TheNewsGuru

Tag: Catholic Church

  • Australian Catholic Church to enter into redress scheme for sex abuse survivors

    The Australian Catholic Church has committed to taking part in a new national redress scheme for survivors of institutional child sexual abuse, two top religious groups said on Wednesday.

    Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull said if all states and institutions across Australia opt in the scheme could provide support to around 60,000 people.

    The scheme will target people sexually abused as children while in the care of a Commonwealth institution and follows a nationwide inquiry that found widespread institutionalized child sexual abuse in Australia.

    Redress is offered as an alternative to taking compensation through the courts.

    It can include access to psychological counseling, a direct personal response such as an apology from the responsible institution for people who want it, and a monetary payment. Payments are capped at 150,000 Australian dollars.

    “We support the Royal Commission’s recommendation for a national redress scheme, administered by the Commonwealth, and we are keen to participate,” said Archbishop Mark Coleridge, president of The Australian Catholic Bishops Conference (ACBC).

    “Survivors deserve justice and healing and many have bravely come forward to tell their stories,” he said in the joint statement with Catholic Religious Australia (CRA).

    The redress scheme, which is before parliament now, is slated to begin on July 1, and last for 10 years.

    “We recognize that redress will not take away a survivor’s pain, but hope that it can provide some practical assistance in the journey toward recovery from abuse,” said Ruth Durick, president of Catholic Religious Australia, whose membership consists of more than 130 congregations country wide.

    “We are committed to providing redress to survivors who were abused within the Catholic Church.”

    Almost 2,500 survivors gave evidence to the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse about sexual abuse in an institution managed by the Catholic Church.

    According to the Royal Commission’s final report, 61.8 per cent of all survivors of sexual abuse in a religious institution were from a Catholic-managed institution.

    Other institutions involved include places such as the Australian Defence Forces cadet schools and onshore immigration detention.

    The Australian government welcomed the Catholic Church’s announcement.

    “The Royal Commission put the horrific experiences of survivors on the public record and now the Redress Scheme will officially acknowledge them and continue the process of healing,” Turnbull said in a statement.

    “Every government institution must take responsibility for the abuse that occurred on its watch, and pay the cost of providing redress.”

  • Democracy Day: Criticism of leaders cannot transform Nigeria – Enugu Catholic Bishop

    The Catholic Bishop of Nsukka Diocese, Rt. Rev. Godfrey Onah, says no amount of criticism of those in authority will transform the socio-economic fortunes of the country.

    Onah, in a homily on Sunday during the 2018 Democracy Day thanksgiving mass at the Holy Ghost Cathedral, Enugu, said that good governance required visionary leadership and self-sacrifice.

    The bishop said it was sad that the current democratic experiment which started in 1999 had not changed the fortunes of majority of Nigerians due to corrupt leadership.

    The clergyman said that the 2019 general elections would provide another opportunity for the electorate to make their choices of the type of leadership they want.

    He said that all those in elective positions that had not performed needed to be shown the exit door, adding that the electorate should only vote those they were convinced would do well.

    Onah blamed the decay of institutions, including the education sector on self-serving leaders whom he said had destroyed the future of up-and-coming ones.

    “The only way to protect the future of our children is to give them good education, but because we have stole our country dry, we can no longer guaranty their future,” he said.

    The bishop said that Christians were expected to show good examples which would lead to a positive change in the way things were done in the country.

    “As Christians, rather than blame people about the state of affairs in this country, we should ask ourselves what we have done to engender love and equality of all human race.

    “What have we done to show respect, leadership, service and real concern for others? These values need to become part of our culture if we must survive,” he said.

    Onah said it was sad that the numerical strength of Christians in the country had not had any positive impact on the way things were done due to how some had made merchandise of the gospel.

    “I believe that whatever will happen to Nigeria tomorrow will depend on how Christians will take their vocations, “ he said.

    The clergyman said that Gov. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, was an example of what a Christian could do in governance.
    The highlight of the event was a special prayer for Nigeria by the worshippers.

