Author: chiefeditor

  • Should religion be counted on to improve ‘mental’ health?

    Psychiatry Needs to Get Right with God1, is the title of a scientific article that has wanted to pick into this. “By not making more of an effort to incorporate spirituality in treatment, we are doing a disservice to patients”

    In the article published on June 15, 2021, David H. Rosmarin he said that “In the early days of the pandemic, economist Jeanet Bentzen of the University of Copenhagen examined Google searches for the word “prayer” in 95 countries. She identified that they hit an all-time global high in March 2020, and increases occurred in lockstep with the number of COVID-19 cases identified in each country. Stateside, according to the Pew Research Center, 55 percent of Americans prayed to end the spread of the novel coronavirus in March 2020, and nearly one quarter reported that their faith increased the following month, despite limited access to houses of worship.”

    There are however documented plans for psychiatry wanting to take over from religion, or at least wanting to take over religion and control it for their own purposes, while ensuring religiosity disappears more and more. In fact, it was the 1940s, when psychiatrists J.R. Rees and G. Brock Chisholm, cofounders of the World Federation for Mental Health, outlined their plans for society where they said “We have made a useful attack upon a number of professions,” said Rees in 1940. “The two easiest of them naturally are the teaching profession and the Church.”… “To achieve world government,” said Chisholm, “it is necessary to remove from the minds of men their individualism, loyalty to family traditions, national patriotism, and religious dogmas.”, so no wonder why someone is worried about COVID19 and their future, or just about the many problems one can find in life, the psychiatric industry seems to prefer people to do more pills, than prayers.

    Back to the article from Dr. Rosmarin from last June about the use of spirituality and religion to improve “mental health”, “These are not just interesting sociological trends—they are clinically significant. Spirituality has historically been dismissed by psychiatrists, but results from a pilot program at McLean Hospital in Massachusetts indicate that attention to it is a critical aspect of mental health care.”

    HE explains that in 2017 his own multidisciplinary team of mental health clinicians, researchers and chaplains created what they called the Spiritual Psychotherapy for Inpatient, Residential and Intensive Treatment (SPIRIT), which was a flexible and spiritually integrated form of cognitive-behavioral therapy.

    After that they trained a cadre of more than 20 clinicians, stationed on 10 different clinical units throughout McLean Hospital, to deliver SPIRIT and evaluated the approach. Rosmarin writes that “since 2017, SPIRIT has been delivered to more than 5,000 people” and the their “results suggest that spiritual psychotherapy is not only feasible but highly desired by patients“.

    The explains that in the past year, American mental health had sank to the lowest point in history: “Incidence of mental disorders increased by 50 percent, compared with before the pandemic, alcohol and other substance abuse surged, and young adults were more than twice as likely to seriously consider suicide than they were in 2018.”

    Yet, Rosmarin states that “the only group to see improvements in mental health during the past year were those who attended religious services at least weekly (virtually or in-person): 46 percent report “excellent” mental health today versus 42 percent one year ago. As former congressional representative Patrick J. Kennedy and journalist Stephen Fried wrote in their book A Common Struggle, the two most underappreciated treatments for mental disorders are ‘love and faith.‘”

    It’s no wonder that nearly 60 per cent of psychiatric patients want to discuss spirituality in the context of their treatment. Yet we rarely provide such an opportunity.

    It is now nearly 100 years ago, since Freud’s characterization of religion as a “mass-delusion” and with the documented plans of psychiatrists Rees and Chisolm, too mental health “professionals” and scientists have deliberately put religion aside in dealing with the emotional and spiritual needs people while too often simplifying happiness or sadness to an already disproven “chemical imbalance” with which they can sell lots of dangerous psych drugs.

    The UN and WHO have also tested programs where faith communities have proven effectiveness in helping people who suffer “mental health”, while psychiatrists keep asking for more and more funds and legal protection to continue their “research” and experiments into the field of the mind and the spirit.

    Despite the lack of results, psychiatry still has an unbalanced power in society and current efforts to flatten the COVID-19 mental health curve have been almost entirely secular, with the excuse of keeping the “separation of church/state”.

    “This situation goes beyond separation of church and state” says Rosmarin. “Health care professionals falsely disconnect common spiritual behaviors and experiences from science and clinical practice. As a result, we ignore potential spiritual solutions to our mental health crisis, even when our well-being is worse than ever before.”

    He explained in his article that his “own research has demonstrated that a belief in God is associated with significantly better treatment outcomes for acute psychiatric patients. And other laboratories have shown a connection between religious belief and the thickness of the brain’s cortex, which may help protect against depression. Of course, belief in God is not a prescription. But these compelling findings warrant further scientific exploration, and patients in distress should certainly have the option to include spirituality in their treatment“.

    “Countless anecdotes of this nature occurred during a recent year-long clinical trial of SPIRIT that my research team completed with funding from the Bridges Consortium (supported by the John Templeton Foundation). More than 90 percent of patients reported experiencing some kind of benefit, regardless of religious affiliation.” continues Rosmarin.

    And to conclude his article, he wrote “It remains to be seen whether God can solve our mental health crisis. But the potential clinical benefits of spirituality, and patients’ desire for spiritual treatments, provide a reason to believe“.

