Catholic News 2

Vatican City, Sep 29, 2016 / 08:10 am (CNA/EWTN News).- Announced Thursday, this year's World Day of Social Communications will focus on the theme of spreading hope and trust in the “Good News” of Jesus Christ and salvation.

“'Fear not, for I am with you' (Is 43:5) Communicating hope and trust in our time,” was announced as the theme for 2017 by the Pontifical Council of Social Communication in a communique from the Vatican Sept. 29.

When those in the field of communication are far from the scene of where things are happening, frequently they can “ignore the complexity of the dramas faced by men and women,” and fall into “desperation” over “looming fears,” the communique says.

The push to “fear not,” on the other hand, “is an invitation to tell the history of the world and the histories of men and women in accordance with the logic of the 'good news,'” reminding us that “God never ceases to be a Father in any situation or with regard to any man.”

World Communications Day takes place each year on the Sunday before Pentecost, and is the only worldwide celebration called for by the Second Vatican Council in the 1963 document “Inter Mirifica” on the media of social communications.

This year the day falls on May 28, 2017. The Pope traditionally releases a message for the day on Jan. 24, observing the feast of St. Francis de Sales, patron saint of writers, journalists and the Catholic press.

The current communication system, the announcement continued, can cause a “numbness of conscience” or overwhelm us with fear. “Desperation is possible,” it said, when “communication is emphasized and transformed into spectacle.”

“But in the midst of this tumult a whisper is heard: 'Fear not, for I am with you.'”

Shortly before the announcement of the theme, Pope Francis had a Sept. 22 audience with journalists, during which he reflected on the importance of respect for human dignity, telling them that their profession can never be used as a destructive weapon, nor should it be used to nourish fear.

“Certainly criticism is legitimate, and, I would add, necessary, just as is the denunciation of evil, but this must always be done respecting the other, his life and his affect. Journalism cannot become a 'weapon of destruction' of persons or even nations,” the Pope said at the Vatican's Clementine Hall.

“Neither must it nourish fear in front of changes or phenomena such as migration forced by war or by hunger,” he said.

In 2016, the theme for World Communications Day was “Communication and Mercy: a fruitful encounter,” and was intended to complement the Jubilee Year of Mercy happening in the Church this year. In 2015, the theme centered on the family and communication.

In the communique for the 2016 theme, it was stressed that through our Christian faith, we know that even in death and darkness, light and life can be brought forward.

“We Christians have 'good news' to tell, because we contemplate trustfully the prospect of the Kingdom. Let us learn to communicate trust and hope for history.”

Full Article

IMAGE: CNS photo/Katie Breidenbach

By Katie Breidenbach

TOLEDO, Ohio (CNS) -- The moment Ann Barrick stepped from the sidewalk onto the crumbling parking lot, her eyes filled with tears.

"You pray about these things, and you never think you're going to see it happen."

For nine years, Barrick stood on that very sidewalk, praying that Center for Choice of Toledo would cease to exist. Every autumn, she led the "40 Days for Life" vigil outside the abortion facility.

Her prayers were answered. Shuttered in 2013, the Center for Choice was finally bulldozed at the beginning of September. Today, the derelict parking lot leads only to a muddy plot studded with fragments of the former foundation.

"It can't be anything but prayer. There's no reason this place should have come down," Barrick said.

Adding miracle to miracle, representatives from multiple pro-life organizations met at the offices of the Diocese of Toledo Sept. 26. The ecumenical group is executing a once far-fetched vision: to convert the site of the abortion clinic into a memorial for the unborn.

Denise Emerine purchased the land two years ago with the aid of many sponsors. "We really felt that the Lord was wanting this to be a place to engage people and not be a place of death," said Emerine, who also directs the Greater Toledo House of Prayer. "He is the redeeming God. He's bringing hope. Out of the ashes he's bringing beauty."

The group, which also includes representatives from Catholic Charities, the Foundation for Life and local crisis pregnancy centers, christened the site "Hope Park" and wants to complete the memorial by October 2017. Artistic renderings show a grassy area adorned with trees that has two paths leading to three free-standing walls. "Faith," "Hope" and "Love" are emblazoned on the walls, along with verses from Chapter 61 of the Book of Isaiah.