     

  • Mass burial: Osinbajo gives Catholic protesters assurance

    Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, has assured Catholic faithful and the people of Benue that the killers of the two Catholic priests; Rev Frs. Felix Tyolaha and Joseph Gor and 17 other parishioners killed by gunmen during a church service at Saint Ignatius Parish, Mbalom, will not go unpunished.

    Osinbajo gave the assurance on Tuesday at Ayati, a small hilltop village situated on the outskirts of Ikpayongo, in Gwer East Local Government Council, during the burial of the victims of the April 24 church attack.

    The Vice President, who was accompanied on the trip by Ministers, top ranking politicians of different political shades, expressed the Federal Government’s commitment to end the attacks.

    He said the perpetrators of such dastardly and heinous crimes do not deserve to live amongst decent people but prayed for the conversion of their souls.

    Also in a speech, Gov. Samuel Ortom, condemned the incessant attacks on communities in the state but commended the Federal Government for is efforts to stop the killings.

    He disclosed that 492 people had died from herdsmen attacks since the beginning of the year.

    The governor regretted the attacks on the church and wondered the reason for the attack saying, ” these people were in the church and not on their farms; by this act, they gave moved their narrative to include other motives”.

    He called on the Federal Government to arrest the killer-herdsmen, saying ” we know our killers but they are not arrested or invited for interrogation; they gave stated at several fora that they would reclaim their land.”

    The governor said the Anti-Open Grazing law passed by the state assembly and accented by him, was the best way in curbing incessant clashes between herdsmen and farmers in the country.

    On his part the Tor Tiv, His Royal Magesty, Prof James Ayatse, placed on curse in the perpetrators of such dastardly acts, saying ” they will not see good times”.

    He, however, warned against reprisals urging them not to lose faith in their God who would fight for them.

    The paramount ruler commended the Catholic Church for restraining their members against reprisals and said the style was of the Lord.

    A cross section of the bishops that spoke at the burial, called in the government to ensure the killers were brought to book.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Bishops that 50 Bishops were expected at the burial.

    Those sighted were those of Sokoto, Bauchi, Enugu, Nsukka, Gboko, Kaduna, Lafia, Jos, Shengdan, Otukpo, Katsina-Ala.

    NAN also reports a team representing the Catholic Church in West Africa were also at the burial.

    The corpses of the Mbalom church attack were laid to rest at about 2:45 p.m.

     

  • Mass burial: Tears, protests as corpses of 2 Catholic Priests, 17 others arrive Benue [Photos]

    The corpses of Reverend Fathers Joseph Gor and Felix Tyolaha, and seventeen parishioners killed by herdsmen who invaded the St. Ignatius Quasi Parish at Ukpor, Mbalom in Gwer West Local Government Council of Benue state, has the State for mass burial.

    The 19 victims of the attack, amidst tears and protests, are being buried at the Ayati pilgrim site near Ikpayongo in Gwer East Local Government Area of the State.

    TheNewsGuru reports Vice President Yemi Osinbajo has arrived the venue as part of guests at the programme, and the protests by Catholics against killings in Nigeria is taking side-by-side the funeral service.

    The Catholic Bishops Conference of Nigeria (CBCN) had fixed Tuesday, May 22 as a day of protests for Catholic faithful across the country. Tuesday 22nd of May was also fixed as the day the Reverend Fathers and others who lost their lives would be laid to rest.

    The Catholic Diocese of Makurdi had expressed regret at the nonchalant attitude of security agencies in containing incessant killings across the country by herdsmen.

    Reverend Father Moses Iorapuu, Director of Communications, in a statement, had said the Diocese has been active in providing food and relief materials to Internally Displaced Persons (IDP’s) since the onset of hostilities in the State and wondered why it could be marked as a target of attacks.

    See photos:

     

  • Breaking: Slayed Reverend Fathers for burial as Catholic Church declares protest

    Breaking: Slayed Reverend Fathers for burial as Catholic Church declares protest

    The burial has been announced of the two Catholic Priests, Reverend Fathers Joseph Gor and Felix Tyolaha, killed by herdsmen even as the Catholic Church has declared a day of protests for Catholic faithful across the country.

