(Vatican Radio) The Director of the Vatican Museums, Barbara Jatta, on Wednesday visited ongoing art restoration efforts in an earthquake-hit area of central Italy.A communique said the laboratories of the Vatican Museums would restore several works of art salvaged from churches in the Archdiocese of Spoleto-Norcia for free.Eight works of art were chosen for restoration, which will be featured at an exhibit in Spoleto “after being returned to their original splendor”. The communique says the exhibition “is an important sign of hope: alongside the people who are gradually returning to a more-or-less normal life, these treasures of the faith ‘are being reborn’”.Archbishop Renato Boccardo of the Diocese of Spoleto-Norcia thanked Pope Francis and the President of the Governorate of the Vatican City State, Cardinal Giuseppe Bertello, for allowing the Museums to perform “this great work”.He said the eight works of art will be returne...
(Vatican Radio) The Director of the Vatican Museums, Barbara Jatta, on Wednesday visited ongoing art restoration efforts in an earthquake-hit area of central Italy.
A communique said the laboratories of the Vatican Museums would restore several works of art salvaged from churches in the Archdiocese of Spoleto-Norcia for free.
Eight works of art were chosen for restoration, which will be featured at an exhibit in Spoleto “after being returned to their original splendor”. The communique says the exhibition “is an important sign of hope: alongside the people who are gradually returning to a more-or-less normal life, these treasures of the faith ‘are being reborn’”.
Archbishop Renato Boccardo of the Diocese of Spoleto-Norcia thanked Pope Francis and the President of the Governorate of the Vatican City State, Cardinal Giuseppe Bertello, for allowing the Museums to perform “this great work”.
He said the eight works of art will be returned to their original churches as soon as the latter are rebuilt and made safe again.
(Vatican Radio) A new report released this week says the forced internal displacement of Palestinians in the West Bank and East Jerusalem is making them poorer and keeping them in misery and despair.The document entitled “No Place Like Home” was issued by the International Cooperation for Development and Solidarity (CIDSE), an alliance of Catholic development agencies which says the current status quo is unsustainable.Janet Symes, Head of Region for the Middle East and Asia with Catholic Agency for Overseas Development, CAFOD spoke to Lydia O’Kane.Listen: Ms Symes points out that , “in 2016 there were 1,593 people displaced which is double the figure from 2015 and that 290 homes were demolished… so those are the statistics, but the reality of that is that people are losing their homes…”Legal aidAsked about what help is available both on a humanitarian and legal level, she says “as CAFOD we support one of our partner agencies,...
(Vatican Radio) A new report released this week says the forced internal displacement of Palestinians in the West Bank and East Jerusalem is making them poorer and keeping them in misery and despair.
The document entitled “No Place Like Home” was issued by the International Cooperation for Development and Solidarity (CIDSE), an alliance of Catholic development agencies which says the current status quo is unsustainable.
Janet Symes, Head of Region for the Middle East and Asia with Catholic Agency for Overseas Development, CAFOD spoke to Lydia O’Kane.
Listen:
Ms Symes points out that , “in 2016 there were 1,593 people displaced which is double the figure from 2015 and that 290 homes were demolished… so those are the statistics, but the reality of that is that people are losing their homes…”
Legal aid
Asked about what help is available both on a humanitarian and legal level, she says “as CAFOD we support one of our partner agencies, the Jerusalem Legal Aid Centre and they provide legal assistance to Palestinians who have received demolition orders.” She goes on to say that this aid is absolutely crucial for people who have no money to pay for legal fees and who don’t know where to start in order to get the help they need.
International response
So, what can the international community do in order to contribute to peace efforts in the region? Ms Symes says a huge amount can be done if there is “the political will for a peace process”. She goes to stress that, “it’s really important that efforts are made to reignite that peace process; it’s also very very important to ensure that all sides recognize and have a respect for human rights, are complying with international law and that democratic values are being promoted.”
(Vatican Radio) Mexico`s President has again condemned a Border Wall reiterating his country will never pay for it. James Blears in Mexico says a major confrontation between the Presidents next Tuesday is on the cards, if neither moderate their rhetoric.Listen: Mexican President Enrique Pena Nieto is due to go to Washington next Tuesday for a meeting with US President Donald Trump. But following Trump`s latest announcement, that a Border Wall will indeed be constructed as soon as possible, and Mexico will certainly end up paying it, even via a complicated method, shows that political ground has been cut from beneath the Mexican Government. Accordingly, Pena Nieto has yet again condemned the expected yet unwelcome move, reiterating his refusal to cough up a red cent or even a centavo. Yet there`s a very real possibility that the North American Free Trade Agreement might be scrapped in a...
(Vatican Radio) Mexico`s President has again condemned a Border Wall reiterating his country will never pay for it. James Blears in Mexico says a major confrontation between the Presidents next Tuesday is on the cards, if neither moderate their rhetoric.
Listen:
Mexican President Enrique Pena Nieto is due to go to Washington next Tuesday for a meeting with US President Donald Trump. But following Trump`s latest announcement, that a Border Wall will indeed be constructed as soon as possible, and Mexico will certainly end up paying it, even via a complicated method, shows that political ground has been cut from beneath the Mexican Government. Accordingly, Pena Nieto has yet again condemned the expected yet unwelcome move, reiterating his refusal to cough up a red cent or even a centavo.
Yet there`s a very real possibility that the North American Free Trade Agreement might be scrapped in a stroke of a pen, via an Executive Presidential Order, unless Pena Nieto complies by towing the line.
Senior opposition leaders in Mexico are urging the President to cancel his Official visit.
