Catholic News 2
PHOENIX (AP) -- U.S. Sen. John McCain beat back a primary challenge Tuesday from a Republican tea party activist to win the right to seek a sixth Senate term in November, clearing an important hurdle in a race that was inundated with questions about GOP presidential candidate Donald Trump....
BRASILIA, Brazil (AP) -- Senators deciding whether to oust President Dilma Rousseff headed into a long night of debate Tuesday, with so many wanting to speak that the judge presiding over the impeachment trial put off the final vote until Wednesday....
WASHINGTON (AP) -- The State Department said Tuesday it is evaluating a video released by the Afghan Taliban showing a Canadian man and his American wife warning that their Afghan captors will kill them and their children unless the Kabul government ends its executions of Taliban prisoners....
BEIRUT (AP) -- The Islamic State group's spokesman and chief strategist, who laid out the blueprint for the extremist group's attacks against the West, has been killed while overseeing operations in northern Syria, the group announced Tuesday....
EVERETT, Wash. (AP) -- In a surprise move, Donald Trump will travel to Mexico on Wednesday to meet with President Enrique Pena Nieto, just hours before the Republican delivers a highly anticipated speech on immigration....
(Vatican Radio) Officials say Hungary's Prime Minister Viktor Orbán has met Pope Francis after he pledged that his nation wants to tackle the persecution of Christians at a time when Europe faces a massive refugee crisis. The Hungarian government's international press office confirmed to Vatican Radio that Orbán met the Pope last weekend on the sidelines of the annual International Catholic Legislators Network meeting. That gathering, held in Frascati, near Rome, was described as the "largest forum for Christian heads of government". Listen to the report by Stefan Bos: Sunday's private audience came as Europe faces a massive refugee crisis. Orbán said last week that Hungary plans to build a second "more massive fence" on its southern border with Serbia to halt any new wave of mainly Muslim migrants fleeing war and poverty. He explained that the new barrier, to be built alongside the existing razor wire ...
(Vatican Radio) Officials say Hungary's Prime Minister Viktor Orbán has met Pope Francis after he pledged that his nation wants to tackle the persecution of Christians at a time when Europe faces a massive refugee crisis.
The Hungarian government's international press office confirmed to Vatican Radio that Orbán met the Pope last weekend on the sidelines of the annual International Catholic Legislators Network meeting.
That gathering, held in Frascati, near Rome, was described as the "largest forum for Christian heads of government".
Listen to the report by Stefan Bos:
Sunday's private audience came as Europe faces a massive refugee crisis. Orbán said last week that Hungary plans to build a second "more massive fence" on its southern border with Serbia to halt any new wave of mainly Muslim migrants fleeing war and poverty.
He explained that the new barrier, to be built alongside the existing razor wire one, would boost defences if Turkey's policy on migration changed. If that happened, Orbán warned, hundreds of thousands of people could appear at Hungary's border on their way to more prosperous European Union nations.
POPE URGING COMPASSION
Yet, since the start of the migration crisis, the pope has often reminded Catholics, and nations, to help refugees regardless of their religious background. Last year he called on every Catholic parish to take in at least one of the thousands of desperate families. And he recently visited the Greek island of Lesbos and its refugee camps, taking three families back to the Vatican with him.
However Hungary's prime minister has made clear his country now shares Pope Francis concerns about persecuted Christians. Just before meeting the pontiff he told Middle Eastern Christian leaders that predominantly Catholic Hungary stands up against the persecution of Christians in the Middle East.
He reportedly called them "the most vulnerable Christians in the world". And Orbán made clear that predominantly Catholic Hungary is ready to support communities at risk, including Christians.
Leaders attending the talks focusing on persecution included Ignatius Joseph III Yonan, the Patriarch of Antioch for the Syriac Catholic Church; Patriarch Moran Mor Bechara Boutros al-Rahi; Jean-Clement Jeanbart, the Melkite Greek Catholic Archbishop of Aleppo; Moran Mor Ignatius Aphrem II, the patriarch of the Syriac Orthodox Church; and Anba Gabriel, a Coptic bishop.
