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ISTANBUL (AP) -- Police increased security around Istanbul on Wednesday and detained some 20 people with suspected links to the deadly New Year's Eve night club attack as the hunt for the gunman stretched into a fourth day....
WASHINGTON (AP) -- The top Democrat in the Senate is warning President-elect Donald Trump about his eventual Supreme Court choice: Name a "mainstream" nominee or Democrats will oppose the individual "with everything we have."...
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The Catholic Church in Goa, India is hosting a six day Mother Teresa International Film Festival starting from January 5. The Festival will screen Indian and international films based on the life and work of the Albanian-born saint.A press statement issued by the Diocesan Centre for Social Communications Media, Goa, said that the aim of the festival "is to make known the life and works of Mother Teresa so that all may be inspired by her life to serve the society".The event is a part of a series of celebratory events being organised by the Church in honour of Mother Teresa, the statement added. As part of the festival, films will be screened at venues in Panaji as well as in Margao.Some of the films which will be screened at the six-day festival, which kicks off on January 5, are "In the name of God's poor" (USA), "All for God's Love" (India), "Mother Teresa and Me" (UK), "The Fifth World" (Spain) and "Nirma...
The Catholic Church in Goa, India is hosting a six day Mother Teresa International Film Festival starting from January 5. The Festival will screen Indian and international films based on the life and work of the Albanian-born saint.
A press statement issued by the Diocesan Centre for Social Communications Media, Goa, said that the aim of the festival "is to make known the life and works of Mother Teresa so that all may be inspired by her life to serve the society".
The event is a part of a series of celebratory events being organised by the Church in honour of Mother Teresa, the statement added. As part of the festival, films will be screened at venues in Panaji as well as in Margao.
Some of the films which will be screened at the six-day festival, which kicks off on January 5, are "In the name of God's poor" (USA), "All for God's Love" (India), "Mother Teresa and Me" (UK), "The Fifth World" (Spain) and "Nirmal Hriday" (India). (UCAN)
Vatican City, Jan 4, 2017 / 09:47 am (CNA/EWTN News).- Salesians in the Bangalore province of India held a prayer vigil Jan. 4 for the release of Salesian priest Fr. Tom Uzhunnalil, who was kidnapped in Yemen March 4, 2016.The prayer vigil, confirmed to CNA by the Salesian province of Bangalore, marks 10 months since the priest’s abduction during an armed attack on a Missionaries of Charity-run retirement home in Aden, the provincial capital of Yemen.Bangalore provincial superior Fr. Joyce Thonikuzhiyil requested the 11 Salesian communities of South Asia to mark Jan. 4 as “a day of prayer with an hour of Eucharistic adoration” for the purpose of “intensifying our prayerful efforts” for the safe release of the priest, according to religious news site Matters India.The day of prayer comes after a video was posted to YouTube Dec. 26 of Fr. Tom personally appealing to Pope Francis, and bishops all over the world, for help.“Dear Pope Francis…as ...
Vatican City, Jan 4, 2017 / 09:47 am (CNA/EWTN News).- Salesians in the Bangalore province of India held a prayer vigil Jan. 4 for the release of Salesian priest Fr. Tom Uzhunnalil, who was kidnapped in Yemen March 4, 2016.
The prayer vigil, confirmed to CNA by the Salesian province of Bangalore, marks 10 months since the priest’s abduction during an armed attack on a Missionaries of Charity-run retirement home in Aden, the provincial capital of Yemen.
Bangalore provincial superior Fr. Joyce Thonikuzhiyil requested the 11 Salesian communities of South Asia to mark Jan. 4 as “a day of prayer with an hour of Eucharistic adoration” for the purpose of “intensifying our prayerful efforts” for the safe release of the priest, according to religious news site Matters India.
The day of prayer comes after a video was posted to YouTube Dec. 26 of Fr. Tom personally appealing to Pope Francis, and bishops all over the world, for help.
“Dear Pope Francis…as a father, please take care of my life,” Fr. Tom said. “My health is deteriorating; I am in need of hospitalization soon. Please come to my help quickly.”
The five-minute video was the first communication from Fr. Tom since his abduction. The priest had overgrown hair and spoke slowly from a prepared script.
