Dubbed by protesters as a "weapons expo" for companies that profit from war and killing, the event will again be the subject of protest action from civic and faith-based groups this year Continue reading

Analysts believe the Islamists organised the protest at the behest of opposition parties hoping to derail Busaki's re-election in February.

There have been calls for Basuki to be imprisoned, or even executed for blasphemy and hate speech.

10,000 demonstrators took to Jakarta's streets last month and as many as 50,000 people on 4 November.

Better known by his Chinese nickname "Ahok", he became Jakarta's first non-Muslim governor for 50 years when he took over from Joko "Jokowi" Widodo in 2014.

He is the first ethnic Chinese Indonesian in the post.

A prominent Muslim scholar and former rector of the State Islamic University in Jakarta, says the protests are purely political.

"They are using the blasphemy issue as an entry point to challenge Jokowi and pressure him," said Mr Azyumardi Azra.

"If you look at their posters during the demonstration, there is no mention about banning alcohol, banning gay and lesbian groups, nothing like what they normally protest about,"

Analysts like Azra believe the Islamists organised the protest at the behest of opposition parties hoping to derail Busaki's re-election in February.

They see this as an opening salvo against his backer, Joko, aimed at settling scores and ultimately denying the president re-election in 2020.

Ahok is seeking a second term as Jakarta governor. He is a possible running mate for Widodo in the 2019 presidential elections.

He is popular with Jakarta's middle class. He is adored as a blunt speaker who doesn't tolerate corruption and articulates a vision to make the chaotic, dysfunctional city more like clean, orderly and efficient Singapore.

"It's a sad development in Indonesian politics when race and religion are being used by politicians," said Philips J. Vermonte, the head of the politics and international relations department at the Center for Strategic and International Studies in Jakarta.

Source

• bbc.com
• nytimes.com
• bangkokpost
• Image: bangkokpost

"We're protecting a centuries-old institution, we will not stand for interference from either the church or the government," said Paolo Jorio, director of the San Gennaro museum.

The collection of gold jewellery, precious stones, headdresses, and silver busts, which are reportedly worth more than British crown jewels, were donated by kings and aristocrats in honor of San Gennaro.

The collection has long been considered the property of a local lay council, which was established in the 16th century.

Interior Minister Angelino Alfano, however, issued a decree opening the door to church control.

The minister ruled that the council is the same as any other caretaker body which manages religious buildings - such as Saint Peter's Basilica in Rome - and ordered that four of the committee's posts should be in the hands of the church.

The council said it would appeal the decree in court and further protests would be held in a bid to get it reversed.

Mayor Luigi De Magistris of Naples said the city would do what it takes to "makes sure what San Gennaro gave us is not diminished."

The mayor also heads the council.

Sources

The Guardian
Newser
The Local
ABC.Net
BBC
Image: The Guardian

The group behind the action, Koosha Las Vegas, have been entering churches during services, shouting at Catholics that they need to repent now or else.

The group has filmed the acts and posting them on the Internet.

This has happened in several parishes and the group has also protested outside a Catholic school.

Among the group's members are Muslims who have become Christian.

Las Vegas police said no arrests have been made because technically no crime has been committed.

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"Racists are not allowed in this church," read the notice posted by Fr Gianfranco Formenton of Sant'Angelo parish in Mercole, Umbria.

The notice adds: "For I was a stranger and you did not take me in," in a reference to Matthew 25:25.

Then it states: "Far from me, cursed ones, into the eternal flames."

Fr Formento was enraged at violent anti-immigration protests last week in Veneto and in a Rome suburb.

A picture of the sign has gone viral on social media.

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Washington archdiocese said protestors using megaphones were shouting at ordinary Catholics going in and out of churches.

Fundamentalist literature was being distributed.

The protestors attacked the Catholic Church's dogmas, teachings, practices and leaders, including Pope Francis.

