Missionary Oblates Urge Financial Banks to Restore Public Trust

Originally published on omiusajpic.org

Recently, Oblate JPIC Director Fr. Seamus Finn OMI represented the Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate and other members of the Interfaith Center on Corporate Responsibility (ICCR) at the Annual General Meeting of JP Morgan Chase Bank in Tampa.

Fr. Finn noted that “too many people are still living with the consequences of that crisis and theTRUST and confidence of the public has neither been repaired or restored. We believe the report that we have requested and our company has agreed to complete over the coming months can, when its recommendations are implemented, make a contribution to the restoration of the trust that is necessary for the reliable, safe, effective and ethical functioning of the financial system.”

Read the entire piece at www.omiusajpic.org

Entering into the Death Penalty, Head, Feet and Heart

By Fr. Jim Brobst, OMI

Originally Published on the www.omiusa.org   

My head is replete with reasons to oppose capital punishment. They include: the nonviolent teachings and example of Jesus, my own Catholic church's doctrine, the number of people have been removed from death row after being proven innocent, unequal sentencing (by race, economy, geography or gender), its ineffectiveness at reducing violence, the fact that execution costs a state more than life in prison, and a consistent downward trend both internationally and within the United States.  Recent debacles with "botched executions" only further constitutional objections. Wouldn't it make more sense for a convicted murderer to spend significant time making restitution to the victims, however impartial? Last, as a person of faith, I am unwilling to accept that there is anyone for whom there is no hope of transformation - not even a murderer.

I am not yet Christian enough to claim compassion for murderers who are sentenced to death.    But this is where discussion of capital punishment often bogs down.  We argue over guilt and punishment for the worst criminals, over the most heinous crimes.  This blinds us to the "collateral damage" of enacting capital punishment.  

Many people other than the prisoner need to be considered, especially family members and loved ones of the person executed.  Family and loved ones of murder victims may be placed at odds with their family members who believe differently about the death penalty.  What is the emotional cost to jurors and legal officials who are tasked with the onerous decision of judging who, if anyone, deserves capital punishment?  What of correctional and pharmaceutical employees who feed their families, in part, by providing the means and the materials of execution? We all breath the air of a society which models violence as an acceptable response to a criminal who is already reliably imprisoned.  How numb shall we become in the name of vengeance?

These convictions and questions recently led me to participate in a prayer vigil on the eve of an execution in my neighboring state of Missouri. Out of respect for the victims of the offender and their family, I read extensively about the case. It did not increase any Christian compassion towards the man scheduled to be executed.   The crime as reported was particularly heinous; his guilt was not reasonably questionable. 

And so it began.  About sixteen of us gathered on the steps of St. Francis Xavier Church in St. Louis, holding candles, interspersing silence with occasional statements over a small amplifier.  The first task was to acknowledge the reality of the crime, and respectfully to name not only the victims, but their family members - people I had not previously seen acknowledged.  Many shared beliefs and reasons for being there.  Despite the floodlights all around us at the church steps, this was no stage. The subject matter was not a mere show, but the state-sanctioned killing of a human being.

The hour-long vigil ended, announcements and farewells were voiced, and four of us prepared for the next stage of witness that evening.  We carpooled to the prison in Bonne Terre where the execution would be held.  It suddenly became more personal when we joined forces with the wife of another man on Missouri's death row, arriving at the execution site an hour before the scheduled midnight event.  Prison guards quickly and politely showed us the roped-off, grassy outdoor place where we were allowed to remain. There was a small buffer between ourselves and a similar site reserved for those who supported the executions, a space which would remain empty.

Thirty minutes before midnight, we were joined by three women: a sister-in-law, niece, and great-niece of the man on death row.  The presence of family at such a vigil is quite uncommon, according to regular protesters.  It was now very personal.

What does one say to someone who is standing with you in the cold, weeping, waiting for a healthy loved one to be killed on schedule?  I said nothing, but listened to others who offered condolences, and listened to the family members, who offered alternative views to the crime and the criminal roles and punishments presented by the press.  Those familiar with the execution process shared their knowledge with the family members. Midnight approached and we all grew very silent.  We turned and faced the prison and remained that way until the guards returned a little later and stated that that it "was over."  When a protester asked "so you're saying that you successfully killed the prisoner," no reply was given.  

A few more condolences, however insufficient, were given to the three relatives.  I offered mine as well.  We left in the separate vehicles, remaining silent among ourselves for most of the trip back to St. Louis.

When I finally arrived home that morning, I knew two things.  First, that the State of Missouri had, for reasons unfathomable to me, forced unspeakable shame and pain on innocent family members of the man they executed that morning. This was made all the more apparent when an execution witness - a family spokesperson of those murdered in the original crime - stated that the execution brought no peace or closure.  Second, I knew that out of respect for all persons who are "collateral damage" of state executions, I would return to Bonne Terre to protest and pray for them.  If family members come, they will not be alone.  I'll also pray for the one executed - as I did this time - but with a greater compassion than I had this night.  As I said, I'm not yet Christian enough. 

But I'm closer.  

Abducted Chibok Schoolgirls Plight is the True Reflection of the Cancerous heart of Nigeria as a Nation.