(Vatican Radio) Armed police blocked off the Greek government’s media regulator building in Athens on Tuesday morning in what many fear could be the start of an attempt by the leftwing-led government to control the airwaves.Listen to the report by John Carr: The police are there to guard two days of negotiations between officials and eight media businesses that will end with just four national television channel licences being awarded. The process has come under savage criticism from the opposition as a drive to close many private tv channels that are critical of the government’s policies.To add to the drama, the bidders for the media licences will not be allowed to leave the building for 48 hours while their bids are examined, and will be under camera surveillance at all times. The government’s case is that this will ensure that the process is incorruptible. But it has triggered ridicule among many Greeks, who suspect that the leftwing go...
(Vatican Radio) Armed police blocked off the Greek government’s media regulator building in Athens on Tuesday morning in what many fear could be the start of an attempt by the leftwing-led government to control the airwaves.
Listen to the report by John Carr:
The police are there to guard two days of negotiations between officials and eight media businesses that will end with just four national television channel licences being awarded.
The process has come under savage criticism from the opposition as a drive to close many private tv channels that are critical of the government’s policies.
To add to the drama, the bidders for the media licences will not be allowed to leave the building for 48 hours while their bids are examined, and will be under camera surveillance at all times. The government’s case is that this will ensure that the process is incorruptible.
But it has triggered ridicule among many Greeks, who suspect that the leftwing government wants to tighten its hold over television by claiming that the industry so far was ridden by corruption – and installing its own tame media barons in place.
(Vatican Radio) Mexico`s President has fired the Federal Police Chief, following a damning report from the National Human Rights Commission.The reports concludes that some officers "arbitrarily executed" 22 suspected members of a drug cartel at a ranch in Western Mexico. James Blears reports about fallout, which has reach and purged the highest levels. Listen: Federal Police Chief Enrique Gallindo, has been fired by Mexican President Enrique Pena Nieto, as the investigation into the massacre deepens. The announcement of the President`s decision was made by Minister of the Interior Miguel Angel Osorio Chong. The National Human Rights Commission report condemned the killings of 22 men by Federal Police at a ranch last year, in the State of Michoacán who they insist were: "Arbitarily executed." It also says that the Federal Police even posed some of the bodies, placing guns in lifeless hands to fake the scenario, trying to give a ...
(Vatican Radio) Mexico`s President has fired the Federal Police Chief, following a damning report from the National Human Rights Commission.
The reports concludes that some officers "arbitrarily executed" 22 suspected members of a drug cartel at a ranch in Western Mexico.
James Blears reports about fallout, which has reach and purged the highest levels.
Listen:
Federal Police Chief Enrique Gallindo, has been fired by Mexican President Enrique Pena Nieto, as the investigation into the massacre deepens. The announcement of the President`s decision was made by Minister of the Interior Miguel Angel Osorio Chong.
The National Human Rights Commission report condemned the killings of 22 men by Federal Police at a ranch last year, in the State of Michoacán who they insist were: "Arbitarily executed."
It also says that the Federal Police even posed some of the bodies, placing guns in lifeless hands to fake the scenario, trying to give a different impression to incoming forensic experts.
In total 42 people died at that ranch, on that day. One Police Officer was killed. Enrique Gallindo refutes the findings against his men.
The report lambasts the already tattered reputation of Police in Mexico, who have been at the sharp end of an ongoing nine year Drug War, which has claimed more than 150,000 lives.
