Former International YCW vice-president, Berty Villa, from the Philippines shared her memories of working with Cardinal Joseph Cardijn during Vatican II in this video presentation.

Betty prepared this testimony for the Vatican 2+50: A Cardijn Perspective conference in Manila from 10-14 October 2012.

Full report at: www.vatican2plus50.com

Indonesia's Supreme Court has ordered that 176 workers sacked by PT Micro Garment company should be re-instated after rejecting an appeal by the company against an earlier decision in favour of the workers.

The company had claimed that a strike by workers had violated order made ​​by the company as well as labor law. In July 2011, it filed a lawsuit in the District Court (Industrial court) in Bandung, West Java.

In December 2011, a judge found in favour of the workers but the company appealed to the Supreme Court in 2012.

The latest decision of the Supreme Court is final.

"The Supreme Court verdict is good news for the 176 workers at Micro Garment," said YCW fulltime worker, Ikim Rakhmat, "because the entire struggle and sacrifice and the wait times has been answered finally.

"The Supreme Court's decision confirms that the employer has violated the labor law. The workers are hoping that what the Supreme Court decided is not overlooked by entrepreneurs but immediately implemented," he added.

Well known Sri Lankan theologian and former IMCS Asia chaplain, Fr Tissa Balasuriya, has died at the age of 89.

In 1971 Fr Tissa  founded the Center for Society and Religion. In 1976, he helped found the Ecumenical Association of Third World Theologians (EATWOT).

In 1997, following a long process with the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, he was excommunicated over the content of one of his books, Mary and Human Liberation.

He was reconciled to the Church the following year.

Later he said he regarded his experience not as an "ex-communication" but rather as an "in-communication".

Fr Tissa was also a supporter of Cardijn, whom he met as a young priest.

“Cardijn is still relevant in contemporary reality. CCI must bring Cardijn closer to the youth through his approach and See-Judge-Act method. The primordial role of the youth in the world should not be undermined,” Fr Tissa told CCI leaders in 2011.

"We remember Fr Tissa with affection and mourns his passing," said CCI convenor, Stefan Gigacz.

Funeral details will follow.

LINKS

Tissa Balasuriya website

Cardijn still relevant: Father Tissa (Cardijn.info)

The excommunication of Fr Tissa Balasuriya lifted (Asia Human Rights Commission)

Father Tissa reconciled (EWTN)