Pope Francis did appeal for the priest’s release April 10 after his Sunday Regina Caeli address in St. Peter’s Square.
“I renew my appeal for the freeing of all kidnapped persons in armed conflict zones,” the Pope said. “In particular, I wish to remember Salesian priest Tom Uzhunnalil, who was abducted in Aden, Yemen last March 4.”
No one has claimed responsibility for the kidnapping. The Indian government has reportedly had difficulty brokering for the priest’s release because of political instability in Yemen.
Yemen has been embroiled in civil war since March of 2015, when Shia rebels attempted to oust Yemen’s Sunni-led government. Saudi Arabia has led a pro-government coalition. Both al-Qaeda and the Islamic State have set up strongholds in the country amid the power vacuum. More than 6,000 people have been killed in the conflict, according to the United Nations.
Fr. Tom garnered international attention last spring when rumors spread that he was to be crucified on Good Friday. Those rumors were later discredited.
By AUSTIN, Texas (CNS) -- A federal judge in Texas Dec. 31blocked a regulation by the Department of Health and Human Services requiringCatholic hospitals and health care providers to perform or provide gendertransition services, saying it would place "substantial pressure" onthe plaintiffs -- a coalition of religious medical organizations who said theruling was contrary to their religious beliefs."Plaintiffswill be forced to either violate their religious beliefs or maintain theircurrent policies, which seem to be in direct conflict with the rule and risk thesevere consequences of enforcement," U.S. District Judge Reed O'Connor wrote.The injunctioncomes four months after the same judge blocked a federal directive requiring publicschools to let transgender students use bathrooms consistent with their genderidentity.The regulation from the Department of Health and Human Services requires that Catholic hospitals and health care providers perform or provide gender transition services, h...
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AUSTIN, Texas (CNS) -- A federal judge in Texas Dec. 31 blocked a regulation by the Department of Health and Human Services requiring Catholic hospitals and health care providers to perform or provide gender transition services, saying it would place "substantial pressure" on the plaintiffs -- a coalition of religious medical organizations who said the ruling was contrary to their religious beliefs.
"Plaintiffs will be forced to either violate their religious beliefs or maintain their current policies, which seem to be in direct conflict with the rule and risk the severe consequences of enforcement," U.S. District Judge Reed O'Connor wrote.
The injunction comes four months after the same judge blocked a federal directive requiring public schools to let transgender students use bathrooms consistent with their gender identity.
The regulation from the Department of Health and Human Services requires that Catholic hospitals and health care providers perform or provide gender transition services, hormonal treatments and counseling as well as a host of surgeries that would remove or transform the sexual organs of men or women transitioning to the other gender. The HHS regulation requires group health plans to cover these procedures and services.
In the suit filed in U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Texas in Wichita Falls, the Washington-based Becket Fund represented two groups against the new government regulation: Franciscan Alliance, a religious hospital network sponsored by the Sisters of St. Francis of Perpetual Adoration and the Christian Medical and Dental Association. The states of Texas, Kansas, Kentucky, Nebraska and Wisconsin also joined in the suit.
"This court ruling is an across-the-board victory that will ensure that deeply personal medical decisions, such as gender transition procedures, remain between families and their doctor," said Lori Windham, senior counsel at Becket Law.
She also said the judge's decision was "a common-sense ruling" noting that the government "has no business forcing private doctors to perform procedures that the government itself recognizes can be harmful, particularly to children, and that the government exempts its own doctors from performing."
A similar lawsuit was filed against the HHS ruling Dec. 28 by the Catholic Benefits Association, the Diocese of Fargo and Catholic Charities North Dakota in U.S. District Court in North Dakota.
"We ask only for the freedom to serve consistent with our conscience and our Catholic faith," Bishop John T. Folda of Fargo said in a statement, released by the Catholic Benefits Association. "While we do not discriminate against individuals because of their orientation, our Catholic values will not permit us to pay for or facilitate actions that are contrary to our faith."
The Catholic Benefits Association is made up of Catholic dioceses, hospitals, school systems, religious orders and other entities that offer their employees insurance and benefit programs that adhere to Catholic teaching.