    Should then states support citizens and their religious communities so that they can step up in dealing with those who look at religion and religious “therapy” as the answer to their problems? More and more evidence, seem to indicate that it becomes cheaper, safer and more effective, than investing in new psychotropic drug treatments, electroshock, LSD, and even more clear if those psych treatments are given against the will of the people as the Human Rights Council and its Special Rapporteurs have now proven.

  • Spain: lawyer condemned at Supreme court for defamation

    The Spanish Supreme Court upholds the condemnation to pay €9,000 in damages against a lawyer for violating the right to honour of the judge

    Article by: Enrique de la Llave

    The lawyer Marcelo Enrique Daghero has to compensate the magistrate Joaquín Gadea Francés, territorial assignment judge in Madrid -currently on secondment as reinforcement judge in the Central Court of Instruction 6 of the Audiencia Nacional- with the 9,000 euros to which he was condemned in first and second instance for having violated the right to honour of Gadea Francés.

    At the time of the facts, he was the head of the Court of First Instance 1 of Tarragona and dean of these judicial bodies.

    The Civil Chamber of the Supreme Court composed, in this case, by the magistrates Francisco Marín Castán, as president, Ignacio Sancho Gargallo and Rafael Sarazá Jimena -opponent- confirmed the conviction on October 25, by dismissing the appeal of the lawyer Daghero, which was prepared by the lawyer himself.

    This was expressed by the three judges of the High Court in sentence number 177/2021, which now has to be executed with the consequent payment of the said amount to the judge Gadea Francés, defended in the cassation by the lawyer Gregorio Arroyo Hernansanz.

    An amount that they understand that “is not disproportionate”.

    The origin of the lawsuit of the magistrate Gadea Francés against the lawyer Daghero is found, first, in the complaint/complaint that in March 2016 the lawyer filed before the promoter of the Disciplinary Action of the General Council of the Judiciary (CGPJ) against the magistrate and against Francisco Javier Sánchez, the judicial counsel of that Court.

    Daghero blamed both for their refusal to process the appeals filed in which he was a party, claiming that such action met the elements of the crime of prevarication and the crime of breach of custody of documents committed by an authority or public official and its penalties.

    The promoter of the disciplinary action of the CGPJ, Ricardo Conde, after gathering information on the facts, issued an agreement on June 1, 2016, filing the informative diligence and renouncing to initiate disciplinary proceedings upon finding that there had been no delay or irregularity that could be reproached to the organ or its holder.

    As a result of that setback, on June 20, 2016, Daghero filed a complaint before the Civil and Criminal Chamber of the Superior Court of Justice of Catalonia (TSJCat) against Judge Gadea Francés for the alleged crimes of fraudulent judicial malfeasance, obstruction of justice and concealment.

    He also charged a substitute judge and two prosecuting attorneys. He also requested compensation of 24,000 euros.

    The TSJCat, competent due to the magistrate’s privileges, did not admit the complaint, explaining, notably, that when the lawyer’s resolutions were not favourable to him, “he reacts with the filing of complaints against the aforementioned magistrates and prosecutors, which are clearly unfounded”.

    LAWSUIT FOR PROTECTION OF THE RIGHT TO HONOR

    After that decision of the TSJCat, Gadea Francés filed a lawsuit for the protection of his right to honour against the lawyer Daghero before the Court of First Instance, which ruled in his favour. There had been a clear violation of his right to honour.

    The same result was obtained by the collegiate court of the Third Section of the Provincial Court of Tarragona, to which the lawyer appealed. The Court upheld the sentence of 9,000 euros in compensation, including costs.

    In both instances, the lawyer also defended himself.

    The Civil Chamber of the Supreme Court ruled in the same direction as the first and second instance.

    Moreover, it did so in very harsh terms towards the lawyer. Something that bordered on querulation -although not expressly mentioned by the court-, which is the hostile and vindictive reaction of subjects who believe they have been injured and consider that the damage has been underestimated.

    “The Superior Court of Justice of Catalonia, in view of the documentation presented with the complaint [of the lawyer], understood that the actions of the appellant today responded to a strategy of formulating accusations, in criminal and disciplinary proceedings, against how many judges and prosecutors intervened in the criminal matters that affected him and ‘from this perspective imputed to them criminal offenses and partial, malicious and malicious actions,” the Supreme Court refers.

    However, the documentation accompanying the complaint and the complainant’s own assertions in this regard show that he does not accept a judicial decision or an action emanating from the Public Prosecutor’s Office that is not favourable to him, and in response to this he reacts by filing complaints against the aforementioned judges and prosecutors, which are clearly unfounded […] instead of using legal defense channels, he massively accused all the professionals involved in the Administration of Justice in the cases that were successively opened,” he adds in point eight. instead of using the legal defense channels, he massively accused all the professionals of the Administration of Justice who intervened in the cases that were successively opened”, he adds in point eight.

    THE LAWYER ACCUSED THE MAGISTRATE WITHOUT A MINIMUM REASONABLE BASIS

    Judges Marín Castán, Sancho Gargallo and Sarazá Jimena emphasize the disproportion of the accusations.

    “The accusations of the defendant attorney attributed to the plaintiff -the magistrate- a conduct of a criminal intensity disproportionate to the reality of the facts.”

    “The defendant not only made criticisms of the judicial actions (…) with which he disagreed, describing them as contrary to law,” says the judgment, but also accused “the plaintiff of prevarication, even malicious prevarication, as he considered his decisions unjust and illegal,” they write.

