Catholic News 2
OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) -- Firefighters struggled to get to bodies in the rubble Saturday after a fire tore through a converted Oakland warehouse during a late-night electronic music party, killing at least 9 people and making the charred structure unsafe for emergency crews to enter. Officials said they feared the death toll could rise as high as 40....
(Vatican Radio) Europe could move further to the right when Austrians go to the polls on Sunday to choose a new president in an election that has been overshadowed by concerns over Europe's migration crisis and sanctions against Russia. Far-right candidate Nobert Hofer, of the Freedom Party, will face Alexander Van der Bellen, a former leader of the leftist Greens Party. Hofer has already made clear he wants to end sanctions and a tougher policy towards migrants fleeing war and poverty. Sunday's elections are therefore seen as a test for the political direction of Austria and other European Union member states. Polls show the rightwing populist Hofer and Green-backed Van der Bellen neck and neck for the vote.A victory for the 45-year old Freedom party candidate, Hofer, would make him the first far-right head of state in the EU since the second world war. Van der Bellen narrowly won the original vote in May, but it was annulled because of irregularities in the co...
(Vatican Radio) Europe could move further to the right when Austrians go to the polls on Sunday to choose a new president in an election that has been overshadowed by concerns over Europe's migration crisis and sanctions against Russia.
Far-right candidate Nobert Hofer, of the Freedom Party, will face Alexander Van der Bellen, a former leader of the leftist Greens Party. Hofer has already made clear he wants to end sanctions and a tougher policy towards migrants fleeing war and poverty.
Sunday's elections are therefore seen as a test for the political direction of Austria and other European Union member states. Polls show the rightwing populist Hofer and Green-backed Van der Bellen neck and neck for the vote.
A victory for the 45-year old Freedom party candidate, Hofer, would make him the first far-right head of state in the EU since the second world war. Van der Bellen narrowly won the original vote in May, but it was annulled because of irregularities in the counting process.
Austria now seems a divided nation. That became clear when the two rivals for the Austrian presidency traded allegations of espionage, economic incompetence and “spreading lies” in their final television debate before Sunday’s rerun of a run-off vote.
DIFFERENT VIEWS
Both men have a different opinions about the EU's future. Hofer has said he would push for a referendum on EU membership, if the block became more centralized after Brexit, a reference to Britain leaving the Union.
Hofer has also focused on the EU’s migration crisis and called for a ban on economic migrants. Austria – a nation of 8.7 million – has taken in more than 120,000 migrants from the Middle East, Africa and Asia since last year, bearing much of the burden of the influx together with Germany and Sweden.
Van der Bellen has called for faster integration of recognized asylum seekers and seems more pro-EU than his far right rival.
A Hofer victory is expected to create tensions with Ukraine as he also wants to reach out to Russia and end sanctions.
Speaking to his supporters, Hofer criticized the European Union for the sanctions against Russia because of its role in Ukraine. He said the sanctions against Russia were a hard blow to our agricultural sector. "We are in a diplomatic dead end because the sanctions had no effect except of damaging our economy and agricultural sector. And if you realize you are in a dead end, it is smart to stop and turn around."
CLOSELY WATCHED
While the Austrian presidency is a largely ceremonial post, the vote is being watched in other EU countries.
They view it as a barometer of how well their euroskeptic populist candidates will do in upcoming elections, including in France and the Netherlands.
A Eurobarometer survey this spring on views of the EU revealed 37 percent of Austrians had
a negative outlook on Brussels.
Yet, experts say amid rising Euroscepticism, Austrian voters show little support for leaving the EU, despite concerns over migration and Europe's future.
LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) -- The next Congress will begin work immediately next year toward repealing President Barack Obama's health care law but delay the changes as Republicans try to come up with an alternative, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell said Saturday....
FARGO, N.D. (AP) -- The head of North Dakota's emergency management services says the state is prepared to respond to Dakota Access pipeline protesters who may need help during a winter storm or some other crisis....
OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) -- The Latest on a deadly fire in a converted warehouse in Oakland, California (all times local):...
OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) -- Fire tore through an Oakland warehouse converted into artist studios during a late night dance party, killing at least nine people, and officials said Saturday that the death toll could rise as high as 40....
ALEPPO, Syria (AP) -- Syrian warplanes, artillery and mortar rounds pounded areas in eastern Aleppo on Saturday drawing rebel rockets, as government troops gain new ground in the shrinking opposition-held enclave....
(Vatican Radio) The 3rd December marks the feast of St Francis Xavier who was a Jesuit priest and is a patron of the missions. In 1541 he left for India, arriving at the city of Goa.For the next ten years this missionary priest traveled from Goa to Cape Comorin in south India, then to the East Indies, Malacca, and the Moluccas, and onward to Japan.The Head of Vatican Radio’s English for India Section, Jesuit Father Melwyn Pinto spoke to Lydia O'Kane about St Francis’ missionary zeal and the indelible mark it has left on his country.Listen:
(Vatican Radio) The 3rd December marks the feast of St Francis Xavier who was a Jesuit priest and is a patron of the missions. In 1541 he left for India, arriving at the city of Goa.
For the next ten years this missionary priest traveled from Goa to Cape Comorin in south India, then to the East Indies, Malacca, and the Moluccas, and onward to Japan.
The Head of Vatican Radio’s English for India Section, Jesuit Father Melwyn Pinto spoke to Lydia O'Kane about St Francis’ missionary zeal and the indelible mark it has left on his country.