Chicago, Ill., Jan 26, 2017 / 12:04 am (CNA/EWTN News).- A longtime leader of a controversial advocacy group for clergy sex abuse victims resigned weeks before a former employee filed a lawsuit charging the group was receiving kickbacks from attorneys who filed sex abuse cases, the group has said.David Clohessy resigned as executive director of the Chicago-based Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests effective Dec. 31, SNAP told CNA on Wednesday.As of Jan. 17, Clohessy was still listed as executive director on the group's website.The organization voiced gratitude for Clohessy’s dedication; he had worked for the organization since 1991.Clohessy told the St. Louis Dispatch that the lawsuit had nothing to do with his departure.“I am just ready for something different,” he said. “It was almost 30 years. I’ve read a lot about nonprofits and organizational development. It’s clear that some new blood always helps.”He said the lawsuit&rsqu...
Chicago, Ill., Jan 26, 2017 / 12:04 am (CNA/EWTN News).- A longtime leader of a controversial advocacy group for clergy sex abuse victims resigned weeks before a former employee filed a lawsuit charging the group was receiving kickbacks from attorneys who filed sex abuse cases, the group has said.
David Clohessy resigned as executive director of the Chicago-based Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests effective Dec. 31, SNAP told CNA on Wednesday.
As of Jan. 17, Clohessy was still listed as executive director on the group's website.
The organization voiced gratitude for Clohessy’s dedication; he had worked for the organization since 1991.
Clohessy told the St. Louis Dispatch that the lawsuit had nothing to do with his departure.
“I am just ready for something different,” he said. “It was almost 30 years. I’ve read a lot about nonprofits and organizational development. It’s clear that some new blood always helps.”
He said the lawsuit’s claim that SNAP was getting kickbacks from attorneys was “utterly preposterous.”
The news of his resignation followed the Jan. 17 filing of a lawsuit from former SNAP development director Gretchen Rachel Hammond, who claimed wrongful termination for challenging the organization’s misbehavior. She had worked at the organization from July 2011 through February 2013.
Accusations against the group included alleged kickbacks from attorneys who were suing the Church on behalf of sexual abuse victims. Donations from sex abuse attorneys made up more than 40 percent of its annual contributions, Hammond said.
The lawsuit alleged that the organization disregarded the interests of abuse victims, neglected to provide sufficient counseling for victims, and used publicity about the victims to drive fundraising,
SNAP, together with the New York-based Center for Constitutional Rights, had asked the International Criminal Court to investigate Benedict XVI and other Vatican leaders for crimes against humanity related to sex abuse by U.S. clergy. The group traveled to The Hague to make its case.
Hammond claimed SNAP used the funds raised for the trip “for lavish hotels and other extravagant travel expenses for its leadership.”
The lawsuit charged that “SNAP is a commercial operation motivated by its directors’ and officers’ personal and ideological animus against the Catholic Church.”
The lawsuit prompted a flat denial from SNAP president Barbara Blaine.
“The allegations are not true. This will be proven in court,” she said.
Previous legal cases have also involved Clohessy and SNAP.
In a January 2012 deposition, Clohessy declined to answer whether SNAP has a list of attorneys to whom it refers people. He also denied to answer how much money the group receives from attorneys.
He additionally refused to respond to questions about how he has been able to publicly post lawsuit information on the group’s website before it was filed with the court, although he did admit that part of what SNAP does “is to publicize lawsuits against priests.”
That deposition took place after Clohessy lost an effort to avoid being forced to testify in court concerning whether a court-imposed gag order had been violated in the case of a Missouri priest accused of abuse.
In August 2016, a federal judge in Missouri ruled that SNAP made false statements “negligently and with reckless disregard for the truth” against a St. Louis priest to try to convict him on abuse charges. The court established that SNAP sought to convict the priest due to “discriminatory animus against plaintiff based on his religion, religious vocation, race, and national origin.”
WASHINGTON (AP) -- Immigration to the United States has come in swells and dips over the past two-plus centuries, driven by shifts in U.S. policy, the mood in the country and world events....
WASHINGTON (AP) -- Immigration to the United States has come in swells and dips over the past two-plus centuries, driven by shifts in U.S. policy, the mood in the country and world events....
WASHINGTON (AP) -- While Wall Street celebrates yet another stock market record - surpassing 20,000 on the Dow Jones industrial average - many Americans have little reason to cheer....
WASHINGTON (AP) -- While Wall Street celebrates yet another stock market record - surpassing 20,000 on the Dow Jones industrial average - many Americans have little reason to cheer....
MONTPELIER, Vt. (AP) -- Demand driven by the farm-to-table movement knows no seasons, so farmers in colder areas of the country increasingly use greenhouses and similar structures to meet wintertime demand for local produce....
MONTPELIER, Vt. (AP) -- Demand driven by the farm-to-table movement knows no seasons, so farmers in colder areas of the country increasingly use greenhouses and similar structures to meet wintertime demand for local produce....
BEIJING (AP) -- Beijing residents concerned about breathing the capital's thick gray air are adapting, inventing and even creating businesses to protect the health of their families and others. Some of their efforts could help people around the world....
BEIJING (AP) -- Beijing residents concerned about breathing the capital's thick gray air are adapting, inventing and even creating businesses to protect the health of their families and others. Some of their efforts could help people around the world....
WASHINGTON (AP) -- President Donald Trump's vow to accelerate construction of a "contiguous, physical wall" along the Mexican border is slamming into a Washington reality - who's going to pay for it and how?...
WASHINGTON (AP) -- President Donald Trump's vow to accelerate construction of a "contiguous, physical wall" along the Mexican border is slamming into a Washington reality - who's going to pay for it and how?...
