The Center for Countering Disinformation, an agency of the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine - which advises the president of Ukraine - has compiled a list of over 78 international figures who are accused of promoting so-called "Russian propaganda."

And I happen to be included on that list.

Now that begs the question: Why is an internationally syndicated Catholic social justice and peace columnist on such a list?

Well, I don't exactly know why. But I have a pretty good hunch.

Just a few days before the Russian invasion of Ukraine, I participated in an international Zoom conference hosted by the Schiller Institute - which sought to warn against possible imminent nuclear war and to inspire a fresh non-violent, just, egalitarian approach to the never-ending wars and economic injustices experienced by the world's poor and disenfranchised.

My small contribution was a concise presentation entitled, "War is not inevitable! We have a moral obligation to save Afghans from starving! The need to create a new, human-centred paradigm."

In my presentation, I highlighted the moral necessity of the U.S. - considering its 20-year history of waging war in Afghanistan - to significantly increase emergency and ongoing developmental aid to Afghanistan, ensuring that all Afghans, especially the children, do not starve to death - a tragedy still unfolding.

Additionally, I attempted to highlight the obvious catastrophe of the imminent war between Russia and Ukraine, hoping to help avoid that preventable armed conflict.

Also, I urged for a new economic, political, and societal global model that replaces corporate greed, indifference, and raw military power with total respect for all human life and human dignity.

Some of the speakers participating in this and other Schiller Institute conferences have been intellectually critical of certain aspects of the Ukrainian government, as well as U.S. and NATO designs on Ukraine. For example, the apparent openness of NATO to the future possibility of Ukraine becoming an actual member of their military alliance, even though Ukraine borders the Russian Federation.

So, my hunch is that because I was a participant in a Schiller Institute conference and because in a few of my columns, I have been critical of the U.S. and NATO pumping billions of dollars' worth of weapons into Ukraine - which is helping to fuel the war, not end it, and is lining the pockets of weapon producing corporations like Lockheed Martin, Raytheon and Boeing - Ukraine's Center for Countering Disinformation has decided that I am a promoter of "Russian propaganda."

But truth be told, I am a promoter of the nonviolent Gospel of Jesus Christ!

As illustrated in the war between Russia and Ukraine, armed conflicts, and violence of all sorts, are tools of the devil. Christians need to relearn the Gospel truth that the words and example of the Lord Jesus always clearly oppose the use of violence.

The late preeminent theologian and biblical scholar, Fr John McKenzie said, "If Jesus does not reject violence for any reason, we do not know anything about Jesus. Jesus taught us not how to kill but how to die."

John Paul II powerfully said, "Violence is evil, that violence is unacceptable as a solution to problems, that violence is unworthy of man. Violence is a lie, for it goes against the truth of our faith, the truth of our humanity. Violence destroys what it claims to defend: the dignity, the life, the freedom of human beings."

• Tony Magliano is an internationally syndicated Catholic social justice and peace columnist. He is available to speak at diocesan or parish gatherings. Tony can be reached at tmag6@comcast.net.

The Justice and Peace Commission of the Catholic Diocese of Auckland says that while the Government has made an encouraging effort to meet the needs of the poor and vulnerable in the COVID-19 crisis there are some omissions.

Caritas Direct Julianne Hickey says "In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, the team of 5 million New Zealanders have done an incredible job of protecting the sick, the elderly and those most vulnerable to the virus."

"Now we need innovative investment to help us all create a fairer society in which no one is left out, and all can thrive."

"In addition to the obvious health threat, the pandemic has also presented us with a tremendous opportunity to put right some long-neglected injustices," said Hickey

"This reset can be an opportunity to heal the afflictions of poverty, intergenerational unemployment, homelessness and environmental degradation."

"Now is the time for bold and decisive investment to build our future," Hickey concludes.

"In the Budget, we find a foundation of hope; now we must ensure that all New Zealanders are able to contribute to and benefit from the opportunities that will arise from the more cohesive, resilient society that we rebuild together."

The Auckland Diocese Peace and Justice Commission say they appreciate how difficult it has been for the Government to prioritise and allocate financial assistance at this unprecedented time.

"It's encouraging that people's wellbeing, both health and economic, have been carefully considered in the 2020 Budget."

They applaud the measures taken to support families the extension of the Wage Subsidy Scheme and the increased foster care allowance and unsupported child benefit.

But they think there are still needs to be addressed particularly in housing.

Source

• Supplied: caritas.org.nz
• Supplied: aucklandcatholic.org.nz
• Image: stuff.co.nz

Today, these strands are all found within Caritas Aotearoa New Zealand, the Catholic Agency for Justice
Peace and Development.

