Catholic News 2
NEW YORK (AP) -- ABC News says it is investigating one of its producers after seeing evidence that a live camera shot on "Good Morning America" Friday was enhanced by falsely stringing police tape in the background....
LOS ANGELES (AP) -- New York real estate heir Robert Durst, who became a nationally known name with last year's HBO documentary "The Jinx," made his long-awaited arrival in California to face charges of killing a friend 16 years ago, authorities said....
SPARTANBURG, S.C. (AP) -- A woman who was "chained up like a dog" for weeks in a dark storage container was lured to her captor's South Carolina property for a cleaning job, a family friend said Friday as search teams digging up the area found one body and looked for more....
WASHINGTON (AP) -- The State Department on Friday released a 2009 email chain that shows then-Secretary of State Hillary Clinton forwarding to her daughter material that the department classified last year....
ATKINSON, N. H. (AP) -- Hillary Clinton sped across battleground states Friday trying to energize minority and female supporters and seal a historic presidential victory, while Donald Trump traveled to small-town America to fire up the white, working-class voters he insists will bring the crown to his outsider campaign....
(Vatican Radio) Pope Francis has told the Bishops of France to help the people of their country to “strengthen their hope” and to “contribute to the search for the common good” in the context of nation still “marked by the attacks which have ravaged your country,” which is also facing “important” elections.The message were conveyed by the Secretary of State, Cardinal Pietro Parolin, as the Bishops begin their Plenary Assembly.The theme of the meeting is on “having the courage to reach the peripheries in need of the Gospel” (Evangelii Gaudium, n. 20); including in a rural world facing change, “which will, in no doubt, be an opportunity for a new start for the mission of the Church in France.”“A few days before the closing of the Jubilee of Mercy, the Pope asks the Lord to help you open new paths so ‘the years to come will be steeped in mercy, so that we can go out to every man and woman, bringing th...
(Vatican Radio) Pope Francis has told the Bishops of France to help the people of their country to “strengthen their hope” and to “contribute to the search for the common good” in the context of nation still “marked by the attacks which have ravaged your country,” which is also facing “important” elections.
The message were conveyed by the Secretary of State, Cardinal Pietro Parolin, as the Bishops begin their Plenary Assembly.
The theme of the meeting is on “having the courage to reach the peripheries in need of the Gospel” (Evangelii Gaudium, n. 20); including in a rural world facing change, “which will, in no doubt, be an opportunity for a new start for the mission of the Church in France.”
“A few days before the closing of the Jubilee of Mercy, the Pope asks the Lord to help you open new paths so ‘the years to come will be steeped in mercy, so that we can go out to every man and woman, bringing the goodness and tenderness of God’ (Misericordiae Vultus, n. 5)” – the Message continues – “Entrusting the bishops of France to the intercession of Our Lady of Lourdes, St. Bernadette, St. Elizabeth of the Trinity, and St. Salomon Le Clercq, the Holy Father sends you his Apostolic Blessing with affection.”
Irondale, Ala., Nov 4, 2016 / 11:51 am (CNA/EWTN News).- Among the first acts of the next president of the United States will be the appointment of a new justice for the U.S. Supreme Court, comprised currently of eight members since the February death of Associate Justice Antonin Scalia.In the short term, the new president will appoint Scalia’s successor — someone who will be a deciding factor in whether Catholic entities like EWTN and the Little Sisters of the Poor should be forced by the federal government to violate their religious beliefs by providing contraception and abortifacient drugs in their health insurance plans. The new justice will also help decide whether or not a Virginia girl, who now identifies as a boy, should be allowed access to the restroom that corresponds with her self-chosen sexual identity.We have already witnessed the Supreme Court redefine marriage. With another liberal activist on board, we will witness the court redefine discrimination to in...
Irondale, Ala., Nov 4, 2016 / 11:51 am (CNA/EWTN News).- Among the first acts of the next president of the United States will be the appointment of a new justice for the U.S. Supreme Court, comprised currently of eight members since the February death of Associate Justice Antonin Scalia.
In the short term, the new president will appoint Scalia’s successor — someone who will be a deciding factor in whether Catholic entities like EWTN and the Little Sisters of the Poor should be forced by the federal government to violate their religious beliefs by providing contraception and abortifacient drugs in their health insurance plans. The new justice will also help decide whether or not a Virginia girl, who now identifies as a boy, should be allowed access to the restroom that corresponds with her self-chosen sexual identity.
We have already witnessed the Supreme Court redefine marriage. With another liberal activist on board, we will witness the court redefine discrimination to include sexual identity. No doubt, we will also see the court continue down the path of further chipping away at our constitutional rights to religious liberty, freedom of expression and so much more.
In the long term, there perhaps will be no other more important decision made by our next president than who will be nominated to the Supreme Court. A new president with a pro-life commitment will be able to shape the future of a court that will help the United States avoid the disaster of this culture of narcissism and death and move toward one that more resembles what the Founding Fathers established. On the other hand, a new president with the opposite agenda will continue to perilously lead the United States along a path that cheapens life and demeans and threatens people of faith.
