Bishop Oliver Dashe Doeme of Maiduguri Diocese has described the situation of Nigerians in the Boko Haram affected states of the Northeastern region as “a pathetic state of human degradation, with the government watching helplessly-on, in spite of their claiming to be on top of the situation.”
Bishop Doeme made this assertion during a recent interview with Aid to the Church in Need, an International Catholic agency which provides assistance to the suffering and persecuted church in more than 140 countries of the world, under the guidance of the Holy See.
The Bishop disclosed that the unchallenged take-over of many towns and villages in the northeast part of Nigeria has resulted in many thousands of Internally Displaced People (IDP’s), with some of them living in caves and in the forest. Some have sought refuge in houses of well-wishers and church buildings in areas that are still safe from attacks by the Boko Haram terrorists. Other people have fled to neighbouring Cameroun for safety. Bishop Doeme regretted that most of the people are facing difficult living conditions because of lack of food, shelter and medication. He noted that “people are dying every day and in most cases with no one to give them a decent burial – they are left to rot; their homes and properties looted,” adding that “people have become slaves and prisoners in their homeland.”
Bishop Doeme is saddened by the fact that life has become so cheap in the northeastern area that it can be wasted at any moment as the government was no longer capable of safeguarding the lives of its citizens. To stress his point, he made a startling analogy when he said, “We used to think that salt is the cheapest commodity on the market – life is cheaper now, especially in the northeastern part of Nigeria.”
Bishop Doeme strongly believes that the Boko Haram insurgency has religious undertones even if both Moslems and Christians have been affected by the group’s unrelenting campaign of terror. “We might shy away from it and we may be silent, unable to speak up – at least for now – against this push to Islamise the northeast and eventually all of Nigeria. But what we are witnessing in Adamawa state is a clear confirmation of the pursuit of this agenda.” The Bishop added:
According to the Bishop, government funds earmarked for victims of terrorism seldom reach the actual people on the ground. It is for this reason that the Catholic Church has been making efforts to offer as much assistance to the victims. He disclosed that his diocese has been involved in providing essential relief services for some of the victims of displaced by the Boko Haram insurgency. He says, the Diocese of Maiduguri has given some relief materials to over 1, 500 Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) and it has joined hands with Yola Diocese to assist those who have taken refuge there.” He continues, “In the spirit of ecumenism, we have even assisted refugees in Maiduguri whether they are Christians or Moslems.”
Bishop Doeme however noted that the capacity of the diocese to provide the needed charitable work has been stretched to the utmost and the diocese was unable to cope. He appealed for more external assistance to help alleviate the difficult situation of IDPs, “especially of children who are not in school, are prone to diseases and face an uncertain future”.
The people urgently need water, food, clothes, shelter and medical care, the Bishop says.
CNSNigeria
e-mail: engafrica@vatiradio.va
(from Vatican Radio)…
(Vatican Radio) Pope Francis has appealed to international and local leaders to take action to protect and support persecuted Christians in various parts of the world; he expressed his closeness to the people of Mexico for the disappearance of a group of students who have allegedly been killed by drug traffickers; and he recalled the 30 th anniversary of the peace treaty between Argentina and Chile invoking dialogue and peacemaking for all peoples locked in conflict.
Listen to the report by Linda Bordoni :
In a series of appeals issued during the weekly General Audience, the Pope spoke off- the-cuff to various language groups present in St. Peter’s Square.
In Spanish he turned to pilgrims from Mexico expressing his sorrow for what appears to be the (legal?) disappearance “even although we know they have been murdered” – of 43 students. This renders visible – the Pope said – “the dramatic reality of crime that exists behind the selling and trafficking of drugs”.
And turning to a group of Chilean soldiers, Pope Francis said that in these days we mark the 30 th anniversary of the signing of the peace treaty between Argentina and Chile. Borders – he said – are clear: “let us not continue to argue about borders. Let us argue about other things, but not about this!” And he noted that the signing of the treaty came about thanks to dialogue. “Only when the will for dialogue exists, things are resolved” he said. And he expressed gratitude to “Saint John Paul II and to Cardinal Samorè who did so much to obtain peace for us”.
Let us hope that all peoples locked in conflict of any kind, including cultural borders – Pope Francis said – “make a commitment to resolve their issues at the table of dialogue and not through the cruelty of war”.