Vatican City, Aug 30, 2016 / 10:14 am (CNA/EWTN News).- In honor of all “workers and volunteers of mercy,” the Vatican is asking those who volunteer in different service opportunities to share their testimony on social media with the hashtag #BeMercy.Launched by the Pontifical Council for the Promotion of the New Evangelization, the #BeMercy initiative is meant to coincide with the special Sept. 2-4 Jubilee for Workers and Volunteers of Mercy, and is part of Pope Francis’ wider Holy Year of Mercy.“Charity, love and mercy are different words to express the same reality: God’s love,” Archbishop Rino Fisichella, president of the Council for the New Evangelization, told CNA in an interview.“God is close to you and God is always helping you,” he said, noting that love, charity and mercy aren’t limited to just helping people, but “become a great witness for us in the moment we are able to forgive people.”“That will be...
Vatican City, Aug 30, 2016 / 10:14 am (CNA/EWTN News).- In honor of all “workers and volunteers of mercy,” the Vatican is asking those who volunteer in different service opportunities to share their testimony on social media with the hashtag #BeMercy.
Launched by the Pontifical Council for the Promotion of the New Evangelization, the #BeMercy initiative is meant to coincide with the special Sept. 2-4 Jubilee for Workers and Volunteers of Mercy, and is part of Pope Francis’ wider Holy Year of Mercy.
“Charity, love and mercy are different words to express the same reality: God’s love,” Archbishop Rino Fisichella, president of the Council for the New Evangelization, told CNA in an interview.
“God is close to you and God is always helping you,” he said, noting that love, charity and mercy aren’t limited to just helping people, but “become a great witness for us in the moment we are able to forgive people.”
“That will be really the challenge for us today: to be witnesses of pardon and forgiveness.”
The idea to share testimonies of volunteer service is meant to show the fact that within the Church there are many who daily perform the concrete works of mercy Pope Francis has encouraged during the Holy Year.
Since the new initiative is meant to be a special part of the special Jubilee for Workers and Volunteers of Mercy, the council is asking that faithful take to social media platforms such as Facebook, Twitter, Snapchat, Instagram, etc., to share how they have volunteered their time serving others with the hashtag #BeMercy.
For those who might not know if they qualify as a volunteer of mercy, Archbishop Fisichella said those who fall into the category include “everybody who takes care of a friend or sister. Everybody who is in the condition to help people daily, in silence, in a concrete way, visiting sick people, visiting prisoners, helping poor people, assisting people who are hungry.”
“We have an infinite way of (living the) works of mercy and in this way we have infinite workers of mercy,” he said, adding that everyone in this category is invited to join the jubilee celebration in order “to receive the thank you of Pope Francis.”
Official events for the Jubilee of Workers and Volunteers of Mercy start Friday, Sept. 2 with adoration and confessions in designated churches throughout Rome, followed by a welcoming ceremony at Castel Sant’Angelo, which sits at the end of Via Conciliazione, the large street leading up to St. Peter’s Basilica.
The following morning, jubilee participants will have a special audience with Pope Francis in St. Peter’s Square during which he will give a catechesis on themes related to the Holy Year.
After the audience, pilgrims will have the opportunity to pass through the basilica’s Holy Door, and attend adoration and confession in certain parishes.
On Sunday, Sept. 4, the jubilee will conclude with the canonization Mass for Bl. Mother Teresa of Calcutta, considered one of the greatest witnesses of mercy in our time, celebrated by Pope Francis in St. Peter’s Square.
Speaking of Mother Teresa’s witness to mercy, Archbishop Fisichella said that in addition to honoring all those who give their time in service to others with a special jubilee, Pope Francis also wanted to provide “spiritual assistance” to all those who work in the field, and “who will be the icon of mercy in our sanctuary except Mother Teresa?”
Mother Teresa, he said, “was close to the poorest among the poor and probably for this reason Pope Francis had this inspiration to canonize Mother Teresa and to give a concrete sign how we can be workers of mercy daily.”
Even if Mother Teresa isn’t officially declared a patron for workers of mercy, “she is the icon and the spiritual assistance for everybody,” the archbishop said.
On the topic of security, Archbishop Fisichella stressed that Italian and Vatican police are taking extra precautions to ensure everyone’s safety, so there is no need to fear.
Though groups and pilgrims are still trickling into Rome, the city has already begun to fill up ahead of Mother Teresa’s canonization Sunday.
