Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words. And he JULY 19, 2020 who searches hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit because the Spirit intercedes for TERHAD PP 8460/11/2012(030939) the saints according to the will of God. ISSN: 1394-3294 Vol. 27 No. 24 THE CATHOLIC WEEKLY Rom. 5:12-15 Americans, Hong Kong work for peace! CLEVELAND: As the 75th anniversary of the atomic bombings of two Japanese cit- ies approaches, the president of the county’s Catholic Bishops’ Conference called on the suspends United States “as a Christian nation” to wit- ness to the Gospel of peace as lived by Je- sus. Archbishop Joseph Mitsuaki Takami of Nagasaki, Japan, said in a July 8 email that “Americans need to understand and practice the truth of peace that Christ teaches.” “I have the impression that most Ameri- cans believe that arms are necessary to pro- public Masses tect oneself, one’s families and the nation. History, however, demonstrates how arms brought about tragedies. I want Americans to work for peace without the possession and use of weapons,” the archbishop said. He also reiterated his long-standing call that the time is long past for the world to abolish nuclear weapons. a second time Nagasaki, the hub of Catholicism in Ja- ONG KONG: Hong pan, was the second city over which an Kong diocese suspended atomic bomb was dropped by a US warplane all public Masses for a on Aug 9, 1945. Hiroshima suffered a simi- H lar fate three days earlier. Japan surrendered second time following a surge six days after the second detonation, ending in COVID-19 cases amid a third World War II. wave of the contagion in the for- Archbishop Takami, 74, is a survivor of mer British colony. the bombing of Nagasaki, his hometown. He was in his mother’s womb when the bomb, Churches and chapels will have to sus- known as Fat Man, detonated over the city, pend all public Masses from July 15 to ultimately claiming between 39,000 and July 28 “to reduce the risk of community 80,000 lives. transmission as far as possible,” Cardinal Historians and analysts estimate that be- John Tong, Apostolic Administrator of tween 129,000 and 226,000 people, most of Hong Kong, said in a statement. them civilians, died in the two bombings. Cardinal Tong asked the faithful to at- The archbishop has been a vocal propo- tend Sunday Mass online through the nent of nuclear disarmament throughout his diocesan website (www.catholic.org.hk), 48 years as a priest. This year in particular he which also telecasts daily Mass and other has travelled the world and to the United Na- liturgical services. tions with what remains of a wooden statue In the July 14 statement, the cardinal of Mary rescued from Nagasaki’s destroyed asked parishes to keep churches open to Urakami Cathedral. He shows the scorched allow individuals to pray. Those praying head of Mary to demonstrate the utterly dev- have to wear face masks, sanitise their astating effects of the blast and the ensuing hands, check their body temperature and The Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in Hong Kong. The Hong Kong Diocese suspended inferno, telling anyone who will listen how follow social distancing norms. Masses for a second time on July 14 following another wave of the COVID-19 pandemic in the absurd war is. The cardinal also asked priests to sus- city. (UCA News photo) The tone of his email indicated that the pend Christian sacraments like Baptisms, The toll was slightly lower than the levels recently. current state of affairs regarding nuclear First Communions and Confirmations un- previous day’s 52 cases. However, the “The recent emergence of local cases of weapons concerns the archbishop. He said til July 28. figures remained broadly in line with the unknown source indicates the existence he views the collapse of arms control treaties Cardinal Tong has directed the faithful recent surge in COVID-19 cases in Hong of sustained silent transmission in the between the US and Russia, plans by both to conduct marriages and funerals with Kong. community,” the administration said in a countries to spend billions of dollars to up- fewer than 20 participants. At least 12 taxi drivers were tested statement outlining the new measures. grade stockpiles, and efforts by other nations It is the second such suspension in positive on July 13 and some of their pas- Since late January, the financial hub has to acquire such weapons as troubling. the diocese since the pandemic began to sengers also fell victim. reported more than 1,500 cases and eight “I fully agree with Pope Francis that the spread. The first suspension was lifted on The authorities