    The lawyer accused Judge Gadea Francés and the other defendants of “conduct as serious as obstruction of justice”, of “having concocted from the Dean’s Office of the courts a plot to influence or retaliate against the defendant to modify his procedural actions”, and of “covering up crimes committed by other judges, launching the accusation that he was part of an illicit association with other judges and prosecutors”, and all “without a reasonable basis”.

    HE OVERSTEPPED THE LIMITS OF FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION

    The Supreme Court recalls, in its ruling, the reinforced nature of the freedom of expression of lawyers in the exercise of the right of defense.

    However, “in this case, the seriousness of the conduct that the defendant imputed to the plaintiff, the disproportionality of the expressions used, their profusion and reiteration, the lack of a minimum reasonable basis for his accusations, even if only indirect” are elements that “taken together, determine that the interference with the plaintiff’s honour by the defendant is not legitimized by the exercise of freedom of expression and the right of defense”.

    For the High Court, the legitimacy granted by the exercise of the right of defense to a lawyer who makes accusations as serious as these against a judge is lost when – as in this case – the lawyer substitutes the use of the means of challenging the decisions of the judges that are unfavourable to him.

    These are the means provided for in the procedural legislation through appeals. Opting for a strategy of systematic denunciation “in disciplinary and criminal proceedings, of those judges and prosecutors who, in the exercise of their functions, carry out actions that affect him unfavourably, formulating against them serious accusations lacking a minimum basis”.

    Originally published in Spanish here.

  • This winter’s flu season epidemic has started – what we know so far

    This winter’s flu season epidemic has started – what we know so far and what needs to be done to control it

    In the week commencing 13 December the number of flu cases (caused by the influenza virus) detected in the WHO European Region was above what we would normally expect to find in the population for the second week in a row, which indicates the so-called flu season epidemic has started.

    The European Commission began consultations yesterday with the Member States Expert Group on Sustainable Finance and the Platform on Sustainable Finance on a draft text of a Taxonomy Complementary Delegated Act covering certain gas and nuclear activities.

    The EU Taxonomy guides and mobilises private investment in activities that are needed to achieve climate neutrality in the next 30 years. The existing energy mix in Europe today varies from one Member State to another. Some parts of Europe are still heavily based on high carbon-emitting coal. The Taxonomy provides for energy activities that enable Member States to move towards climate neutrality from such different positions.

    Taking account of scientific advice and current technological progress, as well as varying transition challenges across Member States, the Commission considers there is a role for natural gas and nuclear as a means to facilitate the transition towards a predominantly renewable-based future. Within the Taxonomy framework, this would mean classifying these energy sources under clear and tight conditions (for example, gas must come from renewable sources or have low emissions by 2035), in particular as they contribute to the transition to climate neutrality.

    In addition, to ensure transparency, the Commission will amend the Taxonomy Disclosure Delegated Act so that investors can identify if activities include gas or nuclear activities, and to what extent, so they can make an informed choice.

    The activities covered in this complementary Delegated Act would accelerate the phase out of more harmful sources, such as coal, and in moving us towards a more low-carbon greener energy mix.

    As for the other activities under the Taxonomy Regulation, the criteria for the gas and nuclear activities will be updated as technology evolves.

    Next steps

    The Platform on Sustainable Finance and the Member States Expert Group on Sustainable Finance must be consulted on all Delegated Acts under the Taxonomy Regulation, given their expert role foreseen by the Taxonomy Regulation. They will have until 12 January to provide their contributions.

    The Commission will analyse their contributions and formally adopt the complementary Delegated Act in January 2022. It will be then sent to the co-legislators for their scrutiny.

    Similar to the first Climate Delegated Act, the European Parliament and the Council (who have delegated the power to the Commission to adopt this Delegated Act) will have four months to scrutinise  the document, and, should they find it necessary, to object to it. In line with the Taxonomy Regulation, both institutions may request for additional two months of scrutiny time. The Council will have the right to object to it by reverse reinforced qualified majority (which means that at least 72% of MS (i.e. at least 20 MS) representing at least 65% of the EU population are needed to object to the Delegated Act), and the European Parliament by simple majority (i.e. at least 353 MEPs in Plenary).

    Once the scrutiny period is over and assuming neither of the co-legislators object, the (complementary) Delegated Act will enter into force and apply.

    Background

    The EU Taxonomy is a robust, science-based transparency tool for companies and investors. It creates a common language that investors can use when investing in projects and economic activities that have a substantial positive impact on the climate and the environment. It will also introduce disclosure obligations on companies and financial market participants.

  • France wears the colours of Europe as it launches its Presidency of the Council of the EU

    Since 1 January 2022 to 30 June 2022, France holds the Presidency of the Council of the European Union. To celebrate the launch of this Presidency, many emblematic monuments will be lit up in blue across the country and through its embassies.

    It is the first time in 13 years that France has held the Presidency of the Council of the European Union. In order to celebrate this remarkable moment, cities across France will be lighting up emblematic buildings in the colours of the European Union, including Amiens, Angers, Bordeaux, Brest, Caen, Clermont-Ferrand, Le Havre, Lille, Limoges, Marseille, Metz, Montpellier, Mulhouse, Nancy, Nantes, Nice, Nîmes, Orléans, Paris, Reims, Rennes, Rouen, Saint-Denis, Saint-Étienne, Strasbourg, Toulon, Toulouse, Tours and Villeurbanne.

