Catholic News 2
WASHINGTON (AP) -- Former President Barack Obama praised protesters who amassed across the country in opposition to President Donald Trump's immigration orders, breaking his silence on political issues for the first time since leaving office....
WASHINGTON (AP) -- The Latest on President Donald Trump (all times local):...
WASHINGTON (AP) -- Holding firm to his immigration order, President Donald Trump on Monday denied it was to blame for chaos at the nation's airports over the weekend, instead pointing to computer glitches, protesters and even the "tears of Senator Schumer."...
The Catholic bishops of the Philippines who on Saturday kicked off their 114th plenary assembly in Manila, were told that “rapid changes” in society required of them a deeper understanding of and adequate response to fundamental human needs. Archbishop Socrates Villegas of Lingayen-Dagupan, the president of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) made the call addressing the nation’s more than 90 bishops on “The Church at the Crossroads.” Among the agenda of the 3-day assembly at the Pius XII Center are the current “socio-political climate”, the ethical use of social media, and the proposed change to the Constitution to give way to a federal system of government. Arch. Villegas said, “We can be victims of change, but we can be its authors as well as its guardians,” It is understandable, he said, that Churches are among the shell institutions or those that ...
The Catholic bishops of the Philippines who on Saturday kicked off their 114th plenary assembly in Manila, were told that “rapid changes” in society required of them a deeper understanding of and adequate response to fundamental human needs. Archbishop Socrates Villegas of Lingayen-Dagupan, the president of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) made the call addressing the nation’s more than 90 bishops on “The Church at the Crossroads.”
Among the agenda of the 3-day assembly at the Pius XII Center are the current “socio-political climate”, the ethical use of social media, and the proposed change to the Constitution to give way to a federal system of government.
Arch. Villegas said, “We can be victims of change, but we can be its authors as well as its guardians,” It is understandable, he said, that Churches are among the shell institutions or those that have become inadequate to the tasks they are called to perform - lovely to see with nothing inside. The outer shell remains, but the inside has radically changed, he said, adding that this is happening even in families, relationships, decision making and almost everywhere. The archbishop admitted there is fear within the Church that they might be “compromising the Gospel and moving with the world rather moving the world with the power of God.” He said, “A defensive Church will not inspire and ignite souls. I have many questions but I lack answers.” “With you I search for answers and ask the Spirit to inspire and set our hearts afire,” he added.
In a message to the plenary assembly, Pope Francis has assured the Filipino bishops of his prayers that their “deliberations may be guided by the Holy Spirit, and bring light of faith to bear on the pressing issues facing the Filipino people.” (Source: CBCPNews)
(Vatican Radio) Pope Francis on Monday met with the bishops of Serbia, Kosovo, Montenegro, and the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, who are in Rome for their “ad limina apostolorum” visit.The President of the International Bishops’ Conference of Saints Cyril and Methodius, to which the bishops belong, spoke to Vatican Radio ahead of the ad limina visit.Ecumenical and interreligious dialogueBishop Ladislav Nemét, SVD, of Zrenjanin, Serbia said ecumenical and interreligious dialogue is an important aspect of the Bishops’ Conference.“As for Serbia, collaboration and ecumenical relations between the Holy See and the autocephalous Serbian Orthodox Church is very good… In Kosovo, interreligious dialogue is more meaningful, because Catholics live among Muslims. In Montenegro and Macedonia it is difficult for the Catholic Church to maintain relations with the official Orthodox Church and even with two Orthodox churches, which are gro...
(Vatican Radio) Pope Francis on Monday met with the bishops of Serbia, Kosovo, Montenegro, and the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, who are in Rome for their “ad limina apostolorum” visit.
The President of the International Bishops’ Conference of Saints Cyril and Methodius, to which the bishops belong, spoke to Vatican Radio ahead of the ad limina visit.
Ecumenical and interreligious dialogue
Bishop Ladislav Nemét, SVD, of Zrenjanin, Serbia said ecumenical and interreligious dialogue is an important aspect of the Bishops’ Conference.
“As for Serbia, collaboration and ecumenical relations between the Holy See and the autocephalous Serbian Orthodox Church is very good… In Kosovo, interreligious dialogue is more meaningful, because Catholics live among Muslims. In Montenegro and Macedonia it is difficult for the Catholic Church to maintain relations with the official Orthodox Church and even with two Orthodox churches, which are growing with large state aid.”