And finally speaking in Italian, Pope Francis said he is following with great trepidation the dramatic situation of Christians who “in various parts of the world are persecuted and killed for their religious faith”. He said he feels the need to express his “deep spiritual closeness to Christian communities who are harshly persecuted with an absurd violence that does not give signs of abating”. Encouraging pastors and faithful to be firm and united in hope, “once again” – the Pope said – “I turn to those who have political responsibility both on a local and on an international level, as well as to all persons of goodwill, with a heartfelt appeal to engage in a vast mobilization of consciences in favour of persecuted Christians. They have the right to once again find security and serenity in their own countries, freely professing our faith” he said.
(from Vatican Radio)…
(Vatican Radio) Pope Francis today urged bishops, priests and deacons always to be humble and to recognize that their ministry is an unmerited gift of God’s mercy.
Speaking at the weekly General Audience in St. Peter’s Square, the Pope said the Lord continues to shepherd his flock with love through the ordained ministry of bishops, priests and deacons.
Recalling the Pastoral Epistles the Apostle Paul sent to his disciples Timothy and Titus in which he highlights human qualities such as the capacity to be welcoming, sober, patient, meek, reliable and good of heart as absolute necessities as well, of course, as the gifts of faith and holiness for those who receive the gift of vocation.
No bishop, priest or deacon – the Pope said – must assume an authoritarian attitude, and behave as if his community were his own property and personal reign.
The acknowledgment – he continued – that his ministry is a gift and a grace, helps a pastor never to fall into the temptation of putting himself at the center of attention or of relying only upon himself, Francis said.
A bishop, priest or deacon must never assume that he knows all, always has the right answer and never has to ask for help. To the contrary – the Pope said – he must always be humble and understanding towards others, he must listen to his people and be aware that he always has something to learn, even from those who may still be far from faith and from the Church.
Let us thank the Lord – Pope Francis concluded – for this ministry in the Church, and pray that our ordained ministers may always be sustained in their efforts to be living icons of the Father’s loving concern for all his children.
Please find below the English synopsis of the Pope’s catechesis :
Dear Brothers and Sisters: In our catechesis on the Church, we have seen that the Lord continues to shepherd his flock with love through the ordained ministry of bishops, priests and deacons. Today we consider the qualities demanded of these ministers in their service to Christ and the Church. In addition to the essential gifts of firm faith and holiness, Saint Paul lists such human qualities as kindness, gentleness, patience, prudence and attentive concern for others. These gifts too are required for the exercise of spiritual leadership. In a special way, Paul urges the Church’s ordained ministers to rekindle constantly the gift of God which they have received. For it is only by acknowledging that their ministry is an unmerited gift of God’s mercy that bishops, priests and deacons can serve their brothers and sisters with humility, generosity, wisdom and compassion, and thus build up the Church’s communion in faith and love. Let us thank the Lord for the gift of this threefold ministry in the Church, and pray that our ordained ministers may always be sustained in their efforts to be living icons of the Father’s loving concern for all his children.
(from Vatican Radio)…
(Vatican Radio) “It was a very special day for me being the representative of Ireland here at the Holy See”, says Ambassador Emma Madigan, who presented her credentials to Pope Francis in a private meeting Tuesday morning at the Vatican.
In doing so, Ambassador Madigan becomes the first woman to hold the position and re-establishes the resident embassy to the Holy See from Ireland in Rome. The Irish government closed the embassy in November 2011 citing economic reasons. In the intervening years relations were maintained by a non-resident Ambassador.
Speaking to Emer McCarthy, the Ambassador describes her welcome as “a great experience”: “I was received very warmly by Pope Francis although the ceremony itself around the credentials was formal, the discussion itself was informal and it was a very relaxed conversation”.
Listen:
The Ambassador says that this conversation “covered many things. We spoke of priorities that are very dear to Ireland such as our development program, our concern regarding the plight of Christians and other religious minorities in the world today. I was able to update Pope Francis on talks in Northern Ireland and of course on recent developments in Ireland more broadly”.
Ambassador Madigan said Pope Francis “responded very well to the updates I was giving him and expressed very warm interest in our development program, which perhaps in many ways chimes with his own messages in ensuring that the vulnerable and marginalized are not left behind”.
