La publication du vidéo exclusif de CNN qui montre comme des migrants africains sub-sahariennes sont vendus comme esclaves en Libye est la cause d'une manifestation à Paris samedi 18 de novembre de 2017. Le site de Le Monde publiqua la nouvelle à 2h du matin du dimanche: Un millier de personnes manifestent à Paris contre l'esclavage en Libye. Selon des témoins de l'évènement il y avait plutôt vers 6,000 manifestants. La manif a été organisée par CECCL (Collectif contre l'esclavage et les camps de concentration en Libye) avec d'autres ONGs.

L'association française SOS RACISME a publié une pétition à ce sujet et nous vous prions à la signer pour assurer que les Etats africaines, l'Union Européenne et ses Etats membres interviennent pour terminer avec ce crime de l'esclavage des migrants sub-sahariennes. Nous vous prions aussi de contacter avec les ONGs, les partis politiques, les députés de vos pays et du Parlement Européenne et de votre gouvernement pour mettre fin à ce crime. Nous enverrons une pétition au Commissaire de Droits de l'Homme du Conseil de l'Europe, M. Nils Muiznieks, pour qu'il enquête cette question.

The release of CNN's exclusive Video showing Sub Saharan African migrants being sold as slaves in Libya caused a demonstration in Paris on Saturday 18th November 2017. Le Monde's website published the following news at 2 AM on Sunday morning: Un millier de personnes manifestent à Paris contre l'esclavage en Libye (A thousand people demonstrate in Paris against slavery in Libya). According to witnesses, the number of demonstrators was nearer 6,000.  The demonstration was organised by CECCL (Collectif contre l'esclavage et les camps de concentration en Libye/Organization against Slavery and Concentration Camps in Libya) and other NGOs.

The French association SOS RACISME has published a petition on this subject and we ask you to sign it to ensure that African States, the European Union and its member States take action to terminate this enforced enslavement of Sub Saharan migrants. Please also take action with the members of your national Parliament, the European Parliament and of your Government to stop this crime. We will petition the Council of Europe Human Rights Commissioner Nils Muiznieks to investigate this question.

To see this document, completed in June 2017, by Fernand JEHL of EN-RE together with the other members of the Coordinating Group of the Working Group Educating for Intercultural Dialogue of the Education & Culture Committee, please click on: 

Educating for Intercultural Dialogue

Translation by Christiane BASCOU

Message of the 37th Theology Congress (You can read the original in Spanish)
Asociación de Teólogos/as Juan XXIII (John XXIII Association of Male & Female Theologians),
11th September 2017

Women & Religion: From Discrimination to Gender Equality

From 7th to 10th September 2017 we have celebrated the 37th Theology Congress on “Women & Religion: From discrimination to Gender Equality” in a climate of serene debate, sincere dialogue and a brotherly-sisterly atmosphere. We began by observing a one minute silence as an expression of condemnation of the terrorist attacks of Barcelona and Cambrils and in solidarity with the families, and another one for the murders of women that have taken place in Spain and all over the world. We join together in yet another minute's silence at the grief of the peoples affected by various hurricanes and earthquakes that have caused dozens of deaths in the United States, Mexico and the Caribbean.

1. We have made a critical analysis of Patriarchy as a system of domination against women, girls, boys and vulnerable people in society. This system is allied with other models of domination: Capitalism, colonialism, fundamentalism, depredation of nature that provokes discrimination of gender, class, ethnicity, culture, religion, country of origin and sexual orientation in all spheres of life: language, daily life, politics, the economy, education, work, family, the home, science, artistic creativity, places of entertainment, communication media, publicity.

2. Our criticism extends to the religions, that have a patriarchal structure, transmit a male-orientated ideology, impose a macho morality and develop sexist practices. In the majority of cases women are not recognized as religious and ethical persons but are considered as inferiors, subordinates, assistants. They are excluded from sacred areas, they are marginalized from posts of responsibility, from the exercise of power and the areas of decision. They are obliged to assume attitudes of obedience and submission that are qualified as virtues.

(This declaration was witnessed by 2 members of the grassroots community of St Thomas Aquinas of Madrid)

“Now is the moment for the Catholic Church and the Pope to ask for forgiveness”. This statement is contained in the document in which a thousand grassroots Christians, as members of the Catholic Church (CC), asked the victims for forgiveness, on 3rd September 2017 in Bogota, for the participation of their Church thoughout decades in the conflict in Colombia that caused about 300.000 deaths over the last 50 years. In it they demand that the Bishops' Conference asks for forgiveness in a nationwide gesture, as an example of reconciliation.