Four different countries
Bishop Nemét said the Conference has made a recent proposal to the Holy See to divide the international group into national conferences.
He said the reason for the request is “because of the enormous differences between these countries”.
“We have four countries with differing legislation: only in Serbia do we have the right to teach religion in elementary and secondary schools. As for Montenegro, the government has signed a Fundamental Agreement with the Holy See. However, there are no similar accords with the other countries.”
Top priorities
Bishop Nemét said that, despite the request to divide the International Conference, a top priority is to “maintain a spirit of collaboration between the four countries”.
The second priority, he said, is to “reinforce our presence in these four diverse societies: reconciliation is still far off between Croatians and Serbians, between Albanians and Serbians…”
He concluded that these are areas of “great problems and challenges, and we can truly make a positive contribution, also according to the intentions of the Holy Father, who does much for peace in the world.”
A Pakistani court acquitted 112 suspects in the 2013 torching of hundreds of Christian homes in the eastern city of Lahore over a rumour that one of the residents there had blasphemed, a lawyer said on Sunday. In March 2013, more than 125 homes in Lahore's Josep Colony were burned by a mob of more than 3,000 Muslims responding to rumours that a local Christian man, Sawan Masih, had made derogatory remarks about the Prophet Mohammad. No one was killed in the incident but there was widespread damage to the property of the mostly destitute Christians living in the neighbourhood. Two churches and dozens of Bibles were also desecrated in the attack.Defence lawyer Ghulam Murtaza Chaudhry said an anti-terrorism court in Lahore had acquitted 112 people accused of torching and ransacking hundreds of houses, “because of lack of evidences against them." All 112 suspects were already out on bail. Sawan Masih, a Christian road sweeper in ...
A Pakistani court acquitted 112 suspects in the 2013 torching of hundreds of Christian homes in the eastern city of Lahore over a rumour that one of the residents there had blasphemed, a lawyer said on Sunday. In March 2013, more than 125 homes in Lahore's Josep Colony were burned by a mob of more than 3,000 Muslims responding to rumours that a local Christian man, Sawan Masih, had made derogatory remarks about the Prophet Mohammad. No one was killed in the incident but there was widespread damage to the property of the mostly destitute Christians living in the neighbourhood. Two churches and dozens of Bibles were also desecrated in the attack.
Defence lawyer Ghulam Murtaza Chaudhry said an anti-terrorism court in Lahore had acquitted 112 people accused of torching and ransacking hundreds of houses, “because of lack of evidences against them." All 112 suspects were already out on bail.
Sawan Masih, a Christian road sweeper in his late twenties, told police after his arrest on blasphemy charges that the real reason for the blasphemy allegation was a property dispute between him and a friend who spread the rumour. In Pakistan, conviction under the blasphemy laws can carry a mandatory death sentence. Masih was sentenced to death in 2014, a decision he has appealed. Critics of Pakistan's blasphemy laws say they have long been used by individuals and religious groups to settle disputes.
This month, the Pakistani Senate's human rights panel said it would debate how to prevent the country's blasphemy laws being applied unfairly, the first time in decades that any parliamentary body had considered a formal proposal to stop the abuse of the blasphemy laws. Many conservatives in Pakistan consider even criticising the laws as blasphemy.
A Christian woman, Asia Bibi, is in jail for 7 years on charges of blasphemy. She was sentenced to death in 2010 for insulting the Prophet Muhammad, which she has denied. Pakistan's Supreme Court adjourned her death row appeal on October 13 last year, after one of the 3 judges recused himself from the case. Christian minorities minister Shahbaz Bhatti and Muslim politician Salmaan Taseer, the governor of Punjab Province, were both assassinated in 2011 for advocating on her behalf and opposing the blasphemy laws. (Source: Reuters)
(Vatican Radio) On Monday morning, following the usual Mass at the Pope’s residence in the Casa Santa Marta, the Holy Father met with Cardinal Gérald Cyprien LaCroix, assuring the Archbishop of Quebec City of his prayers for the victims of the attack on a mosque there on Sunday night.Pope Francis stressed the importance of for all, Christians and Muslims, to be united in prayer. Following his meeting with the Pope, Cardinal Lacroix returned immediately to Canada.The Holy Father also formally expressed his condolences for the victims of the terrorist attack in a telegram addressed to Cardinal Lacroix, and signed by the Vatican Secretary of State, Cardinal Pietro Parolin. The full text of the telegram, written in French, is provided below in an English translation:Telegram concerning the attack on a mosque in Quebec City: Most Eminent Cardinal Gérald Cyprien LaCroixHaving learned of the attack which occurred in Quebec in a prayer room of the Islamic Cultural Cent...
