The Catholic Times Sunday 12th January 2014

FEATURES/NEWS FOCUS 5
MONITOR
What the other
papers said . . .
Daily Mail
PARENTS and godparents
no longer have to repent
sins and reject the devil
during christenings after
the Church of England
rewrote the solemn cere-
mony.
The new wording is de-
signed to be easier to un-
derstand but critics are
stunned at such a funda-
mental change to a corn-
erstone of their faith, say-
ing the new dumbed-down
version strikes at the heart
of what baptism means.
In the original version,
the vicar asks: Do you re-
ject the devil and all re-
bellion against God?
Prompting the reply: I re-
ject them. They then ask:
Do you repent of the sins
that separate us from God
and neighbour?, with the
answer: I repent of them.
But under the divisive
reforms, backed by Arch-
bishop of Canterbury Jus-
tin Welby and already be-
ing practised in 1,000
parishes, parents and god-
parents are asked to reject
evil, and all its many forms,
and all its empty promises
with no mention of the
devil or sin.
The new text, to be test-
ed in a trial lasting until
Easter, also drops the word
submit in the phrase Do
you submit to Christ as
Lord? because it is thought
to have become problem-
atical, especially among
women who object to the
idea of submission.
The rewritten version
which came after reformers
said they wanted to use
the language of EastEnders
rather than Shakespeare
in services is designed as
an alternative to the word-
ing in the Common Worsh-
ip prayer book, rather than
a replacement.
Insiders predict this draft
will become the norm for
the Churchs 150,000 chris-
tenings each year if, as ex-
pected, it is approved by
the General Synod. It may
discuss the issue as early
as this summer.
But the idea has angered
many senior members of the
Church, who feel it breaks
vital links with baptisms
as described in the Bible.
n Credo Page 7
Daily Telegraph
FORTY years after The
Exorcist scared the wits out
of cinema audiences around
the world, the Roman
Catholic Church is training
up a new generation of
priests to meet a growing
demand for exorcisms
Dioceses across Italy, as
well as in countries such
as Spain, are increasing
the number of priests
schooled in administering
the rite of exorcism, fabled
to rid people of possession
by the devil.
The rise in demonic cas-
es is a result of more people
dabbling in practices such
as black magic, paganism,
Satanic rites and Ouija
boards, often exploring the
dark arts with the help of
information readily found
on the internet, the Church
said.
The increase in the num-
ber of priests being trained
to tackle the phenomenon
is also an effort by the
Church to sideline unauth-
orised, self-proclaimed ex-
orcists, and its tacit recog-
nition that belief in Satan,
once regarded by Catholic
progressives as an embar-
rassment, is still very much
alive.
The trend comes four
decades after the 1973 re-
lease of The Exorcist, the
American horror film based
on the demonic possession
of a 12-year-old girl and
attempts to exorcise her
by two priests.
The Diocese of Milan rec-
ently nominated seven new
exorcists, the Bishop of Nap-
les appointed three new ones
a couple of years ago and
the Catholic Church in Sar-
dinia sent three priests for
exorcism training in Rome,
amid concern that the
Mediterranean island, par-
ticularly its mountainous,
tradition-bound interior, is
a hotbed of occultism.
In Spain, Antonio Maria
Rouco Varela, the Archbish-
op of Madrid, chose eight
priests to undergo special
training in May to confront
what he described as an
unprecedented rise in cas-
es of demonic possession.
The Church in Spain was
coming across many cases
that go beyond the com-
petence of psychologists
and they were occurring
with a striking frequency,
the archbishop said.
Diabolical possessions
are on the increase as a
result of people subscribing
to occultism, said Fr Fran-
cesco Bamonte, president of
the Italy-based Internation-
al Association for Exorcists.
Tomorrow the Vatican will host several top world leaders and political experts at a one-day
meeting to push for an end to the devastating civil war in Syria. Carol Glatz reports. HEART OF THE MATTER
With death toll of 126,000, can
world be indifferent on Syria?