“With sincere grief -they state-but also with the hope that in our Church in this moment of grace the evangelical force of the “metanoia” or profound conversion is active, WE ASK FOR FORGIVENESS to God and our victims whilst sharing our longing for a more humane future.”

What are the reasons for which the Church must ask for forgiveness? Several investigations have documented grave actions and responsiblities of the CC., which can be summed up in 7 deadly sins:

1ST SIN: CONNIVANCE OF THE MILITARY DIOCESE. The obligation of religious assistance to the Military Forces and the National Police has led to situations in which many victims, especially peasants and male and female popular leaders, who suffered torture in military units, had to see how the Church turned its back on them and, in many cases, blessed without any qualms those who committed the crimes.

scandal of the wrongly named “falsos positivos”, with more than 5700 persons assasinated, who were presented as killed in combat, counted with the collaboration of bishops and priests, especially in Santander and Antioquia, who, invoking their “duty to give spiritual advice to the army”, supported the activities of paramilitary organizations.

2ND SIN: IDEOLOGICAL PERSECUTION OF LIBERALS. Colombia lived a bloody political violence against followers of the Liberal Party between 1899 and 1902. The figure of nearly one hundred thousand deaths is estimated. At that time the CC took sides inciting people to be “good sons of the Church, by being anti-Liberal”. Priests and bishops like Mons. Ezequiel Moreno promoted violence throughout the country, because, according to them, Liberalism was sinful. “It would be good if Catholics took up their rifles”, proclaimed Monsignor Moreno who, however, was canonized by John Paul II, in October 1992, as the saint of the 5th Centenary of the Conquest of America.

le lien pour voir l'article:  http://www.en-re.eu/images/pdf/Eduquer_au_Dialogue_Interculturel.pdf

Pour voir ce document en Power Point élaboré, en juin de 2017, par Fernand JEHL d'EN-RE avec d'autres membres du pilotage du Groupe de Travail Dialogue Interculturel, de la Commission d'Éducation et Culture, cliquez sur:

Power Point: Eduquer au dialogue interculturel - Vivre ensemble en Europe

“Este es el momento para que la Iglesia Católica y el Papa pidan perdón”.

Así reza el documento en el que un millar de cristianos de base, como parte de la Iglesia Católica (IC), pidieron perdón a las víctimas, el pasado 3 de Septiembre en Bogotá, por la participación de su Iglesia a lo largo de décadas en el conflicto de Colombia que ha causado alrededor de 300.000 muertos en los últimos 50 años. En él se reclama que la Conferencia Episcopal pida perdón en un acto simbólico de carácter nacional, como ejemplo de reconciliación.

“Con sincero dolor -dicen-, pero también con la esperanza de que en nuestra Iglesia obre en este momento de gracia la fuerza evangélica de la “metanoia” o conversión profunda, PEDIMOS PERDÓN a Dios y a nuestras víctimas, no sin compartir el anhelo de un futuro más humano.”
Cuáles son los motivos por los que la Iglesia debe pedir perdón? Diversas investigaciones históricas han documentado actos y responsabilidades graves de la IC., que se pueden sintetizar en 7 pecados capitales:

I PECADO: COMPLICIDAD DE LA DIÓCESIS CASTRENSE. El compromiso de asistencia religiosa a las Fuerzas Militares y la Policía Nacional ha conducido a situaciones en que muchas víctimas, en especial campesinos y líderes o lideresas populares, que sufrieron las torturas de unidades militares, tuvieron que ver cómo la iglesia les dio la espalda y, en muchos casos, bendijo sin mayores reparos a quienes cometían los crímenes.

El escándalo de los mal llamados “falsos positivos”, con más de 5700 personas asesinadas, que fueron presentadas como muertas en combate, contó con la colaboración de obispos y sacerdotes, especialmente en Santander y Antioquia que, amparándose en el “deber de asesorar espiritualmente al ejército”, apoyaron la actuación de las organizaciones paramilitares.

II PECADO: PERSECUCIÓN IDEOLÓGICA A LIBERALES. Colombia vivió una cruenta violencia política contra seguidores del partido liberal entre 1899 y 1902. Se habla de cerca de cien mil muertos. En esa época, la IC. tomó partido abiertamente, incitando a ser “buenos hijos de la Iglesia, siendo antiliberales”. Sacerdotes y obispos, como el navarro Mons. Ezequiel Moreno promovieron la violencia en el país, porque, según ellos, el liberalismo era pecado. “Harían bien los católicos en coger también los fusiles”, proclamaba Monseñor Moreno quien, sin embargo, fue canonizado por Juan Pablo II, en Octubre de 1992, como el santo del 5º Centenario de la conquista de América.

