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WASHINGTON (AP) -- A rising chorus of Republican lawmakers and veterans groups hastened to disavow Donald Trump's repeated criticism of a bereaved military family Monday, but the GOP presidential nominee refused to back down. He complained anew that he had been "viciously attacked" by the parents of a Muslim U.S. Army captain who was killed in Iraq....
(Vatican Radio) Pope Francis has sent a Message to the Bishops of Argentina on the occasion of the Feast of St. Cajetan, the priest and founder of the Theatine order of priests, who is greatly venerated in the Pope’s native land as the Patron of Labour.Click below to hear our report Millions of pilgrims flock to the Buenos Aires neighbourhood of Liniers each year around St. Cajetan’s August 7th feast day, to ask for bread, and the work by which to get it with dignity.In his Message, addressed to the President of the Bishops’ Conference of Argentina, Archbishop José Maria Arancedo of Santa Fe, Pope Francis says, “[O]n this feast of San Cajetan, may all the Bishops find ways to accompany our brothers and sisters, who ask for bread and work.”
(Vatican Radio) Pope Francis has sent a Message to the Bishops of Argentina on the occasion of the Feast of St. Cajetan, the priest and founder of the Theatine order of priests, who is greatly venerated in the Pope’s native land as the Patron of Labour.
Click below to hear our report
Millions of pilgrims flock to the Buenos Aires neighbourhood of Liniers each year around St. Cajetan’s August 7th feast day, to ask for bread, and the work by which to get it with dignity.
In his Message, addressed to the President of the Bishops’ Conference of Argentina, Archbishop José Maria Arancedo of Santa Fe, Pope Francis says, “[O]n this feast of San Cajetan, may all the Bishops find ways to accompany our brothers and sisters, who ask for bread and work.”
IMAGE: CNS photo/Bob RollerBy Jonathan LuxmooreKRAKOW, Poland (CNS) -- In agiant circus tent on PiastowskaStreet, next to the Jagiellonian University's sports center, a rock bandwound up its full-volume refrain against a dazzling background of lights andstreamers.In the foreground, more than 3,000young people settled on the ground, as Archbishop Christopher Prowse of Canberra, Australia, started hisaddress."At a time of so muchdeadness and negativity, we are the people of hope," the archbishop'svoice boomed over loudspeakers. "We are the missionary people, the peopleof mercy sent out by God, who hold Jesus close to us."The International EvangelizationCenter, close to Krakow's Blonia Park, was a key feature of World Youth Day,tasked with inspiring and encouraging vocations to the priesthood and religiouslife.Robert Kosciuszko, its Polish spokesman who coordinatesvolunteers from all continents, said each language group was asked to prepare aprogram of prayers and testimonies during t...
IMAGE: CNS photo/Bob Roller
By Jonathan Luxmoore
KRAKOW, Poland (CNS) -- In a giant circus tent on Piastowska Street, next to the Jagiellonian University's sports center, a rock band wound up its full-volume refrain against a dazzling background of lights and streamers.
In the foreground, more than 3,000 young people settled on the ground, as Archbishop Christopher Prowse of Canberra, Australia, started his address.
"At a time of so much deadness and negativity, we are the people of hope," the archbishop's voice boomed over loudspeakers. "We are the missionary people, the people of mercy sent out by God, who hold Jesus close to us."
The International Evangelization Center, close to Krakow's Blonia Park, was a key feature of World Youth Day, tasked with inspiring and encouraging vocations to the priesthood and religious life.
Robert Kosciuszko, its Polish spokesman who coordinates volunteers from all continents, said each language group was asked to prepare a program of prayers and testimonies during the weeklong festival.
Those sensing a call to the priesthood, Kosciuszko explained, were referred to a special Vocations Center in Krakow's main sports stadium, which ran daily prayer meetings and discussions on subjects from sexuality to interfaith dialogue.
Bishop Joseph A. Pepe of Las Vegas agreed that World Youth Day offers an important opportunity for fostering vocations, with over a third of current U.S. seminarians citing previous Youth Days as a major influence.
