Goanet Reader
2018-05-28 09:12:55 UTC
Praise for the contributions of Pakistan's new 'red hat'
-----------------------------------------------------
See also: The Goan Connection: Pope Elevates Karachi
Archbishop Joseph Coutts as Cardinal
https://indiancatholicmatters.org/the-goan-connection-pope-elevates-karachi-archbishop-joseph-coutts-as-cardinal/
Archbishop Joseph Coutts (72), who traces his roots to Aldona
in Goa, will be the fifth cardinal of Goan origin, after
Cardinal Valerian Gracias (Dramapur), Cardinal Joseph
Cordeiro (Salvador do Mundo), Cardinal Ivan Dias (Velsao) and
Cardinal Oswald Gracias (Orlim).... Incidentally, Archbishop
Coutts happens to be the cousin of Archbishop Anil Couto of
New Delhi.
-----------------------------------------------------
Archbishop Coutts has inspired
inter-faith fellowship and
harmony amid religious violence
and oppressive anti-blasphemy
laws Praise for the
contributions of Pakistan's new
'red hat' Archbishop Joseph
Coutts of Karachi was one of 14
new cardinals named by Pope
Francis on May 20. (Photo
supplied)
Kamran Chaudhry, Lahore
Pakistan May 28, 2018
Archbishop Joseph Coutts will not officially become a
Catholic Cardinal for another month, but many Pakistanis
already hold high expectations on what he will be able to
achieve.
Pope Francis named the Archbishop of Karachi as being among
14 new cardinals to be elevated on June 29.
News of what will be the second 'red hat' for the Islamic
Republic, after Cardinal Joseph Cordeiro of Karachi who died
in 1994, is dominating both social media and affairs of the
local church.
Media attention has included a documentary profile of
Archbishop Coutts screened by Catholic TV, which is run by
the Lahore Archdiocese.
In a recent interview with ucanews.com, the prelate heralded
"interfaith harmony" as his motto.
More than 10 members of the Oblate Community of Lahore on May
21 paid tribute by playing one of his favorite musical
compositions, an anthem embodying this unifying theme.
Priests as well as students had gathered to celebrate the
feast of their founder, St. Eugene De Mazenod.
"Finally we get recognition on a wider scale," said seminary
professor Father Cecil Paul.
"Now we shall have direct representation in Vatican, just
like neighboring India who have four red hats."
Father Paul hoped the incoming cardinal would develop
diplomatic relationships with foreign representatives as well
as top military and political leaders in Pakistan.
"Strong communication between church and state can play a
positive role in helping Christians who are often targeted
for their faith," the priest said.
"Sadly the stories of our persecution are generally ignored
in both print and electronic media."
Two and a half million Christians in Pakistan have faced
increased discrimination and violence since the government
enacted anti-blasphemy laws in the 1980s that have been used
by some hard-line Islamic groups to target other faiths.
Last month, six Christians were gunned down in two separate
incidents in Quetta, the provincial capital of Balochistan.
Pakistani Catholics nationwide observed April 29 as a special
day to mark the persecution of Christians.
Archbishop Coutts himself was the bishop of Faisalabad in
Punjab Province at the time of 2009 anti-Christian riots.
Ten Catholics were killed, seven of them burned alive, in the
city of Gojra and nearby village of Korian. A Muslim mob
vandalized and looted 113 Christian houses and damaged four
Protestant churches in these areas following blasphemy
allegations.
Hafiz Muhammad Nauman, executive director of the World
Council of Religions-Pakistan, said he was in constant
contact with Archbishop Coutts at that time in helping to
restore order.
"I congratulate the archbishop and firmly believe his
appointment will help in improving the identity of Pakistan,"
he said.
"Our nation is peaceful — we are not terrorists and
extremists."
There were "other reasons" for the phenomenon of
religiously-motivated violence, he added.
Papal visit
The young cleric also recommended that the cardinal-elect use
his influence to invite Pope Francis to Pakistan as it would
present a "tolerant face" of Pakistan to the world.
Arising from a 2016 visit to the Vatican, Pakistan government
ministers Kamran Michael and Sardar Yusuf said publicly that
Pope Francis had accepted an invitation from then Prime
Minister Nawaz Sharif to come to Pakistan.
However, a Vatican spokesman has clarified that there is
"currently no travel program to Pakistan being studied."
The pope was grateful for the invitation, but had neither
accepted nor declined, Vatican sources stated.
New Appointments
Father James Archangelus, a senior priest in Faisalabad
Diocese, has further requests for the Vatican, including the
earliest possible nomination of an auxiliary bishop.
He said Archbishop Coutts suffers from chronic asthma and his
condition had worsened since 2012 when he was made archbishop
in Karachi, a port city with high levels of humidity.
"Now he requires a helper more than ever," Father Archangelus
said.
The senior priest also highlighted what he said was a need
for both a nuncio and a new bishop.
Faisalabad Diocese has been vacant since last December when
Pope Francis transferred Bishop Joseph Arshad to head the
Diocese of Islamabad-Rawalpindi while conferring on him the
"personal title" of archbishop.
https://www.ucanews.com/news/praise-for-the-contributions-of-pakistans-new-red-hat/82410s
----------
UCAN needs your support to continue our independent
journalism Access to UCAN stories is completely free of
charge - however it costs a significant amount of money to
provide our unique content. UCAN relies almost entirely on
donations from our readers and donor organizations that
support our mission. If you are a regular reader and are able
to support us financially, please consider making a donation.