(Vatican Radio) On Monday morning, following the usual Mass at the Pope’s residence in the Casa Santa Marta, the Holy Father met with Cardinal Gérald Cyprien LaCroix, assuring the Archbishop of Quebec City of his prayers for the victims of the attack on a mosque there on Sunday night.
Pope Francis stressed the importance of for all, Christians and Muslims, to be united in prayer. Following his meeting with the Pope, Cardinal Lacroix returned immediately to Canada.
The Holy Father also formally expressed his condolences for the victims of the terrorist attack in a telegram addressed to Cardinal Lacroix, and signed by the Vatican Secretary of State, Cardinal Pietro Parolin. The full text of the telegram, written in French, is provided below in an English translation:
Telegram concerning the attack on a mosque in Quebec City:
Most Eminent Cardinal Gérald Cyprien LaCroix
Having learned of the attack which occurred in Quebec in a prayer room of the Islamic Cultural Centre, which claimed many victims, His Holiness Pope Francis entrusts to the mercy of God the persons who lost their lives and he associates himself through prayer with the pain of their relatives. He expresses his profound sympathy for the wounded and their families, and to all who contributed to their aid, asking the Lord to bring them comfort and consolation in the ordeal. The Holy Father again strongly condemns the violence that engenders such suffering; and, imploring God for the gift of mutual respect and peace, he invokes upon the sorely tried families, and upon all persons touched by this tragedy, as well as upon all Quebecers, the benefits of the divine Blessing.
Cardinal Pietro Parolin
Secretary of State of His Holiness
Catholic educators in Indonesia have welcomed a government plan to involve schools and teachers in the fight against intolerance by having them teach the values of state philosophy. Education Minister Muhadjir Effendy said recently that the ministry would teach the tenets of Pancasila ("five principles") in all elementary and junior high schools through special activities rather than conventional teaching methods. He suggested that schools spend eight hours a week on these subjects, in the classroom and during extra-curricular activities.Franciscan Father Vinsensius Darmin Mbula, chairman of the National Council of Catholic Education, said that the government's plan is in line with principles emphasized by Catholic schools. "Catholic schools have long committed to instill these values in students," he told ucanews.com. However, with growing intolerance in the country, all efforts must be geared to re-actualize traditional values and ...
Catholic educators in Indonesia have welcomed a government plan to involve schools and teachers in the fight against intolerance by having them teach the values of state philosophy. Education Minister Muhadjir Effendy said recently that the ministry would teach the tenets of Pancasila ("five principles") in all elementary and junior high schools through special activities rather than conventional teaching methods. He suggested that schools spend eight hours a week on these subjects, in the classroom and during extra-curricular activities.
Franciscan Father Vinsensius Darmin Mbula, chairman of the National Council of Catholic Education, said that the government's plan is in line with principles emphasized by Catholic schools. "Catholic schools have long committed to instill these values in students," he told ucanews.com. However, with growing intolerance in the country, all efforts must be geared to re-actualize traditional values and support Indonesian educators and institutions if needed, the priest said.
Pancasila, the official philosophical foundation of the Indonesian state stipulates belief in one God, a just and civilized society, a united Indonesia, democracy guided by consensus, and social justice for all citizens. Making these principles properly understood and liveable in daily life can serve as a solution to curb the intolerance and radicalism that threatens national unity.
Earlier, President Joko Widodo called on teachers and schools to focus on character-building activities and teaching students the values of democracy, following a series of mass rallies held by hard-line group the Islamic Defenders Front in 2016 in Jakarta to demand the city's Christian governor, Basuki Tjahaja Purnama be put to death for blasphemy. (Source: UCAN)
(Vatican Radio) The Vatican’s Council for Interreligious Dialogue has strongly condemned the shooting at a mosque in Canada in which six people were killed and another dozen wounded.More than fifty people were gathered for evening prayers at the Islamic Cultural Centre in Quebec City on Sunday night when the attack took place. Police have arrested two suspects in connection with the shooting, which Canadian authorities have described as a terror attack.Listen to our report: In a statement on Monday, the Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue expressed great sadness and indignation at what it called “this senseless gesture”. Such “inconceivable violence”, the statement says, violates both “the sacredness of human life” as well as the respect due to a community at prayer and its place of worship.The Vatican statement also expresses solidarity with all Canadian Muslims, assuring them of fervent prayers for the victims and their ...