    In Paris, the Eiffel Tower, the courtyard of the Élysée Palace, the Arc de Triomphe, the Hôtel des Invalides, the Quai d’Orsay, the Pantheon, the Opéra Garnier, the Sacré-Cœur, Notre-Dame and the Senate will be lit up in blue on 1 January.

    Among the french embassies, Berlin, London or Copenhaguen also join the celebration.

    Published originally here.

  • The £740 book that shows you just can’t trust a cover price on Amazon

    Spotlight: Books like John C Boland’s Hominid have been for sale at inflated prices on Amazon

    Critics are accusing online giant Amazon of allowing third-party sellers to misrepresent the books they market on its website. In some instances, books are being sold as classics at inflated prices.

    Among those concerned is American author and publisher John C Boland, whose recent novels have been marketed as published in the 17th Century and commanding a price of more than £700.  In fact, his modern day thrillers should retail for about £10. The Baltimore writer is suing Amazon in the American law courts for not properly policing the sale of books on its online store.

    Although Amazon sells books directly there is also an option to buy ‘new’ and ‘used’ from other sellers if they also have copies available, which can often be found on website links below a description of the literature. Anyone can sign up as one of these third-party dealers if they are able to set up an Amazon seller account – though the online giant typically gets 15 per cent of the proceeds from sales.

    Boland says: ‘The abuses affect not only my own works, such as the science thriller Hominid, but novels and non-fiction published by other authors.

    ‘For example, $12 books (nearly £9) are being offered in fanciful ‘1602’ editions for $1,000 (£740) that were actually published earlier this century.’

    He adds: ‘Amazon’s response that it does not permit this sort of thing is false. My search of its books website turned up thousands of mistakes being made by third-party sellers.

    ‘When a seller claims to have an edition published more than a hundred years ago it is also defaming authors like me by implying that the book existed before I had even written it – as if I were a plagiarist.’

    Meryl Halls, managing director of The Booksellers Association, says the issues raised by John C Boland highlight flaws in the buying of books online.

    She says: ‘Amazon has huge power in the marketplace for books and it is hard for independent booksellers to compete against it.

    Retail titan: Amazon sales ¿ of which books are only a small part ¿ rose more than 50 per cent in 2020 to £20.63bn. It paid direct UK tax on its profits of £492m

    Retail titan: Amazon sales – of which books are only a small part – rose more than 50 per cent in 2020 to £20.63bn. It paid direct UK tax on its profits of £492m

    ‘A local bookshop not only offers quality and advice that can be trusted – but it also allows bookbuyers to actually hold a book in their hand before having to part with any money.’

    She adds: ‘Thankfully, over the past couple of years – during this terrible pandemic – about 100 new bookshops have opened up as people have learned to appreciate their value.’

    There are now some 1,000 independent bookshops in the UK, less than half the number that were trading when Amazon began in 1995.

    Those who find browsing bookshelves is part of the pleasure of buying books should also consider visiting a book fair to find hidden gems to leaf through – and talk with experts about other literature they might find appealing.

    David Maynard is a book dealer and member of the Provincial Booksellers Fairs Association. This trade organisation offers details of book fairs held throughout the country – as well as online fairs.

    He says: ‘The internet has its place, but when it comes to buying books there is no substitute for personal service.’

    ‘These claims defame authors like me’

    Maynard adds: ‘Purchasing older books can be fraught with danger if a buyer does not know what they are doing. Condition and accurate date descriptions are a key part of the buying process.

    ‘We have a code of conduct to which all members are signed up to so if a buyer ever has a problem, it can be sorted out immediately.’

    Maynard adds: ‘Another bonus is that we can help guide book lovers on their adventure – introducing them to new and exciting reads after sharing with us what they enjoy.’ Amazon’s big selling point is convenience – with a purchase possible via a few clicks of a button rather than having to visit a shop.

    It also has huge global marketing and sales clout to beat competitors on price. Up to half of all book sales are now through Amazon. It also owns the book trading website AbeBooks.

    A criticism often made about Amazon and other online services is that they do not have the overheads of high street shops, such as shop rental and staff costs, and that they pay proportionally lower taxes.

    Amazon sales – of which books are only a small part – rose more than 50 per cent in 2020 to £20.63 billion. It paid direct UK tax on its profits of £492 million. The US giant channels the majority of its British retail sales through tax-haven Luxembourg.

    Amazon did not provide a comment on the allegations made by John C Boland.

    But it did confirm that as independent businesses, third party sellers are required to follow all applicable laws, regulations and Amazon policies when listing items for sale on its online store. It also confirmed that it promptly investigates any issues raised by buyers and when appropriate takes action.

    For details of where to find your nearest local bookshop, visit booksellers.org.uk. Another website worth considering when hunting out your favourite literature on the high street is bookshop.org.

    toby.walne@mailonsunday.co.uk

  • Desmond Tutu was ‘spiritual father’ of the new South Africa, says country’s president

    (Photo: Livestream of the funeral, the Presidency of the Republic of South Africa, courtesy World Council of Churches) Cyril Ramaphosa, the president of South Africa delivers a eulogy at the funeral of Archbishop Desmond Mpilo Tutu at Cape Town’s St George’s Cathedral on Jan. 1, 2022. Photo: Livestream of the funeral, the Presidency of the Republic of South Africa

    While Nelson Mandela, the “beloved Madiba,” was the father of South African democracy, Archbishop Desmond Mpilo Tutu was the “spiritual father” of “our new nation,” the president of South Africa said in the main eulogy at a State funeral for the Nobel Peace laureate.