(Compte rendu proposé par la communauté de base St-Thomas d’Aquin de Madrid)

« Le moment est venu pour l’église colombienne et le pape de demander pardon. » C’est ce que dit le document dans lequel un millier de chrétiens de base ont, en tant que membres de l’église catholique (EC), demandé pardon aux victimes, le 3 septembre dernier à Bogotá, pour la participation de leur église pendant des décennies au conflit qui a fait en Colombie autour de 300 000 victimes ces 50 dernières années. Ils y exigent que la Conférence épiscopale demande pardon en un acte symbolique de caractère national, comme exemple de réconciliation.
« Avec une peine sincère – disent-ils –, mais aussi avec l’espoir qu’au sein de notre église soit à l’œuvre en ce moment de grâce la force évangélique de la « métanoïa » ou conversion profonde, NOUS DEMANDONS PARDON à Dieu et à nos victimes, non sans partager l’ardent désir d’un avenir plus humain. »

Quelles sont les raisons pour lesquelles l’église doit demander pardon ? Diverses recherches historiques ont apporté des informations sur les actes et responsabilités graves de l’EC, que l’on peut synthétiser en 7 péchés capitaux.

Péché n°1: complicité du diocèse aux armées. L’accord d’assistance religieuse aux Forces Armées et à la Police Nationale a conduit à des situations dans lesquelles de nombreuses victimes, des paysans et des responsables populaires ayant subi des tortures de la part d’unités armées, ont dû être témoins de la manière dont l’église a soutenu ces dernières et, dans de nombreux cas, a béni sans grande réticence ceux qui commettaient ces crimes.

Le scandale de ce que l’on a appelé à tort les résultats « faussement positifs », avec plus de 5700 personnes assassinées, qui furent présentées comme mortes au combat, s’est appuyé sur la collaboration d’évêques et de prêtres, particulièrement à Santander et Antioquia qui, s’abritant derrière « l’obligation de conseiller spirituellement l’armée », ont défendu le comportement des organisations paramilitaires.

Péché N°2 : persécution idéologique des libéraux. La Colombie a vécu une violence politique sanglante contre les membres du parti libéral de 1899 à 1902. Elle a fait autour de cent mille morts. À cette époque, l’EC a pris ouvertement parti en invitant à être « de bons enfants de l’église en étant antilibéraux. » Des prêtres et des évêques, tel le Navarrais Mgr. Ezequiel Moreno, ont soutenu la violence dans le pays, parce que, d’après eux, le libéralisme était un péché. « Ils feraient bien, les catholiques, de prendre aussi les armes », déclarait Monseigneur Moreno qui, malgré cela, fut canonisé par Jean-Paul II en octobre 1992, en tant que saint du 5e centenaire de la conquête de l’Amérique.

LIBERATION THEOLOGY IN EUROPE-SPAIN by Benjamín Forcano

The positive outcome of a difficult and harassed beginning

After 50 long years, we can joyfully come to the conclusion that Liberation Theology, distrusted and feared when not rejected in its first approaches to Europe, covered a widespread ground and achieved very good results.

We were inaugurating the radiant springtime of Vatican II, and the ideas of many theologians, fermented over long periods, took shape and vigour in the ecumenical atmosphere of the II Vatican Council.

Many Church movements, groups and communities, were fully aware of the Church's situation of being behind the times and out of touch with present day reality due to its antimodern entrenchment in recent centuries.

The technoscientific, social and political advances of the years following the end of the Second World War, aired many errors of the past, disenchantment with imperialist and racist absolutisms and accelerated questioning, and challenges for a new way of thinking and expressing Theology.

However, this renovating conciliating vigour of Vatican II, was soon going to experience the stronger non improvised, paralysing involution of John Paul II, continued afterwards by Benedicto XVI with all his fears and final resignation.

It is a period of nearly forty years since the restoration (or return to the situation before the Council), imposed by Karol Josef Wojtyla, who at the age of 58, was elected on 16th October 1978, as the first Polish Pope in History and the first non-Italian Pope since 1523. His government lasted 27 years. And he was followed by Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, elected Pope, on 2nd April 2005, with a term lasting till 28th February 2013, when he resigned.

In the nineteen sixties, and even before, three factors appeared on the scene, that strongly influenced the social political Church period up to our present day: European Progessive Theology, the event of II Vatican Council and Liberation Theology.

Within these three factors, we can find a profound inter-relationship that, after a brief analysis in detail, allows us to understand the theological outlook that has developed between Europe and Latin America or, in broader terms, between the First and Third Worlds.

The Liberation Theology within the Progressive Theology of Europe