The year 2019 marks a ‘Jubilee Year' for this work Caritas grew out of Catholic concern in the 1950s and 1960s for justice and a fairer distribution of the world's resources; as well as the Second Vatican Council's promotion of the Church's concern for social issues and the role of the laity.

Many have shaped Caritas and its predecessor organisations over the years. In 1975, it joined the international Caritas network of 165 Catholic aid, development and social justice agencies, adopting the Caritas name in
1992.

Caritas is holding a series of Diocesan Masses to acknowledge and honour all those who have shaped and supported the Church's mission for justice, peace and development, including at Diocesan level. Masses have previously been held this year in Dunedin, Christchurch and Wellington.

The Mass was held in conjunction with the Auckland Justice & Peace Commission and the Mangere East parish of St Thérèse in Mangere East.

Supplied: Caritas Aotearoa New Zealand

Six people appeared before a registrar in the Wellington District Court last Friday morning. Continue reading

The auction features high-powered semi-automatic weapons and military memorabilia adorned with Nazi insignia.

Monsignor Gerard Burns says while the arms auction - to be held this weekend at the Kilbirnie school's hall - was entirely legal, his argument was a moral one.

He urged all Catholics - including the college - to more deeply consider Pope Francis' call to look at different ways conflict could be resolved using active non-violent protest.

St Patrick's rector Neal Swindells said the school had hosted the Militaria auctions for about 25 years without incident or outcry from parents or students.

Police would be present at the auction, which took place on a weekend during the school holidays.

Swindells said the hosting of the arms auction was a non-issue that sent no message at all to students about gun culture.

Education Ministry deputy secretary Katrina Casey said the ministry had not received any complaints about the event, and policies around the hiring of school halls were for boards of trustees to make, in compliance with relevant laws.

Burns made his appeal after attending Tuesday's blockade of the annual New Zealand Defence Industry Association forum at Westpac Stadium with about 300 other activists.

As well as being the Vicar-General of the Archdiocese of Wellington, Burns has a lifelong commitment to the social justice movement, to the rights of indigenous peoples and involvement with actions for peace.

For some years, he worked as a priest among the poor in Peru.

He was an official observer at the first free elections to be held in East Timor after the withdrawal of Indonesia.

He has visited Gaza on two occasions, once as a tourist and once as part of an official delegation.

In 2009 he took part in a controversial Wellington protest against Israeli killings in the Palestine territory of Gaza. The protest saw a mixture of blood and red paint spread on an Israeli memorial plaque.

Burns is a Master of International Relations (Victoria University) and has a Diploma in Te Ara Reo Maori (Te Wananga o Aotearoa).

He is on the governance board of Caritas Aotearoa New Zealand and President of Caritas Oceania, a member of the Representative Council of Caritas Internationalis.

He has been appointed by Pope Francis to the Executive Board of Caritas Internationalis.

Source

• Newshub
• Stuff
• The Archdiocese of Wellington
• RNZ
• Catholic Worker
• Image: Flickr

The St Joseph's (Upper Hutt) Justice, Peace and Development group organised the peaceful protest on July 10.

The group had led a petition asking the Minister responsible for Housing New Zealand, Bill English, to stop the sale of the land and allow discussion on its use. Continue reading

The conference, Wednesday, entitled "Stop threats on the internet" was organised by the Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace.

Reports of one out of three young people in Europe being cyberbullied is evidence of a "new form of violence" against young people and children, said Cardinal Peter Turkson, president of the Pontifical Council.

Despite many national and international laws and agreements, "humanity still hasn't been able to uproot completely the different forms of violence and exploitation against children," he said.

"Virtual" abuse and harassment result in real, not virtual, damage, said Fr Fortunato Di Noto.

Di Noto is an Italian priest who, for the past 25 years, has been leading the fight in Italy to protect children from online predators around the world.

Following Pope Francis' call to minister at the periphery, Di Noto suggests the Church needs to go to the virtual peripheries and meet those who are hurting.

Founding 'Meter', his association has created a tent church in dark places in the digital world.

'Meter' finds people who, while inflicting pain on others, are looking for affection, meaning in life or trying to work out their own pain, Di Noto says.

"We have to make sure that these places of emotional destitution, these new digital peripheries that I would call 'digital slums,' can be made habitable" because places that lack all forms of compassion and human connection attract ravenous "vultures," he said.

Di Noto's ministry offers "real accompaniment on the Internet because there are many people who are in need because they 'live' in this place every day."

"The problem isn't Internet, the problem is the human being," he said.

Di Noto said Meter's annual school-based educational campaign this year will include giving children a 10-point guide to online safety and a plastic ruler to underline that there are rules in life that need to be followed.

Sources

• Vatican.va
• CNS
• Image: Bangor Daily News