Click here to donate now.
https://www.ucanews.com/donate
-----------------------------------------------------
See also: The Goan Connection: Pope Elevates Karachi
Archbishop Joseph Coutts as Cardinal
https://indiancatholicmatters.org/the-goan-connection-pope-elevates-karachi-archbishop-joseph-coutts-as-cardinal/
Archbishop Joseph Coutts (72), who traces his roots to Aldona
in Goa, will be the fifth cardinal of Goan origin, after
Cardinal Valerian Gracias (Dramapur), Cardinal Joseph
Cordeiro (Salvador do Mundo), Cardinal Ivan Dias (Velsao) and
Cardinal Oswald Gracias (Orlim).... Incidentally, Archbishop
Coutts happens to be the cousin of Archbishop Anil Couto of
New Delhi.
-----------------------------------------------------
Archbishop Coutts has inspired
inter-faith fellowship and
harmony amid religious violence
and oppressive anti-blasphemy
laws Praise for the
contributions of Pakistan's new
'red hat' Archbishop Joseph
Coutts of Karachi was one of 14
new cardinals named by Pope
Francis on May 20. (Photo
supplied)
Kamran Chaudhry, Lahore
Pakistan May 28, 2018
Archbishop Joseph Coutts will not officially become a
Catholic Cardinal for another month, but many Pakistanis
already hold high expectations on what he will be able to
achieve.
Pope Francis named the Archbishop of Karachi as being among
14 new cardinals to be elevated on June 29.
News of what will be the second 'red hat' for the Islamic
Republic, after Cardinal Joseph Cordeiro of Karachi who died
in 1994, is dominating both social media and affairs of the
local church.
Media attention has included a documentary profile of
Archbishop Coutts screened by Catholic TV, which is run by
the Lahore Archdiocese.
In a recent interview with ucanews.com, the prelate heralded
"interfaith harmony" as his motto.
More than 10 members of the Oblate Community of Lahore on May
21 paid tribute by playing one of his favorite musical
compositions, an anthem embodying this unifying theme.
Priests as well as students had gathered to celebrate the
feast of their founder, St. Eugene De Mazenod.
"Finally we get recognition on a wider scale," said seminary
professor Father Cecil Paul.
"Now we shall have direct representation in Vatican, just
like neighboring India who have four red hats."
Father Paul hoped the incoming cardinal would develop
diplomatic relationships with foreign representatives as well
as top military and political leaders in Pakistan.
"Strong communication between church and state can play a
positive role in helping Christians who are often targeted
for their faith," the priest said.
"Sadly the stories of our persecution are generally ignored
in both print and electronic media."
Two and a half million Christians in Pakistan have faced
increased discrimination and violence since the government
enacted anti-blasphemy laws in the 1980s that have been used
by some hard-line Islamic groups to target other faiths.
Last month, six Christians were gunned down in two separate
incidents in Quetta, the provincial capital of Balochistan.
Pakistani Catholics nationwide observed April 29 as a special
day to mark the persecution of Christians.
Archbishop Coutts himself was the bishop of Faisalabad in
Punjab Province at the time of 2009 anti-Christian riots.
Ten Catholics were killed, seven of them burned alive, in the
city of Gojra and nearby village of Korian. A Muslim mob
vandalized and looted 113 Christian houses and damaged four
Protestant churches in these areas following blasphemy
allegations.
Hafiz Muhammad Nauman, executive director of the World
Council of Religions-Pakistan, said he was in constant
contact with Archbishop Coutts at that time in helping to
restore order.
"I congratulate the archbishop and firmly believe his
appointment will help in improving the identity of Pakistan,"
he said.
"Our nation is peaceful — we are not terrorists and
extremists."
There were "other reasons" for the phenomenon of
religiously-motivated violence, he added.
Papal visit
The young cleric also recommended that the cardinal-elect use
his influence to invite Pope Francis to Pakistan as it would
present a "tolerant face" of Pakistan to the world.
Arising from a 2016 visit to the Vatican, Pakistan government
ministers Kamran Michael and Sardar Yusuf said publicly that
Pope Francis had accepted an invitation from then Prime
Minister Nawaz Sharif to come to Pakistan.
However, a Vatican spokesman has clarified that there is
"currently no travel program to Pakistan being studied."
The pope was grateful for the invitation, but had neither
accepted nor declined, Vatican sources stated.
New Appointments
Father James Archangelus, a senior priest in Faisalabad
Diocese, has further requests for the Vatican, including the
earliest possible nomination of an auxiliary bishop.
He said Archbishop Coutts suffers from chronic asthma and his
condition had worsened since 2012 when he was made archbishop
in Karachi, a port city with high levels of humidity.
"Now he requires a helper more than ever," Father Archangelus
said.
The senior priest also highlighted what he said was a need
for both a nuncio and a new bishop.
Faisalabad Diocese has been vacant since last December when
Pope Francis transferred Bishop Joseph Arshad to head the
Diocese of Islamabad-Rawalpindi while conferring on him the
"personal title" of archbishop.
https://www.ucanews.com/news/praise-for-the-contributions-of-pakistans-new-red-hat/82410s
----------
UCAN needs your support to continue our independent
journalism Access to UCAN stories is completely free of
charge - however it costs a significant amount of money to
provide our unique content. UCAN relies almost entirely on
donations from our readers and donor organizations that
support our mission. If you are a regular reader and are able
to support us financially, please consider making a donation.
Click here to donate now.
https://www.ucanews.com/donate