The Quotation of the Week (April 28 - May 4, 2019)

A quotation of Robert Louis Stevenson on 'selling something,'
compiled by Jerome D'Costa

Photo © Jerome D'Costa 

Easter Sunday Terrorism In Sri Lanka Kills Local Christians And Foreigners

The result of the bomb explosion inside
St. Sebastian's Church in Negombo, north of Colombo 

Photo courtesy: Getty images via nhpr.org/

A wave of coordinated terrorist bomb attacks in Sri Lanka on April 21, Easter Sunday, killed 290 people with another 500 injured. Most of the dead were local Sri Lankans, and among the foreigners, mostly tourists, 39 were killed, with some still missing. 

Law enforcement authorities arrested 24 Sri Lankans. National Thowheed Jamath, a local Islamic group with connection with international radical Islamic terrorist organizations is believed to be behind the attacks.  

According to Sri Lanka military spokesman, six suicide bombers caused these explosions in Zion Church in Batticaloa, St. Sebastian's Church in Negombo, and St. Anthony's Shrine in Colombo. Other attacks were in the hotels: The Kingsbury Hotel, Shangri-La Hotel, Cinnamon Grand Hotel of Colombo and a hotel in Dehiwala Zoological Garden area.  Another attack was in Mahawila Gardens housing complex. 

Sri Lanka has a population of 21 million -- of whom, 70% are Theravada Buddhists, 13% Hindus, 10% Muslims, and 7% Christians. 

Pope Francis decried the attacks on innocent victims and offered his prayers and sympathy. 

It is noteworthy that the U.S. and India had warned Sri Lanka of the possible terrorist attacks on its soil in early April but the Sri Lankan government did not take the warning seriously. The U.S. embassy in Bangladesh, on April 9, warned U.S. citizens to take precaution in their movements in Bangladesh, too, for possible terrorist attacks. 

• What We Know About the Easter Terrorist Attacks in Sri Lanka (April 2019)
• Police Warned That Sri Lanka Churches Were Bombing Targets (April 21, 2019)
• Authorities warned on April 4 of potential attacks, Sri Lankan minister says -- as it happened (April 22, 2019)
• Terror attacks in Sri Lanka kill more than 200 people (April 21, 2019)
• Number of foreign casualties in yesterday's explosions rises to 30; 17 hospitalised (April 22, 2019)
• Death toll from Easter Sunday terror attacks in Sri Lanka nears 300 (April 22, 2019)
• 'Easter massacre': How the world reacted to Sri Lanka terror attacks (April 22, 2019)
• Sri Lanka bombings: eight arrests after eight explosions kill 207, injure hundreds in bloody Easter Sunday attacks (April 22, 2019)
• Explosive device disposed at Kochchikade (April 22, 2019)
• Sri Lanka Terrorism Has Hallmarks of Previous Attacks (April 21, 2019)
• The Sri Lanka terror attacks and their global implications (April 22, 2019)
• World Leaders React to Sri Lankan Explosions (April 21, 2019)
• U.S. bishops decry terrorist bombings of Sri Lanka churches, hotels (April 22, 2019)
• Sri Lanka bombings -- a timeline and visual guide (April 22, 2019)
• Sri Lanka bombings: Islamic State claims responsibility for attacks (April  23, 2019)
• Sri Lanka Bombings Live Updates: ISIS Claims Responsibility for Attacks (April 23, 2019)
• Sheikh Selim's grandson among dead in Sri Lanka [Bangladesh Awami League leader Sheikh Fazlul Karim Selim's grandson Zayan Chowdhury, aged 8 years, killed] (April 22, 2019)
• 2 Muslim brothers were Sri Lanka hotel suicide bombers: sources (April 23, 2019)

Happy Easter To You All!

Artwork © Jerome D'Costa (2019)

The Quotation of the Week (April 21 - 27, 2019)

A quotation of Jean Vanier on 'loving people,' compiled by Jerome D'Costa

Design by Jerome D'Costa

Above photo of Jean Vanier @courtesy of och.fr/

Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI Points To Sexual Revolution Of The 1960s For Church Sex Abuses

Pope Benedict XVI 

Photo courtesy: catholicnewsorgcouk/CNA

Some call it 'essay,' others 'letter.' Whatever it is, Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI, in his recent writing on the sex abuse crisis in the German magazine Klerusblatt (clergy monthly), claimed that the sexual revolution of the 1960s, the post-Vatican II (1962-1965) liberalization of the Catholic Church's moral teachings, increasing absence of God among many, morally lax teaching and practice in seminaries and practice of homosexuality led to this widespread child sex abuse in the Church. 

Some progressive priests, bishops, and theologians criticized this view of Pope Benedict on the sex abuse in the Church, some conservative elements, on the other hand, are supporting him. 