In the last of the presidential debates, both candidates made it abundantly clear where they stand on the issue of respect for life.
As we step into the voting booth on Tuesday, we are faced with a supremely important decision. Let us be clear in making that decision — there is no issue more important than respect for the dignity of human life.
May God bless you, and may God bless the United States of America.
IMAGE: CNS photo/LionsgateBy Joseph McAleerNEW YORK (CNS) -- Ever since thesuccess of 2004's "The Passion of the Christ," viewers of faith have waitedanxiously for a follow-up from the film's director, Mel Gibson.Recently, Gibson revealed that heis indeed planning a sequel -- centered on the resurrection of Jesus -- but itsdebut is still several years away.In the meantime, fans will findat least a thematic successor to Gibson's Bible-based work in his latest movie,"Hacksaw Ridge." This new release could easily be subtitled, "The Passion ofDesmond T. Doss."A committed Seventh-dayAdventist and World War II conscientious objector, Doss (portrayed on screen byAndrew Garfield) was unwilling to take lives but anxious to save them.Overcoming derision and abusefrom his peers -- and a push by his superiors to expel him from the Army with adishonorable discharge -- he was allowed to remain in the service as a medic.During the bloody Battle of Okinawa in the closing months of World War II, Dos...
IMAGE: CNS photo/Lionsgate
By Joseph McAleer
NEW YORK (CNS) -- Ever since the success of 2004's "The Passion of the Christ," viewers of faith have waited anxiously for a follow-up from the film's director, Mel Gibson.
Recently, Gibson revealed that he is indeed planning a sequel -- centered on the resurrection of Jesus -- but its debut is still several years away.
In the meantime, fans will find at least a thematic successor to Gibson's Bible-based work in his latest movie, "Hacksaw Ridge." This new release could easily be subtitled, "The Passion of Desmond T. Doss."
A committed Seventh-day Adventist and World War II conscientious objector, Doss (portrayed on screen by Andrew Garfield) was unwilling to take lives but anxious to save them.
Overcoming derision and abuse from his peers -- and a push by his superiors to expel him from the Army with a dishonorable discharge -- he was allowed to remain in the service as a medic. During the bloody Battle of Okinawa in the closing months of World War II, Doss saved scores of wounded soldiers in a manner so courageous that Congress eventually awarded him the Medal of Honor.
"Hacksaw Ridge" marks Gibson's return to the director's chair after a 10-year absence.
"It's a very inspiring story and it seemed to be perfectly suited to the cinema," Gibson told the audience at a recent screening of the drama held at the Sheen Center for Thought & Culture, a forum for discussion and the arts run by the Archdiocese of New York.
"It's a love story, not a war film," he explained. "I wanted to accentuate who Desmond was in the midst of this maelstrom of violence that reduces most men to the level of animals."
"He was armed only with his faith, and went in and put his life on the line for his brothers. Who could possibly go into a situation like he did without something bigger to believe in?"
Gibson brought his signature visual style, laden with religious imagery, to the movie, which is told in two acts: Doss' youth in rural Virginia, and the ferocious combat on Okinawa atop a cliff nicknamed "Hacksaw Ridge."
"I had this vision of a Norman Rockwell painting jammed up against a Hieronymus Bosch painting," he explained. "You had ideal, sweet innocence, and then you had hell. You take the same people into the other painting. It's the death of innocence, and I wanted to give people an idea of what that feels like, and what our veterans suffered as a result of combat situations."
"Hacksaw Ridge" draws parallels to "The Passion of the Christ" in Doss' perseverance, remaining true to his Christian faith despite extraordinary obstacles, and winning the respect of his comrades in the end.
"Desmond's biggest hero was Jesus, and he was trying to emulate him in any way he could," Gibson said in an interview with Catholic News Service. "'Greater love hath no man than to give up his life for his friends,' which is what he did -- again and again and again.
"He crawled into very dangerous and perilous situations to save others, which is the most selfless act of love you can have," Gibson continued. "In that sense he emulated Christ perfectly."
Wounded on Okinawa, Doss died in 2006 at age 87.
Joining Gibson at the Sheen Center was Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright Robert Schenkkan ("All the Way"), who co-wrote the screenplay for "Hacksaw Ridge" with Andrew Knight.
Schenkkan praised Doss as a positive role model, especially for men: "He embodies the Christian ethos, which is all about subordination of self to a higher power, compassion, and self-sacrifice," Schenkkan observed. "And I think that is a really important image of masculinity to put out there right now."
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Editor's Note: For more information on "Hacksaw Ridge," visit www.hacksawridge.movie. For more information on the Sheen Center for Thought & Culture, visit www.sheencenter.org.
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McAleer is a guest reviewer for Catholic News Service.
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FLORENCE, Italy (AP) -- A 16th-century painting by Renaissance artist Giorgio Vasari that was badly damaged in a 1966 flood in Florence was unveiled to the public Friday after years of painstaking restoration....
CHICAGO (AP) -- Chicago Cubs catcher David Ross posed for a selfie Friday in front of a multitude of roaring fans in the city's Grant Park during a rally honoring the club's first World Series title in 108 years....
