(Vatican News) Myanmar’s military raided a Catholic parish house in the western state of Chin and arrested a priest suspected of supporting a civil resistance group. Father Michael Aung Ling and a boarder student were arrested around 8 am on June 16 from the compound of St. Michael’s Church in Kanpetlet town, the parish under the Diocese of Hakha, the state capital.
After finding rice bags stored in the parish house, soldiers suspected the priest of supplying food to the Chinland Defense Force (CDF). After questioning him for 11 hours and making him sign a commitment letter, the army released the priest.
The Catholic bishops of Myanmar released a statement on June 11, appealing that places of worship be spared and people seeking refuge there be protected.
VATICAN CITY
PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES FACED MORE BARRIERS DURING PANDEMIC, ACADEMY SAYS
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(CNS) People with disabilities were often overlooked and faced discrimination in various health care policies and practices during the COVID-19 pandemic, said the Pontifical Academy for Life.
“The negative experiences of persons with disabilities during this pandemic do not only stem from the increased vulnerability” of contracting the virus and developing serious symptoms, “they also stem from society’s failure, generally, to value and include persons with disabilities when developing and implementing public health policies,” the academy said in a new document.
Also, in many countries, “the predominant ethical framework for practice and policy has been utilitarian and aimed at the greatest good for the greatest number in society. Such a framework has not served persons with disabilities and their families well,” it said.
Released June 15, the 10-page “note” is titled, “Friendship with Persons with Disabilities: The Beginning of a New World. Learning from Experiences of Persons with Disabilities and Their Caregivers During the COVID-19 Pandemic.” It initially was made available in three languages at academyforlife.va.
People with disabilities “fared far worse during this pandemic than those who do not experience similar health inequities” or barriers to access, it said.
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