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    President Cyril Ramaphosa was during the final struggle against apartheid in South Africa in the 1980s inside the country with Tutu drawing the wrath of the then-government.

    He spoke at Cape Town’s St George’s Cathedral, where an Anglican requiem mass was held on Jan. 1 for Desmond Mpilo Tutu who died on 26 December at the age of 90, after a long illness with cancer.

    Tribute was paid to Archbishop Emeritus Tutu, known for his perennial infectious laugh and humour against adversity.

    His widow Leah Tutu, his children and grandchildren, were also at the funeral in the cathedral where Tutu had lain in state for two days in a simple coffin of his choosing made of cheap pinewood and also sometimes referred to a a pauper’s coffin.

    It was a small service of only 100 people in the cathedral where Tutu and others confronted the apartheid police during the old era.

    The mass was conducted in the three primary languages spoken in Cape Town, isiXhosa, English, and Afrikaans, three of South Africa’s 11 official languages.

    Singing the hymns at the service were Imilonji kantu Choral Society, the Soweto Gospel Choir, St Georges Parktown Choir and a recording from the St George’s Cathedral Choir.

    “It is only the few among us, the rarest of souls, who attain the stature of global icon during their lifetime,” said Ramaphosa.

    “Our departed father was a crusader in the struggle for freedom, for justice, for equality and peace, not just in South Africa, the country of his birth, but around the world as well.”

    Ramaphosa recounted how Tutu, who had spoken after being arrested in 1988 during a clergy-led protest against a crackdown on anti-apartheid groups, had with his Bible in hand told a news conference he would continue with his defiance.

    ‘We are not defying the law,’ he declared, ‘we are obeying God,’ ” said the president, quoting Tutu.

    Such was Tutu’s overarching impact and influence, said Ramaphosa, that tributes had been received from current and past presidents, religious leaders, monarchs, lawmakers, political parties, musicians and artists, and ordinary people from all corners of the globe.

    Among them were King Letsie III and the consort Queen Masenate Mohato Seeiso of the mountain kingdom of Lesotho, surrounded by South Africa where Tutu served a spell as bishop along with Dutch princess, Mabel van Oranje and former Irish president Mary Robinson.

    ‘HUMBLE AND BRAVE’

    “A humble and brave human being who spoke up for the oppressed, the downtrodden and the suffering,” said Ramaphosa.

    The South African president spoke of Tutu’s criticism of Israel’s treatment of Palestinians of Israeli settlers encroaching their land, including that of Christians on the West Bank. Tutu always said he loves Jews and right of the state of Israel to exist.

    “He was an outspoken supporter of the Palestinian cause and in 2014 wrote a powerful article calling on Israelis and Palestinians to find each other and to make peace,” said Ramaphosa in his eulogy.

    “In his words, ‘peace requires the people of Israel and Palestine to recognise the human being in themselves and each other, and to understand their interdependence,’” said the South African presisent.

    The current Archbishop of Cape Town, Thabo Makgoba, presided over the service, and the preacher was Rev. Michael Nuttall, retired Bishop of Natal, who worked alongside Tutu when he headed the Anglican church of southern Africa.

    The guard of honour for Tutu was not military, but made of clergy and church wardens, who lined Cape Town’s inner streets to pay their respects as his cortege arrived at the cathedral for him to lie in state in the days before the funeral.

    ‘TUTU’S AUTHENTICITY’

    Bishop Nuttal praised Leah Tutu who was so close to her husband throughout his life and preached of Tutu’s authenticity.

    “That is why we loved him and respected him and valued him so deeply. Small in physical stature, he was a giant among us morally and spiritually. His faith was authentic, not counterfeit or half-hearted,” said Nuttal.

    “He lived it, even at great cost to himself, with an inclusive, all-embracing love. His friend, Nelson Mandela, put it perfectly when he said: ‘Sometimes strident, often tender, never afraid and seldom without humour, Desmond Tutu’s voice will always be the voice of the voiceless.’”

    Tutu worked for the World Council of Churches in Geneva from 1972-1975. WCC deputy general secretary Dr. Isabel Apawo Phiri represented the council at the service in St George’s Cathedral where Tutu’s remains will be buried.

    WCC acting general secretary Rev. Prof. Dr Ioan Sauca sent a message to the family on behalf of the WCC.

    The message said, “In Desmond Tutu, we all experienced a man of many gifts and accomplishments, as an educator and churchman, a leader in the liberation struggle here and abroad and in the quest for reconciliation, as a husband and father and friend.

    “But here, in this house of God, I would lift up one indispensable passion in all he did, namely, his lifelong faith. Desmond Tutu was, first and last, a man of God.

    “Yet his faith was not a solipsistic search for certainty, security or a therapeutic comfort. It was rather a confidence in God’s loving presence and activity among us, God’s fulsome affirmation of our being human, and the fire for justice by which God energizes prophetic action,” reads the message.

    “Desmond Tutu’s faith was, in the broadest and best sense, ecumenical, driving to overcome division in a zealous quest for God’s reign.”