F
ORMER British Prime
Minister Tony Blair and
former Egyptian Vice
President Mohamed ElBaradei
are among the key political ex-
perts invited by the Vatican for
a one-day meeting tomorrow
aimed at promoting a ceasefire
in Syria, the protection of Chris-
tians there and a transitional
and unified government.
The Vatican meeting will come
ahead of major peace talks on
22nd January in Geneva between
the Syrian government and opp-
osition forces.
Sponsored by the Pontifical
Academy of Sciences, the day-
long Vatican workshop will seek
to propose a ceasefire to make
humanitarian aid possible in
Syria; an end to persecutions
against Christians to encourage
interreligious dialogue; a tran-
sitional authority to organise
elections (and) a unified national
government also responsible for
the military sector and securi-
ty;as well as an end to human
trafficking and prostitution in
the war-torn nation.
The meetings title is Syria:
With a death toll of 126,000 and
300,000 orphans in 36 months
of war, can we remain indiffer-
ent?
The eight-page programme,
prepared by the sciences acade-
my, gave a brief background of
the Syrian conflict. It said US
calls for Syrian President Bashar
Assad to step down put the US
in effective opposition to the
United Nations peace initiative
put forth in early 2012.
Russia argued that Americas
insistence on Assads immediate
departure was an impediment
to peace. In this, perhaps Russia
was right, the booklet said.
However, while Russia backed
UN peace initiatives, it also
with Iran supplied more and
more sophisticated weapons to
the regime as the US and other
countries financed the rebels, it
said.
The Vatican invited eight in-
ternational experts and leaders
to discuss the tragedy unfolding
in Syria, the political stances of
the major international players
involved and possible solutions.
With opening remarks by
French Cardinal Jean-Louis Tau-
ran, president of the Pontifical
Council for Interreligious Dia-
logue, the invited speakers are:
nBlair, founder of the Tony Blair
Faith Foundation and official en-
voy of the Quartet on the
Middle East: the UN, European
Union, Russia and the United
States;
n ElBaradei, former head of the
International Atomic Energy
Agency, 2005 Nobel Peace Prize
winner, and a major figure in
Egypt's revolution against ousted
Presidents Hosni Mubarak and
Mohammed Morsi;
n US economist and adviser Jef-
frey Sachs, who is active in the
world fight against poverty and
hunger;
n Thomas Walsh, a US expert
in interreligious peace building
and security, international pres-
ident of the Universal Peace Fed-
eration;
n Pyotr Stegny, a former diplo-
mat and expert in Russian diplo-
macy and foreign policy in the
Middle East;
n Joseph Maila, a Lebanese ex-
pert on the Middle East, Islam
and politics;
n Miguel Angel Moratinos, a
Spanish diplomat and member
of congress who served seven
years as the European Union
special representative for the
Middle East peace process;
nThierry de Montbrial, a French
economist and expert in inter-
national relations.
The workshop programme out-
lined Pope Francis calls, prayers
and diplomatic efforts for peace
in the region. It credited Russian
President Vladimir Putin with
convincing US President Barack
Obama not to carry out his threat
of military strikes on Syria in
September in response to the
reported use of chemical weapons
against civilians by forces loyal
to Assad.
With the upcoming Geneva
II talks, the resumption of the
UN peace process, this time with
the US and Russia on the same
side to prevent violence, might
succeed in keeping al Qaeda at
bay a shared interest and
finding a pragmatic long-term
solution for Syrias complex in-
ternal divisions, it said.
Meanwhile, a two-person del-
egation representing the Syrian
government delivered a letter
for Pope Francis from Assad.
The letter was delivered on 28th
December when the Syrians met
at the Vatican with Archbishop
Pietro Parolin, Vatican secretary
of state, and Archbishop Dom-
inique Mamberti, the Vatican
foreign minister.
The Vatican confirmed the del-
egates gave the Pope a message
that illustrated the position of
the Syrian government.
While the Vatican gave no de-
tails about the letters contents,
Syrias state-run SANA agency
reported the message said that
Assads government was ready
for peace talks but wanted for-
eign countries to stop supporting
the armed terrorist groups in
Syria.
