Pope dismisses archbishop wilson

adminonNovember 23, 2021January 5, 2022Leave a Comment

Pope Francis has fired Archbishop Philip Wilson, who has been implicated in an abuse scandal in Adelaide, Australia. As the Vatican announced on Monday, the pope accepted Wilson's offered resignation from office.

In recent days, Australia's Prime Minister John Turnbull and the National Council of Priests had appealed to Francis to dismiss Wilson. The Archbishop of Adelaide was sentenced to 12 months in prison four weeks ago by a Newcastle court for covering up abuse cases. Wilson is the highest-ranking Catholic cleric to date to be convicted of covering up sexual abuse.

For a long time, the 67-year-old had refused to step down

Australia's Catholic Bishops' Conference said Monday night that Wilson had been "commended for his work in support of victims and those affected by sexual abuse during his time as Bishop of Wollongong, Archbishop of Adelaide and President of the Bishops' Conference". But he said he has now decided he can no longer serve as archbishop after his conviction because it causes "pain and suffering," especially to those affected, as well as to the Archdiocese of Adelaide.

Wilson, who has rested his post as archbishop since his conviction, long refused to resign. "I am aware that there are many calls for my resignation, and I take them very seriously," he said only about two weeks ago. However, he is exercising his right of appeal, and until the legal process is complete, he does not intend to resign.

On leave for duration of trial

Curia Cardinal George Pell, 77, is also currently on trial in Australia. The head of the Vatican's economic secretariat is accused of sexual assault as a young priest in the 1970s and later as archbishop of Melbourne. Pell is on leave from his Vatican post for the duration of the trial in Melbourne.

Over the weekend, the Vatican also announced the departure of former Washington archbishop Theodore McCarrick, 88, from the College of Cardinals. He, too, is accused of sexual assault.

Children on their way to school © Maja Hitij

A comprehensive school teacher of Jewish faith describes how she experiences everyday anti-Semitism at school. Insults like "You Jew!" are the order of the day. Where does this anti-Semitism among children and young people come from??

Interviewer: As a teacher, have you experienced anti-Semitism at your school?

Mascha Kogan (teacher at Neuss comprehensive school): First, I'd like to clarify: What is anti-Semitism anyway? The general definition says: Anti-Semitism is an act against Jews, a hateful act. For me that is a bit too narrow. I find these invectives like "You Jew!" or also these statements "These are Jewish prices", which are not really meant in a bad way, are for me clear signs of anti-Semitism and of certain negative attributions towards Jews.

This is the kind of thing you experience on a regular basis – not always ill-intentioned. Quite often these are thoughtless remarks. One would describe it as a linguistic derailment of students. I have seen a few times that students subliminally disliked Jews even though they had never seen or talked to Jews. They also couldn't explain what was wrong with Jews, and then were very surprised that Mrs. Kogan, whom you actually do like, is Jewish and makes no secret of it. In the course of the Palestinian-Israeli conflicts there is also hostility, because as a Jew you are always responsible for what happens in Israel.

Interviewer: After all, it is inconceivable that in 2019 we have to discuss anti-Semitism again. Where does this anti-Semitism come from, from children who don't know any Jews at all?? Does it also come from the parental homes?

Interviewer: It is – perceived – nothing new, but has always been there. It feels like Jews are always exotic, something unknown that you seem to have to be afraid of. Partly it comes from the parental home. A relatively young child who has never seen Jews has no idea yet of what not to like.

There are also very different types of anti-Semitism. Of course, there is Islamic anti-Semitism, which is quite often brought into focus. But this is by far not the only one. Right-wing anti-Semitism is present in the middle of our society and has probably always been there and never gone away. But left-wing anti-Semitism is also growing very strongly.

Interviewer: Do the students even know what they are saying there?

Kogan: I think that it is already quite clear to one that one is insulting and hurting a religious community. It is simply accepted.

