“It is with great pain and with a breaking heart that I am writing to Your Holiness,” wrote Sauca. “The tragic situation of the war in Ukraine has brought tremendous suffering and loss of lives.”
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Month: March 2022
A recently published South African study set out to determine sero-positivity against SARS-CoV-2 before the fourth wave of COVID-19, in which the omicron variant was dominant.
Sero-positivity measures the presence of antibodies against the virus; it indicates past infection.
The study focused on Gauteng, the country’s economic hub. Ozayr Patel asked Shabir Madhi to unpack the results and explain why the findings suggest that South Africa has reached a turning point in the pandemic.
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World Relief: Stand with Ukraine
A statement from World Relief reads: “Over the weekend, our hearts sank as we watched images of mothers and children fleeing Ukraine while their husbands stayed behind to fight. We prayed for the people who are sheltering in subways or waiting in miles of backed up traffic to escape the violence.
“As hundreds of thousands of Ukrainians come to terms with the shocking reality of life as a refugee, you may be wondering what you can do to help in a situation that seems totally out of your control.
“Yet, the Bible tells us we were created for such a time as this. We’re called to not be overcome with evil and injustice, but to overcome evil with good. And when disaster strikes, World Relief can respond to this biblical calling because of people like you.
Today, the war in Ukraine has taken center stage in the news. World Relief is preparing to resettle Ukrainian refugees and is providing assistance to those already in the United States that are desperately seeking help for their families. We’re working with partners in the region to provide assistance on the ground. The situation is changing rapidly, and so will the ways in which we are called to respond.
The reality is, we’re facing more simultaneous disasters than we’ve seen in generations – flooding, cyclones, war, hunger… World Relief counts on people like you to mobilize churches and our staff to respond to each of these disasters, and more. We cannot control when disaster strikes, but God calls you and me to respond with compassion wherever and whenever help is needed most.
“The World Council of Churches affirms and supports the appeal issued on 24 February 2022 by His Beatitude Metropolitan Onuphry of Kyiv and All Ukraine (Moscow Patriarchate),” said Sauca.
“Recalling the ties of history and affinity between the Ukrainian people and the Russian people, His Beatitude called directly on President Putin to stop the war, which he likened to Cain’s murder of Abel.”
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“The World Council of Churches affirms and supports the appeal issued on 24 February 2022 by His Beatitude Metropolitan Onuphry of Kyiv and All Ukraine (Moscow Patriarchate),” said Sauca.
“Recalling the ties of history and affinity between the Ukrainian people and the Russian people, His Beatitude called directly on President Putin to stop the war, which he likened to Cain’s murder of Abel.”
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Fritz Potgieter of the Synodal Deputies for Diaconal Affairs of the Reformed Churches in South Africa, announced an emergency fund for people in need in Ukraine.
A statement reads: “In light of Russia’s full-scale attack on Ukraine and the resulting emergency, SDDS ‘Deputies for Emergencies thought it well to address this emergency to make known to you. At present we are working with churches abroad find reliable ways by which urgent assistance can be effectively provided to the
people in Ukraine affected by this war.
You are kindly requested to make the need known in your congregation with the request to members to think of the needy in Ukraine in their prayers.
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The South African Council of Churches (SACC) heartily supports the prospect of Pope Francis providing mediation for lasting peace and security between Russia and Ukraine.
As the talks between the two countries ended with no breakthroughs except the good intention to keep talking, our churches in South Africa stand in full support and encouragement for the divinely inspired initiative of His Holiness to offer to mediate on an urgent basis, a peace settlement that will guarantee lasting peace between Moscow and Kyiv.
The SACC also echoes the Pope’s call for Christians to observe a fast tomorrow, Ash Wednesday, and take time praying for peace and the success of the efforts for an unconditional ceasefire, earnest negotiations for guarantees of lasting peace and security for both Ukraine and Russia, for the wellbeing and prosperity of God’s people in both countries.
In this regard the SACC President, Archbishop Thabo Makgoba, has written to Pope Francis to express the support and encouragement of the SACC and its member churches, which include the Roman Catholic Church in South Africa.