Plans also include a "Wall of Remembrance" where mothers can add the names of unborn children. A single dogwood tree that once marked the entrance of the clinic will remain on the grounds as the "Tree of Hope," symbolizing the triumph of life.

"There are some projects that you can feel you're part of something big. This is one of those projects," Tim Schlachter, chair of the Hope Park building committee, told Catholic News Service. To him and the other members, even the estimated cost of the project shows God's hand: $610,000, a number that echoes the "61" of the chosen chapter of Isaiah.

"When Jesus went into the synagogue, they handed him the Torah to read Isaiah 61, 'The spirit of the Lord is upon me, he has anointed me to set the captives free,'" Emerine explained. "So I believe he's saying, 'I want to restore life back to all the families that have been affected by the death sentence that was here.'"

The conversion of the clinic has redeeming significance to Mandy Sattler, one of the planning members. Nine years ago, a student just beginning nursing school, she had her own abortion at the Center for Choice. She described the shame that kept her silent for years, and the hope that this new chapter brings.

"To know that the building had been taken down, it was a sign for me: God's taking care of this, he's big enough for this, you can let it go," Sattler said.

When the Center for Choice closed in June 2013, it had documented over 50,000 abortions in 30 years of operation. Many of the organizations planning Hope Park had been praying and working for years to see it shuttered.

The breakthrough came when the clinic was unable to secure a "transfer agreement" with a local hospital. Such an arrangement is required by Ohio law for all ambulatory surgical facilities, giving a doctor admitting privileges should a patient be in a condition requiring hospitalization.

Ed Sitter, executive director of the Foundation for Life, has now focused his organization's efforts on shutting down the one remaining abortion clinic in Toledo: Capital Care Network. "If women have more time to really contemplate their decision, they get more informed, they get more aware, they're empowered to make a life-affirming decision," he said.

From Sept. 28 until the beginning of November, prayer vigils for the national 40 Days for Life campaign will be held outside Capital Care Network. A thanksgiving service at Hope Park also was planned for Oct. 6. Peter Range, director of the Office for Life and Justice at Catholic Charities, is helping to organize those events.

"It's amazing to see God's hand at work and a good reminder that God does have the ultimate victory. Life does eventually triumph over death," he told CNS.

"Prayer is really truly one of our most powerful weapons," Sitter explained. "I believe that Capital Care Network will also close like the Center for Choice, and I believe that abortion will become a thing of the past."

- - -

Copyright © 2016 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.

Full Article

By Carol Glatz

VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- Pope Francis said he will never give up calling for stronger efforts to bring peace to the Middle East and for people to stop being indifferent to the fate of the region's people.

"My daily prayer to God," he said, is "to inspire the minds and hearts of all who have political responsibility, that they may be able to renounce their own interests in order to achieve the greater good -- peace."

The pope spoke during a private audience Sept. 29 at the Vatican with bishops, priests, religious and lay Catholics who provide pastoral and humanitarian assistance to those in need in Syria, Iraq and neighboring countries.

Despite many efforts to alleviate people's suffering, he said, sadly "the logic of weapons and oppression, hidden interests and violence continues to wreak devastation on these countries and, even now, we have not been able to put an end to the exasperating suffering and repeated violations of human rights."

Why, he asked, "even at the cost of untold damage to persons, property and the environment, does humanity continue to pursue abuses of power, revenge and violence?"

The endless cycle of violence almost makes it seem like the world is "caught up in a spiral of arrogance and inertia from which there is no escape," he said.

What people in Syria and Iraq want more than anything else -- beyond the needed humanitarian aid -- is peace, he said.

"And so I will never tire of asking the international community for greater and renewed efforts to achieve peace throughout the Middle East, and of asking not to look the other way."

Ending conflict also lies in human hands, he said, so every individual "can and must become a peacemaker."

"This evil which grips our will and conscience should challenge us," the pope said, and make people reflect how such evil must be redeemed.

The Year of Mercy highlights how divine mercy is ultimately the only power that can limit evil, he said. "Yes, the answer to the drama of evil lies in the mystery of Christ."

The work of so many people on the ground helping refugees and those in need, and protecting their dignity, the pope said, "is certainly a reflection of God's mercy and, as such, a sign that evil has limits and does not have the last word."