At least one of his deacons, Bishop Pepe said, felt his calling at World Youth Day in Madrid in 2011 and plans to work in Russia after ordination.
"This is very much an evangelical moment when it comes to considering the priesthood and religious life," the bishop told Catholic News Service in Krakow July 29. "The young men and women who come here see youthful priests and sisters around them -- they seem dynamic and happy, and this encourages them to make inquiries."
With admissions to the Catholic priesthood and religious orders now dwindling in much of the world, center volunteers say youth events like this provide a major forum for encouraging initial signs of interest in the religious life.
Wojciech Kuczynski, a Polish novice with the Society of the Divine Word, said he discovered his vocation while attending a youth vigil after the April 2005 death of St John Paul II, after "a life of drugs and rock music" that included "dabbling in satanism." Kuczynski hopes to be ordained a priest in 2018.
"The Holy Spirit, wherever it goes, opens doors to growth and maturity," said Father Bartlomiej Dudek, a Polish priest from Przemysl ministering at the center. "Vocations can only be inspired by the Holy Spirit, not in any other way. And the World Youth Day is truly spirit-filled -- God speaks here to people's hearts."
From Tanzania, Bishop Gervas Mwasikwabhila Nyaisonga of Mpanda said his vocation was confirmed while attending a Catholic youth event.
Young people everywhere need "contacts and connections," the bishop said, and mass festivals like this "remind them they're valued and taken seriously by the church."
"While youngsters feel their religiousness is accepted here, they don't always feel it's accepted at home -- so we encourage them to maintain their own culture and identity, provided it's Christian," Bishop Nyaisonga told CNS.
"But many feel, after an experience like this, they also owe something to the church. If they're influenced and inspired in the right way, they may well choose to embrace the religious life," said the bishop, who came to Krakow with 430 lay Catholics and 16 priests from Tanzania.
Holy Spirit Sister Catherine Wu Jialin from China's Hebei province, said the several dozen Chinese Catholics who made it to World Youth Day all had to "come in various guises," since the Beijing government would not have permitted it officially. But she said at least one Chinese visitor is now considering the priesthood after having the opportunity "to mix with like-minded young Catholics from around the world."
"There are huge difficulties in the path of young people who feel the call this way," Sister Catherine told CNS. "But we can't underestimate the importance of an event like World Youth Day in giving them the courage and confidence to face up to such challenges."
Back at the vast red-and-yellow circus tent, the morning liturgy concluded and the International Evangelization Center rock band played a specially composed youth anthem, "Light of My Life."
Across the field, priests waited to hear confessions, while hundreds of jubilant youngsters from dozens of countries streamed out of the arena, dancing and waving their hands.
Fenola Lyons said several Australian friends were thinking about becoming nuns, "despite pressure to form relationships and opt for family life."
Father Paul Winter, vocations director for Australia's Lismore Diocese, said vocations are a "delicate plant" and won't always be recognizable while World Youth Day is still underway.
But the 2008 World Youth Day in Sydney provided a magnet for Australian vocations, Father Winter recalled, not just for the priesthood and religious life, but for other forms of Catholic commitment as well. If the enthusiasm and fervor can be maintained and channeled, the church will derive great benefits.
Archbishop Prowse agreed.
"The youth continue to surprise us with their joy and hope -- in many quarters, it's said young people aren't interested in the faith and Christianity, but this World Youth Day has once again proved this totally wrong," the Australian archbishop told CNS.
"Young people are giving the world an example, and we should be thankful to them for it -- and to this festival for fostering vocations to the religious life," he said.
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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.