If one uses his or her common sense, it becomes clear that even though Pope Benedict, at the time of his retirement, said that he would spend the rest of his life in 'prayer and silence,' he failed to remain true to it. Why? Some of the conservative elements in the Catholic Church think that Pope Francis has been leading the Church to 'heresy' through his words and actions. Their constant goading, coaxing, and pleading with the 'prayerful and silent' Pope Benedict made him add his voice publicly in the fray.  

Where there is a sex organ, there is sexuality. Some use this sexuality for a good purpose, others for an evil purpose (sex abuse). Clergy sex abuse is nothing new in the Catholic Church. Since the founding of the Church, it, in different forms -- heterosexuality (concubinage), bisexuality, homosexuality, pedophilia, ephebophilia -- continues till today. Why does it continue till today? Remember the 'one-in-twelve syndrome?' Jesus Christ himself showed by example that one in twelve fails to remain true to his vocation. Judas Iscariot, one of the twelve disciples, in spite of hands-on training by Jesus, ultimately failed in his task. What do we learn from this? We learn that a few in a group will always commit sin, commit a crime. Members of the laity and the hierarchy (priests, bishops, cardinals, and popes) of the Catholic Church are not immune from this one-in-twelve syndrome. 

As usual, Pope Benedict, as a member of the hierarchy, failed again to take any responsibility for the abuses that took place during his governance of the Church as a cardinal and as the pope. Pope John Paul II, too, failed in this respect. During their time, a deep and long silence on the worldwide clergy sex abuses was the norm, with only a few exceptions. This type of cover-up of the clergy sex abuse is tantamount to 'participating in the sins of others.'  When teaching about the participation in the sins of others, the Church always directs its fingers towards the laymen and laywomen, not at all towards the members of the hierarchy! This very holier than thou attitude, self-righteousness, and a sense of immunity from the sinfulness of the members of the Catholic hierarchy are called clericalism. Now is the right time for them to rethink and act on this extremely serious matter.  

Pope Francis, in spite of his weaknesses, is the first pope to allow widespread and public conversation on the clergy sex abuse, especially clergy child sex abuse. The public conversation ultimately brings out the truth, brings about the healing. 

For more, please read the following:

Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI's Message on Clergy Sex Abuse Crisis

• In new essay, Benedict XVI addresses sex abuse scandal (April 10, 2019)
• The Church and the Scandal of Sexual Abuse (Full Text of Benedict XVI's essay) (April 10, 2019)
• Pope emeritus Benedict XVI: Return to God to overcome abuse crisis (April 11, 2019)
• Ex-Pope Benedict XVI blames 1960s revolution for sex-abuse (April 11, 2019)
• In new letter, Benedict blames clergy abuse on sexual revolution, Vatican II theology (April 11, 2019)
• Ex-Pope Benedict XVI blames sexual abuse on swinging sixties (April 11, 2019)
• Retired Pope Benedict blames Church abuse scandal on sexual revolution of 1960s (April 11, 2019)
• Pope Benedict Breaks 6-Year Silence To Comment On Clergy Sex Abuse Scandal (April 11, 2019)
• With Letter on Sexual Abuse, Pope Benedict Returns to Public Eye (April 11, 2019)
• Retired pope blames clergy child abuse, scandal on 1960s sexual revolution and 'homosexual cliques' in 'catastrophically irresponsible' essay (April 12, 2019)
• Ex-Pope Benedict XVI breaks silence on church's sex abuse crisis and blames the sexual revolution and liberals (April 12, 2019)
• Retired Pope Benedict weighs in Catholic Church sex abuse scandals, blames it on swinging '60s (April 12, 2019)
• Pope Benedict breaks his self-imposed silence with a letter on sexual abuse (April 18, 2019)