have warned of the risk deaths. world has not learned anything from the June 1 after more than three months. of a large-scale outbreak. The administration is planning to im- tragedies of Hiroshima and Nagasaki,” he The Hong Kong Special Administrative Schools have been suspended from pose curbs on travellers from high-risk said. Region government imposed strict new July 10 and summer vacations have been places, and to require a negative test re- The Pope, during a visit to Hiroshima and social distancing measures from July 14 advanced amid fears of a new round of sult before starting the journey. Nagasaki in November, said it was “per- midnight, the most stringent in the Asian infections in the territory. Chief executive Carrie Lam said the verse” to think that the threat of nuclear financial hub since the pandemic broke The new restrictions include mandatory new measures were aimed at public health weapons makes the world safer. He urged out in January. face masks for people using public trans- and social acceptability and warned of a a renewed commitment to nuclear disarma- The administration has reduced group port and only takeaway facility at restau- prolonged duration of the pandemic. ment and to international treaties to limit or gatherings from four persons to 50 – a rants. Violators risk fines of 5,000 Hong Lam vowed to increase the testing ca- eliminate nuclear weapons. measure adopted during the second wave Kong dollars ($645). pability among high-risk groups like Archbishop Takami also lamented the of the infection in March. Gyms and indoor entertainment centres nursing homes, caterers and taxi drivers. disinterest shown by much of the world Hong Kong reported 48 new coronavi- will remain closed. The administration Public Masses in Hong Kong had been in the threat nuclear weapons pose. — By rus cases on July 14, including 40 locally said these severe measures became nec- suspended on Feb 14, which was revoked Dennis Sadowski, CNS transmitted cases. essary after drastic changes in infection on June 1 by Cardinal Tong. — AsiaNews 2 FORUM / REFLECTION HERALD July 19, 2020 Amid persecution and darkness, expect the unexpected hese are dark days we live in. In many zeal. nations, democracy and basic free- Sunday Observer Saul’s targets were believed to be Greek- Tdoms, including media freedom, are speaking converts to Christianity, part of the under threat. By Jewish diaspora who had returned to Jeru- And with the economic outlook uncertain salem, who did not seem so inclined to the and people struggling, there is a tendency Anil Netto Temple traditions in Jerusalem. among some to scapegoat or turn their frus- Many suffered during this great persecu- [email protected] tration on ‘the Other” — migrants, refugees, tion, not least Stephen, the first martyr, who minorities, anyone who is remotely different. was stoned to death. Along with it comes a certain jingoistic or 13 with a stormy first day of debates, culmi- pecially from Saul, also known as Paul. For Saul, the Temple and tradition had the xenophobic rhetoric invoking superficial pat- nating in the removal of the Speaker – per- Now Saul was a student of Gamaliel the monopoly of the truth, and the Christians riotism to silence dissenting views. haps the best Speaker we have had since in- Elder, an authority on the Pharisaic tradition were a grave threat. We see this trend in many countries. dependence. There was much rancour, even in the First Century AD and a leading figure But in a dramatic twist, Jesus won him At the same time, there are real problems chaos, in the House. in the Sanhedrin in Jerusalem. over on the Road to Damascus, some time with poverty, even as wealth is concentrated It was all a world away from the perfor- This was the Gamaliel who seemed sym- between AD 31-36, and the rest is history. He in fewer and fewer hands. mance of the youth in Parlimen Digital, a pathetic to the Apostles in Acts, and even used Paul’s zeal to spread the Gospel to the Last year, the then-UN special rapporter weekend online virtual ‘parliamentary’ ses- argued against putting them to death. If the Gentiles and saved the Christians in the re- on extreme poverty, Phillip Alston, pointed sion organised by a few youth groups. This message the Apostles had was from just or- gion from immediate persecution. to Malaysia’s poverty line income threshold session featured 222 young people from dinary mortals, it would die a natural death, Both Peter and Paul, however, had to face of RM980 and poverty rate of 0.4 per cent diverse backgrounds and regions acting as he said. On the contrary, if the message was suffering and even martyrdom.