IMAGE: CNS photo/Jaclyn Lippelmann, Catholic StandardBy Cindy WoodenVATICAN CITY (CNS) -- Aware of the risk of being callednaive or being accused of spouting platitudes, Pope Francis called on youngpeople to model for adults the paths of mercy and respect, and then demonstratedwhat he meant."Today we adults -- we adults -- need you to teach us,like you are doing now, how to live with diversity, in dialogue, to experiencemulticulturalism not as a threat but an opportunity," the pope told youngpeople gathered for a prayer vigil July 30 in Krakow, Poland."Have the courage to teach us that it is easier tobuild bridges than walls. We need this," he said.Many people find it easy to sit on the couch and tweet popularstereotypes like "All Muslims are terrorists" or "Immigrantssteal our jobs."Pope Francis acknowledged that it is a huge task to buildbridges and said he knew many people might not feel up to it at first. But, hesaid, Christians have an obligation to make at least an attempt.St...
IMAGE: CNS photo/Jaclyn Lippelmann, Catholic Standard
By Cindy Wooden
VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- Aware of the risk of being called naive or being accused of spouting platitudes, Pope Francis called on young people to model for adults the paths of mercy and respect, and then demonstrated what he meant.
"Today we adults -- we adults -- need you to teach us, like you are doing now, how to live with diversity, in dialogue, to experience multiculturalism not as a threat but an opportunity," the pope told young people gathered for a prayer vigil July 30 in Krakow, Poland.
"Have the courage to teach us that it is easier to build bridges than walls. We need this," he said.
Many people find it easy to sit on the couch and tweet popular stereotypes like "All Muslims are terrorists" or "Immigrants steal our jobs."
Pope Francis acknowledged that it is a huge task to build bridges and said he knew many people might not feel up to it at first. But, he said, Christians have an obligation to make at least an attempt.
Start small, he said. Take the hand of someone next to you.
It is possible that no one will accept that extended hand, he said, "but in life you must take risks; one who never risks never wins."
At a time when civil discourse seems not only to have rejected "political correctness," but also grandma's "if you can't say anything nice, don't say anything at all," Pope Francis said Christians are called to watch their tongues. And their texting fingers.
"We are not here to shout against anyone. We are not about to fight. We do not want to destroy. We do not want to insult anyone," he said. "We have no desire to conquer hatred with more hatred, violence with more violence, terror with more terror."
Perhaps more than any event so far in the Year of Mercy, the World Youth Day celebrations focused on the traditional Catholic lists of the corporal and spiritual works of mercy: feed the hungry; give drink to the thirsty; clothe the naked; welcome the stranger; assist the sick; visit the imprisoned; bury the dead; counsel the doubtful; teach the ignorant; admonish sinners; comfort the sorrowful; forgive offenses; patiently bear with troublesome people; and pray for the living and the dead.
A year before the Krakow gathering, Pope Francis sent young people a letter asking them to prepare for World Youth Day by performing one of the works each month. And, in solemn prayer July 29, the pope and the youths meditated as the seven corporal works and seven spiritual works were paired with one of the 14 Stations of the Cross at the Krakow celebration.
"In the face of evil, suffering and sin," the pope told them, "the only response possible for a disciple of Jesus is the gift of self, even of one's own life, in imitation of Christ; it is the attitude of service. Unless those who call themselves Christians live to serve, their lives serve no good purpose. By their lives, they deny Jesus Christ."
The reality of evil, violence and terrorism filled the newspapers in late July, strongly contrasting with the sight of young Catholics dancing in the streets of Krakow or a million of them on their knees before the Blessed Sacrament or thousands standing in line for confession in a park.
In Poland and on his return flight to Rome, Pope Francis did not ignore the signs of evil. But he made it clear his bet for a better future was on the hope-filled, energetic, courageous and open tendencies of the young. And their willingness to get to know those from another country, another race or another religion.
On the flight back to Rome July 31, a journalist asked the pope, "Why, when you speak of these violent acts" like the brutal murder of an elderly priest in France, "you speak of terrorists, but never of Islam? You never use the word Islam."
Every religion has members who are violent, Pope Francis said. "If I spoke of Islamic violence, I would have to speak of Catholic violence as well. Not all Muslims are violent; not all Catholics are violent. It's like fruit salad -- there is a bit of everything. There are violent people in these religions. One thing is true: I believe that in almost every religion there is a little fundamentalist group."