In the two instances where protestors "stormed the inside of [a] church just before Mass" they were promptly removed by ushers and off-duty law enforcement officers.

Washington archdiocese told priests to call the police if the protestors repeated their acts.

Parishes were also asked to pray for the protestors.

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The protesters are calling for democratic elections in Hong Kong, demanding the right to vote for a leader of their choice in 2017, without restrictions from Beijing.

But some commentators see a broader struggle to protect Hong Kong's culture from China's communist government, as it increases its influence on the city.

Christianity has been a visible element of the demonstrations, with prayer groups and crosses seen, and protesters reading Bibles in the street.

Hong Kong's former bishop, Cardinal Joseph Zen Ze-kiun, said the fight for democracy is "a question of the whole culture, the whole way of living, in this our city".

Beijing's influence through Chief Executive Leung Chun-ying "brings to Hong Kong the whole culture which is now reigning in China, a culture of falsity, of dishonesty, a lack of spiritual values", Cardinal Zen told the Wall Street Journal.

"We can see that it is coming, so we have to resist."

Some see the gap between Christians and the Chinese government as unbridgeable.

"Christians, by definition, don't trust the communists. The communists suppress Christians wherever they are," said Joseph Cheng, a political-science professor at City University of Hong Kong and a supporter of the protesters.

Hong Kong's major church organisations have taken largely neutral stances toward the Occupy Central movement.

Cardinal John Tong issued a brief statement last week urging the Hong Kong government to exercise "restraint in deployment of force" and telling protesters to be "calm" in voicing their grievances.

A spokesperson for the city's Anglican Church said in July that it wouldn't encourage its parishioners to break the law.

Bui in July, 2013, Hong Kong Catholic diocese issued a statement urging that "the Chief Executive shall be directly elected by universal suffrage in 2017 - on a one person, one vote basis".

Some churches are providing aid to protesters and some of leaders of the demonstration movements are Christians.

Last week, the Hong Kong Federation of Catholic Students criticised the police's excessive use of violence when dispersing "unarmed students".

Mr Leung announced on Saturday that "all necessary actions" would be taken to ensure the protesters were removed by Monday morning and order restored.

On Sunday, blockades of official buildings began to be eased.

Sources

• Wall Street Journal
• The Tablet
• Voice of America
• The Guardian
• New York Times
• Image: Wall Street Journal

Recent mass protests across Brazil — against the lack of investment in public services compared with the 2014 World Cup, the 2016 Olympics and the WYD — may have discouraged attendance.

Pope Francis will visit the July 23-28 celebrations, in the country with the world's largest Catholic population.

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The surplus was generated by accommodation, transport services and business such as food providers.

The director of the Hotel Industry Business Association in Madrid, Juan Jose Blardony, said three million meal tickets were distributed to young people throughout the week, valued at nearly NZ$39 million.

WYD organisers originally estimated the event would bring in NZ$170, which is much lower than the NZ$280 they now calculate.

The figures will now be given to an external auditor for final verification.

Other financial facts emerging from WYD 2011 include:

• World Youth Day generated 3 times the revenue made by the Champions League Final in 2010
• hotels reported a 70% occupancy rate compared with the normal 40% for around this time
• the City Council estimates 2% of tourism revenue for the country in one week

Violent protests repeatedly flared throughout the papal visit as between 3000-5000 anti-pope protesters voiced their concerns about the 50 million euro price tag of the four-day trip.

Priests from Madrid's poorest parishes also criticised the cost of the trip.

"We are not organising a protest against the Pope but to complain about an event which is very expensive in times of crisis and high unemployment," said Evaristo Villar, a priest and member of Redes Cristianos.

"An event of this kind has no place in a country with five million unemployed," he said.

The Spanish Government is yet to release the costs associated with policing the protests.

