The first Vatican Radio microphone.

Communication by the airwaves was already in use during World War I. In Germany the Nazi party offered a radio to every family, but tuned it exclusively for the promotion of National Socialist ideology! Listening to another station brought severe penalties and Hitler Youth leaders called for children to report their elders.

During the Nazi period in Europe, people beyond the reach of the Nazis used this medium to combat the errors and vicious activities of Nazi Germany. After the young priest John M. Oesterreicher had fled from Austria to Paris, he used radio to elucidate the Christian message in contrast to the propaganda coming from Germany. In research of Nazi archives in Coblenz, Father Robert Graham found that a stenographer had recorded Father Oesterreicher’s sermons.  In 1986 Dr. Erica Weinzeirl edited the collection under the title: Wider die Tyrannei des Rassenwahns. Rundfunkansprachen aus dem ersten Jahr von Hitlers Krieg. (Geyer Edition Wien, Salzburg, 1986).

In 1931, under Pope Pius XI, the Holy See introduced radio as a means for international communication.  See the commemoration of this milestone in “Vatican Radio turns 90.”

As technology advances, the Church incorporates these manifestations of human ingenuity into the service of the Word of God. May this continue to promote the profound human need and desire for understanding, justice and true peace!

The Biblical heritage has maintained a special place for the elderly in human society.  The Jewish and Christian faith communities have continued to promote a respect for the wisdom and experience of those blessed with a long life. Tragically, in some modern societies there is a tendency to disparage the spiritual value of the presence of those who become infirm in their time on earth. Of course, we appreciate the progress of medicine and science in easing the aches and pains of the passing years! However, may the length of a person’s life never be left to the decision of a committee!

Recently Pope Francis instituted the “World Day of Grandparents and the Elderly,” to be celebrated on July 25^th, the Feast of Saints Anne and Joachim, the parents of the Blessed Virgin Mary. In Canada devotion to St. Anne has a long history, so integrating a new dimension to the feast will be an extension of its impact for pilgrims to the shrine of Ste. Anne de Beauprès in Quebec and to Lac Ste. Anne in Alberta.

The Pontifical Academy for Life offers a document “Old Age: Our future. The condition of the elderly after the pandemic.” 

May these teachings hear much fruit for a deeper humane response to the challenges of life!

Since 2009 the attacks of Boko Haram terrorists have plagued Christian communities in several areas of North-Eastern Nigeria. This has been followed by aggressive intrusions by Fulani herdsman into farming communities long established in other parts of Nigeria.

In recent months ordinary people have begun to protest against the brutal actions of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (S.A.R.S.). Panels of inquiry into police brutality have been called for by ordinary citizens: see “Nigeria Goes on Offensive against Youth Protesting Police Brutality.” Undoubtedly these are quiet and persistent efforts by people of good will to ameliorate the situation.

In The Tablet (London, England) in “Prison Special Report,” Patrick Egwu describes the work of a Nigerian Catholic non-profit welfare organization, The Catholic Institute for Development, Justice and Peace (CIDJAP). Founded in 1986, this Institute offers free legal services to prisoners who are not able to afford a lawyer. They also help ex-prisoners to find work and to reintegrate into society. May this and other groups of quiet service bring hope to many prisoners and their families!

Rabbi Dr. Asher Finkel
Professor Emeritus
Jewish-Christian Studies
Graduate Program
Seton Hall University

You are righteous, O Lord
And all your deeds are just;
All your ways are mercy and truth;
You are the Judge of the world.
(Book of Tobit 3:2)

As the Institute of Judaeo-Christian Studies and the Master’s Program in Jewish-Christian Studies commemorates 45 years of academic work, it is with great sadness that I share the news that Rabbi Asher Finkel departed from this world on August 17, 2020. He was surrounded by his beloved wife, Jane, and his children and grandchildren as he gave his life into the merciful hands of his Lord.

“You are righteous, Lord, and your judgment is right. True and righteous Judge, blessed are you, all whose judgments are righteous and true.” (Philip Birnbaum, Daily Prayer Book, p. 738).

When we studied the Book of Tobit, probably from the third century B.C.E., Rabbi Finkel pointed to the above quoted prayer of Tobit as an example of the continuity in the tradition of Judaism. Over the decades of his teaching as well as in his publications, he often drew attention to the resonances of the Biblical heritage that are shared in teachings of the Rabbis and the Christian Scriptures. His knowledge of both Jewish and Christian classics was unparalleled!

Over several generations the Finkel family has brought the profound moral message of Lithuanian Jewish education to Israel and the Diaspora. Rabbi Finkel’s uncle had brought the entire Mir Yeshiva to safety in Shanghai in 1940, thanks to the heroic deeds of Chiune Sugihara, the Japanese Counsel in Kaunas, Lithuania. This is background to the message in Mishpacha at the occasion of Rabbi Finkel’s death.

This story of Rabbi Finkel’s deep love of Moses Maimonides (1135-1204) reminds me of a quotation in one of Father Thomas Stransky’s essays:

Youth, what man’s age is like doth show,
We may our ends by our beginnings know.
(Sir John Denham (1615-1669), “On Prudence”).

May Rabbi Asher Finkel be bound up in the bundle of life, in the care of the Lord, his God! (1 Samuel 25:29).

In May 1965 my flight from Nicosia, Cyprus to Beirut arrived at night. As the plane approached, I thought of the words in the Gospel: “A city set on a mountain cannot be hidden” (Matthew 5:14). This view of the city was beautiful! As I visited Lebanon I experienced the wonderful hospitality of the Middle East and learned how Christians, Muslims and Druse communities had developed a harmonious expression of political harmony that was shared to benefit all. Tragically, a decade later intrusive forces would disrupt the society and wreak havoc throughout the land. In recent years more than a million refugees from Syria have brought another challenge to a fragmented country.

