But where do lines of acceptability or offensiveness get drawn? Earlier this year the New Zealand Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) announced the most complained about ads ever.

Categories ranged from political advocacy to household products. And the most complained about spot belonged to Hell Pizza's "Lust condom" mailers. The brand's "Hell Crossed Buns" billboard came in third.

This is not surprising, given the brand is often in the headlines for its provocative campaigns. Controversy is clearly part of the marketing strategy.

The a diminution of the true identity of the Church and her mission, from which distorted or diluted efforts to evangelise can only bring about mediocrity he said in his homily.

"Today — more than ever before — the world is strongly opposed to those who uphold sanctity as the purpose of life,".

Persecution of Christians happened in ancient times and still happens today in some parts of the world, the Apostolic Nuncio said.

It is "still very frequent in many countries where killing a Christian is sometimes considered as a holy service to Almighty God (John 16:2)".

He also pointed out in developed countries, the methods some people use "appear in a form of ideology, legislation, deceit, foul propaganda, calumny, bullying, etc. against Christianity, especially against Catholicism".

He said the weight of these methods make it difficult for baptised Christians - especially in countries where secularist states declare laws against Christianity.

"We are living in an epoch that is telling us not to present in public a religious point of view, even in matters regarding life, culture and morals; that religion must be taken as a mere private matter; not to pray; not to expose any religious sign, such as a cross, in public — in schools and hospitals and squares...

"Consequently, even children at school and in higher education institutes are intentionally induced to regard religion as irrelevant, superstitious and ridiculous. We can say that we — as Christians — are living moments of suffering; moments of both aggressive and non-aggressive persecutions."

At the same time, these difficulties offer Christians many opportunities — "to bear witness ... not to yield or cave in; to persevere, not to despair; to evangelise more and more, not to dilute the doctrine of the Church; to be the salt of the earth, not to be tasteless; to be the light, not darkness.

"Unfortunately, it is becoming frequent, even among Catholics, that some individuals think that many people will be attracted to the faith if we follow the spirit of the world, or if we reduce our belief to mere actions of convenience and nicety!

"There are even people who are happy to see the Church lose her identity, transforming herself into a ‘non-governmental organisation', thus with nothing to do with conversion of the people and salvation of the souls."

Rugambwa asked those at the Mass to intensify "permanent formation in the discipleship of Jesus Christ in our families, our schools, our workplaces, and in our parish communities.

"We can bear fruits only if we are truly and fully in Christ, just as the branches remain connected to the vine," he explained,

Throughout his homily, Rugambwa cited teachings by St José Maria Escriva, whose Feast day he was commemorating. Escriva's teachings focus on carrying out one's ordinary daily activities with love, following Jesus, and lovingly embracing sufferings on the path to being saints.

Source

• NZ Catholic
• Image: Catholic Diocese of Palmerston North
  

Speaking during Mass at the Sancta Martha Guesthouse on June 9, the Pope's words came only days after he said a ruling on the Medjugorje apparitions will be coming soon.

On June 9, Francis preached on aspects of Christian identity, taking his cue from Paul's letter to the Corinthians.

Among various flawed approaches, he named those "who constantly need Christian identity to be renewed", "forgetting that they were chosen, anointed", that "they have the seal of the Holy Spirit".

Francis said such people ask: "'Where are the seers who can tell us exactly what message Our Lady will be sending at 4'o'clock this afternoon?"

"And their lives depend on this," the Pope said.

"This identity is not Christian. God's final word is ‘Jesus' and nothing else."

Three out of the six children who claimed to experience visions of the Virgin Mary in Medjugorje in 1981 say they continue to receive visions every afternoon.

This is because not all of the secrets intended for them have been revealed, they say.

On June 6, during a brief press conference on his flight to Rome from Sarajevo in Bosnia, Pope Francis said: "We are at the point of making decisions [about Medjugorje] . . . and then they will be announced."

He said guidelines will be given to bishops on the approach they should take.

On June 9, a Vatican spokesman said Francis's homily comments were probably referring to Medjugorje.

But Fr Federico Lombardi, SJ, stressed that the Pope's brief mention was not the Vatican's final word or an official pronouncement.

In his homily, Francis also cautioned against those who look for God "with these Christian spiritualites that are a little ethereal", calling them "modern Gnostics".

These people, he said, "tell you this or that: no, the last word of God is Jesus Christ, there is no other!"

The Pope also cautioned against broadening one's conscience "so much that everything enters".

Sources

• Catholic News Agency
• Vatican Insider
• Associated Press
• Image: Our Sunday Visitor