Announcing the SACC letter, SACC General Secretary Bishop Malusi Mpumlwana said, “The SACC was able to contribute in a small way to the creation of a relatively peaceful and democratic South Africa through the solidarity of the global church; it is our duty to care for the plight of others anywhere in the world. We appreciate the historical complexities in the relationship between Ukraine and Russia, Russia and the rest of Europe; but none of these could not be satisfactorily addressed in a genuine engagement as would be facilitated by Pope Francis, who has made a global name for himself as a fair and compassionate leader of faith.”
Added Mpumlwana, “Over the weekend we wrote to the representative as ambassador of the Pope in South Africa, Archbishop Peter Wells, expressing the SACC’s appeal for the Vatican to lead a mediation mission. Our request was not necessary after all, as the Vatican was already in preparation for such a mission. Hence Archbishop Makgoba’s letter is now to support and encourage the Pope with a pledge of a prayerful ‘cloud of witnesses’ from the South African churches, especially on Ash Wednesday tomorrow.”
A Christian Group, led by Michele Potgieter, from South Africa, assisted people who were waiting next to the border between Ukraine and Romania with food, diapers and other necessities.
Michele lives in Reni, Ukraine.
Michele writes on Facebook: “Today we took a hot meal for the refugees at the border. Also tea, coffee, baby food, diapers and whatever they might need. It was so gold, but our hearts are so warm.”
Watch the video below:
https://www.facebook.com/michele.potgieter/videos/912154766140441
The Metropolitan of Kyiv and All Ukraine, and primate of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, further urged people to pray for Ukraine, for the army and the people, to forget mutual quarrels and misunderstandings and to unite in love for God and the homeland.
“In this tragic time, we express special love and support for our soldiers who stand guard and protect and defend our land and our people,” he stated. “May God bless and guard them!”
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SA welcomes Ukraine-Russia talks
South Africa has welcomed the decision by the Ukraine and Russia to hold talks amid the ongoing conflict between the two countries.
“We welcome the decision by the Ukraine and Russia to hold talks without preconditions. In this regard, South Africa expresses the hope that both parties will use diplomacy to de-escalate the situation in Ukraine, leading to a durable political and security outcome,” said International Relations and Cooperation Minister, Dr Naledi Pandor.
The Minister made these remarks at the High-Level Segment of the 49th Session of the United Nations Human Rights Council in Geneva, Switzerland.
“This 49th session of the UN Human Rights Council takes place against the backdrop of the worrying situation in the Ukraine. South Africa is deeply concerned about the escalation of the situation in the Ukraine,” said the Minister.
The High-Level Segment will afford countries, represented by Heads of State and governments, Foreign Affairs Ministers and/or Deputy Foreign Affairs Ministers, the opportunity to address the Council on their national efforts to promote and protect human rights and international cooperation. This also includes outlining their foreign policy approach to human rights.
Pandor said South Africa is committed to the advancement of human rights and freedom, “not just in our country, but the entire continent of Africa, in fact, globally”.
“Human rights, we believe, must not only be in a human rights instrument – A Bill of Rights Charter – they must be given practical meaning, they must be realised by all people in real terms. All of us should promote and protect the rights of all, effectively. And, we should ensure that all human beings tangibly enjoy access to human rights,” she said at Monday’s session.
This applies to all human rights and all people, the Minister said. She called on the gathering to treat all human rights as “universal, indivisible, interdependent and interrelated, and in a fair and equal manner, on the same footing, and with the same emphasis for all people”.
“The Human Rights Council is a proper multilateral forum to advance human rights. But in order to achieve that, the Council needs must remain true to its mandate and avoid the pitfalls that could destroy it.”
Pandor spoke out against politicisation, divisions, selectivity, and double standards.
“We must look at each problem in its full compass of issues. When we address human rights matters, be it thematic or country-specific issues, let us look at the full dimension of the problem.
“We need a Council that responds to all violations and abuses, regardless of where they have been committed or who has committed them. We need to use the opportunity of the review of the Council to rid it of the past crippling challenges,” she said.
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In his address to the delegation , the Holy Father recalled that Iraq is the cradle of civilization and of Christianity, remarking that it has also been a land of exiles since biblical times.
Referring to the tragic events of these recent years, he expressed his deep gratitude to the Christian communities of Iraq for their “courageous witnesses of fidelity to the Gospel” amid persecution.
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- Bible Media News (BMN)* is an independent faith-based media organization.
- This is the first installment of a series of short interviews with faith leaders.
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