Sources

• CNA
• Rome Reports (YouTube)
• CathNews - WYD to cost Spanish taxpayers nothing
• CathNews - Spanish priests join opposition to cost of Pope's visit for WYD2011
• CathNews - Violent protests, a Kiss-in, Pro-condom lobby and hackers greet Pope at WYD
• Image: Inquirer News

Any event that gathers 1.5 - 2 million young people together to celebrate their faith is a huge success, and whether it be the intense heat, untimely rain and wind or the growth in faith, the atmosphere of the occasion will remain a life-long experience.

The complexity of modern Spain meant World Youth Day 2011 has not been all plain-sailing.

Violent protests, a gay and lesbian kiss-in, a high profile pro-condom lobby and World Youth Day website hackers threatened to take the shine away from the event.

Protests became violent

Violence repeatedly flared throughout the papal visit, as Spanish riot-police swung batons in clashes with anti-Church protesters.

Between 3000-5000 anti-pope protesters marched on the Spanish capital's central Sol Plaza to voice their concerns about the 50 million euro price tag of the four-day trip.

Pilgrims were put under pressure and at times were told to stay away from some of Madrid's popular areas.

"Pilgrims have been asked not to go to Sol for security reasons," Malaysian pilgrim Yap Thomas reported on Twitter.

"Sometimes we were very afraid ...but they did not attack me", Lilly Cozzoleno of Italy told CNS.

Protesters were in the main objecting to the cost of WYD, and chanted "God yes, Church no"; "Not with my taxes"; "We are not the pope's youth" and "I am a sinner, sinner, sinner".

Some protesters even taunted the faithful shouting: "Nazi, nazi."

Baton-wielding anti-riot police were used to disperse the protesters.

Not all one-sided, one protester against the papal visit, who would not give his name, bled from the nose. "I was in the demonstration with my father and one of the Catholics punched me in the face," he said.

The Vatican however rebuffed protesters' claims saying, "The event will not cost anything" for Spain.

"The burden will fall on the church, the pilgrims and private donors," it said.

Kiss-in foiled

On Thursday, more than 100 activists planned to join up along the street where the Pope travelled in his white, bulletproof Popemobile and stage a kiss-in.

Police foiled plans by gays and lesbians, blocking the protesters, forcing them to disperse.

In the end only two men managed to skirt security and kiss for the cameras just as the Pope passed by along the major Madrid artery of Calle Serrano.

Condom use promotion got creative

For the past few years an American-based organisation, Catholics for Choice, have run advertisements on billboards in Madrid subway stations and busses as part of their Condoms4Life programme.

This year the ads have been banned.

In a press release Catholics for Choice president, John O'Brien defended the ads. "As Catholics, we were supporting Pope Benedict's claim that condoms can save lives," he said.

It is unclear why liberal Spanish authorities blocked the ads, but it forced Catholics for Choice to adopt alternative creative strategies such as extensive social media campaigns, badges for pilgrims to wear and night-time projections onto the walls of buildings.

Despite being shut down, Catholics for Choice expressed delight at the success of their campaign.

"We were all over the media - local, national and international - and our projections were beamed around the world," they said in their last blog post on social media platform Tumblr.

Website hacked

Issues have also hampered communication from the World Youth Day's official website.

The website began experiencing problems on August 15 and organisers confirmed the issues were the result of computer hackers, and despite several successful attempts to prevent the site being hacked, the event's technicians were unable to prevent several "Denials of Service attacks" which temporarily, but repeatedly took the site down, hampering officials' communications efforts, particularly with the media.

WYD organisers released a statement saying, "Out of respect for the millions of people who are following us around the world and the 4,900 accredited communication professionals at WYD, we believe it is necessary to inform the public about this hacking attempt."

The organizers said they regret "any distress caused" and confirmed they are working to resolve the issue.

Benedict left Madrid after Mass on Sunday, but not before calling on some of the 30,000 volunteers to thank them for their work.

Sources

• CNA
• Twitter @yapthomas
• The Province
• American Catholic
• Mail Online
• Huffington Post
• France 24