    (Photo: Peter Williams/WCC)About 5000 people were crammed in and around Copenhagen’s city square on a Sunday morning to see Archbishop Desmond Tutu hand over more than half a million signatures to the UN Climate chief.

  • EU Taxonomy: Commission begins expert consultations on Complementary Delegated Act covering certain nuclear and gas activities

    The European Commission began consultations yesterday with the Member States Expert Group on Sustainable Finance and the Platform on Sustainable Finance on a draft text of a Taxonomy Complementary Delegated Act covering certain gas and nuclear activities.

    The EU Taxonomy guides and mobilises private investment in activities that are needed to achieve climate neutrality in the next 30 years. The existing energy mix in Europe today varies from one Member State to another. Some parts of Europe are still heavily based on high carbon-emitting coal. The Taxonomy provides for energy activities that enable Member States to move towards climate neutrality from such different positions.

    Taking account of scientific advice and current technological progress, as well as varying transition challenges across Member States, the Commission considers there is a role for natural gas and nuclear as a means to facilitate the transition towards a predominantly renewable-based future. Within the Taxonomy framework, this would mean classifying these energy sources under clear and tight conditions (for example, gas must come from renewable sources or have low emissions by 2035), in particular as they contribute to the transition to climate neutrality.

    In addition, to ensure transparency, the Commission will amend the Taxonomy Disclosure Delegated Act so that investors can identify if activities include gas or nuclear activities, and to what extent, so they can make an informed choice.

    The activities covered in this complementary Delegated Act would accelerate the phase out of more harmful sources, such as coal, and in moving us towards a more low-carbon greener energy mix.

    As for the other activities under the Taxonomy Regulation, the criteria for the gas and nuclear activities will be updated as technology evolves.

    Next steps

    The Platform on Sustainable Finance and the Member States Expert Group on Sustainable Finance must be consulted on all Delegated Acts under the Taxonomy Regulation, given their expert role foreseen by the Taxonomy Regulation. They will have until 12 January to provide their contributions.

    The Commission will analyse their contributions and formally adopt the complementary Delegated Act in January 2022. It will be then sent to the co-legislators for their scrutiny.

    Similar to the first Climate Delegated Act, the European Parliament and the Council (who have delegated the power to the Commission to adopt this Delegated Act) will have four months to scrutinise  the document, and, should they find it necessary, to object to it. In line with the Taxonomy Regulation, both institutions may request for additional two months of scrutiny time. The Council will have the right to object to it by reverse reinforced qualified majority (which means that at least 72% of MS (i.e. at least 20 MS) representing at least 65% of the EU population are needed to object to the Delegated Act), and the European Parliament by simple majority (i.e. at least 353 MEPs in Plenary).

    Once the scrutiny period is over and assuming neither of the co-legislators object, the (complementary) Delegated Act will enter into force and apply.

    Background

    The EU Taxonomy is a robust, science-based transparency tool for companies and investors. It creates a common language that investors can use when investing in projects and economic activities that have a substantial positive impact on the climate and the environment. It will also introduce disclosure obligations on companies and financial market participants.

  • Reflections on 20 years of the euro: joint article by Eurogroup members

    Twenty years ago tomorrow, around 300 million Europeans held a brand new currency in their hands, the euro. From Lisbon to Helsinki to Athens, citizens were able to withdraw euro banknotes in their local ATMs, buy their groceries with euro coins and travel abroad without exchanging currency.  

    The changeover from 12 national currencies to the euro was a one of a kind operation in history: the European Central Bank printed more than 15 billion euro banknotes and some 52 billion coins were minted ahead of 1 January 2002.

    Building on the expansion of the Single Market, the euro became one of the most tangible achievements of European integration, together with the free movement of people, the Erasmus student exchange programme or the lifting of roaming charges within the EU.

    On a deeper level, the euro is reflective of a common European identity, symbolic of integration as a guarantor for stability and prosperity in Europe.

    As the finance ministers and members of the European Commission steering euro area economic policy, we take a collective look back at the past 20 years and identify some priorities for the future of our common currency.  

    The past 20 years – coming of age

    It is fair to say that the euro has had an eventful first two decades.

    From the great enthusiasm of its beginnings, the euro has grown to become the world’s second most widely used currency. Our shared currency remains highly popular – about 80% of citizens think the euro is good for the EU – and the euro area has continued to expand, from the 11 initial members, to 19 countries today, and more on the path to joining in the coming years.

    This progress was made in the face of severe challenges. Some were sceptical about the project already at its infancy.

    When it reached its teens, there was a wider realisation among the member states and institutions that the architecture of the euro was not originally designed to respond to the seismic shock of the global financial and subsequent sovereign debt crises. This prompted the reform of the euro area’s governance framework, the establishment of a joint support mechanism for countries in financial distress, and a common supervisory system for European banks: a recognition that the solution had to be found in greater coordination and deeper integration.

    These early crises enabled the euro to mature and strengthen its international role. We have also learned valuable lessons that have stood us in good stead in the current pandemic: its borderless nature revealed both the depth of our inter-dependence and the strength of our unity.

