Catholic News 2

Rome, Italy, Jan 26, 2017 / 05:19 pm (CNA/EWTN News).- The secretary general of the Italian bishops conference on Thursday said that torture can never be a response to terrorism, shortly after United States president Donald Trump condoned the idea.

“I realize that any response in this case seems banal; that is, torture annuls the negative, very negative impact of terrorism,” Bishop Nunzio Galantino, Bishop Emeritus of Cassano all'Jonio, told reporters Jan. 26.

“I don’t think terrorism is overcome with another form of terrorism, because in the end torture becomes this.”

Bishop Galantino was speaking to journalists in Rome at the conclusion of the Italian bishops' permanent council meeting.

“Above all … I don’t know with what criteria one can decide with certainty that this person is a terrorist,” he commented. “It doesn’t seem like problems can be solved with torture.”

The bishop was responding to a question about comments Trump has made regarding the use of torture.

At a Republican primary debate in February 2016, Trump has said he would “bring back a hell of a lot worse than waterboarding.”

And in a Jan. 25 interview with ABC, the president said he was open to the use of torture, and that “absolutely I feel it works.” However, he added that his Defense Secretary, James Mattis, “is not a believer in torture,” and that he will rely on the advice of his cabinet.

“When they're chopping off the heads of our people and other people … when ISIS is doing things that nobody has ever heard of since Medieval times, would I feel strongly about waterboarding? As far as I'm concerned we have to fight fire with fire. Now, with that being said, I'm going with General Mattis.”

“I will say this: I will rely on Pompeo and Mattis and my group. And if they don't wanna do, that's fine. If they do wanna do, then I will work for that end,” Trump stated.

“I wanna do everything within the bounds of what you're allowed to do legally. But do I feel it works? Absolutely I feel it works. Have I spoken to people at the top levels and people that have seen it work? I haven't seen it work. But I think it works. Have I spoken to people that feel strongly about it? Absolutely,” the president said.

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Washington D.C., Jan 26, 2017 / 10:13 am (CNA/EWTN News).- Weeks of speculation were confirmed on Thursday, when the White House verified that Vice President Mike Pence will speak at the national March for Life on Jan. 27.

According to the New York Times, a senior White House official confirmed the news the day before the march, which is generally held close to the Jan. 22 anniversary of the Roe v. Wade Supreme Court decision that mandated legal abortion nationwide.

The presence of a sitting vice president is a major boost for the annual pro-life march, which regularly sees hundreds of thousands of attendees from across the country, but generally receives minimal coverage in major media outlets.

Other speakers at this year’s rally and march include Kellyanne Conway, senior counselor to President Donald Trump; Cardinal Timothy Dolan of New York; Baltimore Ravens tight end Benjamin Watson; and former Planned Parenthood director Abby Johnson.

Pence, who formerly served as governor of Indiana, has long been known for his pro-life stance. During the Vice Presidential debate, he stressed that his Christian faith hinges upon upholding the “sanctity of life.”

“It all for me begins with cherishing the dignity, the worth, the value of every human life,” Pence said on the debate stage. “For me the sanctity of life proceeds out of the belief that ancient principle that where God says before you were formed in the womb I knew you.”

He harshly criticized Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton and vice presidential candidate Tim Kaine for their support of abortion.

“The very idea that a child that is almost born into the world could still have their life taken from them is just anathema to me. And I can’t conscience about a party that supports that,” he said.

The first week of the new presidential administration has included two major victories for the pro-life movement. On Monday, President Donald Trump signed an executive order restoring the Mexico City Policy, which states that foreign non-governmental organizations may not receive federal funding if they perform or promote abortions as a method of family planning.

In addition, the House of Representatives passed a bill to permanently enshrine in law an annual appropriations provision that bars federal funding of abortion.

Next week, Trump is expected to announce his pick for Supreme Court Justice. He has promised to pick a pro-life replacement for Justice Antonin Scalia, who died last year.

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Vatican City, Jan 26, 2017 / 10:21 am (CNA/EWTN News).- Pope Francis sent a letter to Chile voicing his nearness to everyone suffering from the devastating effects of more than 100 wildfires, which have ravaged areas of the country for over a week now.

The letter, sent on behalf of the Holy Father by Secretary of State Cardinal Pietro Parolin, to the president of the Chile bishops' conference, conveys Francis' condolences for the deceased and their families in “this beloved country.”

Pope Francis “offers condolences for the eternal rest of the deceased,” the Jan. 23 letter states, asking Bishop Santiago Silva Retamales “to transmit to the families of the victims his heartfelt condolence and express his spiritual closeness to the wounded and to those who suffer the consequences of this catastrophe.”

The government of Chile has declared a state of emergency as they fight blazes which have destroyed homes, farmland, and livestock in the central and southern regions of Chile. Six people have died in the fires: two policemen and four firefighters, the Washington Post reports.

No civilians have been killed, but many have had to evacuate as their farms and vineyards, in many cases their only means of livelihood, are destroyed. High temperatures and a prolonged drought has contributed to the fires, which have so far ruined around 300,000 acres of forest land.

Pope Francis “raises prayers for the Lord to grant strength and comfort to those affected by the outbreaks and inspire in all sentiments of solidarity,” the letter continued, “so that in these difficult times they collaborate effectively, with generosity and charity, to alleviate pain and to overcome adversity, while imparting to them the comforting apostolic blessing.”

