Catholic News 2
MARRAKECH, Morocco (AP) -- U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry made a stirring appeal Wednesday to all countries - including his own - to press ahead with the fight against climate change, saying a failure to do so would be a "betrayal of devastating consequences."...
ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) -- A Minnesota police officer has been charged with second-degree manslaughter in the killing of Philando Castile, a black man whose girlfriend streamed the gruesome aftermath of the fatal shooting live on Facebook, prosecutors announced Wednesday....
WASHINGTON (AP) -- Senate Republicans re-elected Mitch McConnell of Kentucky on Wednesday to be majority leader next year, keeping the tough legislative tactician at the forefront when the new Congress begins working on Donald Trump's agenda....
THE HAGUE, Netherlands (AP) -- Supporters of the International Criminal Court appealed for unity Wednesday in the aftermath of three African nations announcing plans to withdraw and Russia symbolically turning its back on the court....
NIMRUD, Iraq (AP) -- Heavy fighting broke out in Mosul's eastern Tahrir neighborhood on Wednesday, where Iraqi special forces said a suicide car bomber from the Islamic State group disabled an Abrams tank belonging to the Iraqi army....
BEIRUT (AP) -- Syrian government warplanes and artillery pounded rebel-held districts of Aleppo for the second day Wednesday, killing at least 11 people and damaging two hospitals, a blood bank and several residential buildings in the city's eastern neighborhoods....
ATHENS, Greece (AP) -- Pushing back against the forces of isolationism, President Barack Obama stood at the birthplace of democracy on Wednesday and declared it's time for a "course correction" to ensure that the benefits of technology and globalization are more broadly shared....
NEW YORK (AP) -- President-elect Donald Trump rejected claims of chaos and infighting straining his transition, declaring that he is running a "very organized process." His son Eric Trump said new appointments were likely to be announced Wednesday....
(Vatican Radio) The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) are holding their annual Fall General Assembly in Baltimore, Maryland.On the first day of the assembly, US bishops approved a strategic 5 point plan for the next 4 years, elected a new president and vice-president, and approved the canonical consultation of four causes for beatification and canonization.Pope Francis sent a video message to the USCCB on occasion of their assembly for the upcoming ‘Fifth National Hispanic Pastoral Encuentro’. Click here to view the video.Strategic Plan 2017-2020The United States’ bishops approved the 4-year plan under the theme ‘Encountering the Mercy of Christ and Accompanying His People with Joy’.Five points make up the strategic plan of 2017-2020 with the goal of ‘offering a sustained and compelling witness to the power of Christ’s love in the world’.The first priority is ‘Evangelization’, calling Catholics to &lsqu...
(Vatican Radio) The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) are holding their annual Fall General Assembly in Baltimore, Maryland.
On the first day of the assembly, US bishops approved a strategic 5 point plan for the next 4 years, elected a new president and vice-president, and approved the canonical consultation of four causes for beatification and canonization.
Pope Francis sent a video message to the USCCB on occasion of their assembly for the upcoming ‘Fifth National Hispanic Pastoral Encuentro’. Click here to view the video.
Strategic Plan 2017-2020
The United States’ bishops approved the 4-year plan under the theme ‘Encountering the Mercy of Christ and Accompanying His People with Joy’.
Five points make up the strategic plan of 2017-2020 with the goal of ‘offering a sustained and compelling witness to the power of Christ’s love in the world’.
The first priority is ‘Evangelization’, calling Catholics to ‘open wide the doors to Christ through missionary discipleship and personal encounter’.
‘Family and marriage’ is second with the goal of ‘encourage and heal families and inspire Catholics to embrace the sacrament of matrimony’.
Third, ‘Human life and dignity: to uphold the sanctity of human life from conception to natural death with special concern for the poor and vulnerable’.
Fourth, ‘Vocations and ongoing formation: to encourage vocations to the priesthood and consecrated life, and provide meaningful ongoing formation to clergy, religious and lay ministers’.
Finally, the bishops agreed to promote the important value of ‘Religious freedom: to promote and defend the freedom to serve, witness, and worship’.
The strategic plan reads, ‘Through this work, we will encounter our brothers and sisters wherever they may be along life’s journey, offer them love and support, and in turn, meet Jesus himself who will fortify each one of us for our own journey’.
It goes into effect January 2017.
New President and Vice-President
Also on the first day of their assembly, the US bishops also elected Cardinal Daniel DiNardo of Galveston-Houston as President of the USCCB. He had previously served as the conference’s Vice-President.
Archbishop Jose Gomez of Los Angeles was elected as the new Vice-President.
Saints and immigrants
Among other items, the USCCB approved the canonical consultation of four causes for beatification and canonization: Julia Greeley, Sister Blandina Segale, S.C., Fr. Patrick Ryan, and Fr. Bernard Quinn.
They also supported a post-election statement given by Bishop Eusebio Elizondo, auxiliary bishop of Seattle, and chairman of the USCCB Committee on Migration, telling “our brothers and sisters who come to the country seeking a better life: ‘We are with you’”.
The document says, “We would first like to congratulate President-elect Donald J. Trump and give our support for all efforts to work together to promote the common good, especially those to protect the most vulnerable among us.”
It goes on to affirm, “We stand ready to work with a new administration to continue to ensure that refugees are humanely welcomed without sacrificing our security or our core values as Americans. A duty to welcome and protect newcomers, particularly refugees, is an integral part of our mission to help our neighbors in need.”
(Vatican Radio) Pope Francis during his General Audience in St Peter's Square on Wednesday reflected on the spiritual work of mercy, to bear wrongs patiently, telling the faithful during his catechesis that patience is a virtue. Below find the English language summary of the Pope's words Dear Brothers and Sisters: In our catechesis for this Holy Year of Mercy, we now consider the spiritual work of mercy which is bearing wrongs patiently. In showing patience to those who wrong us and, by extension, to those we find irritating, we imitate God’s own patience with us sinners. Exercising patience with others also challenges us to reflect on our own conduct and failings. Patience is also required in two related spiritual works of mercy: admonishing sinners and instructing the ignorant. We think of the patience shown by the many parents, catechists and teachers who quietly help young people to grow in faith and knowledge of the import...
(Vatican Radio) Pope Francis during his General Audience in St Peter's Square on Wednesday reflected on the spiritual work of mercy, to bear wrongs patiently, telling the faithful during his catechesis that patience is a virtue.
Below find the English language summary of the Pope's words
Dear Brothers and Sisters: In our catechesis for this Holy Year of Mercy, we now consider the spiritual work of mercy which is bearing wrongs patiently. In showing patience to those who wrong us and, by extension, to those we find irritating, we imitate God’s own patience with us sinners. Exercising patience with others also challenges us to reflect on our own conduct and failings. Patience is also required in two related spiritual works of mercy: admonishing sinners and instructing the ignorant. We think of the patience shown by the many parents, catechists and teachers who quietly help young people to grow in faith and knowledge of the important things in life. Helping others to look past the ephemeral, to discover the Lord’s will in their lives and thus to find lasting joy, is a great act of charity. By serving our brothers and sisters in this way, our own minds and hearts are purified and renewed. May the Holy Spirit grant us the generosity and patience needed to support and encourage those around us, so that together we may cherish the things that truly matter.