The president also said in his
message that he appreciated the
Popes call on Christmas Day for
an end to the violence in Syria,
the news agency said.
Assad told the Pope that the
crisis will be solved through nat-
ional dialogue among the Syrians
and under a Syrian leadership
without foreign intervention as
to enable the Syrians to deter-
mine their future and leadership
through ballots, SANA report-
ed.
The January talks in Geneva
are a follow-up to a meeting in
June 2012 when international
parties proposed a peace plan
calling for a transitional govern-
ment body in an effort to end a
civil war that began in March
2011.
The conflict between Assads
government and rebel forces has
killed more than 100,000 people,
driven two million refugees out
of Syria and displaced more than
four million inside the country.
F
R SIMON FADDOUL
comes across as a
deeply charming man.
In his mid-50s, he is
calm and softly spoken and in-
vites attention rather than de-
manding it and speaks quietly
amidst the lively chatter around
us. With his gentle manner, it is
easy to see how he connects well
with people who have suffered
much, such as the many Syrian
refugees who have poured into
his country Lebanon, where he
is the president of Caritas.
Fr Faddoul has plenty of ex-
perience behind him. A skilled
teacher, lecturer and parish
priest, he came to Caritas having
run the Maronite Social Foun-
dation. The Foundation builds
affordable housing for young
Lebanese men and women, to
prevent them leaving the country
in search of cheaper accommo-
dation. He says he was brought
on board to resolve some of the
tensions in the organisation at
the time, and having successfully
dealt with the issues he was
elected president of Caritas Leb-
anon. That was four years ago,
and he is now in his second term
heading up the organisation.
Showing compassion, he re-
veals the hardship being experi-
enced in his country, where the
population has increased 25 per
cent to just over five million peo-
ple since the crises began three
years ago.
They face a myriad of prob-
lems. The majority of Syrian
refugees have settled in the
northern part of the country and
the Bekaa Valley. Freezing con-
ditions and heavy snowfall mean
roads are blocked, preventing
aid from getting through. Many
of the refugees live in inadequate
accommodation such as tent set-
tlements and unfinished build-
ings. The snow is turning the
ground to mud, and many of the
migrants including children have
little clothing and only sandals
to protect their feet from the
harsh conditions.
Fr Faddoul describes living
conditions as miserable.
Settlements are on what was
once agricultural land and land
that used to be planted with
seeds, is now planted with peo-
ple, he says.
Amid such conditions, Caritas
Lebanon, part of the global
Catholic organisation Caritas In-
ternationalis, is doing invaluable
work to ease the suffering.
Fr Faddoul has about 400 em-
ployees and 5,000 volunteers
around the country. His daily
work involves tasks you would
expect for an organisation leader;
attending strategic, partnership
and evaluation meetings, con-
ducting interviews, and travel.
However, Fr Faddoul points out
keenly that meeting with ordin-
ary people, especially the poor
and vulnerable, is high on his
agenda. He says: I try not to
lose touch with the ground. Mak-
ing sure I keep up with daily
life, visit the refugees and listen
to the poor, is vital. I am careful
not to let the bureaucratic
processes take me away from
the pain of everyday life for the
people. Remaining faithful to the
mission is important.
Fr Faddoul says Caritas Leb-
anon responded to the crises
from the start. Our well estab-
lished presence throughout the
country made it possible to be
the first to respond when refu-
gees started pouring in, he says.
Now there is a migrant centre,
medical department, social work-
ers, counsellors, departments for
education and childrens rights.
They provide everything from
medication and hygiene packs,
to food and clothing, to financial
advice for the refugees.
Fr Faddoul is proud of his or-
ganisations programmes and the
professional expertise it provides
to ease the suffering of the
refugees. However, he says the
challenge of reaching everyone
in need with sufficient resources
is like carrying water in a bas-
ket. Its gone almost as soon as
youve begun.
The priest is poetic in his use
of language. He says their work
doesnt totally solve the
refugees problems but it is at
least like wiping a tear.
He says: When youre feeling
down and have someone tapping
on your shoulder or lending you
a humane touch it makes things
easier on you.