Fr. Ali Nnaemeka Cornelius, OMI  ( Nigeria)

Nigerian Oblate Fr Ali Nnaemeka Cornelius, OMI writes about plight of the abducted schoolgirls in Nigeria, prays for the abducted girls and urges for more actions to free the girls. Fr. Cornelius is currently doing parish ministry in the Imo State, Nigeria.

We pray for the abducted Chibok schoolgirls and with hope that one day they will embrace their parents, families and friends at home.

Nigeria in the eyes of the world has become a nation where more than two hundred girls could be kidnapped and nothing is done. In fact, it is almost the only news trending on all the social communication media. It has even overshadowed the Ukrainian crises and the World Trade Forum going on actually in Nigeria. This case however did not just crop up over the night. It is as a result of abandoned and neglected situations that have always mined our national integrity over the years.

There are therefore certain reasons that brought us to where we are today. What the world maybe has not known before is that Boko Haram has been causing much other serious havoc in Nigeria over the years. The only problem is that for many reasons we have been dying in silence. Only this year, for example, these men have sent more than one thousand Nigerians to their early graves.  And the worst is that due to lack of national unity, we have always failed to address this matter appropriately. 

Politicians for example, always put their political interest before our national unity and security. Increase in religious fanaticism in Nigeria has not also helped the matter. There is practically division among us all: division between Christians and Muslims, between Catholics and Protestants etc. There is also this serious failure in the national security that has made lawlessness and impunity the order of the day in Nigeria.

The worst is that our religious leaders have no grief on the social situation of our nation. A practical example is their silence in the midst of this actual boiling situation. No important religious leader has unfortunately made a public declaration till now. Neither the Sultan, nor the Catholic Bishop Conference of Nigeria has deemed it right taking stand on the matter. Not even the CAN that has tried to be sometimes unnecessarily outspoken in the past.

Brief, the plight of the Chibok girls is the true reflect of the cancerous heart of our nation.

Fr. Ali Nnaemeka Cornelius, OMI

Saint Martin’s Parish Ihiteowerre,

Imo State, Nigeria.

Missionary Oblates in Bangladesh: Supporting Indigenous Peoples Rights, Social Justice and Education.

The Missionary Oblates in Bangladesh have been working tirelessly for 40 years to share God’s love. 

Bangladesh Oblate Fr. Subash Gomez OMI reflects on the special ministry by Oblates to promote the rights of Bangladesh’s indigenous poor people. Oblates are also providing education to indigenous students and support free clinic treatment services.

To learn more about this amazing work of the Oblates in Bangladesh, see the entire story at the Oblate World February 2014  or www.omiusa.org click on Oblate World . 

From the Lips of Children and Infants - By Fr. Zweli Mlotshwa OMI

Fr. Zweli Mlotshwa OMI reflects on the upcoming 2014 general elections in South Africa. Fr Zweli is currently working in the Archdiocese of Johannesburg and also served as a missionary to Zimbabwe. 

Like a couple about to expecting a birth of a child, South Africa stands at a pivot moment waiting in anticipation for the 20^th general elections that will take place on the 07^th of May 2014. 

Like modern day couples exposed to the advances of technology, which already know the gender of the baby, and maybe even some other features of the baby like whether they will be tall or short, and even whether the baby will have any deformities or will be healthy.  South Africa is at that moment, we all wait in anticipation for the results of the upcoming elections but we all know that the African National Congress (ANC) is going to win and so the anxiety is lessened somewhat. 

However if the political commentators are to be believed, although the ANC will win the elections it is expected that they will face a decrease in voters.

With this 20^th general election the focus is not just on the ANC but on the people who were born in the South Africa of the ANC era, these are the so called “ Born frees’. These are young people who have never experienced Apartheid. Many of them will be voting for the first time in this election. Again if we can believe the political commentators these are the people whom it is believed will tip the scale away from the ANC, unlike their parents and elder siblings, this generation has no sentimental attachment to the ANC as the liberator party.

Speaking to my 10-year-old nephew about politics in South Africa he asked me which party I support amongst the three major parties in South Africa, the ANC, Democratic Alliance, DA and the new party the Economic Freedom Fighters, EFF.  The way in which he asked me one would have thought that was asking which soccer team I support. I responded by saying the ANC; and he was not impressed with my answer. He then proceeded to give me a political lesson about how he does not trust the DA, because it has many white South Africans. This sentiment echoes the fear of some Black people who think the party will bring back Apartheid, the DA they say stands for Double Apartheid.

The born free continued to tell me that I should not vote for the ANC because it is a party for old people and most importantly their leader steals money and I as a priest should not support them.  I responded by saying I support the party and not the president, this was unthinkable for him as the two could not be separated.

If he were to vote he said he would vote EFF or the Economic Freedom Front lead by the former president of the ANC Youth League a Mr. Julius Malema. This party it seems has attracted young people many of whom are disgruntled by the ANC, which has brought political but not economic freedom.

The EFF promises to change that situation, for some young people they have no idea of the principles or policies of the party but like my 10 year old nephew the attraction is the vibrancy of a party that is led by a young person, who dares to challenge the status quo. Whether the EFF will still be there when my 10-year-old nephew goes to vote for the first time?  

That is still to be seen but the ANC on the other hand based on the surety of its president it will not just be there but it will still be in power because Mr. Zuma declared that the ANC will rule South Africa until Jesus comes.  However with the growing tide of resentment towards the ANC, especially from the born frees the Jesus of the ANC might come sooner than they expect.