The regulation, which also mandates abortions be performed, affects health insurers, hospitals and health plans administered by or receiving federal funds from HHS. There is no religious exemption.
The final HHS regulation was published in May. It applies to implementing Section 1557 of the Affordable Care Act, which provides that individuals cannot be subject to discrimination based on their race, color, national origin, sex, age or disability.
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Copyright © 2017 Catholic News Service/U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops. www.catholicnews.com. All rights reserved. Republishing or redistributing of CNS content, including by framing or similar means without prior permission, is prohibited. You may link to stories on our public site. This copy is for your personal, non-commercial use only. To request permission for republishing or redistributing of CNS content, please contact permissions at cns@catholicnews.com.
IMAGE: CNS photo/Jonathan Ernst, ReutersBy Carol ZimmermannWASHINGTON (CNS) -- Thereligious makeup of the 115th Congress is significantly Christian -- 91 percent-- with Catholics comprising one-third of the House of Representatives and about a quarter of theSenate.Overall, there are six fewer Christians in the new Congress, at 485 members. But there are four more Catholics, who now total 168.The high percentage of Christians in Congress issimilar to the 87th Congress in 1961, when such information was first collected. At the time, 95 percent of Congress members wereChristian.The data on the religious makeup of the currentsenators and representatives was collected by Pew Research Center and announcedJan. 3.The Pew report notes that the large number ofChristians in Congress has shifted in recent years with a decline in the numberof Protestants. In 1961, Protestants made up 87 percent of Congress, compared with 56 percent today. Catholics, conversely, made up 19 percent of the 87th Co...
IMAGE: CNS photo/Jonathan Ernst, Reuters
By Carol Zimmermann
WASHINGTON (CNS) -- The religious makeup of the 115th Congress is significantly Christian -- 91 percent -- with Catholics comprising one-third of the House of Representatives and about a quarter of the Senate.
Overall, there are six fewer Christians in the new Congress, at 485 members. But there are four more Catholics, who now total 168.
The high percentage of Christians in Congress is similar to the 87th Congress in 1961, when such information was first collected. At the time, 95 percent of Congress members were Christian.
The data on the religious makeup of the current senators and representatives was collected by Pew Research Center and announced Jan. 3.
The Pew report notes that the large number of Christians in Congress has shifted in recent years with a decline in the number of Protestants. In 1961, Protestants made up 87 percent of Congress, compared with 56 percent today. Catholics, conversely, made up 19 percent of the 87th Congress, and now are 31 percent of the legislative body.
Looking at each party, two-thirds, or 67 percent, of Republicans in the new Congress are Protestant and 27 percent of Republicans are Catholic. The breakdown between Protestants and Catholics is more evenly divided among the Democrats: 42 percent are Protestant and 37 percent are Catholic.
Of the 293 Republicans in the new Congress, all but two, who are Jewish, are Christian. Democrats in Congress also are predominantly Christian -- 80 percent -- but they have more religious diversity among non-Christians.
The 242 Democrat Congress members include 28 Jews, three Buddhists, three Hindus, two Muslims and one Unitarian Universalist in addition to one religiously unaffiliated member and 10 who declined to state their religious affiliation.
Overall, the new Congress has seven fewer Protestants than the last Congress. Baptists had the biggest losses -- down seven seats -- followed by Anglicans and Episcopalians -- down six seats.
Among non-Christian religious groups, Jews and Hindus had the biggest gains -- an increase of two seats each. Jews now hold 30 seats in Congress. The number of Hindus rose from one to three and the number of Buddhists increased from two to three.
The number of Muslims in Congress -- two -- remained unchanged.
The new legislative group also has the smallest freshman class of any Congress in the past 10 years with 62 new members joining the 473 returnees. Of the new members, half are Protestant and roughly a third are Catholic.
The Pew report points out that some religious groups, including Protestants, Catholics and Jews, have greater representation in Congress than in the general population. Jews, for example, make up 2 percent of the U.S. adult population but account for 6 percent of Congress. Other groups -- including Buddhists, Mormons, Muslims and Orthodox Christians -- are represented in Congress in roughly equal proportion to their numbers in the U.S. public.