Interviewer: You complain that teachers often don't even notice anti-Semitism because they don't know exactly what is meant by anti-Semitism. So how do you recognize anti-Semitism?

Kogan: Quite often people say "You Jew!" not be perceived as a serious offense. It also took quite a long time in our society to understand that "disabled" as an insult does not go. This is the way we have to go with the name-calling "You Jew!" also go. In fact, "You Jew!" perceived as the most subtle. Then when there are clearly disputes in the realm of "you're a bad Jew!"I'm bullying you because you're a Jew", then it will be noticed. Schools do not always act rigorously in such cases, but most act correctly.

Interviewer: What role does social media play in terms of anti-Semitism?

Kogan: As a teacher of social sciences, I am well aware that our sphere of influence as teachers, parents and adults is not as big as that of social media. That's where the supposedly "cooler people" move around. I feel the influence of social media is enormous and extreme. The influence of the music scene is also enormous.

Interviewer: Students should be made aware that anti-Semitism is inhumane. For example, if a student sees someone doing the Hitler salute behind a teacher's back, shouldn't he report it, or?

Kogan: I would expect it. Ads would not be my first suggestion. At the school there are different levels of escalation. You should go to the class teacher, school social worker, school principal, and to the level where you feel comfortable and definitely confide in these people.

Interviewer: What could help? Would be desirable if there was always an anti-discrimination expert in schools?

Interviewer: That would actually be an institution very worth considering, because there are several groups that can be discriminated against. It's not only Jews, but also Muslims, homosexual or transgender students, or teachers. And everybody could benefit from this institution.

Interviewer: What role would you say interfaith dialogue plays in breaking down prejudices?

Kogan: It is a very exciting business to talk to people from other religions. But at this point we should ask ourselves: How deep does this dialogue go?? Who do I reach through this dialogue? Are these the people who are willing to talk to me anyway, who find me exciting as a Jew and as a human being anyway? Or do I also manage to penetrate a group that is skeptical about Jews and whomever? If we actually manage to go deeper in the interreligious and intercultural dialogue and reach broader masses, I think it's very exciting.

Interviewer: What would you personally like to see from politicians and school ministries?. What could really help?

Kogan: I am a great friend of education. I am in favor of as much training as possible to show the teachers on the one hand: Jews are not only the victims from the Shoah. There is a thriving, exciting Jewish culture before and after World War II. There are vibrant Jewish communities with quite a lot of young, exciting people doing exciting culture.

On the other hand: How do I recognize anti-Semitism?? How do I intervene? How can I support students so that they also dare to say, "I'm Jewish".

The interview was conducted by Hilde Regeniter.

If you believe the man around whom everything invariably revolves in this election campaign, things look reasonably bad for his party, the Republicans, to keep its pants on in the Washington Senate.

"Very difficult," U.S. media quote from internal conversations Donald Trump's With confidants and donors, it will be for leaders Mitch McConnell, preserving the conservative majority in the second chamber of Congress – and thus a crucial tool in the structure of power and government.

Only there does legislation really take effect, whether on immigration, health care or climate change. Only there judges (see just Amy Coney Barrett), generals and cabinet members receive the parliamentary Tuv badge. That's the only place where the most important thing is ultimately decided – money.

U.S. election: Democrats struggle to win Senate majority

Currently, the Republicans 53 of the 100 seats. The Democratic opposition, counting the two most-voting independents, Bernie Sanders and Angus King, comes to 47 seats. Each state, regardless of size or population, sends two senators to Washington for six years at a time. Wyoming, which has comparatively few people, thus has 580.000 inhabitants the same number of representatives in the capital as California, where 40 million people live.

Parallel to the election between Trump and Joe Biden for the White House, this time 35 senators will have to stand for election on Tuesday. At the same time, 12 out of 23 posts are shaky for Republicans, while only 2 out of 12 for Democrats.

How many additional seats Democrats need in the Senate

If Joe Biden picks up the White House, three additional seats gained will be enough for Democrats to take the helm arithmetically. For in 50-50 standoff, Biden's running mate Kamala Harris would tip the scales as Senate president.

