Previous “From The Vaults” articles. See larger images from the issue
Catholic Church before TRC
Testifying before a special hearing for faith bodies at the Truth & Reconciliation Commission (TRC), Bishop Kevin Dowling of Rustenburg listed the ways in which the Catholic Church had fought apartheid. However, he said, more could have been done, and the Church in the communities was still divided along racial lines. In a bizarre twist, two TRC commissioners raised in the hearing the global policy of the Catholic Church reserving the priesthood to men only.
Justice sacrificed for truth
In his testimony before the TRC, Fr Buti Tlhagale OMI, secretary-general of the Southern African Catholic Bishops’ Conference, warned that “we cannot undo the political compromises that were made in order to achieve reconciliation. There is, however, a concern that the victims [of apartheid-era human rights violations] may have been asked to sacrifice individual justice for truth.” He criticised some perpetrators of gross human rights violations for not taking personal responsibility or making reparations.
Editorial: Year of Holy Spirit
As the Year of the Holy Spirit begins, editor Michael Shackleton calls on dioceses and parishes to spend the year invoking in prayer the Spirit’s gifts and “begging the healing of all discord and division”.
- At the heart of Jesus’ teachings lies the mystery of the Kingdom of God, which today’s Gospel likens to treasure and a pearl (cf. Mt 13:44–52). The parables convey the surprise of those who find something far beyond what they could have hoped for, so much so that selling or leaving everything behind no longer seems a sacrifice, but a gain. - July 26, 2026
- R to @Pontifex: Let us #PrayTogether for all those peoples throughout the world who are suffering because of war. May the Lord touch the hearts and enlighten the minds of those in power, so that reconciliation and #peace may soon prevail. - July 26, 2026
- R to @Pontifex: I likewise renew my plea regarding the situation throughout the #MiddleEast, where the intensification of military operations has again wreaked violence and destruction, endangering the lives of countless civilians and further aggravating the shortages of drinking water and electricity. From the depths of my heart, I exhort all parties involved to suspend the attacks and urgently reopen paths of dialogue and diplomacy, so that the longed-for peace for the entire region may be achieved without delay. - July 26, 2026