    When the scale of the COVID-19 crisis became evident, it was met with much swifter, more decisive and more coordinated policy action, in contrast to previous shocks. While existing tax and welfare systems worked to cushion the economic impact, the EU took unprecedented decisions to further protect lives and livelihoods, complementing the ECB’s supportive monetary policies. Our collective response included the SURE financial assistance scheme that has contributed to protecting about 31 million jobs, as well as the ground-breaking recovery plan for Europe – Next Generation EU.

    Our coordinated policy response, coupled with the roll-out of COVID-19 vaccines, helped the euro area to quickly rebound from the economic effects of the pandemic. Moreover, the financial and liquidity supports provided were designed to limit the risks of long-term damage so that our economies could rapidly recover lost ground.

    The next 20 years

    We have achieved a lot in the first 20 years of the euro, but there is more to be done.

    We need to keep pace with innovation and promote the international role of the euro. The euro itself must be fit for the digital age. That is why we support and contribute to the ongoing work of the European Central Bank on a digital form of our currency.

    At the same time, the euro area needs to be further reinforced. While we have set strong foundations to our European banking system, we have more work to do to strengthen our banking union and unlock new opportunities for economic recovery and growth. The same applies to our capital markets: we must take decisive action to improve the way private investments and savings flow across the Single Market to provide much-needed financing to companies, including our SMEs, and in turn create new job opportunities.

    Investment levels have been too low for too long: we must invest heavily and sustainably in our people, infrastructure and institutions. Coupled with responsible budgetary policies and the contribution of the private sector, Next Generation EU will play a key role in delivering many necessary reforms and investments. This is the best route we have to boost our growth potential, improve our living standards and tackle the critical challenges facing humanity.

    We must also ensure fiscal sustainability as our population is ageing. In the context of the review of our common budgetary rules, we need to guarantee that euro area fiscal and economic policies are fit for purpose in a changed environment and responsive to future challenges.

    Our common currency is an unprecedented collective endeavour, and a testament to the unity that underpins our Union.

    As the world recovers from the pandemic, we must now combine our efforts and resources to reap the benefits of a rapidly digitalising world and to tackle the climate emergency. None of these issues can be addressed by countries acting alone. The euro is proof of what we can achieve when we work together – looking ahead to the next 20 years, let’s make it a symbol of our commitment to secure a prosperous, sustainable and inclusive future for coming generations.

    This article was published in several European media. It has been co-signed by Magnus Brunner, Minister of Finance of Austria, Nadia Calviño, First Vice President and Minister for Economy and Digitalisation of Spain, Clyde Caruana, Minister for Finance and Employment of Malta, Valdis Dombrovskis, Executive Vice President of the European Commission for An Economy that Works for People, Paschal Donohoe, President of the Eurogroup and Minister of Finance of Ireland, Daniele Franco, Minister of Economy and Finance of Italy, Paolo Gentiloni, EU Commissioner for the Economy, Pierre Gramegna, Minister of Finance of Luxembourg, Wopke Hoekstra, Minister of Finance of the Netherlands, João Leão, Minister of State for Finance of Portugal, Bruno Le Maire, Minister of the Economy, Finance and Recovery of France, Christian Lindner, Minister of Finance of Germany, Mairead McGuinness, EU Commissioner for financial services, financial stability and Capital Markets Union, Igor Matovič, Minister of Finance and Deputy Prime Minister of Slovakia, Keit Pentus-Rosimannus, Minister of Finance of Estonia, Constantinos Petrides, Minister of Finance of Cyprus, Jānis Reirs, Minister of finance of Latvia, Annika Saarikko, Minister of Finance of Finland, Andrej Šircelj, Minister of Finance of Slovenia, Gintarė Skaistė, Minister of Finance of Lithuania, Christos Staikouras, Minister of Finance of Greece, Vincent Van Peteghem, Minister of Finance of Belgium.

  • Pope at Angelus: May Mary inspire harmony in our hearts and world – Vatican News

    By Vatican News staff writer

    After presiding over the morning celebration of the Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God, Pope Francis greeted pilgrims in St. Peter’s Square, offering his New Year’s good wishes and reflecting on the day’s liturgy. In the Church, the first day of the civil New Year is also observed as the Solemnity of Mary, the Mother of God, as well as the World Day of Peace.
     

    In today’s Gospel, we hear about the wonder of the crib when the shepherds hasten to see the Christ Child announced to them by the angel. The Pope said we can imagine Mary, “like a tender and caring mother,” placing Jesus in the manger, not only holding Him in her arms, but inviting us to look at Him in adoration and with welcome. “Behold Mary’s maternity,” he said. “She offers the Son who is born to all of us.”




    New Year’s Day Angelus

    God is near, within our reach

    Mary’s presentation of Jesus gives us “a wonderful message” that “God is near, within our reach,” the Pope said, not in order to be feared but with the “frailness of someone who asks to be loved.” He added that God shared in our human condition to be with us as one of us, “born little and in need so that no one would ever again be ashamed,” and to draw ever nearer to us, excluding no one, making us all brothers and sisters.




    New Year’s Day Angelus

    God gives us courage with tenderness

    “God with us” in the Christ Child gives us “courage with tenderness,” the Pope pointed out, and this needed encouragement is light in these uncertain and difficult times caused by the pandemic. The resulting economic and social problems cause fear for the future, the Pope acknowledged, recalling modern-day young mothers and their children fleeing conflicts and famine, or waiting in refugee camps. Like Mary, we too can make ourselves available to others to bring positive change in our world. “If we become craftsmen of fraternity, we will be able to mend the threads of a world torn apart by war and violence.”