President Michelle Bachelet said “Chile is living the greatest forest disaster in our history,” adding later that the country has “practically exhausted its capacity to fight the blazes,” the BBC reported.

The U.S. is sending experts and funds to help replace equipment at Chile’s national forestry agency. Bachelet has also asked Brazil, Canada, Mexico, Peru, Spain and France for assistance in providing planes and helicopters to tackle the fires.

The town of Pumanque in the south-central region of O'Higgins is one of the worst hit, residents having lost most of their possessions and livelihoods.

Fr. Cristián Salazar, a priest of Pumanque, has organized the delivery of boxes of merchandise in the parish for the most urgent situations, according to a press release of the Chile bishops’ conference.

Archbishop Alejandro Goic Karmelic of the Diocese of Rancagua has asked for gestures of solidarity with those in the affected regions through the donation of things like construction materials, housewares, food, and aid for firefighters, such as water, cereal bars and sunscreen.

All parishes in the diocese will also hold a second collection at Mass to aid those affected.

“The Bishop of Rancagua asks us to pray for families who have suffered material losses and for those who are fighting the fire, to implore the mercy of God in the difficult situation they are living. He appeals to the generosity of each to those who need it so much,” the press release states.

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Paris, France, Jan 26, 2017 / 11:53 am (CNA/EWTN News).- Fr. Jacques Hamel – the French priest who was brutally killed by ISIS terrorists last year – has been honored by the Ermont district north of Paris with a town square named after him.

The dedication took place Jan. 22, with all the area religious communities and the family of the priest in attendance.

Ermont mayor Hugues Portelli told Le Parisien that the square was previously unnamed, and is located in front of the John Paul II parish center, which is used to host Catholic and ecumenical gatherings.
 
Portelli said that the decision to name this square in honor of Fr. Hamel was put to a vote two months a go and the result was “unanimous” – all in favor.

Fr. Hamel was killed July 26, 2016 while celebrating Mass after two armed gunmen stormed a church in Saint-Etienne-du-Rouvray in Normandy. The assailants entered the church and took the priest and four others hostage. Local law enforcement reported that the priest’s throat was slit in the attack, and that both of the hostage takers were shot dead by police.

Pope Francis issued a statement at the time decrying the “absurd violence.” He later said during a Mass in September at the Vatican in honor of Fr. Hamel that the slain priest “is blessed now,” according to Archbishop Dominique Lebrun of Rouen who was there.

The Pope referred to the priest as “an example of courage” because “he emptied himself to serve others, to build brotherhood among men.” During those days the possibility of opening the cause for beatification of Fr. Hamel was announced.

At the dedication ceremony this past Sunday, the mayor or Ermont also paid homage to Fr. Jacques Hamel describing him as “a martyr of the faith.”

Portelli also called the priest “an example of dialogue between the religions and communities in his parish on the outskirts of Rouen and he has joined all those innocent victims of fanaticism in our country and the world.”

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Katiola, Ivory Coast, Jan 26, 2017 / 02:05 pm (CNA/EWTN News).- After two weeks of mutinies over pay by Ivory Coast's army and paramilitary, the nation's bishops are calling for open dialogue on unemployment, working conditions, and the cost of living.

“Feelings of frustration and revolt still harbor in the hearts of so many Ivorians,” the Ivory Coast bishops' conference said in a Jan. 23 statement at the conclusion of their plenary assembly in Katiola.
“Several fighters and military involved in the successive crises that have shaken our country are not serene, and fear for their future.”

Unrest in Ivory Coast began Jan. 6, when mutinying soldiers took control of the city of Bouake, demanding $8,000 and a house each. A similar pay rebellion had begun in Bouake in 2014.

The mutiny spread to cities across the country, and the following day President Alassane Ouattara announced he had “agreed to take into account the demands of the soldiers over bonuses and better working conditions.”

There was a brief outbreak of violence in Bouake again on Jan. 13 as talks to iron out details of the detail were ongoing. An agreement was reached later in the day, with the soldiers being promised nearly $20,000 each.

Following the agreement for the soldiers, paramilitary forces fired shots in several cities Jan 17. demanding a similar payment. Civil servants have also gone on strike.

The Ivorian bishops lamented that “many young people, who had hoped for a better life by engaging on the side of politicians, are increasingly disillusioned and embittered. If we are not careful, this deleterious climate is likely to seriously undermine all the achievements made, the fruit of our efforts.” They acknowledged that many youths “legitimately hoped for a better life for yourselves and your offspring, and yet you see no dawn on the horizon.”

They called on the government to make a greater “effort for the redistribution of growth, for a fair trial and to facilitate the return of exiles, with guaranteed security for all,” saying there are nationals who are unjustly imprisoned and exiled.

The bishops appealed to all Ivorians “to gather around a single table and discuss issues related to security, the cost of living, youth unemployment, working conditions, and the wage situation.”

Finally, Ivory Coast's bishops announced days of fasting and prayer for peace beginning Jan. 25. Priests had already coordinated joint prayer with imams in Bouake Jan. 20 to appeal for peace.

Ouattara was installed as Ivorian president in 2011 as the conclusion to a civil war that followed a disputed election. Many supporters of the previous president have been imprisoned or exiled.

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