I ask him about the invisible
qualities that aid provides to
vulnerable people. He gives me
an example: Last year a special
envoy was sent by Pope Benedict
to visit Lebanon. In one of the
settlements, a refugee spokesper-
son told the envoy: We want to
thank the Pope for two things.
Firstly, for the work of peace be-
ing done with no personal agenda
and without personal interest.
And secondly, we would like to
thank the Pope for Caritas be-
cause Caritas visits us every sin-
gle week. Their social workers
go into our playgrounds to play
with our children and get to
know our children by name. It
is important we dont just give
material support. Social workers
visit and spend time with the
refugees, he says.
F
r Faddoul is committed to
these intangible forms
of help and support. He
tells me of the social, spiritual
and moral help given to people:
When youre dealing with other
faiths, such as the mainly Muslim
refugees, it is important to find
ways to bridge the divide. Pro-
viding moral and social support
is invaluable. Listening, coun-
selling, and encouraging, helps
the people tremendously.
It is apparent that Fr Faddoul
feels very connected with his
country, and he speaks passion-
ately of the Lebanese: They pro-
vided great help to the refugees.
Ive seen families in two-bedroom
houses, crowding into one room
so that they could accommodate
a Syrian family in the other.
He tells me: They receive Syrian
families in their own homes. I
cant help but apppreciate the
peoples generosity and love and
compassion. However, he says:
The crises has gone on for a
long time. How much longer can
they take this?
The crises is taking its toll.
Resources and infrastructure,
educational places and job op-
portunities that were already in
short supply have become ever
more stretched. Thus, a nation
which has already suffered more
than its share of political turmoil
now faces further instability:
There are now another million
people to feed, to house, to edu-
cate.
Before the Syrian crises, the
public schools system was al-
ready insufficient for the Leb-
anese. Fr Faddoul shakes his
head as he explains that now
another 350,000 children have
entered following the Syrian war.
Most are not schooled. UNICEF
has given his organisation a
mandate to place 65,000 Syrian
children in schools and so far
they have succeeded in placing
40,000 children. The new school
shift system, to be introduced
soon, makes it likely that more
places will be created.
I
ask him about how the West
can help, and what role we
can play in easing the hard-
ship. He says there are two main
ways. One priority is to exercise
indirect influence to find lasting
peaceful solutions for the Syrian
conflict: Encourage the parties
to sit down and engage in dia-
logue, and look towards peaceful
reconciliation. The people are
praying that the forthcoming
Geneva II Conference this month
will be a success. It aims to bring
together delegations from the
Syrian government and the op-
position and develop a transi-
tional government with members
from both sides.
A second priority says Fr Fad-
doul, is to continue assisting the
refugees in humanitarian aid,
in a rational, down to earth
way. Its not enough to give mon-
ey and walk away. He praises
national non-governmental org-
anisations because they have a
ready-made infrastructure and
personnel to help get the aid to
the people, without contracting
work out.
Should the conflict in Syria
come to an end, the work of Car-
itas with the refugees will con-
tinue.
He says: It will take a few
years to reconstruct infrastruc-
ture and develop the country,
and people will need help to re-
turn home. We will build morale
so people can go back and live
together, interact together and
accept differences.
Asked what he prays for, Fr
Faddoul says: I pray for the
strength of my staff and volun-
teers to continue working for
those poor people who have been
displaced by conflict. God is weep-
ing for the people of Syria,
Lebanon, Jordan, Israel, Pales-
tine, Sudan and Egypt and we
are there to wipe some of those
tears.
God is
weeping
over the
plight of
refugees
Fr Simon Faddoul I pray for the strength of my staff and volunteers at Caritas Lebanon to continue working for those poor people
who have been displaced by conflict. God is weeping for the people of Syria, Lebanon, Jordan, Israel, Palestine, Sudan and Egypt
and we are there to wipe some of those tears. Picture: CAFOD
PROFILE
Anita Boniface catches up with Fr Simon
Faddoul, the president of Caritas Lebanon
Vatican invitation Former
Prime Minister Tony Blair