 |
|
| • Visit in Montpellier |
|
| • Abbé Pierre’s Funeral |
|
| • Against the death penalty |
|
| • Freedom of speech |
|
| |
|
| Visit in Montpellier |
|
|
 |
I went to meet a Dominican friend, Jean Cardonnel, who has been excluded from his monastery. He made an appeal and was waiting for a trial.
This Dominican is 86 years of age, unconventional, a man of great culture, lives in an old people’s home in Montpellier.
« I have been excluded by religion, he says with humor, but I am housed by the Republic ».
He still has his joy for life, his love for the word of God and his faith in Christ.
The regional television crew who followed him all day is captivated by his personality. |
|
|
| |
|
At the entrance of his room, I noticed piles of detective novels from Simenon. « Remarkable. What culture this author has and I discovered him so late! » His desk is unbelievably cluttered. He knows everyone by their first name, members of the staff or retired people. I could not but tell him: « It is a blessing that you are here in this old people’s home. You are a builder of unity.»
|
| |
|
The chief general of the Dominicans, a 49 years old Argentinean, passing through Montpellier, visited him during the summer. At the end of his visit, he asked him: « what can I do for you? » Jean Cardonnel told him: « give me your blessing. »
The chief general kneeled and said: « First, give me your blessing. » |
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
 |
|
| |
|
| Abbé Pierre’s Funeral |
|
| |
|
 |
When the hearse arrived at Notre-Dame de Paris’s square, and the silent crowd saw the Abbé’s coffin, there was a long ovation. The applause expressed the emotion and the gratitude of all the people. An emotional moment for me. What place this man had taken in the heart of the people! All his life he had carried the hope of the poor. |
|
|
| |
|
| For once and it is not a habit, I participated in the bishops’ procession entering the cathedral. I appreciated because the front rows were occupied by the Companions of Emmaus. Almost all the members of the Government came after. |
|
| |
|
| Well that was an evangelical ranking: the last of the society were in the front rows in the church. The humble before the powerful! It is so rare that the dignity of the neglected one is recognized and respected! |
|
|
|
| |
|
I was told that this national homage at Notre-Dame de Paris did not correspond to what Abbé Pierre was. A simple ceremony in the small village of his burial would have been enough.
On the contrary, I think this official homage was called for because it had repercussions on the poor. They were being honored. For once. |
|
| |
|
|
|
| |
|
| Against the death penalty |
|
| |
|
 |
The 3rd World Congress Against the Death Penalty was held this year in the halls of the Student Residence in Paris at the same time as France is getting ready to include in its Constitution the permanent abolition of the death penalty: « No one should be condemned to the death penalty ». |
|
|
| |
|
| During three days, I realized the important progress in this field. Today 130 countries are abolitionists. The death penalty is considered useless, inhuman and degrading. It is incompatible with Human Rights. « It is never just for Justice to kill » had declared Robert Badinter, former Minister of Justice, who had received an ovation. |
|
| |
|
I did not miss the debate on China and the Olympic games in presence of Chinese from Beijing. In this great country, reality is frightening: there are thousands of executions every year. Large-scale removal of organs is being made on members of Falun Gong, against their will.
With the Olympic games, pressures from. Different sources will be exerted against the Chinese authorities to make a moratorium. Is not truce an Olympic concept? |
|
|
|
| |
|
| A lot has to be done, but we are a great number of countries to want a universal abolition of the death penalty and we believe a day will come when all the countries of the planet will abolish it. |
|
| |
|
|
|
| |
|
| Freedom of speech |
|
| |
|
 |
The chief administrative officer of the Mosque of Paris, the Union for Islamic organizations of France, the World Islamic League have brought an action against the satirical newspaper “Charlie Hebdo” for the publication of cartoons representing the prophet Mahomet. |
|
|
| |
|
Did the newspaper have the right to touch a pillar of Islam, to mock the religion and make fun of fundamentalists who do not have a sense of humour? Is it possible to critic all religions?
Because I defend the freedom of speech, I came before the 17th Criminal Division of the Law Court of Paris. There was a great number of people as well as a crowd of news reporters, some from foreign countries. Sitting next to me was a young man who had hitched from the south of France because he did not want to miss the trial.
I talked with Muslims who had come to support Charlie Hebdo: « we do not want to be associated with the fundamentalists. We refuse to be compared with extremists. We want no confusion. We are for the freedom of speech. » There was a passionate atmosphere for the two days of the trial. |
|
| |
|
In Voltaire’s country, we are attached to freedom. So many men and women have fought for the freedom of speech!
In a laic society, citizenship comes first before religion. If the newspaper wins the trial, and I hope it happens, freedom of speech and laicism will be reaffirmed. |
|
|
|