Another significant finding is that the most notably underrepresented group in Congress is the religiously unaffiliated. This group -- also known as religious "nones" -- account for 23 percent of the general public but makes up just 0.2 percent of the 115th Congress.
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Follow Zimmermann on Twitter: @carolmaczim.
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Copyright © 2017 Catholic News Service/U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops. www.catholicnews.com. All rights reserved. Republishing or redistributing of CNS content, including by framing or similar means without prior permission, is prohibited. You may link to stories on our public site. This copy is for your personal, non-commercial use only. To request permission for republishing or redistributing of CNS content, please contact permissions at cns@catholicnews.com.
IMAGE: CNS photo/Tony Gentile, ReutersBy Carol GlatzVATICAN CITY (CNS) -- In the depths of despair, when nowords or gestures will help, then cry with those who suffer, because tears are theseeds of hope, Pope Francis said.When people are hurting, "it is necessary to share intheir desperation. In order to dry the tears from the face of those who suffer,we must join our weeping with theirs. This is the only way our words may trulybe able to offer a bit of hope," he said Jan. 4 during his weekly generalaudience."And if I can't offer words like this, with tears,with sorrow, then silence is better, a caress, a gesture and no words," hesaid.In his first general audience of the new year, the popecontinued his series of talks on Christian hope by reflecting on Rachel'sinconsolable sorrow and mourning for her children who "are no more," aswritten by the prophet Jeremiah.Rachel's refusal to be consoled "expresses the depth ofher pain and the bitterness of her weeping," the pope told those ga...
IMAGE: CNS photo/Tony Gentile, Reuters
By Carol Glatz
VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- In the depths of despair, when no words or gestures will help, then cry with those who suffer, because tears are the seeds of hope, Pope Francis said.
When people are hurting, "it is necessary to share in their desperation. In order to dry the tears from the face of those who suffer, we must join our weeping with theirs. This is the only way our words may truly be able to offer a bit of hope," he said Jan. 4 during his weekly general audience.
"And if I can't offer words like this, with tears, with sorrow, then silence is better, a caress, a gesture and no words," he said.
In his first general audience of the new year, the pope continued his series of talks on Christian hope by reflecting on Rachel's inconsolable sorrow and mourning for her children who "are no more," as written by the prophet Jeremiah.
Rachel's refusal to be consoled "expresses the depth of her pain and the bitterness of her weeping," the pope told those gathered in the Vatican's Paul VI hall.
"Facing the tragedy of the loss of her children, a mother cannot bear words or gestures of consolation, which are always inadequate, always unable to alleviate the pain of a wound that cannot and doesn't want to heal," he said. The amount of pain, he said, is proportional to the amount of love in her heart.
Rachel and her weeping, he said, represent every mother and every person throughout history who cry over an "irreparable loss."
Rachel's refusal to be consoled also "teaches us how much sensitivity is asked of us" and how delicately one must approach a person in pain, the pope said.
Jeremiah shows how God responded to Rachel in a loving and gentle way, with words that are "genuine, not fake."
The pope said God answers with a promise that her tears are not in vain and her children shall return from exile and there will be new life and hope.
"Tears generated hope. This isn't easy to understand, but it is true," he said.
"So often in our life, tears sow hope, they are seeds of hope," he said, emphasizing how Mary's tears at the foot of the cross generated new life and hope for those who, through their faith, became her children in the body of Christ, the church.
This innocent "lamb of God" died for all of humanity, which is always important to remember, especially when struggling with the question of why children are allowed to suffer in this world, he said.
The pope said when people ask him why such suffering happens, he said he has no answer. "I just say, 'Look at the crucifix. God gave us his son, he suffered, and perhaps there you will find an answer.'"
No appropriate words or replies will ever come from the head, he said, one can only look at the love God showed by offering his son, who offered his life -- this may point the way to some consolation.
God's word is the definitive word of consolation "because it is born of weeping."
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Copyright © 2017 Catholic News Service/U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops. www.catholicnews.com. All rights reserved. Republishing or redistributing of CNS content, including by framing or similar means without prior permission, is prohibited. You may link to stories on our public site. This copy is for your personal, non-commercial use only. To request permission for republishing or redistributing of CNS content, please contact permissions at cns@catholicnews.com.
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