Archbishop Fisichella said that while he doesn’t have a number as to how many pilgrims might show up, nearly 500,000 came when Padre Pio’s remains were brought to Rome for the launch of the Jubilee, and “so I think that more or less it will be the same number” for Mother Teresa.
For those who aren’t able to make it to the Mass or who aren’t even Catholic, Mother Teresa serves as “a universal sign of goodness, of piety, of mercy, of love,” and will be appreciated as such throughout the world, the archbishop said.
He pointed to Mother Teresa’s often repeated phrase that “I probably don’t speak your language, but I can smile,” noting that one doesn’t have to be Catholic to share in this act of mercy, because “smiling is a universal language.”
“When you are a witness of mercy, a witness of charity, a witness of God’s love,” he said, “a smile, joy, is your universal language.”
Though he never met Mother Teresa personally, Archbishop Fisichella said he has met and spent time with the Missionaries of Charity on several occasions, and “they continue to work with the witness of Mother Teresa, with the ideal of Mother Teresa and with the same charity.”
Buenos Aires, Argentina, Aug 30, 2016 / 12:49 pm (CNA/EWTN News).- The community of the Missionaries of Charity in Mar del Plata, Argentina, became the target of criminals late last week, as three men broke in, beat the sisters and desecrated their chapel.According to reports, three unidentified men entered the house of the community – which was founded by Blessed Mother Teresa of Calcutta – at around 7:30 p.m. Thursday, August 25.After beating and gagging the five sisters who reside there so they could not cry for help, the criminals ransacked every corner of the house and finally took 50 Argentinian pesos (approximately $3.30), which was the only cash the sisters had.They also entered the chapel in search of valuable objects. They opened up the tabernacle and emptied out the consecrated hosts that were there in the ciborium, presumably to steal the sacred vessel. When they realized that it was not made of gold, they left it behind.The congregation was founded by Blesse...
Buenos Aires, Argentina, Aug 30, 2016 / 12:49 pm (CNA/EWTN News).- The community of the Missionaries of Charity in Mar del Plata, Argentina, became the target of criminals late last week, as three men broke in, beat the sisters and desecrated their chapel.
According to reports, three unidentified men entered the house of the community – which was founded by Blessed Mother Teresa of Calcutta – at around 7:30 p.m. Thursday, August 25.
After beating and gagging the five sisters who reside there so they could not cry for help, the criminals ransacked every corner of the house and finally took 50 Argentinian pesos (approximately $3.30), which was the only cash the sisters had.
They also entered the chapel in search of valuable objects. They opened up the tabernacle and emptied out the consecrated hosts that were there in the ciborium, presumably to steal the sacred vessel. When they realized that it was not made of gold, they left it behind.
The congregation was founded by Blessed Mother Teresa of Calcutta, who will be canonized by Pope Francis on September 4. The community has been present for 20 years in the city of Mar del Plata in the Buenos Aires province.
Their mission there focuses mainly on giving free care to terminally ill HIV/AIDS patients at the Queen of Peace Home.
On August 22, just three days before the attack, Bishop Antonio Marino of Mar del Plata had visited the community, in recognition of the upcoming canonization of their foundress and the Feast of the Immaculate Heart of Mary.
This marks the second time in recent weeks that the Eucharist was desecrated in Argentina. On August 15, the Feast of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary, unidentified men entered Our Lady of Mercy parish in the Santa Fe province of Argentina, where they desecrated and stole a bronze tabernacle containing consecrated hosts.
An act of reparation was offered on August 17 in the desecrated church, which consisted of a Eucharistic Holy Hour and then a Mass presided by the Archbishop of Santa Fe, José María Arancedo.
“This calls us to increase our love for Jesus in the Eucharist, to strengthen our hearts joined to him, to strengthen our faith in the Lord, because these are times of the persecution of the Church, and like the first Christians we need to be strengthened and encouraged to walk with resolve on the path of faith,” he said.