If Biden loses, Democrats would have to wrest four seats from the opposing party. That neither scenario is out of the question is shown by analyses conducted by the consulting service FiveThirtyEight and the Cook Report, which specializes in congressional. Both see between five and seven seats previously held by conservatives in acute jeopardy.

What a Democratic Senate majority would mean for President Trump

If the change were to occur and if, as is amed to be certain, the 435-member House of Representatives were to remain firmly in Democratic hands (currently 232 representatives), Donald Trump would have to endure two years of fundamental opposition until the 2022 midterm election if he wins. His governmental projects in a second term remained, with few exceptions, condemned to a standstill.

If Biden makes the race, Democrats would be able to govern as one between Congress and the White House. Big projects like a Health insurance reform, of tax architecture or environmental and energy legislation, all ies shredded by Trump, could be implemented undisturbed until the 2022 "midterms". Republicans went through a valley of tears for 24 months. Read the analysis here:
President Joe Biden? How it would change U.S. politics

Senate Elections: Will there be a changing of the guard in Arizona and Colorado?

The best cards for a changing of the guard are in Arizona and Colorado. In the southern state, former Nasa astronaut Mark Kelly has left Republican incumbent Martha McSally far behind in polls. Similarly, in Colorado, former Gov. John Hickenlooper leads by a wide margin over incumbent Republican Sen. Cory Gardner. Gardner like McSally seen as mortgage in latently Trump-hostile voter environment.

Democrats are also competitive in Maine, where Republican incumbent Susan Collins is being squeezed by Sara Gideon. In Georgia, Where incumbents Kelly Loeffler and David Perdue would have to stretch against the eloquent, black pastor Raphael Warnock and Jon Osoff. In Montana, where Steve Bullock could prevail against Conservative Steven Daines. In Iowa, Where Trump confidant Joni Ernst faces off against Theresa Greenfield. Also in North Carolina Republican Thom Tillis is suffering from his pronounced Trump love affair, even though his Democratic opponent Cal Cunningham has a sex scandal on his hands. In Alaska Republican Sen. Dan Sullivan has been a vocal critic in Dr. Al Gross (a nonpartisan) a likely contender. Read here:
Chaos, lawsuits, incumbency: what could happen in the U.S

Senate seat of Trump friend Lindsey Graham in jeopardy

For purely financial reasons alone, the most exciting duel in South Carolina from. Lindsey Graham, powerful Judiciary Committee chairman and Trump's regular golfing buddy, has the crook of the challengers against him in Jaime Harrison. The young African-American raked in nearly $57 million in campaign contributions in the month of September – an American record in a Senate race. Graham, only slightly favored in polls, called on his supporters to reach into their wallets in a Fox News broadcast, saying, "Help, I'm being run over."

If Graham went down, a sensation would be perfect. In contrast, the situation in Alabama looks like it will be a one-off for Democrat Doug Jones. Former football coach Tommy Tubberville likely to score touchdown for Republicans.

What Biden might do if Democrats win the Senate

In the event of a Democratic sweep, revolutionary changes are also conceivable, subject to the approval of a president named Joe Biden. For example, Puerto Rico, which belongs to America but is politically impotent, and the capital district of Washington DC could be declared proper states. Consequence: four additional senators; given past voting behavior, likely Democrats.

Reaching even further would be demands that have grown more tepid on the left of the Democratic spectrum since Republicans mercilessly catapulted arch-conservative Justice Coney Barrett to the Supreme Court. Which resulted in a conservative 6-3 majority. Which in turn could be ideologically offset by increasing the bench from nine to eleven or twelve members.

Away from the congressional elections, America also votes Tuesday for several governors, state congresses, mayors and police chiefs. Among the usual referendums, a controversial drug policy measure sticks on the ballot in the nation's capital. The use of hallucinogenic mushrooms (magic mushrooms) should no longer be punished.

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