According to the Ambassador Ireland is currently in the process of “reviewing its own foreign policy” in the context of “trying to achieve a more fair just and stable world, making sure vulnerable and marginalized are not left behind, for example the disabled, the unemployed youth and, of course, these are also priorities of Pope Francis so he responded with great interest”.
On a more personal note the Ambassador says what she wasn’t expecting was the Pope’s sense of humor, “we had a few laughs, he had a very open and very warm approach to me. After the ceremony he met my husband and son and he gave my son a high five”.
Ms. Madigan concludes that it was “a special day to be able to bring the best wishes of the President of Ireland and the Government of Ireland to Pope Francis and ensure him of our continuing support and the ever deepening relations between Ireland and the Holy See”.
Previously Ambassador Madigan was Assistant Chief of Protocol in the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. Throughout her 14 year career, she has also served as Vice Consul in New York, Private Secretary to the Secretary General and Deputy Director of Europe and UN Coordination Section.
Ambassador Madigan has a degree in History and Italian and a Masters in European Studies from University College Dublin.
(from Vatican Radio)…
(Vatican Radio) “To lose Christianity from the birthplace of Christianity” in the Middle East “would be to lose the richness of the tapestry of this pluralist region:” that’s according to Jordan’s Prince El Hassan bin Talal who granted an exclusive interview to Vatican Radio’s Tracey McClure at the Royal Palace in Amman.
Listen to Part I of this two part interview with HRH Prince El Hassan bin Talal:
Speaking of Islamic State militants ( Daesh in Arabic) as the “cold-hearted, dead hearted human beings in name only” who are killing and terrorizing both Muslims and Christians in Iraq and Syria, His Royal Highness said “the fact that the Christians are suffering is abhorrent to all of us, but the reality is that we are one community: Christians of Arab culture, Muslims of Arab culture. We have built the wombs of civilization over thousands of years together. Inasmuch as losing Jews of Arab culture would also do the same.”
“It is absolutely essential to recognize that we have to develop a new template of hope,” he added.
In this, Part I of a two-part interview, Prince El Hassan called for the establishment of a “Vatican-type consultation” comprising the juridical schools of Sunni and Shia Islam and the Ibadi (Oman and Algeria) to be held in the holy city of Mecca, “the capital of all Muslims.” Asked if the creation of such a central Islamic authority in Mecca is a key factor to the efficacy of interreligious dialogue, his Royal Highness replied that it will create “a point of reference for discussion with the Vatican and with religious and holy cities.”
“The symbolism of Mecca is wasted if we do not create such a dialogue which is in the word ‘shura,’ (consultation) a part of Muslim belief.” He also urged the creation of a “universal zakat” or charitable foundation that “could put the smile on the face of millions of people. After all, let us not forget that 70% of the world’s refugees are Muslims! What are we wealthy Muslims doing about it?” And, “If there is money being spent, it’s being spent on the very weapons that we’re bombing each other with.”
Prince El Hassan, who has been at the forefront of interfaith dialogue for many years, visited Pope Francis in the Vatican in September. He expressed his hope that Pope Francis’ possible visit next year to the United Nations would offer the opportunity for the world to call for a “new international, binding, humanitarian order that proscribes conflict, that prescribes the creation of humanitarian interventions.”
Jordan, a country which historically has welcomed millions of Palestinian and other refugees, has been struggling over the last three years to offer hospitality to more than 1.5 million refugees who have fled the conflict in neighboring Syria. Since Daesh’s savage campaign last summer to rid Iraq of its ancient Christian community, the Kingdom has also received some 5 thousand Iraqi Christian refugees who escaped from Mosul and the Ninevah Plains. The rising number of refugees has put considerable strain on the population of Jordan which now approaches 11 million.
Prince El Hassan reflected on the humanitarian crisis facing the region: “I don’t think there is going to be any more room for refugee camps anywhere in the region. I don’t believe in refugee camps. I believe in humanitarian zones to be set up on the borders of Jordan, Lebanon, Iraq, Saudi Arabia and Turkey respectively. I think that the sooner that these are set up also on Syrian soil the better.”
