Indonesian Catholics Targeted by Riots

For days, ethnic Chinese in Indonesia were the targets of rioters and looters demanding President Suharto's resignation, which came May 20. Those same ethnic Chinese are among the wealthiest people of their country. Many of them are also Catholic, said a May 18 Reuters story.

According to the report, a large congregation gathered a few days after the riots at a special Mass: “Indonesia's largely Christian Chinese took time off from sifting through their ransacked and burned out shops and homes today to give thanks to God ... and to pray for their future.

The article quotes the church's pastor saying that he — and many of his parishioners — wanted President Suharto to quit.

“He is retarding reform. So are his ministers. The cabinet here is ... just the friends of the president.”

A parishioner added another complaint: “The government has done nothing to protect us. We are scared of more riots — it could happen any time.”

The Christian Chinese population has done so well in Indonesia (where they own 70% of non-land wealth), said one expert quoted in the article, because their strong family networks make them better organized than other Indonesians.

Nigerian Bishops Sound Alarm

Africa's largest and fastest growing Catholic population could be put at severe risk by new political developments, say its bishops.

Plans are underway in Nigeria to transition from military to civilian rule by October — and military ruler Sani Abacha has a plan to introduce democracy in the nation. But many pro-democracy groups say Abacha's plan — and his nomination as the unopposed candidate in the first election — is a farce.

According to a May 17 Reuters report, the nation's Catholic bishops issued a statement saying, “The latest developments in our long and tedious transition program are leading us in a direction that gives us grave cause for concern.... Now our worst fears are coming to pass before our very eyes ... and so we call on all Nigerians: ‘Watch out: there is danger ahead.‘”

Dozens of people have been arrested for protesting government abuses in Nigeria, whose Catholic population is at 12 million and growing.

Vanier Says Sanctity is Normal

Jean Vanier is used to being asked if he is a saint, reports the May 17 Ottawa Citizen. After all, both of his parents are being considered for canonization — and his l'Arche homes for the disabled are doing great good.

Vanier, however, “has little patience for the idea that he may someday be declared St. Jean. He says it is a cop-out to say that a Mother Teresa or a Jean Vanier are somehow different than the rest of us,” said the report.

Vanier said he has an answer ready for those who ask him if he is a saint, according to the article: “What is important is that they become saints.”

He has a similar answer when asked what it was like growing up in a household with the saintly Georges and Pauline Vanier. It was normal, he says.

“Like most men, Dad never spoke about emotions, and Mom was always blurting them out. They were an incredible pair.”

The newspaper profiled him on the occasion of the 25th anniversary of Ottawa's l'Arche community.