(Vatican Radio) The Vatican’s Council for Interreligious Dialogue has strongly condemned the shooting at a mosque in Canada in which six people were killed and another dozen wounded.
More than fifty people were gathered for evening prayers at the Islamic Cultural Centre in Quebec City on Sunday night when the attack took place. Police have arrested two suspects in connection with the shooting, which Canadian authorities have described as a terror attack.
Listen to our report:
In a statement on Monday, the Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue expressed great sadness and indignation at what it called “this senseless gesture”. Such “inconceivable violence”, the statement says, violates both “the sacredness of human life” as well as the respect due to a community at prayer and its place of worship.
The Vatican statement also expresses solidarity with all Canadian Muslims, assuring them of fervent prayers for the victims and their families.
Pope Francis also sent a message of condolences to all those affected by the attack, asking God to bring comfort and consolation to the wounded and bereaved. His words came in a telegramme addressed to Canadian Cardinal Gerald Lacroix, in which the Pope also condemns such violence and suffering.
Pope Francis was able to offer words of sympathy in person to the cardinal, who was in Rome and attended Mass on Monday at the Casa Santa Marta, before cutting short his visit and returning to Quebec City.
Cardinal Pietro Parolin, the Secretary of State of the Holy See, is currently visiting Madagascar from 26 January to 1 February. The Cardinal is in that country to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the Holy See and Madagascar.On the first day of his visit, the Secretary of State met with President Hery Rajaonarimampianina at the Presidential Palace. The Head of State was flanked by the Prime Minister and the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs. Cardinal Parolin was accompanied by the Apostolic Nuncio and some of the country’s Bishops. Also present was Cardinal Maurice Piat, the Bishop of Port-Louis in Mauritius.Leaders of other Christian denominations joined the reception that followed the meeting.President Rajaonarimampianina expressed appreciation for the visit, recalling the good relations between the Holy See and Madagascar, over the last 50 years. He spoke in glowing terms of his visit to Pope Francis in June 2014.The P...
Cardinal Pietro Parolin, the Secretary of State of the Holy See, is currently visiting Madagascar from 26 January to 1 February. The Cardinal is in that country to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the Holy See and Madagascar.
On the first day of his visit, the Secretary of State met with President Hery Rajaonarimampianina at the Presidential Palace. The Head of State was flanked by the Prime Minister and the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs. Cardinal Parolin was accompanied by the Apostolic Nuncio and some of the country’s Bishops. Also present was Cardinal Maurice Piat, the Bishop of Port-Louis in Mauritius.
Leaders of other Christian denominations joined the reception that followed the meeting.
President Rajaonarimampianina expressed appreciation for the visit, recalling the good relations between the Holy See and Madagascar, over the last 50 years. He spoke in glowing terms of his visit to Pope Francis in June 2014.
The President recognised the important role that the Catholic Church plays with its institutions contributing to the social development of all citizens in Madagascar, particularly in the education and health sector. Rajaonarimampianina hoped that the celebration of the fiftieth anniversary of diplomatic relations would serve to strengthen ties between the Holy See and Madagascar.
For his part, Cardinal Parolin conveyed the affectionate greetings of Pope Francis to the people of Madagascar. The Cardinal Secretary of State expressed his sincere gratitude for the extraordinarily warm welcome that was reserved for him in Madagascar. Building on the reason for his visit, he expressed the readiness of the Holy See to continue the fruitful collaboration with Madagascar.
The Holy See prelate encouraged the local Church in Madagascar to continue contributing to the spiritual and social well-being of all citizens. He hoped that his visit would help support an agreement towards the full legal recognition of institutions of the Church.
Later, the Cardinal Secretary of State was decorated with the Grand Officer of the National Order of Madagascar award.
From Madagascar, Cardinal Parolin is scheduled to travel to Brazzaville in the Republic of Congo with a brief stop-over in Nairobi, Kenya.
(Email: engafrica@vatiradio.va)