    Peace is a gift and shared commitment

    Recalling today’s World Day of Peace, the Pope pointed out that peace comes from God and is the fruit of a shared commitment. We need to implore the gift of peace from on high, the Pope stressed, since we are not capable of preserving it without His help. We need to have peace in our hearts from the Prince of peace, he reiterated, saying we must also be committed to peace, by taking concrete actions. This means being attentive to the poor, working for justice, and having the courage to forgive others in order to put out the fire of hatred. We also need a positive outlook, he said, both in the Church and in society, that is fostered by seeing the “good that unites us.” The Pope added that “getting depressed or complaining is useless,” saying we need to “roll up our sleeves” and work for peace, praying that Mary, the Queen of Peace, may “obtain harmony in our hearts and in the entire world.”




    New Year’s Day Angelus

    After imparting his apostolic blessing, Pope Francis wished everyone peace in a special way on this New Year’s Day when the Church celebrates the annual World Day of Peace started by Saint Pope Paul VI back in 1968. He recalled this year’s message, which has as its theme: “Dialogue Between Generations, Education and Work: Tools for Building Lasting Peace,” recalling that these three elements are key for establishing a solid base for building peace in our world. The Pope also thanked the President of Italy, Sergio Mattarella, for his New Year’s Year’s greetings wishing him the same. He also paid tribute to all the pilgirms gathered in the Square, in particular members of the Sant’Egidio community working for peace around the world.

  • Pope at Mass: May Mary help us to keep and ponder all things – Vatican News

    By Vatican News staff writer

    Pope Francis presided over morning Mass on New Year’s Day in Saint Peter’s Basilica with a smaller congregation present in accordance with pandemic health guidelines.

    In his homily for this Solemnity of the Blessed Virgin Mary, the Mother of God – also marked as the World Day of Peace – the Pope recalled the joy experienced by the shepherds at Bethlehem upon visiting the baby Jesus lying in the manger, proof of God’s closeness to them and to all who are poor or marginalized. Jesus being born in “littleness and poverty” fills our hearts “with love, not fear.”

    The scandal of the manger

    Mary’s experience of this time required enduring “the scandal of the manger,” the Pope explained. Long before the shepherds, she received the message of an angel announcing she would bear a son and name him Jesus, who would be called Son of the Most High; but now “Mary has to lay Him in a trough for animals.” How can “she reconcile the glory of the Most High and the bitter poverty of a stable?” the Pope asked, adding how this must have caused her distress, especially seeing her new born child suffering such a precarious situation. Yet, Mary “does not lose heart” and “kept all these things, pondering them in her heart.”

    To keep and to ponder

    The shepherds instead are joyous and tell everyone about their experience of the angel that appeared in the night and his words about the Child to whom they went to pay homage. The Pope noted that “words and amazement” describe their reaction, whereas, Mary is “pensive,” pondering this reality in her heart. These two different reactions recall aspects of faith experience in general, the Pope said: where the shepherds remind us of the beginnings of faith, when all seems easy and clear, Mary’s “pensiveness” expresses a “mature, adult faith.” 

    The Pope said we can learn from the Mother of God here by taking on the same attitude of “keeping and pondering,” since we may also have to endure great challenges in life where our expectations clash with reality, putting our joy of the Gospel to the test. Mary teaches us that we can learn, grow, and mature in faith from these difficult situations, as “it is the narrow path to achieve the goal, the Cross, without which there can be no resurrection.” 

    The ideal and the real

    The Pope explained that managing and overcoming this clash between the ideal and the real requires “keeping,” as Mary did, the experiences of what happens to us, and not trying to forget or reject them. Mary kept in her heart both the amazing and the troubling life experiences – the angel who gave her great news, the lowly stable where she had to give birth: “she does not pick and choose; she preserves. She accepts life, without trying to camouflage or embellish it.”

    She keeps and ponders

    The Pope went on to describe Mary’s “second” attitude: “she keeps and she ponders,” bringing together in her heart and prayer the beautiful and challenging aspects, discerning greater meaning in them by considering them from God’s perspective. She realizes that “the glory of the Most High appears in humility,” and “she welcomes the plan of salvation whereby God must lie in a manger.” The Pope observed that this inclusive vision of “keeping” and “pondering” is “the way of mothers” who embrace the challenges in raising their children. This maternal “gaze” and love is able to see everything from a wider perspective, he noted, both “conscious and realistic” and “one of care and love that gives birth to new hope.” The Pope said we need such people, “capable of weaving the threads of communion in place of the barbed wire of conflict and division.”

    A mother’s gaze, a path to rebirth

    As this New Year begins under the sign of Mary, our Mother, whose gaze is “the path to rebirth and growth,” the Pope encouraged everyone to make greater efforts to safeguard mothers and protect women, lamenting the terrible problem of violence again women today. “To hurt a woman is to insult God, who took on our humanity from a woman.” The Pope prayed that, through Mary’s maternal protection, she might help us all “to keep and ponder all things, unafraid of trials and with the joyful certainty that the Lord is faithful and can transform every cross into a resurrection.” He encouraged everyone to call upon her as did the People of God at Ephesus, repeating three times her title: “Holy Mother of God, Holy Mother of God, Holy Mother of God!”

    January 1, 2022