Catholic News 2
LOS ANGELES (AP) -- Self-driving car prototypes appear to be getting better at negotiating California streets and highways without a human backup driver intervening, according to data made public Wednesday by California transportation regulators....
WASHINGTON (AP) -- President Donald Trump's executive order suspending immigration from seven majority-Muslim countries could slow the U.S. economy by hampering two of the nation's top export industries: Tourism and higher education....
NEW YORK (AP) -- He has emerged as the leader of the anti-Trump resistance on Capitol Hill, but to many of his liberal constituents, that's not enough. They want Sen. Chuck Schumer of New York to take a hard line against nearly everything President Donald Trump stands for....
Days into an administration that promised to govern by upheaval, Donald Trump's White House has been the target of massive protests, defied reporters who questioned fact-challenged statements and issued a blur of lightning-rod executive actions. The speed and depth of it all have left many Americans apprehensive: Even some who longed for a shake-up are unsettled by a sense of chaos it has unleashed....
WASHINGTON (AP) -- The U.S. put Iran "on notice" Wednesday after the Iranian military tested a ballistic missile and allied rebels in Yemen attacked a Saudi naval vessel in the Red Sea, an early manifestation of President Donald Trump's promise of a tougher American approach to the Islamic republic....
WASHINGTON (AP) -- Republicans jammed two of President Donald Trump's top Cabinet picks through the Senate Finance Committee with no Democrats in the room Wednesday after suspending a rule that would have otherwise barred them from taking the vote. The tactic seemed a warning shot that they might deploy brute political muscle in the upcoming fight over the Supreme Court vacancy....
(Vatican Radio) Expressing solidarity with the Muslim community, U.S. Bishops have expressed deep concern over religious freedom issues raised by President Trump’s Executive Order on refugees.Listen to the report by Linda Bordoni: In a statement published Tuesday, January 31, on the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) website and signed by Bishops Mitchell Rozanski, William Lori and Oscar Cantù, the Bishops respond to the Order and join other faith leaders to stand in solidarity with those affected by it.Please find below the full USCCB statement:WASHINGTON—On January 27, 2017, President Donald J. Trump issued an executive order that, among other things: suspends issuance of visas and other immigration benefits to nationals of seven predominantly Muslim countries for 90 days; indefinitely suspends resettlement of refugees from Syria, which is also predominantly Muslim, subject to a possible exception for those who are "religious minorities&...
(Vatican Radio) Expressing solidarity with the Muslim community, U.S. Bishops have expressed deep concern over religious freedom issues raised by President Trump’s Executive Order on refugees.
Listen to the report by Linda Bordoni:
In a statement published Tuesday, January 31, on the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) website and signed by Bishops Mitchell Rozanski, William Lori and Oscar Cantù, the Bishops respond to the Order and join other faith leaders to stand in solidarity with those affected by it.
Please find below the full USCCB statement:
WASHINGTON—On January 27, 2017, President Donald J. Trump issued an executive order that, among other things: suspends issuance of visas and other immigration benefits to nationals of seven predominantly Muslim countries for 90 days; indefinitely suspends resettlement of refugees from Syria, which is also predominantly Muslim, subject to a possible exception for those who are "religious minorities" in their home countries and facing religious persecution; and suspends virtually the entire U.S. refugee resettlement program for 120 days, also subject to a possible exception for such "religious minorities."
Most Reverend Mitchell T. Rozanski, Bishop of Springfield and Chairman of the USCCB Committee on Ecumenical and Interreligious Affairs, Most Reverend William E. Lori, Archbishop of Baltimore and Chairman of the USCCB Ad Hoc Committee for Religious Liberty, and Most Reverend Oscar Cantú, Bishop of Las Cruces and Chairman of the USCCB Committee on International Justice and Peace, jointly issued the following statement in response to this action:
We recognize that Friday evening's Executive Order has generated fear and untold anxiety among refugees, immigrants, and others throughout the faith community in the United States. In response to the Order, we join with other faith leaders to stand in solidarity again with those affected by this order, especially our Muslim sisters and brothers. We also express our firm resolution that the Order's stated preference for "religious minorities" should be applied to protect not only Christians where they are a minority, but all religious minorities who suffer persecution, which includes Yazidis, Shia Muslims in majority Sunni areas, and vice versa. While we also recognize that the United States government has a duty to protect the security of its people, we must nevertheless employ means that respect both religious liberty for all, and the urgency of protecting the lives of those who desperately flee violence and persecution. It is our conviction as followers of the Lord Jesus that welcoming the stranger and protecting the vulnerable lie at the core of the Christian life. And so, to our Muslim brothers and sisters and all people of faith, we stand with you and welcome you.