Christian aid and development agencies like Caritas Jordan are doing what they can to help the Muslim and Christian victims of conflict. Prince El Hassan described them as Christians with a capitol “C:” “armies of volunteers, professional doctors and nurses,” and other experts trying to “wage peace” in a world at war. He praised them as “wonderful, noble people who are doing their utmost for the persecuted of this world.”
He warned that global warming will affect the homes and livelihoods of millions of people, setting tens of millions “on the move.” Statelessness which has affected at least ten million people, is another “issue that has to be tackled,” he added.
“We are living the consequences of war,” the Prince affirmed, and the “bitterness being created” has not been adequately taken into consideration by politicians who have failed to make human dignity and justice their top priorities. “If people continue to live in misery, there is no doubt that whatever Daesh will be (within the next few years) or whatever succeeds it in terms of the hatred industry, will have new recruits. And this is what I find so terrible.”
Part II of Tracey McClure’s interview with HRH Prince El Hassan bin Talal will be published later this week.
—————————————————-
Below please find a transcript of Part I of Tracey McClure’s interview with His Royal Highness Prince El Hassan bin Talal:
Q Your Royal Highness, Jordan is now dealing with a huge refugee crisis with more than a million and a half Syrian refugees, now we are seeing also an influx of Iraqi Christians – the figures are around five thousand – who have come into the country. How is Jordan coping under this big strain?
A. “The strain is further accentuated by the fact that not only the figures that you mentioned have made the population of Jordan approach 11 million people, were it not for the 1967 war, we would have been 2 and a half million people in 1992. So we have almost quadrupled the expectations and thirty-two thousand, according to the civil status bureau, Syrian children have been born in Jordan during this crisis from 2011 to 2014. So if you consider seven years down the road, if people continue to live in misery, there is no doubt that whatever Daesh (Islamic State) will be by that time or whatever succeeds it in terms of the hatred industry, will have new recruits. And this is what I find so terrible. I personally have been involved with refugee situations: in 1967, the refugee situation in 1990 – just to name two instances where hundreds of thousands of Jordanians have either been repatriated forcibly, out of the Gulf region as in the case of 1990, or were forcibly evicted from Gaza in the post 1967 period. We had a caring capacity from 1948 to 1967: we gave citizenship. But today, I don’t think there is going to be any more room for refugee camps anywhere in the region. I don’t believe in refugee camps. I believe in humanitarian zones to be set up on the borders of Jordan, Lebanon, Iraq, Saudi Arabia, and Turkey respectively. I think that the sooner that these are set up on Syrian soil the better.”
Q I’ve just come from seeing several of the operations run by Caritas, the Catholic humanitarian aid and development agency. They are working very hard to do what little they can – they are not a big organization. How is the Jordanian government cooperating with small organizations, Christian organizations like Caritas that are trying to help meet the needs of the refugees?
A. “I think that there is a very deep appreciation of the fact that these Christian – and I mean it with a capital “C” – organizations are working in a sense as Henry Dunant put it however, the founder of the Red Cross: “to make war more humane.” Now, I know that they feel that this is all they can do. I know that they are not an army waging war; they are armies of volunteers, professional doctors and nurses, infrastructure experts who have travelled the world to try and “wage peace.” But unfortunately, the politics of this mad world in which we live presents us with a reality that the world is at war. So, I think that the sooner we start to look at the issue of human dignity as a region, the sooner we have a real census of who is a mobility stakeholder, who is a national stakeholder, and how many tens of millions of people are going to become that way as a result of man-made disasters for example, the (ed. rising sea level) of the Mediterranean means that 45 million Egyptians are going to be on the move by 2030. Drought in Iran means another 45 million people will be on the move by 2030, so that’s 90 million people before you can say, “peace be upon you!”
“Over and above that, is the legacy of over twenty million refugees and stateless persons. Statelessness today has been recognized by the United Nations as an issue that has to be tackled and that there are ten million stateless people. I think that the figures are understated. I don’t think that anybody really cares at the political level, (about) the consequences of war. And we are living the consequences of war and I think that the bitterness that is being created is a direct result not of the work of these wonderful, noble people who are doing their utmost for the persecuted of this world but I think politicians unfortunately have not given human dignity and the call for justice which we just made to the United Nations, as one of the millennium development goals. I find it extraordinary that the call for justice does not even exist in the Millennium Development Goals. Something has to be done and this is where I feel that Pope Francis has stated it very clearly: that inflexible hostility is simply no way to run human affairs.”