The pope told reporters about his long discussion in May with the grand imam of Egypt's al-Azhar University, the highly influential center of Sunni Muslim learning. "They are looking for peace, for encounter," the pope said.
"I do not think it is right to identify Islam with violence," the pope told reporters. "This is not right and it is not true."
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Follow Wooden on Twitter @Cindy_Wooden.
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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.
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In a stinging analysis, Zambia’s Diocese of Mongu Bishop, Evans Chinyemba has decried Zambia’s deteriorating media freedoms and said that the country would in two weeks’ time (11 August) conduct general elections under the climate of public service media that only speak for the party in power. He has since urged the Zambian government to stop abusing the public service media sector for its ends.“Zambia votes aware of how we, Zambians have allowed the Zambia National Broadcasting Corporation (ZNBC); the Times of Zambia and the Zambia Daily Mail newspapers; the Zambia News and Information Services (ZANIS) and the National Agricultural Information Services (NAIS) to destroy public service media ethics and allow them to only speak for the party in power,” Bishop Chinyemba said. He made the remarks in the latest Mongu Diocese bulletin, Drumbeat, addressed to parishioners.Bishop Chinyemba says in its current form and for lack of a better term, Zambia’...
In a stinging analysis, Zambia’s Diocese of Mongu Bishop, Evans Chinyemba has decried Zambia’s deteriorating media freedoms and said that the country would in two weeks’ time (11 August) conduct general elections under the climate of public service media that only speak for the party in power. He has since urged the Zambian government to stop abusing the public service media sector for its ends.
“Zambia votes aware of how we, Zambians have allowed the Zambia National Broadcasting Corporation (ZNBC); the Times of Zambia and the Zambia Daily Mail newspapers; the Zambia News and Information Services (ZANIS) and the National Agricultural Information Services (NAIS) to destroy public service media ethics and allow them to only speak for the party in power,” Bishop Chinyemba said. He made the remarks in the latest Mongu Diocese bulletin, Drumbeat, addressed to parishioners.
Bishop Chinyemba says in its current form and for lack of a better term, Zambia’s public service media had become ‘enemies of information’ especially during the months of electoral campaigns in the nation.
“The way the public service media has behaved seems to have left the Electoral Commission of Zambia powerless knowing that the hand of government is in both institutions.” The Bishop said. He added that after the 11 August general elections, the country would urgently need to revisit and revise the Electoral Code of Conduct in as far as it relates to public service media.
Bishop Chinyemba further criticised the closure of the privately-owned, Post newspaper by the Zambian government on 21 June, this year. The Post newspaper fiercely independent and widely seen as anti-government was accused of tax evasion.
The Mongu Diocese Ordinary insists that the country has more to gain when public service media are allowed, by politicians, to operate without interference so that they can become trusted sources of information and vital cultural institutions that reach the whole population without bias.
Referring to Zambia’s violence-ridden electoral campaigns of 2016, in which some deaths and many injuries have been recorded, Bishop Chinyemba called for peaceful voting.
“We know where we have been and as a nation, we refuse to live in fear. The call is for all Zambians is to arm yourselves not with a party Panga, but with your National Registration Card (NRC) and voter’s Card. Vote as if this was your last vote; and you wish to leave a good future for generations that are coming after you,” the Bishop encouraged parishioners.
Zambia has seen unprecedented levels of political violence between rival political party cadres which have resulted in injury, loss of life and property. In its statement of 11 July, the Law Association of Zambia (LAZ) said it was gravely perturbed by the continued degeneration of law and order in Zambia being exhibited in the run-up to the general elections.
(Fr. Paul Samasumo, Vatican Radio)
Email: engafrica@vatiradio.va
NEW YORK (AP) -- There's one area where Donald Trump is guaranteed to beat Hillary Clinton this fall: He'll be the butt of the most jokes by late-night comics....