(Vatican Radio) The exploitation and enslavement of children is the focus of a week of activities leading up to the February 8th world day of prayer for an end to human trafficking.Three years ago, Pope Francis asked women and men religious to organize a day, on the feast of the Sudanese saint Josephine Bakhita, to raise awareness of the plight of millions of victims of human trafficking.At a press conference on Wednesday sisters from the International Union of Superiors General (UISG) held a press conference to announce initiatives taking place in countries around the world, focused this year on the theme of children in slavery.Here in Rome, activities include a seminar at the Gregorian University, a film evening, a prayer vigil at the Rome parish of Ognissanti on the Via Appia and participation in the Pope’s general audience.To find out more about the focus for this year’s event, Philippa Hitchen spoke to the president of the UISG, Sr Carmen Sammut…..Listen:&n...
(Vatican Radio) The exploitation and enslavement of children is the focus of a week of activities leading up to the February 8th world day of prayer for an end to human trafficking.
Three years ago, Pope Francis asked women and men religious to organize a day, on the feast of the Sudanese saint Josephine Bakhita, to raise awareness of the plight of millions of victims of human trafficking.
At a press conference on Wednesday sisters from the International Union of Superiors General (UISG) held a press conference to announce initiatives taking place in countries around the world, focused this year on the theme of children in slavery.
Here in Rome, activities include a seminar at the Gregorian University, a film evening, a prayer vigil at the Rome parish of Ognissanti on the Via Appia and participation in the Pope’s general audience.
To find out more about the focus for this year’s event, Philippa Hitchen spoke to the president of the UISG, Sr Carmen Sammut…..
Listen:
Sr Carmen recalls that the sisters asked the pope for a world day against slavery on the Church’s calendar and he entrusted them with the duty to organize a commemoration of trafficking victims.
She notes that ‘Talitha Kum’, the international network of religious against human trafficking, is present in around 80 countries where members mark the day of prayer as an important annual event.
Speaking of this year’s focus on trafficked children, Sr Carmen says it’s “the most horrible of things to think that a child is not given the possibility to be a child” but is taken instead into slavery for forced labour, sexual abuse or organ harvesting. She describes it as “really heartbreaking” but adds that the phenomenon is growing, due in part to growing poverty.
She recounts her experience of Filipino Cardinal Luis Tagle telling her, tearfully, that he sees families and parents selling their children out of poverty. Also she notes that because of increasing numbers of migrants, there are also more unaccompanied children.
Talking about solutions, Sr Carmen says the media must create greater awareness that this is a problem happening in every single country, though very often we choose to ignore it. Secondly, she says, if demand for the products made from slave labour is removed, there’s a possibility of less demand for trafficked children.
Sr Carmen quotes Pope Francis’ words that “purchasing is not only an economic but also a moral action”, adding that we need to realise that we can make a difference by not buying certain products. The same with sexual exploitation, she says, if there’s “not so much demand for sexual services, especially from children”.
The Southern African Catholic Bishops' Conference (SACBC) who have been meeting at St John Vianney Seminary in Pretoria, on Monday released a Pastoral letter on marriage and family as their response and follow-up to the two Synods of Bishops on the Family that were held in the Vatican in 2014 and 2015. In the wake of the Synods, Pope Francis, in April 2016, released his Apostolic Exhortation, 'Amoris Laetitia' - On the Joy of Love in the family.The Pastoral letter signed by the Archbishop of Cape Town and President of the SACBC, Stephen Brislin, says the Bishops are preparing resources to equip and help priests, deacons and pastoral workers assist the faithful in heartbreaking and difficult situations that arise in many marriages.The Bishops call on the faithful to read and reflect on Pope Francis’ Apostolic Exhortation, Amoris Laetitia“We encourage everyone to reflect upon the exhortation of the Pope, whether in its full version or with the use of th...
