The Catholic Weekly 8 November 2020

catholicweekly.com.au 3 8, November, 2020 AUSTRALIA’S AMBASSA- DOR to the Vatican has as- sisted Australian Federal Po- lice in its investigations into transfers totalling more than $2 million from the Vatican to Australian bank accounts amid a broader investigation into financial dealings by the Vatican’s former deputy sec- retary of state Cardinal Ange- lo Becciu. Department of Foreign Af- fairs and Trade officials told Senator Concetta Fierravan- ti-Wells during a 29 October Senate estimates hearing that Chiara Porro, who took up her role in August, had provided Vatican contacts to the AFP “recognising the potential for a criminal matter” and was monitoring reports. “These are very serious issues and if the allegations are proven to be correct, and bearing in mind that the alle- gations pertinent to Australia are just part of a much broad- er investigation by the Vati- can authorities, it does reflect significantly and does have significant consequences es- pecially for authorities and judicial authorities in Victoria and other places,” Senator Fi- erravanti-Wells said, after in- quiring what role the Austral- ian Embassy to the Holy See was providing in the matter. The Australian Govern- ment should do all it can to assist the Vatican investiga- tion, she said, adding that she was “very keen to get to the bottom of it”. Earlier last month Aus- tralia’s international finan- cial watchdog, Austrac, con- firmed that it had examined allegations of suspicious transfers from the Vatican to Australia and passed “action- able financial intelligence” to both the AFP and Victoria Police. However Victoria Po- lice said it would not launch TWO YOUNG Catholics’ prayer campaign against a public black mass in Queens- land has gone international, with dozens of Masses, Eucha- ristic adoration vigils and a no- vena to St Michael the Archan- gel gaining massive support. Friends Bethany Marsh and Sophia Shogren, both 22, said they were “blown away” by the response to their spiritual campaign launched last month in response to the event organised by a self-de- scribed Satanist group as a po- litical comment on proposed religious discrimination legis- lation. When the friends discov- ered the plans for the mock ‘mass’ in Noosa, north of Brisbane, on 30 October at a council-owned building they launched the prayer cam- paign and a Facebook group which gained almost 1000 fol- lowers. The word quickly spread through social media to prayer groups, parishes, and dioce- san offices across the country and overseas. Despite a global petition asking the council to can- cel the event gaining almost 100,000 signatures, it went ahead with about 20 people in attendance. However many more prayed in reparation for the mockery. “It’s pretty clear a lot of what they’re saying is dripping with irony, but we mustn’t let that distract us from the grav- ity of their actions, regardless of the intention behind them,” AFTER JUST over seven months of being in abeyance due to COVID, the Sunday Mass obligation has been pro- claimed in Tasmania. The return to normality came after the state relaxed COVID-19 restrictions in line with its opening of borders. Archbishop Julian Porteous of Hobart said the opening of the state’s borders and the fur- ther easing of restrictions was an indication that faith life could return to normal. Archbishop Porteous sub- sequently issued a decree on Envoy aids AFP contact with Vatican investigators in Becciu case ¾ ¾ Marilyn Rodrigues ¾ ¾ Marilyn Rodrigues ¾ ¾ David Ryan Ambassador assists inquiry an investigation because of a lack of evidence of suspi- cious activity. The AFP has also passed information to the Victorian anti-corruption watchdog, the Independent Australia’s Ambassador to the Vatican, Chiara Porro, at right, talks with Cardinal George Pell after his first public Mass in Rome on 17 October. PHOTO: COURTESY DOMUS AUSTRALIA Bethany Marsh, left, and Sophia Shogren. Archbishop Julian Porteous of Tasmania. Broad-based Anti-corruption Commission. According to local media reports Vatican authorities investigating allegations of embezzlement and money laundering have been given details of financial transfers to Australia between Febru- ary 2017 and June 2018 total- ling more than $2 million. Early in October Italian newspapers reported unsub- stantiated allegations Cardi- nal Becciu was suspected of transferring 700,000 euros, equivalent to $1.14 million in Australia, at the time Cardinal George Pell was facing trials for historical sex abuse. Cardinal Becciu has strongly denied the allega- tions against him. THE NEVERENDING WAR AGAINST CORRUPTION P16 It’s evident from so many comments ... the organisers see themselves as simply taking the opportunity to have a stab at their favourite punching bag, the Church.” Bethany Marsh These are very serious issues and if the allegations are proven to be correct ... it does reflect significantly and does have significant consequences especially for authorities and judicial authorities in Victoria and other places.” Senator Fierravanti-Wells Border openings see Sunday obligation welcomed 23 October negating a previ- ous decree of 19 March that dispensed Catholics from the Sunday obligation in order to prevent the spread of the global pandemic. “It is an appropriate time to rescind the decree” he said. Faithful Catholics in the Noosa prayer push goes viral said Bethany. Three weeks be- fore the event, the organisers stated they did not have a con- secrated host. “It’s evident from so many comments being made by the organisers and those follow- ing the event that they - for the most part - see themselves as simply making an edgy politi- cal statement against the reli- gious freedom act, whilst tak- ing the opportunity to have a stab at their favourite punching bag, the Church,” Bethany said. The women encouraged all to pray for those involved, for the Church during this time of spiritual attack, to make rep- aration for what Catholics re- gard as a sacrilege through the intercession of Our Lady, Saint Michael and Blessed Bartolo Longo, who had been a former satanic priest. Archbishop Anthony Fish- er OP was among those who prayed the novena in the lead up to the event last week. “Evil is real and it is not something that should be played with or underestimat- ed,” the archbishop said. state have welcomed the re- turn. “[Sunday] obligation is there to remind us that we need Mass like farmers facing drought need rain. It is not an added bonus, it is a necessity for anyone fair dinkum about following Christ,” said Clare Mittermayer, a parishioner at St Paul’s, Bridgewater. COVID-safe measures throughout Mass, however, will still remain in place with a dispensation for those who cannot attend in lieu of week- day attendance. “In parishes where it is not possible to accommodate all parishioners at a Sunday Mass because of restrictions on numbers in the church, the parish priest can seek a dispensation from the Arch- bishop for those who attend a weekday Mass in place of the Sunday Mass,” the decree reads. [Sunday] obligation is there to remind us that we needMass like farmers facing drought, need rain.” Clare Mittermayer NEWS