Myanmar crisis: Pope expresses concer

http://www.ndtv.com/convergence/ndtv/story.aspx?id=NEWEN20070027817&ch=9/30/2007%207:46:00%20PM

Associated Press

Sunday, September 30, 2007 (Castel Gandolfo)

Pope Benedict XVI expressed serious concern on Sunday about the situation in Myanmar and said he strongly hoped that a peaceful solution would be found.

”I am following with great trepidation the very serious events” in the Asian nation, whose military regime has violently cracked down on peaceful pro-democracy protests.

It was his first public comments on the developments this month in Myanmar.

”I want to express my spiritual closeness to the dear population in this moment of the very painful trial it is going through,” the pontiff said during an appearance to pilgrims at his summer residence in Castel Gandolfo in the hills southeast of Rome.

While assuring the people of his ”intense prayer” and inviting ”the entire Church” to also pray, Benedict said he ‘’strongly hoped that a peaceful solution can be found, for the good of the country.”

International calls have been growing for the government to peacefully end its crackdown on the protests, which have been primarily led by Buddhist monks.

Priests to stay away

However, the Catholic Church has ordered its clergy not to take part in demonstrations or political activities.

Reflecting comments last week by Yangon’s archbishop, worshippers at Yangon’s Catholic churches on Sunday read posted bulletins stating that priests, brothers and nuns were not to become involved in the month-long protests, but that lay Catholics could act as they saw fit.

But at one Yangon church, a Western priest told a mostly foreign congregation of some 100 worshippers that the international community speak out against the regime, criticizing those who remained silent.

”The situation now in Myanmar should not be deemed as `business as usual.’ What’s happening can be likened to a rape,” he said in a sermon, asking not to be identified by name for fear of reprisals.

A handful of Myanmar residents were inside the church, and had apparently been sleeping there in recent days for fear their homes would be raided by security forces which set up a checkpoint about 10 meters from the church after the Mass.

The bulletins urged all Catholics to continue praying, fasting and offering Mass for Myanmar’s welfare.

Myanmar’s 450,000 Catholics make up about 1 percent of the population of the predominantly Buddhist country. Christians as a whole comprise about 4 percent.

Buddhist monks spearheaded mass marches through Yangon and other cities last week before troops and riot police moved in with guns, clubs and tear gas to disperse them.

Security forces also raided monasteries and arrested hundreds of monks.

In an interview with Vatican Radio Wednesday, Yangon Archbishop Charles Maung Bo said that ”in accordance to canon (church) law and the social teachings of the Catholic Church, priests and religious are not to be involved in any party politics and demonstrations.”

”Catholics as citizens of the country are free to act as they deem fit. The clergy and the religious (brothers and nuns) can give them proper guidance,” the archbishop said.

The archbishop’s statement was in line with general Vatican thinking.