The Southern African Catholic Bishops' Conference (SACBC) who have been meeting at St John Vianney Seminary in Pretoria, on Monday released a Pastoral letter on marriage and family as their response and follow-up to the two Synods of Bishops on the Family that were held in the Vatican in 2014 and 2015. In the wake of the Synods, Pope Francis, in April 2016, released his Apostolic Exhortation, 'Amoris Laetitia' - On the Joy of Love in the family.
The Pastoral letter signed by the Archbishop of Cape Town and President of the SACBC, Stephen Brislin, says the Bishops are preparing resources to equip and help priests, deacons and pastoral workers assist the faithful in heartbreaking and difficult situations that arise in many marriages.
The Bishops call on the faithful to read and reflect on Pope Francis’ Apostolic Exhortation, Amoris Laetitia
“We encourage everyone to reflect upon the exhortation of the Pope, whether in its full version or with the use of the booklet “The Joy of Love Made Simple.” The knowledge of what the Holy Father has said will help us find joy in family life,” said Archbishop Brislin.
(Email: engafrica@vatiradio.va)
Below is the full pastoral letter:
PASTORAL LETTER ON MARRIAGE AND FAMILY LIFE, A FOLLOW UP ON THE SYNOD ON FAMILY AND THE SUBSEQUENT PAPAL EXHORTATION “THE JOY OF LOVE”
The joy of love experienced by families is also the joy of the Church. (Pope Francis - The Joy of Love)
Dear Brothers and Sisters in Jesus Christ,
We thank Pope Francis for the message on the family addressed to all of us in his Apostolic Exhortation “The Joy of Love” (Amoris Laetitia).We look forward to exploring and deepening our appreciation of the joy of love at the heart of marriage and family life.
In introducing the presentation, Pope Francis himself wrote:
It is likely … that married couples will be more concerned with Chapters Four and Five, and pastoral ministers with Chapter Six, while everyone should feel challenged by Chapter Eight. It is my hope that, in reading this text, all will feel called to love and cherish family life, for “families are not a problem; they are first and foremost an opportunity”. (The Joy of Love 7)
The Pope also gives attention to the need to assist the young in preparing for marriage and it is his desire that young couples be accompanied in their first years of marriage by dedicated and wise married people.
Chapter 8 gives indications of how those whose marriages are in difficulties and those who are divorced and remarried can be assisted.
The spiritual life and ways in which families can pray and worship together is given attention in Chapter 9.
Our acknowledgement
This apostolic exhortation arises out of the two Synods of Bishops that were held in Rome in 2014 and 2015. We in Southern Africa also made our contribution to the deliberations of the Synods by the input which was timeously supplied by many who responded to the questionnaires in the preparatory stages leading up to the Synods and by the married couples and bishops who were chosen to represent us at the Synods and to present our input.
We thank all who made use of the opportunity to respond to the questionnaires by electronic means or through the parish structures.
Way Forward
With the guidance of this Synodal document we are asked to give attention to our situation, viz.
- More intense preparation for marriage
- Accompaniment of newly married couples by family life ministry teams
- Improved parenting skills
- Situations where couples live together without any intention of marrying
- Traditional marriages
- Polygamy
- The difficult situations in which number of the faithful live.
Where married people have divorced, and may have civilly remarried, and indeed in other special cases too, people “need to be more fully integrated into Christian communities in the variety of ways possible, while avoiding any occasion of scandal” (The Joy of Love 299). The Pope provides guidelines on how to go about discerning the work of the Holy Spirit in accompanying the divorced and remarried. (The Joy of Love 300ff.).
The Synod Fathers stated that, although the Church realizes that any breach of the marriage bond “is against the will of God”, she is also “conscious of the frailty of many of her children”.
(The Joy of Love 291)
As regards the youth, Pope Francis proposes a more intense personal and pastoral discernment which will help the young prepare themselves for the marital commitment. (The Joy of Love 298) Some need help with understanding and accepting the demands of a permanent commitment. Others put the stress on an extravagant wedding overlooking that marriage is for life whereas the wedding is for a day.