"In the midst of so much darkness," Christians in the Middle East "hold high the lamp of faith, hope and charity" as they help everyone -- with courage and without discrimination, he said.

Pope Francis entrusted the communities in crisis and those who are helping them to the intercession of St. Teresa of Kolkata, "exemplar of charity and mercy."

He also thanked and encouraged international organizations, in particular the United Nations, for their work and efforts at mediation.

Reaching agreements that end conflicts and protect the defenseless, he said, requires taking "a path we must travel together with patience and perseverance, but also with urgency, and the church will certainly continue to make her contribution."

Staffan de Mistura, the United Nations' special envoy to Syria, was among about 100 people at the papal audience. The group was at the Vatican for a follow-up meeting, sponsored by the Pontifical Council Cor Unum, to study the church's priorities and response to the crises in the region.

Archbishop Alberto Ortega Martin, nuncio to Iraq and Jordan, told reporters at the meeting venue Sept. 29 that helping Christians return to their homes or communities was a priority in areas where the fighting has abated.

However, for Christians to return or remain, they need guarantees of security, proper housing and food, he said.

Christians returning to homes that have been ransacked or pillaged would face the additional challenge, he said, of being witnesses to mercy by showing "no rancor" for having lost everything.

They will also play a crucial role in reconciliation and rebuilding, he said, because of the Christian tradition of being committed to dialogue, "being open to the other, forgiveness and non-discrimination."

More than 13.5 million people are in need of help in Syria, and there are at least 10 million people in need in Iraq, Cor Unum said in a press handout.

The Catholic Church's network of people on the ground in the region includes more than 4,000 professional staff and 8,000 volunteers, it said, as well as the many priests and religious working in the area.

In 2015, the Catholic Church mobilized more than $207 million in aid, which helped more than 4.5 million people, it said.

The money was used to fund education, food and other material, health care, shelter and rent. The amount of money being gathered and the number of people being helped for 2016, it said, was expected to exceed last year's figures.

- - -

Copyright © 2016 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.

Full Article

Full Article

Full Article

Full Article

Full Article

Full Article

The Church in India has taken the initiative to promote the teachings of the Papal Apostolic Exhortation Amoris Laetitia at the grass root level. As a first step, Oswald Cardinal Gracias, the President of the Conference of Catholic Bishops of India (CCBI) and the Federation of Asian Bishops Conference (FABC) released the Hindi translation of Amoris Laetitia. Its first copy was handed over to Archbishop Anil Couto of Delhi.

The Apostolic Exhortation Amoris Laetitia was widely discussed in India at the national, regional and diocesan levels. The Family Commission of the Conference of the CCBI takes special interest to popularise the teachings of the Exhortation. The CCBI is committed to strengthening family life, despite the many challenges it faces. The Hindi translation of the Papal document will help the north Indian faithful, whose mother tongue is Hindi, to understand in a better way the latest teachings of the Church.

The document, Amoris Laetitia is the fruit of the two synod of bishops on family in 2014 and 2015. The forthcoming FABC XI Plenary Assembly from 28th November to 4th December 2016 in Colombo, Sri Lanka would discuss the theme “The Catholic Family: Domestic Church of the Poor and Mission of Mercy.”. The next Plenary Assembly of the CCBI, which is scheduled to take place from 31st January to 8th February 2017 in Bhopal will also deliberate on the theme “The Joy of Love in the Family: Amoris Laetitia and its Implications for India”. Through these Episcopal Assemblies the Church in India is planning a renewal in the family ministry at the diocesan, regional and national levels said a press statement.

The Conference of Catholic Bishops of the Latin Church in India (CCBI) is the Canonical National Episcopal Conference. It is the largest Bishops Conference in Asia and the fourth largest in the world. There are 132 dioceses and 181 bishops in the Latin Church in India.

(Source: CCBI)

Full Article

(Vatican Radio) Pope Francis received representatives from the various Catholic aid agencies and charitable organizations under the leadership of the Pontifical Council Cor unum working in Iraq, Syria, and other countries in the region affected by the ongoing conflicts in both Syria and Iraq.

