The SSoouutthheerrnnCCrroossss November 26 to December 2, 2014 Reg No. 1920/002058/06 No 4901 www.scross.co.za R7,00 (incl VAT RSA) Daswa pilgrim Fr Rolheiser: The centre site Why people are consecrated blessed leaving Church life explained Page 3 Page 12 Page 10 Parliament’s ‘circus’ a threat to democracy BY STUART GRAHAM Mr Pothier said much of the problem stemmed from the “problematic fact” that Ms HE use of a police riot squad to deal with Mbete held the position of speaker while also a disagreement in Parliament is “highly acting as the chairwoman of the ANC. Tproblematic” and shows a deep misun - “The speaker must be non-partisan and derstanding of the Constitution, according to enjoy the respect of all MPs across the house,” an official of the Catholic Parliamentary Liai - said Mr Pothier. son Office. He noted that previous speakers such as Mike Pothier said the incident, which hap - Max Sisulu and Frene Ginwala held senior po - pened when an Economic Freedom Fighter sitions in the ANC but still enjoyed the respect (EFF) member of parliament refused an order of most MPs. Neither were seen as pursuing to leave the house after calling President Jacob ANC agendas as the speakers of Partliament. Zuma a “thief”, disregarded the right of parlia - “We can debate whether Baleka Mbete has mentarians’ to free speech. used or misused her position, but the percep - “Police don’t have the jurisdiction to just tion is there... You cannot wear both of those barge in where they like,” he said. “The respect hats. You cannot have an office bearer pursu - of freedom of speech and the respect of the ing interests of party. You would expect her to rights of MPs in the National Assembly is para - act even-handedly in a non-partisan way.” mount,” Mr Pothier said. “You do not call in a Mr Pothier said the conflict in the assembly riot squad to deal with a parliamentary issue. is likely to continue until Ms Mbete steps This shows a deep misunderstanding of the down. It would be better, he said, if she was re - Constitution.” placed by an MP who does enjoy the confi - This month’s chaos followed upheaval in dence and respect of the house. Parliament in August when EFF MPs heckled The EFF meanwhile, should also take a Mr Zuma on when he would reimburse tax - share of the blame for what has happened. payers for upgrades to his private homestead “Even if you don’t like the speaker, you in Nkandla in KwaZulu-Natal after Public Pro - cannot just ignore her rulings. The person tector Thuli Madonsela found Mr Zuma had who sits in the speaker's seat is like a judge in benefited unduly from the upgrades. President the court—there is a line you can’t really Zuma has not returned to the chamber since cross,” he said. the incident. Mechanisms exist for parties who are un - Mr Pothier said the regular fights in the Na - happy with the speaker, Mr Pothier noted. tional Assembly are bad for democracy because “You can stage a walkout as a sign of displeas - they undermine public respect for Parliament. ure. An opposition party could bring the place Redemptorist Father Sean Wales lifts the cup and the host during a Mass in the chapel (or “People already have a sceptical perception to a halt, even though you are in the minority. tabernacle) of Elijah in the church of the Transfiguration on Mount Tabor during a pilgrimage about how hard MPs work and how seriously There are non-disruptive and non-disrespectful to the Holy Land, Jordan and Cairo this month. The pilgrimage was of Holy Redeemer parish they take their work,” said Mr Pothier. “This ways of registering your displeasure.” in Bergvliet, Cape Town, which Fr Wales is serving as parish priest before he takes up his kind of spectacle doesn’t enhance that reputa - The EFF, he said, used Parliament to whip position as newly-elected provincial of the Redemptorists. Members of the group noted that tion of Parliament. It is not good for democ - up emotions so that they can gain headlines Elijah and Fr Wales sported similar beards. (Photo: Gail Fowler) racy and it risks making Parliament look like a and exposure to “bolster their brand”. circus.” “The EFF has crossed the line in the way In this month’s incident, opposition parties they have refused to accept the rulings of the shouted down National Assembly speaker speaker. They are overly provocative and the Baleka Mbete when she tried to prevent them speaker and ANC have risen to that bait.” Pope confirms 2015 trip to US from bringing motions related to the spending Mr Pothier said the police should