    TheNewsGuru reports the Catholic Bishops Conference of Nigeria (CBCN) fixed Tuesday, May 22 as a day of protests for Catholic faithful across the country. Tuesday 22nd of May has also been fixed as the day the Reverend Fathers and others who lost their lives would be laid to rest.

    The date was announced via a Sunday Bulletin which was circulated to all Dioceses of the church yesterday.

    The announcement, entitled “Peaceful Demonstration,” read: “The CBCN has directed that every Diocese in Nigeria should organize a peaceful demonstration/rally against the barbaric but intolerable killing of two priests and 17 others by herdsmen last month in Benue State, Date May 22, 2018. Time:10am, as the funeral of the innocent victims would be going on.

    “Details of how this all important solidarity action will take place in our dioceses will be communicated through the parish priests. Every Christian and all men and women of goodwill are hereby called to participate.”

    Reverend Fathers Joseph and Felix and the 17 others were killed by herdsmen who invaded St. Ignatius Quasi Parish during morning mass at Ukpor, Mbalom in Gwer West Local Government Council of Benue state.

    The Catholic Diocese of Makurdi had expressed regret at the nonchalant attitude of security agencies in containing incessant killings across the country by herdsmen.

    Reverend Father Moses Iorapuu, Director of Communications, in a statement, had said the Diocese has been active in providing food and relief materials to Internally Displaced Persons (IDP’s) since the onset of hostilities in the State and wondered why it could be marked as a target of attacks.

     

  • BREAKING: Herdsmen invade Catholic Church in Benue, kill 15

    BREAKING: Herdsmen invade Catholic Church in Benue, kill 15

    There was pandemonium again in Benue as suspected herdsmen stormed a Catholic Church in Benue on Tuesday morning killing at least 15 people.

    The attack occurred in Ayar-Mbalom, a community in Gwer East Local Government Area.

    TheNewsGuru.com reports that two reverend fathers were murdered in the attack.

    Spokesperson to Governor Samuel Ortom, Terver Akase, while confirming the incident said the attackers also burnt over 50 houses and sacked the entire community.

    TheNewsGuru.com reports that the name of the church is St. Ignatius’ Catholic Church. The murdered Catholic priests are Joseph Gor and Felix Tyolaha, both reverend fathers.

    Fatai Owoseni, the Benue police commissioner, and Moses Yamu, the command’s spokesperson were however yet to confirm the attack.

    The attack comes barely four days after the murder of 10 persons by herdsmen in Guma Local Government Area, which has been one of the major scenes of carnage by suspects herdsmen since January 1.

    Detail later…

  • Pope Francis prays by Bello’s grave, urges Church must help the poor

    The main concern of the Catholic Church must be to help the poor, Pope Francis said on a Friday pilgrimage to southern Italy in honour of a local bishop who is a candidate for sainthood.

    Francis was paying a half-day visit to Alessano and Molfetta in Puglia, the region that forms the heel of Italy’s boot, where the late Bishop Tonino Bello had his diocese.

    “The poor are really the wealth of the Church. Remind us of that again, Father Tonino, as we face the recurring temptation of tagging along with the powerful of the day,” the pontiff said.

    “A Church that has the poor at heart remains always tuned to the channel of God, it never loses the frequency of the Gospel,” he added.

    After flying in by helicopter, Francis prayed by Bello’s grave, met a crowd of about 20,000 people in Alessano, and was due to celebrate Mass in nearby Molfetta before returning to the Vatican.

    His pilgrimage marked the 25th anniversary of the death of Bello, a bishop who liked to travel by bicycle or bus, ran several charity groups and headed an international Catholic peace movement.

    Bello, an Italian Roman Catholic prelate, died of stomach cancer in April 1993.