The Pontifical Council Cor unum is the Pope’s special instrument for carrying out humanitarian initiatives, promoting integral human development, coordinatinge the initiatives of Catholic Organizations, and encouraging the faithful to give concrete witness to the Gospel through charitable activity.

Below, please find Pope Francis’ prepared remarks, in their official English translation

************************************

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

I thank you for your participation during this moment of common reflection on the Church’s work in the context of the Syrian and Iraqi crisis. I greet all of you, Bishops, priests, religious and lay faithful. In particular, I wish to greet Mr Staffan de Mistura, Special Envoy to Syria of the Secretary-General of the United Nations, whom I thank for his presence. I express my grateful appreciation to Monsignor Dal Toso and the Pontifical Council Cor Unum for the attentive and effective support for what the Church is doing to alleviate the suffering of the millions of victims of these conflicts. In this respect, I would like to stress the importance of renewed cooperation at all levels between the different actors working in this sector.

We must note with great sadness that since our last meeting a year ago, despite extensive efforts made in a variety of areas, the logic of arms and oppression, hidden interests and violence continues to wreak devastation on these countries and that, even now, we have not been able to put an end to the exasperating suffering and repeated violations of human rights. The dramatic consequences of the crisis are already visible well beyond the borders of the region. This is seen in the grave phenomenon of migration.

Violence begets violence, and we have the impression of being caught up in a spiral of arrogance and inertia from which there is no escape. This evil which grips our will and conscience should challenge us. Why, even at the cost of untold damage to persons, property and the environment, does man continue to pursue abuses of power, revenge and violence? We think of the recent attack on a United Nations humanitarian convoy… This is the experience of the mysterium iniquitatis, that evil which is present in man and in history and which needs to be redeemed. Destruction for destruction’s sake. And so, during this Year, in which we fix our gaze more intensely on Christ, on Mercy incarnate who has conquered sin and death, I am reminded of the words of Saint John Paul II: “The limit imposed upon evil, of which man is both perpetrator and victim, is ultimately the Divine Mercy” (Memory and Identity). It is the only limit. Yes, the answer to the drama of evil lies in the mystery of Christ.

Seeing the many suffering faces in Syria, in Iraq and in the neighbouring and distant countries where millions of refugees are forced to seek shelter and protection, the Church beholds the face of her Lord in his Passion.

The work of all who like you, represent so many workers in the field, who are committed to helping refugees and to safeguarding their dignity, is certainly a reflection of God’s mercy and, as such, a sign that evil has limits and does not have the last word. This is a sign of great hope, for which I wish to thank you, and also the many unnamed people – though not nameless to God – who, especially in this Jubilee Year, are praying and interceding in silence for the victims of conflicts, particularly for children and the weak, and who in this way are also supporting your work. In Aleppo, children have to drink polluted water!

Beyond the necessary humanitarian aid, what our brothers and sisters in Syria and Iraq want more than anything else today is peace. And so I will never tire of asking the international community for greater and renewed efforts to achieve peace throughout the Middle East, and of asking not to look the other way.

Putting an end to the conflict is also in the hands of men and women: each of us can and must become a peacemaker, because every situation of violence and injustice is a wound to the body of the whole human family.

This request is my daily prayer to God, to inspire the minds and hearts of all who have political responsibility, that they may be able to renounce their own interests in order to achieve the greater good: peace.

In this regard, our meeting gives me the opportunity to thank and encourage international organizations, in particular the United Nations, for their work of support and mediation among various governments, so that there can be agreement which ends conflict and finally gives priority to the good of defenceless populations. It is a path we must travel together with patience and perseverance, but also with urgency, and the Church will certainly continue to make her contribution.

Finally, my thoughts turn to the Christian communities of the Middle East who suffer the consequences of violence and look to the future with fear. In the midst of so much darkness, these Churches hold high the lamp of faith, hope and charity. As they courageously and without discrimination assist all who suffer and work for a peaceful coexistence, Christians in the Middle East today are a clear sign of God’s mercy. They have the admiration, recognition and support of the universal Church.

I entrust these communities and those who work at the service of victims of this crisis to the intercession of Saint Teresa of Calcutta, exemplar of charity and mercy.

May the Lord bless you and our Blessed Mother keep you.

Full Article