Critique of Pope Benedict's Message

• Opinion: Benedict's unfortunate letter ignores the facts on the Catholic sex abuse crisis (April 15, 2019) [by Father Thomas J. Reese, S.J.]
• Theologians condemn Pope Benedict's letter on abuse crisis on German bishops' website (April 16, 2019)
• 'Embarassingly wrong': Benedict blasted for blaming homosexuality, sexual revolution for church abuse crisis (April 11, 2019)
• Benedict's letter about sex abuse crisis is a regrettable text (April 11, 2019)
• From 'Powerful' to 'Embarrassing:' Reaction to Benedict's Letter (April 11, 2019)
• "I disagree with most of his analysis of the sex abuse crisis'' -- Father James Martin, S.J. (April 11, 2019)
• This time Benedict XVI oversteps the line (the former pope again breaks his self-imposed silence) (April 12, 2019)
• Theologians concerned about newly engaged role of Benedict, pope emeritus (April 12, 2019)
• Pope Benedict explains things to me (Former pope's 'papal-splaining' illustrates how the church found itself in its current mess) (April 12, 2019)
• Benedict's Untimely Meditation (How His Essay on Sex Abuse is Being Weaponized) (April 12, 2019)
• "That Can't Be!" (April 13, 2019)
• Retired Pope Benedict reemerges to step into the roiling clergy sex abuse debate (April 14, 2019)
• Francis and the shadow of Ratzinger, a coexistence that weighs on the Vatican (April 15, 2019)
• Editorial: One pope is quite enough (April 22, 2019)
• Opinion: Former Pope Benedict ignores institutional reasons for sexual abuse in the Catholic Church instead blames the 1960s (April 22, 2019)
• A tale of two popes: Benedict XVI is a pole of attraction for critics of Pope Francis (Traditionalists take issue with Francis' relatively liberal style while finding merit in his predecessor's conservatism) (April 22, 2019)
• Ideological bias cannot taint our approach to sexual abuse (May 1, 2019)
• Your thoughts on Benedict's letter on sex abuse (Part I) (April 19, 2019)
• Your thoughts on Benedict's letter on sex abuse (Part II) (May 3, 2019)

Support to Pope Benedict's Message

• Pope Benedict's letter on sex abuse is not an attack on Francis (or Vatican II) (April 11, 2019)
• The Former Pope Speaks, Candidly and Acidly, On Abuse (April 11, 2019)
• Benedict's powerful message -- and the bid to suppress it (April 11, 2019)
• Top Vatican cardinal says Benedict is only trying to help Francis (April 12, 2019) [Cardinal Giovanni Becciu0]
• More Thoughts on Benedict XVI's 6000K word essay on the Present Crisis (April 12, 2019)
• Former Vatican Doctrine Czar says rift between Benedict XVI and Francis is impossible (April 15, 2019) [Cardinal Gerhard Muller of Germany]
• Cardinal Muller: Pope Benedict's letter 'more intelligent than all' contributions at Rome Abuse Summit (April 17, 2019)
• Benedict's Analysis: What impressed me most (April 11, 2019)
• Benedict and the Scandal (April 11, 2019)
• The Problem with Benedict's essay (Right or wrong, Benedict told us very little -- practically nothing -- we did not already know) (April 13, 2019)
• Benedict's Essay: The Voice of a True Father (April 15, 2o19)
• The Sexual Revolution and sex abuse scandals: A Protestant take on Pope Benedict's letter (April 29, 2019)

(Updated on May 6, 2019)

Flames Engulf Notre Dame Catheral in Paris Causing World-Wide Heartache

Impressive Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris, France, used to
attract millions of tourists and devotees a year

 Photo courtesy: medium.com/

Interior view of the Cathedral during a religious service

Photo courtesy: mtravel.mn/

 The devastating fire of April 15, 2019, causes
the Notre Dame Cathedral spire collapse 

Photo courtesy: AFP/Getty Images via globalnews.ca/

Notre Dame de Paris (Our Lady of Paris), named in honour of Jesus' mother, is the Gothic cathedral on an island in the river Seine that passes through the city of Paris, is a French landmark renowned all over the world. Millions of French and international tourists visit it every year.

Built 850 years ago, this Catholic cathedral saw a lot of history and it itself survived the ravages of the French revolution (1789-1799), the First World War (1914-1918), and the Second World War (1939-1945). 

Recently this cathedral was undergoing massive renovation work. French authorities surmise that this fire was caused accidentally. 

The French, as well as people world over, felt heartache at the devastating fire that engulfed this venerable cathedral. 

Many French donors have already pledged millions of euros for rebuilding the cathedral. Foreigners are also coming forward to offering help.

For more, please read the following:

• Firefighters race to save what's left of Notre Dame Cathedral as French President declares 'the worst has been avoided' (April 15, 2019)
• Fire at Notre Dame Cathedral (April 15, 2019)
• In Images: Paris' Notre Dame Cathedral burning (April 15, 2019)
• Notre Dame fire: What 'invaluable' treasures reside at the famed Paris cathedral (April 15, 2019)
• CBS News: Fire burns Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris [photos]
• In pictures: Fire devastates Notre Dame Cathedral (April 15, 2019)
• Notre Dame fire: spire and roof destroyed but main structure saved -- live news (April 16, 2019)
• Priest helped rescue treasures from burning Notre Dame (April 16, 2019)
• Notre Dame Cathedral fire likely caused by accident: French officials (April 16, 2019)
• The glorious (and tragic) history of Notre Dame Cathedral from de Sully to Disney (April 15, 2019)
• Our Lady of Paris: a history of Notre Dame cathedral (April 15, 2019)

La Civilta Cattolica (English Edition)

La Civilta Cattolica (The Catholic Civilization),
a Jesuit journal from Rome, Italy

La Civilta Cattolica, in the Italian language, is the 108-year old journal of the Jesuit Order in Rome, Italy. It is published in cooperation with the Secretariate of State of the Vatican, with the aim of interpreting "religion, history, politics, culture, science, and art in the world in the light of the Catholic faith."