On Tuesday, August 4^th, a cache of 2,750 metric tons of ammonium nitrate left in 2014 by an unseaworthy ship exploded in the port area of the city, bringing death and devastation. What a disaster for the city, already struggling with political and social woes that are exacerbated by the coronavirus pandemic! See the following reports in The New York Times: “As Smoke Clears in Beirut, Shock Turns to Anger” and “As French President Visits Beirut, Lebanese Ask Where Their Leaders Are.”

From ancient times in the Middle East, the destruction of a city by earthquake or war has led survivors to recite prayers of lament. The five poems in the Jewish Scriptures called the Book of Lamentations, mistakenly attributed to Jeremiah the prophet, might be recalled in relation to this tragic situation of Beirut. Of course, the inspired poet took the prayer of the people directly to God; this can be imitated by the people of Lebanon at this time as they struggle to forgive their leaders for the neglect that allowed this tragedy to happen. May we see that generous assistance is offered by our leaders as the restoration of necessities will enable the Lebanese people to survive. May they have the strength, with divine help, to bring Lebanon back to much better times!

The plight of refugees has not been featured in the news media for several months.  The Covid-19 pandemic has absorbed our attention and, more recently, we are shocked by the abuse of authority when certain police officers transgress by excessive use of force. Then perhaps we fail to consider how vulnerable these people in transit are to these threats, and we are challenged again to collaborate in education regarding rights and duties of each person in our societies.

The universal Church urges us to be aware of the multitude of refugees and other migrants who are in search of a home and future for their families. The estimated number, more than 60 million, refers to those who have been forced to flee from their country because of war or natural disaster.

On January 9, 2020 Pope Francis drew attention to “the tragedy of internally displaced people as one of the challenges of our contemporary world.” The estimated number who have been driven by terroristic acts or war from their homes and livelihood is estimated to be 20 million.

In his address for the World Day of Migrants and Refugees on May 13, 2020, Pope Francis offered a challenge: “To preserve our common home and make it conform more and more to God’s original plan. We must commit ourselves to ensuring international cooperation, global solidarity and local commitment, leaving no one excluded” (Osservatore Romano, May 15, 2020 p. 7).

In order to deal with this grave situation, Cardinal Michael Czerny of the new Dicastery of the Holy See on Integral Human Development has published “Pastoral Orientations on Internally Displaced People.” It is available here on the Vatican website (48 pages).

In the past we have drawn attention to the frequent and devastating attacks on Christian communities in the northeastern areas of Nigeria. This grim situation continues as The Tablet (London) reports in “COMECE urges defence of Christians in Nigeria.” 

The New York Times published the report of Ruth Maclean, “When the Soldiers Meant to Protect You Instead Come to Kill.” Attacks by terrorists and, it seems, by government soldiers have resulted in the death of 2,000 people in the last 18 months.  Internally displaced people are estimated to be 850,000. Among the desperate needs of such refugees is collaboration of Christians, Muslims and others to become part of a healing and restoration process. The first step, however, seems to be required of governments of each country with such a major problem. In the name of common decency and in a true response to the needs of people who desire peace for their families, may leaders in these countries be inspired to service of the most vulnerable!

Father Francis G. Morrisey, OMI, Ph.D., JCD
(1936 – 2020)

The death of my classmate, Father Francis Morrisey, on May 23, 2020 in Ottawa brings a stellar servant of the Gospel to the completion of a priestly ministry with an impact on the universal Church.

From 1958-62 we studied theology and related subjects at St. Paul’s Seminary in Ottawa. As an Oblate of Mary Immaculate in the French province, Frank was a scholastic while I was a seminarian for the diocesan priesthood. He was always a cheery presence in the breaks between class. He went on to study Canon Law in a faculty that included great professors like Father Germain Lesage, OMI. Frank and I studied the 1917 Codex Juris Canonici, promulgated by Pope Benedict XV. In the preface to this Code, Cardinal Gaspari declared that it would endure until the end of time! However, Pope John XXIII convoked a commission to revise the Code; Father Morrissey was a contributor to this work that was promulgated in 1983. The vision of the Church as People of God in the New Covenant permeates the vision of the Law at the service of the faithful. The work of interpreting and applying the Gospel in delicate situations of tension within the Church and the wider society occupied Frank’s attention for the rest of his life.

“In recognition of his generous use of…expertise on behalf of health care professionals in the U.S., Canada and the world,” Fr. Morrisey received Catholic Health Association’s (CHA) Lifetime Achievement Award on June 10, 2019. CHA commemorated this honor with the video below:

On May 6, 2020, Saint Paul University awarded Fr. Morrisey the Eugène de Mazenod Medal. This medal honours individuals who have made significant contributions to make their community, their environment and society as a whole more just and humane.

“The Church has been enriched by Frank’s selfless outpouring and, through the Church, cultures and societies throughout the world have also been enriched,” noted Monsignor John Renken, Dean of the Faculty of Canon Law at Saint Paul University. “He was esteemed and admired by a plethora of social innovators, church leaders and professional colleagues. He showed himself to be a faithful son of Saint Eugène de Mazenod, who envisioned bringing healing and hope to the peripheries of his own day. Frank has done the same in today’s world.” From St. Paul’s University (Ottawa, Canada) Reflection on Fr. Francis Morrisey

We pray for the happy repose of Father Morrisey’s soul, with the hope that he has been welcomed already into the Kingdom as a good and faithful servant!