Listen:
The Church in Asia has the mission to help families discover Christ: said Cardinal George Alencherry, major Archbishop of Ernakulam-Angamaly, in Kerala, president of the Syro-Malabar Bishops' Council, during the plenary assembly of the Federation of the Asian Bishops' Conferences (FABC), being held in Colombo from November 28 to December 4."We all need to find Christ in ourselves, to help others to discover him in the lives of our families and of our peoples: this is evangelization", stressed the Cardinal before the assembly made up of more than 140 Cardinals, Archbishops and Bishops from about 40 Asian countries, as well as some representatives as theologians and lay people involved in the Church in Asia.The assembly, which is held every four years, is centered on the theme "The Asian Catholic family: The local Church of the poor in the mission of mercy”. The Churches in Asia are wondering how to make Catholic families a tool to announce the Gospel of...
The Church in Asia has the mission to help families discover Christ: said Cardinal George Alencherry, major Archbishop of Ernakulam-Angamaly, in Kerala, president of the Syro-Malabar Bishops' Council, during the plenary assembly of the Federation of the Asian Bishops' Conferences (FABC), being held in Colombo from November 28 to December 4.
"We all need to find Christ in ourselves, to help others to discover him in the lives of our families and of our peoples: this is evangelization", stressed the Cardinal before the assembly made up of more than 140 Cardinals, Archbishops and Bishops from about 40 Asian countries, as well as some representatives as theologians and lay people involved in the Church in Asia.
The assembly, which is held every four years, is centered on the theme "The Asian Catholic family: The local Church of the poor in the mission of mercy”. The Churches in Asia are wondering how to make Catholic families a tool to announce the Gospel of mercy.
In the wake of the Jubilee Year which has just concluded, "we are exploring what could be the mission of mercy of the Catholic family in Asia. It seems to me that our path is the same as that of the Apostles: to help every man encounter Christ in his life and help our families to discover the presence of Christ within and outside the family unit". "This is the common mission of the Church, it is the mission of Bishops, priests, consecrated, families", he added.
The Cardinal explained: "Families in Asia, who live in a multi-religious context are influenced by family models of other religious beliefs. Religions in Asia are a way of searching God. For us Christians, Christ is at the center of our testimony of faith. It is this uniqueness of Christ, the gift of Christ to the world that saves and marks our life. God is mercy and Jesus Christ manifests the face of God’s mercy for us".
In the past, added the Cardinal, Pastors appeared to have forgotten him, pointing out only the observance of the law, forgetting God's mercy.
"Christians are called to grasp the presence and action of Christ in man and in all creation, as St. Francis of Assisi did", he recalled.
"Having seen, heard and touched Christ, we must not give up the blessings that come from following Christ. Our families meet Jesus in their lives and receive his blessing. Let all this turn into good for the Church and for the Asian societies", he concluded.
(Source: Fides News Agency)
Vatican City, Dec 3, 2016 / 07:45 am (CNA/EWTN News).- In an unprecedented event, Fortune 500 CEOs, members of the Time 100 and non-profit, academic, religious and labor leaders from throughout the world met in Rome to address the need for a global economic system that both encourages growth and aids the poor.The two-day forum focused on the theme “The 21st Century Challenge: Forging a New Social Compact.” Inspired by Pope Francis’ continual call to help the poor and marginalized, the thought and business leaders discussed practical solutions to creating an inclusive and more humane economy and how to help eliminate poverty and the refugee problem around the world.On the last day, Pope Francis addressed the leaders, thanking them for their work and encouraging them to keep the human person at the center of their solutions.“I would like to offer a particular word of thanks for all that you are doing to promote the centrality and dignity of the human person wit...
Vatican City, Dec 3, 2016 / 07:45 am (CNA/EWTN News).- In an unprecedented event, Fortune 500 CEOs, members of the Time 100 and non-profit, academic, religious and labor leaders from throughout the world met in Rome to address the need for a global economic system that both encourages growth and aids the poor.
The two-day forum focused on the theme “The 21st Century Challenge: Forging a New Social Compact.” Inspired by Pope Francis’ continual call to help the poor and marginalized, the thought and business leaders discussed practical solutions to creating an inclusive and more humane economy and how to help eliminate poverty and the refugee problem around the world.
On the last day, Pope Francis addressed the leaders, thanking them for their work and encouraging them to keep the human person at the center of their solutions.
“I would like to offer a particular word of thanks for all that you are doing to promote the centrality and dignity of the human person within our institutions and economic models, and to draw attention to the plight of the poor and refugees, who are so often forgotten by society,” the Holy Father said.
“When we ignore the cries of so many of our brothers and sisters throughout the world, we not only deny them their God-given rights and worth, but we also reject their wisdom and prevent them from offering their talents, traditions and cultures to the world.”
This then further impoverishes us all, the Pope said, because we are morally and spiritually impoverished when we reject the least among us.
Solutions for humane economic renewal and growth call for both institutional and personal conversion and generosity to those in need, the Pope told the group. Therefore, the work begun at the forum is only the beginning.
Francis also encouraged those at the forum to involve those that they seek to help in their quest for solutions.
“...involve in your efforts those whom you seek to help; give them a voice, listen to their stories, learn from their experiences and understand their needs. See in them a brother and a sister, a son and a daughter, a mother and a father. Amid the challenges of our day, see the human face of those you earnestly seek to help,” he said.
Although there is “great unrest” throughout the world today due to inequality, poverty, war and migration, the Pope said the forum gave him hope because the first step to solving a problem is to recognize that a problem exists.
“For when we finally recognize the evil in our midst, we can seek healing by applying the remedy. Your very presence here today is a sign of such hope, because it shows that you recognize the issues before us and the imperative to act decisively.”
The Pope concluded by assuring the group of his prayers and of the Catholic Church’s ongoing commitment to also help “those who otherwise are silenced.”