We encourage everyone to reflect upon the exhortation of the Pope, whether in its full version, or with the use of the booklet “The Joy of Love Made Simple.” The knowledge of what the Holy Father has said will help us find joy in family life.
We are also preparing resources to equip and help our priests, deacons and pastoral workers to assist the faithful in heart breaking and difficult situations that arise in many marriages.
All of us are called to keep striving towards something greater than ourselves and our families, and every family must feel this constant impulse. Let us make this journey as families, let us keep walking together. What we have been promised is greater than we can imagine. May we never lose heart because of our limitations, or ever stop seeking that fullness of love and communion which God holds out before us. (Conclusion of The Joy of Love 391)
+Stephen Brislin
Archbishop of Cape Town
President of the SACBC
31st January 2017
The 29th Plenary Assembly of Conference of Catholic Bishops of India (CCBI) commenced with solemn Eucharistic celebration in the Assumption Church, Asha Niketan Campus Bhopal, India on Tuesday.The Theme of this assembly is “Promoting the Joy of Love in Our Families”. The Bishops will chalk out detailed programmes and action plans to revitalize the family apostolate at the diocesan and parish levels.More than 130 Bishops of the 182 Latin rite bishops in the country are participating in the 8 day deliberations on the issues concerning Families in Asia with a special focus on India.Cardinal Oswald Gracias, the main celebrant in his opening address, called for revitalizing the families in view of the call given by Pope Francis. A grand inaugural function was held in St. Joseph Co-ed School auditorium. On this occasion all the newly appointed Bishops were honoured with floral greetings.The second day of the assembly began with serious reflections on parental resp...
The 29th Plenary Assembly of Conference of Catholic Bishops of India (CCBI) commenced with solemn Eucharistic celebration in the Assumption Church, Asha Niketan Campus Bhopal, India on Tuesday.
The Theme of this assembly is “Promoting the Joy of Love in Our Families”. The Bishops will chalk out detailed programmes and action plans to revitalize the family apostolate at the diocesan and parish levels.
More than 130 Bishops of the 182 Latin rite bishops in the country are participating in the 8 day deliberations on the issues concerning Families in Asia with a special focus on India.
Cardinal Oswald Gracias, the main celebrant in his opening address, called for revitalizing the families in view of the call given by Pope Francis.
A grand inaugural function was held in St. Joseph Co-ed School auditorium. On this occasion all the newly appointed Bishops were honoured with floral greetings.
The second day of the assembly began with serious reflections on parental responsibilities by His Eminence Lorenzo Cardinal Baldisseri from Vatican, the Secretary General, Synod of Bishops.
Recollecting the past memories of India as its Apostolic Nuncio from 1999 to 2002, His Eminence called India, a blessed land.
In his message during the Eucharistic celebration Card. Baldisseri said, “A father does not “educate” his children by always saying ‘yes’; indeed it is sometimes necessary to say ‘no’ to help the child grow and improve.”
“Being a father is a difficult and demanding job.” With reference to Pope Francis, the Cardinal reminded the fathers of the families not to neglect their children’s upbringing. They must exert themselves in ‘making time’ for their children.
Reflecting on the Bible readings of the day the cardinal pointed out to the meaning of human sufferings permitted by God. “Promoting the Joy of Love in our Families” was the central point of the keynote address of the Cardinal.
He strongly exhorted Bishops, priests and pastoral workers to create a renewed enthusiasm in family ministry. Citing Pope Francis he said: “Today there is a world war to destroy marriage. Today there are ideological colonisations which destroy, not with weapons, but with ideas.”
Amoris Laetitia, the Apostolic Exhortation on families, is a gift of Pope Francis to families during the Jubilee of Mercy. Its contents, therefore, provide a basis for all pastoral activity on behalf of families and for Promoting the Joy of Love in Families.
A cultural programme was held in the evening at the St. Joseph Co-ed School Auditorium to welcome the CCBI participants and also to accord a special welcome and honour to the ‘Guests’ from the Vatican and the Nunciature. A dance drama based on the life of St. Mother Theresa was presented on the occasion. (CCBI)