It has its French, German, Spanish, Korean, and English versions. 

You may read the English version here La Civilta Cattolica (English Version)

The English translation of the Italian version can be read here La Civilta Cattolica

The Quotation of the Week (April 14 - 20, 2019)

A quotation Charles Dickens on 'one's heart', compiled by Jerome D'Costa

Artwork: Andrea Mary D'Costa (2018)

The Budget vs. Uncollected Gargage In Toronto

A bin with uncollected overflowing garbage near
the Mount Sinai Hospital on the University Avenue, Toronto

Another bin with uncollected garbage 
right in front of the entrance to the Mount Sinai Hospital

A third bin, in front of the entrance to the Queens Park TTC Station 
(on College Street), facing the Provincial Parliament House 
at the Queens Park

All Photos (Toronto: April 12, 2019) © Jerome D'Costa

When Torontonians are busy debating the City and Provincial budgets, garbage cans right in front of the nose of the Provincial Parliament House remain uncleared for days. I noticed the uncollected garbage bin in the first photo (above) last Tuesday, April 9. Today is Friday (April 12) and the garbage can is still in its former position! This made me look further and I noticed the other two overflowing bins today. 

Now you can imagine what may happen when alcoholic drinks and recreational drugs are easily available everywhere! 

The Artist & The Viewer: A Publication of Toronto

The Artist & The Viewer -- a publication of Toronto

It's a recently debuted Toronto art newspaper for Toronto visual artists and their audience. It aims "to bring visual arts to the main stages" through its news, views, reviews, and articles on the Toronto art scene of drawing, painting, sculpture, printmaking, video, photography, mixed media, multidisciplinary arts, ceramics, jewelry, textiles, woodcraft, papercut, and more. 

Email contact: info@theartistandtheviewer.com

It's also available online at The Artist & The Viewer

The Quotation of the Week (April 7-13, 2019)

A quotation of Arnold Lunn on 'the success of a Catholic school,'
compiled by Jerome D'Costa

Above design by Jerome D'Costa

Pope Francis Issues A Decree For Protection Of Minors And Vulnerable Adults In The Vatican City State

Pope Francis in the Vatican

Photo courtesy: AP via www.npr.org/

Pope Francis recently issued a new decree or edict, called Motu Proprio (meaning "on his own impulse" -- an action taken by the pope on his own initiative), which will go into effect on June 1, 2019, making it mandatory for the Vatican City State officials or staff and Vatican diplomats in different countries to immediately report to Vatican authorities any allegation of sexual abuse of minors and vulnerable adults (who are "in an infirm state, or physical or mental deficiency, or deprivation of personal freedom, that in fact, even occasionally, limits their capacity to intend or to want or in any way to resist the offense") by any one of their own. If anyone fails to report such an allegation will face monetary fines or jail time. 

This decree, however, will not affect non-Vatican jurisdictions (that is, local Catholic dioceses, the orders of priests-Brothers-Sisters, or their institutions). 

This is one concrete step taken after the February Vatican Summit of world Catholic bishops on the protection of minors and vulnerable adults.

For more on this subject, kindly read the following:

• Pope Francis issues child protection laws for Vatican City, Roman Curia (March 29, 2019)
• Pope Francis issues new legislation for protection of minors (March 29, 2019)
• Pope Francis issues decree for the protection of minors and vulnerable adults in the Vatican (March 29, 2019)
• Pope Issues New Edict Requiring Vatican Officials To Report Sex Abuse Allegations (March 29, 2019)
• Pope: new laws for the protection of minors (March 29, 2019)
• New Vatican law will make reporting of sex abuse mandatory (March 30, 2019)
• Vatican Guidelines for Protection of Minors [Full Text]
• State-of-the-art standards for the protection of minors [Editorial] (March 29, 2019)
• The Protection of Minors in the Church (Responsibility, Accountability, Transparency) [Website]

THE ATLANTIC: A Monthly Magazine from the U.S.A.

This monthly magazine published ten-times-a-year from the Washington, D.C., U.S.A., covers news, views, and articles on politics, economy, art, culture, social issues, entertainment, science and technology, education, religion, literature, health, and fitness, and more. 

Email contact: letters@theatlantic.com

It's also available online at The Atlantic