DRC- Congo- Kivu Region- Catholic Relief Services pulls two relif workers out of country. Only grass roots organizations like Caritas Internationalis still easily operate in wartorn region

(Social Justice South Africa; c.f. Catholic News Service 30/10/08; Caritas Internationalis 30/10/08; BBC World News (Secular) 29/10/08)

Article by Marc Aupiais

Catholic Relief Services has pulled two relief workers out of the DRC into neighboring Rwanda- due to unsafe conditions of operation, however they claim this is an isolated event, and not a general withdrawal. The Relief workers can't wait to get back to the CRS headquarters in the southern Congo, where the organization's efforts are based.

In recent days a UN peace-keeper helicopter was shot at, purportedly, if UN sources quoted by the BBC (29/10/08) are to be taken as accurate- not by rebels, but by Rwandan troops, and DRC troops have been noted as shooting across the border when they saw weapons fire. The BBC's representation- noted exchanges of fire. Rwanda denies involvement in the conflict. Rebels however claim to have a purpose of fighting Rwanda's own claimed rebels they claim to be in the Congo. We cannot verify any of these claims, by the Rebels.


Caritas Internationalis is appealing for an end to violence. After a recent cease fire called for by rebel forces, and a UN condemnation of rebel activities, as rebels have attacked UN troops- there was still the sounds of gunfire under the shadows of the dark African night.

Caritas Internationalis needs better conditions to ensure 16 000 persons who they are supplying with food necessities get this. Other organizations, including Catholic Relief Services, are appealing western governments to intervene diplomatically. Much of the important work on the ground, however- is still being done by Caritas Internationalis, whose use of local grassroots people has enabled them to continue operations where some other organizations have needed to reassess the aid they are giving. Both Catholic Relief Services, who are appealing for US diplomatic support, and Development and Peace (who are asking the Canadian government for intervention), plan to use Caritas Internationalis in order to supply needs in the Goma Region, where Caritas has structures still in place.

Sites of those mentioned for their aid of efforts:

Caritas Internationalis
Catholic Reflief Services
Development and Peace

Venezuela- Cardinal calls for free and fair elections in the region

(Social Justice South Africa; CBCP news (Philippine Bishops Conference) 29/10/08; Catholic News Agency 29/10/08)

Article by Marc Aupiais

Claiming that verbal violence, offenses, and insults are contrary to the Spirit which should reign among Venezuelans, Cardinal Jorge Urosa Savino, of the Archdioces of Caracas, called for free and respectful elections in the Region- where an important election faces the citizens of the country. He said that bishops may not have a place in politics, but that it is about human rights, justice, freedom and truth that they now chose speak about.

Chastity South Africa- Vatican Psychiatrist- Celebacy is a way of standing against a false view of sexuality, and marriage- in Defence of celebacy

(Chastity South Africa; c.f. CathNews 22/10/08; Catholic News Service 20/10/08)

Article by Marc Aupiais

Dr Manfred Lutz, psychiatrist to the Congregation for the Clergy- said that the vocation of celibacy is not only at utmost a practice required in utmost necessity in the role of many within the church- but powerfully- a permanent protest against mass superficiality, within large parts of modern culture. He appealed that those who cannot live chastely- should not marry. He informed those who still have different opinions than that he was presenting- that marriage was about more than sex, and that those who view the role of a woman in a relationship as to satisfy sexual ideas- often cannot stand natural and good practices such as celibacy- in that it contradicts their worldview.

Vatican- Pope- World hunger caused by greed, materialism

(Social Justice South Africa; c.f. Catholic Culture 16/10/08; Catholic News Service 16/10/08; Vatican Information Service 16/10/08)

Article by Marc Aupiais

His Excellency- Holy Father- Pope Benedict XVI has again taken a stand against materialism, and selfish market speculation, as well as against the inordinate way in which funds are spent selfishly on sophisticated military technology by many developed nations- rather than on food security. He says that these actions are a cause of the World Food Crisis. This he said to the director of the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization, in written form.

Benedict XVI believes that materialism- which only aims at physical goods- shows a misunderstanding of the divine dignity of the human person, who was elevated to great lengths when God chose to become man.

The reckless decisions by western governments and those who vote for these persons to gain power- has a much larger effect on the poor than on western voters. The recent financial crisis for instance is estimated to cost 100 million people their livelihood- the hardest hit majority of these will be on the African continent.

Vatican installs Solar Power

(Social Justice South Africa;c.f. CathNews;Catholic News Service (CNS) ;BBC; AP; IHT)

Article by Marc Aupiais

The Solar panels for the Paul VI auditorium are being installed, with Holy Father- Pope Benedict XVI- emphasising the utmost importance of protecting the environment. Donated by "Solar World", the 2 700 solar panels, used in temperature control and lighting- will save 70 tons of oil, however from the quotations we are unsure of the period in which this will take place, and how often this will occur.

Another group, Planktos Inc (US Firm), along with- KlimaFa Ltd (Hungary) are restoring 600 aches of wood in Hungary and donating the carbon credits to the Vatican.

The German Holy Father- is known for his encouragement of ecological action- to aid our world's natural heritage.