Q I’ve spoken to some Jordanians today and when they heard that I was coming to see you, they said: “We love Prince El Hassan! He has been so respectful of the Christians and of pluralism in the Middle East!” Yet, they also expressed much concern and dismay that the Muslim world did not speak out more strongly against the violence perpetrated by extremist organizations like Daesh against Christians in Iraq. What more can the Muslim community do to condemn these practices?
A. “I think the attitude towards the Mujahedin who were supported by the United States when the United States supported the invasion of Afghanistan by Pakistan and by Gulf supported organizations, followed by the Taliban, followed by the creation by the Qaeda, followed by the creation of the Ansar (al-Islam) followed by the creation of Daesh… it seems to me that one, what should be done, is to establish a Vatican-type consultation in Mecca. Mecca represents one and a half billion Muslims. The Daeshes of this world are cold-hearted, dead-hearted human beings in name (only) who are killing Muslims, who are putting to flight and to refuge Muslims even (moreso than) Christians. The fact that the Christians are suffering is abhorrent to all of us, but the reality is that we are one community: Christians of Arab culture, Muslims of Arab culture. We have built the wombs of civilization over thousands of years together. And to lose Christianity from the birthplace of Christianity would be to lose the richness of the tapestry of this pluralist region. Inasmuch as losing Jews of Arab culture would also do the same. So I think that it is absolutely essential to recognize that we have to develop a new template of hope. And in that context, I hope that when Pope Francis visits the United Nations next year, that the world ecumenical community – and I am coming to Rome quite soon for further conversations between the Pontifical Council (for Interreligious Dialogue) and Muslims from all over the world – that the world calls for a new international, binding humanitarian order that proscribes conflict. That prescribes the creation of humanitarian interventions if we want to be a civilized region in the world. We are only a region in name. There are three strong countries: Israel, Turkey and Iran. Arabs, whether Muslim or Christian, have become firewood.
Q You speak of a need to perhaps create some sort of central authority for Islam if I understand you correctly, in Mecca. Such an authority we have for example in the Catholic Church in the figure of Pope Francis and in the Vatican. Do you see that as key in Islam: to be able to be an effective partner in interreligious dialogue?
A. “One cannot expect anyone to understand the rise of Daesh and its allies without understanding the rise of Wahhabism which was a feature of the 18 th century and which of course, continues to the present day. The wisdom of the King of Saudi Arabia, the founder of the State of Saudi Arabia, the “unifier of the Arabian peninsula” as he is described, in 1934 was that he regarded Riyadh as the political capital of Saudi Arabia and Mecca as the capitol of all Muslims. Consultation is essential. At the end of Haj (pilgrimage) there should be Ashura Council representing the four schools of jurisprudence of the Sunna, the two of the Shia and the Ibadi in Oman and Algeria – they will create a point of reference for discussion with the Vatican and with religious and holy cities. We have to remember that what is important is not the politics. What is important is the morality, the ethics, the rising above the conflict. To give people hope. And this is why I think that the symbolism of Mecca is wasted if we do not create such a dialogue which is in the word “shura ” (consultation) a part of Muslim belief. It is wasted if we do not create a universal zakat (charitable) foundation that could put a smile on the face of millions of people. After all, let us not forget that 70% of the world’s refugees are Muslims! What are we wealthy Muslims doing about it?
Q To what extent have you seen some feedback from your other Islamic partners?
A. “Well, there is a silent majority and there is a “silenced” majority. Some feel that the enemy of my enemy is my friend: that somehow, the Qaeda’s and the Talibans and the what have you, the Daeshes and so forth, are the enemies of the United States and it’s the United States that has entered this region and been involved with so many wars. Obviously this country is very close to the United States and very close to the alliance that is envisaging standing up to the Daeshes of this world. But on the other hand, I think that if we are to be respected as Arabs, Muslim and Christian, we have to do something for ourselves. So there is a lot of talk: a call for a regional development bank for example. A call for a zakat organization which I have been involved with for over 35 years, but there is very little “do.” If there is money being spent, it’s being spent on the very weapons that we’re bombing each other with.”
(from Vatican Radio)…