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

The Quotation of the Week (March 31 - April 6, 2019)

A quotation of Pope Francis on 'wasting of food,' compiled by Jerome D'Costa

Photo (Dancing lights: January 1, 2015) © Jerome D'Costa

Bangladesh Liberation War of 1971 From The Perspective Of An American Holy Cross Missionary Brother

Cover page of the dossier on Bangladesh War of 1971
by Brother Fulgence Dougherty, C.S.C., presented at 1995
Conference on the History of the Congregation of Holy Cross
in Notre Dame, Indiana, U.S.A.

Above Image Courtesy: village.hcc-nd.edu/

Brother Fulgence J. Dougherty, C.S.C.

Photo courtesy: www.up.edu/

Holy Cross missionary Brother Fulgence J. Dougherty, C.S.C. (1922-2017) was a well-known missionary, teacher, headmaster, and a superior of the Holy Cross Brothers in the Archdiocese of Dhaka in Bangladesh. He was popularly known as "Brother Fulgence."

He served in Bangladesh from 1947 to 1972. He was headmaster of St. Gregory's High School in old Dhaka, Holy Cross High School at Bandura, and St. Joesph's High School at Mohammadpur, Dhaka. 

From the last week of March until the day of independence on December 16, 1971, the West Pakistani military and their allies in East Pakistan (Bangladesh) had unleashed a reign of terror by shooting, arson, looting, and rape on the freedom-loving populace of East Pakistan. These unjust and uncalled for atrocities and cruelties had alienated many a foreigner living and working in this part of the world. Brother Fulgence was no exception.

Brother Fulgence was a diarist, too. In his diary, he kept a record of his observations, thoughts, and reflections. 

With the help of his diary and some newspaper reports -- especially The New York Times -- he wrote a dossier on the Bangladesh War of Liberation in 1971. He presented it at the 1995 Conference on the History of the Congregation of Holy Cross on June 15-17, 1995, at Holy Cross College, Holy Cross Brothers Center, Notre Dame, Indiana, U.S.A.

In this paper, Brother gives a short background that led to the Bangladesh Liberation War in 1971. He then gives some specifics on events in Dhaka city, St. Gregory's High School (dozens of Hindu refugees from neighbouring areas -- including N.C. Sutradhar and D. N. Pal Chowdhury -- two teachers of the same school and Paul Costa -- the sacristan of the adjacent Catholic church abducted and later killed by the army at Jagannath College army camp), St. Joseph's Trade School at Narinda, Nagari and Bandura areas, and some other parts of the country. 

Please read his complete paper by clicking on the item below:

• The Bangladesh War and One Holy Cross Brother (by Brother Fulgence J. Dougherty, C.S.C.) [On Bangladesh Liberation War of 1971] 

To know more on Brother Fulgence J. Dougherty, C.S.C., you may also click on the following:

• Brother Fulgence (James) Dougherty, CSC
• Brother Fulgence Dougherty, C.S.C., Dies