only be OPE Francis said he would attend the pected, since Pope Benedict XVI had said be - on security upgrades to Mr Zuma’s homestead. called in when a situation in the house is crit - World Meeting of Families in Philadel - fore his retirement that he hoped to attend Members of the riot police unit entered the ical. Pphia in September 2015, making it the the September 22-27 Philadelphia event. Assembly when EFF MP Ngwanamakwetle “Parliament has a sergeant-at-arms and its first confirmed stop on what is expected to Popes typically fulfill their predecessors’ Mashabela refused to obey an order for her to own security guards. If things are heated that be a more extensive papal visit to North publicly known travel plans, as Pope Francis leave the house. Ms Mashabela, who had security staff could be brought in. The police America. did in July 2013 when he attended World called Zuma a thief, was defended by opposi - should be involved only when all options have The announcement had been widely ex - Youth Day in Rio de Janeiro.—CNS tion MPs who scuffled with the police. been exhausted and the situation is critical.” The SSoouutthheerrnn CCrroossss PILGRIMAGE 2015 For info HOLY LAND • ROME • TURIN phone Gail at 7 - 21 May 2015 076 35 2 3809 or 021 551 3923 See the Holy Land, the pope and the Shroud of [email protected] Turin with ARCHBISHOP WILLIAM SLATTERY fowlertours.co.za Jerusalem | Bethlehem | Nazareth | Boatride on Sea of Gailee | River Jordan | Turin with reserved viewing of the Holy Shroud | Florence |Papal Audience in the Vatican |Catacombs | Ancient & Baroque Rome | Four Major Basilicas | and much more... 2 The Southern Cross, November 26 to December 2, 2014 LOCAL Kids clean bricks for new church BY STUART GRAHAM coming and going. The building Life that will start on November 29 site is busy the whole day,” she said. while serving at Mpophomeni. HE people of Mpophomeni, “This church will be beautiful The year will challenge all reli - 28km north-west of Pieter - when it is finished.” gious to revisit their call “which is Tmaritzburg, might not have Sr Mchunu says she and her fel - inherited from God”, she said. been happy when their old church low sisters are often seconded to “I think when we celebrate it, was demolished, but locals are now different parishes, such as St Anne’s, even the lay people will understand actively involved in the construc - as they are needed. what a consecrated life means,” she tion of a new church at St Anne’s parish with even the children col - “We help the sick people at said. lecting and cleaning old bricks. home,” she said. “We give home- “I can see them asking: ‘what is Sr Innocence Mchunu, a mem - based care. We care for children the meaning of this life?’ The an - ber of the Daughters of St Francis of who do not have parents and who swer is: working among people; an - Assisi order in Port Shepstone, said have been thrown in the fields. But swering the call from God. The year she and her fellow sisters arrived at now we are here to help the people will let people [become aware of] St Anne’s on January 19 this year at of Mpophomeni.” what religious life is.” the invitation of parish priest Fr Her colleague, Sr Francina Ml - Sr Mlitwa said the sisters have al - CIE Thabiso Skills Institute launched the Life Skills Manual, which was devel - Jude Fernando. itwa, said when the old St Anne’s ready started workshops looking at oped in conjunction with the Salesian Institute. The manual is used as part of “We are here to be among the was demolished weeks ago there life of St Francis of Assisi and what a Life Skills Programme which prepares learners for the world of work by pro - people, to teach catechism and to was great concern among the com - he tried to achieve through his spir - viding them with CV writing and interview skills and develops self-esteem help in any way we are needed,” munity. ituality. and self-image and gives learners skills to deal with social issues such as said Sr Mchunu. “People were saying, ‘where is “That love of nature that he had. substance abuse, rape, and HIV/Aids. (Left) Yvonne dos Santos of CIE, Sale - “There are many faithful in this our church? We want our church The looking at water, at trees and at sian Provincial Fr Francois Dufour, Fawzia Naidoo of CIE. (Right) Salesians area and many of them have been back!’ So now it is so nice to see human beings—because God is in Fr Jonathan Daniels, Br Clarence Watts and Fr Mikel Garmendia. helping to build the new church. people coming with small hammers them.