Mrs Ryden is causing considerable surprise in various circles of the Catholic Church. She appears to be putting herself above all ecclesiastical jurisdiction and every canonical norm, and in effect, is creating an ecumenical disorder that irritates many authorities, ministers and faithful of her own Church, as she puts herself outside the ecclesiastical discipline of the latter.

Given the negative effect of Vassula Ryden’s activities, despite some positive aspects, this Congregation requests the intervention of the Bishops so that their faithful may be suitably informed and that no opportunity may be provided in their Dioceses for the dissemination of her ideas. Lastly, the Congregation invites all the faithful not to regard Mrs Vassula Ryden’s writings and speeches as supernatural and to preserve the purity of the faith that the Lord has entrusted to the Church.

Vatican City, 6 October 1995.

Joseph Card. Ratzinger
Prefect

Tarcisio Bertone, S.D.B.
Archbishop Emeritus of Vercelli
Secretary

* L’Osservatore Romano, English Edition, N. 43, 25 October 1995, Page 12.