     

  • Don’t insult Priest, Catholic Church for not allowing me address congregation, Ortom begs supporters

    Governor Samuel Ortom of Benue State has appealed to supporters not to insult a Catholic priest, Fr. Ashwe and the church for not allowing him address the congregation at the Thanksgiving service to mark the 64th birthday of a former Governor of the state, Senator George Akume.

    The incident take place at St Christopher Catholic Church Wanune.

    Shorty after the homily, when the priest advised Senator Akume in his sermon, as the leader of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) to ensure that the governor pay workers’ salaries.

    After the sermon, Akume, at whose instance the mass was celebrated was allowed to speak, and he in turn invited the governor to react to the issue of non- payment of salaries which the priest raised in his sermon.

    Shortly after the Senator handed over the microphone to Governor Ortom, the priest informed the governor point blank that the doctrine of the Gboko Diocese of the Catholic Church does not allow politicians to speak in church after service except at reception venues.

    The governor simply complied even though there was uproar as worshippers who were mostly politicians hurriedly abandoned the service.

    The Chief Press Secretary to the Governor later issued a statement to douse the tension between the Gboko Diocese and the governor among his supporters.

    The statement reads in part: “We have read various statements arising from the thanksgiving mass yesterday in honour of Senator George Akume at St. Christopher’s Catholic Church, Wannune, Tarka Local Government Area.

    “We wish to state that Governor Samuel Ortom understands and respects the decision of Gboko Catholic Diocese not to allow politicians to speak during masses and therefore would not have felt slighted when the Priest in Charge of the Wannune Parish did not permit him to speak during the mass in accordance with the decision of the Diocese.

    “We urge those amplifying the incident and making inflammatory statements for political reasons to sheathe their swords.”

  • Gunmen invade Lagos Catholic church, shoot reverend father

    Three gunmen poised as worshipers on Friday invaded St. Thomas’ Catholic Church, Onilekere, Ikeja, shooting the parish priest, Rev. Daniel Nwankwo at close range.

    TheNewsGuru.com reports that the incident occurred around 8:30am, shortly after the priest concluded the day’s morning mass.

    The gunmen were said to have approached the priest and demanded audience with him, a request he granted without suspicion.

    But as soon as Nwankwo followed them outside the church auditorium, one of the hoodlums, who allegedly spoke fluent Igbo language, opened fire on him.

    It was gathered that his alleged attackers, who were armed with locally-made pistols, scaled the fence into a nearby canal as soon as the priest raised the alarm.

    TheNewsGuru.com reports that the acting Police Commissioner Imohimi Edgal led some policemen to the scene and assured worshipers that the culprits would be fished out.

    According to the Command’s spokesman, Olarinde Famous-Cole, an Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) five suspects have already been arrested in connection with the crime and were being interrogated.

    Famous-Cole dispelled rumours that the priest was killed, adding that he was recuperating at the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH).

    He said: “The priest was immediately taken to LASUTH for medical attention where he is currently being treated and is under stable. The CP has visited the priest to ensure he was being given adequate treatment. He also spoke with him

    “Yes the CP was at the scene and he spoke with some witnesses, who said the assailants were three and all Igbos.

    “The witnesses said the assailants were not known to be members of the church. They said they were having a conversation with the priest before he was shot.

    “CP Edgal has deployed a crack team of detectives and operational officers to the scene and all areas leading to the canal, where the suspects were said to have ran towards.

    “Already, five suspects have been arrested in connection with the crime and they are being interrogated.

    “The CP is advising residents to be vigilant and security conscious at this time. He appealed that strange and suspicious faces, movements be promptly reported to the police.

    “He has also ordered the deployment of static police guards in all churches and mosques across the state. Area Commanders and Divisional Police Officers (DPOs) have been directed to provide 24 hours daily static police guard at churches and mosques.”

  • Black Sunday: Several killed as gunmen attack worshipers in Anambra church‎ [VIDEO]

    There is tension in Anambra State following reported death of over several worshipers after a gunman launched an early morning attack during a Sunday service.

    The attack occurred at ‎St. Philip’s Catholic Church, Ugwu Oye in Ozubulu, Anambra State.