Catholic News 2
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) -- An entire generation has come of age since the last time Missouri raised its cigarette tax, from 13 cents a pack to 17 cents, in 1993....
On the day Cheryl Lawson Walker graduated from college, she hadn't thought much about the future, and the obstacles she might face as a woman....
A century ago, when the automobile was in its infancy and most roads weren't paved, two intrepid sisters from Brooklyn made a remarkable journey - a 4,000-mile trek across the country on motorcycles....
CAIRO (AP) -- Egyptian investigators said Saturday they would be able to access the cockpit voice recordings of the EgyptAir flight that crashed in May despite damage to the black box....
WASHINGTON (AP) -- White House and intelligence officials are deciding whether to declassify 28 pages of a congressional investigation into the Sept. 11 attacks. The still-secret chapter could answer or raise new questions about possible Saudi links to the attackers....
WASHINGTON (AP) -- Amid the clamor a year ago to release 28 still-secret pages of a congressional inquiry into the Sept. 11 attacks, the government quietly declassified a little-known report listing more than three dozen people who piqued the interest of investigators probing possible Saudi connections to the hijackers....
DHAKA, Bangladesh (AP) -- The Latest on the attack on a restaurant popular with foreigners in a diplomatic zone in the Bangladeshi capital (all times local):...
(Vatican Radio) The Catholic Church of the Philippines "intends to cooperate" with the new President Rodorigo Duterte for the good of the people but, at the same time, "remains vigilant." Msgr. Socrates Villegas, president of the Filipino bishops (CBCP), said at the beginning of the mandate of the Head of State who, in several statements, has expressed controversial judgments on the work of the Church.“Pursuing the same vision as Filipinos and as Catholics, we will be vigilant because vigilance is the great price for freedom… We will offer our critique and denounce error but kindly look at us, not as enemies wanting governments to fall, but as brethren and friends wishing politics to succeed,” added Msgr. Villegas said on Thursday.Duterte was sworn in at noon on Thursday in Manila, declaring before a Supreme Court justice that he would "preserve and protect" the constitution, which analysts say will likely see major changes during h...
(Vatican Radio) The Catholic Church of the Philippines "intends to cooperate" with the new President Rodorigo Duterte for the good of the people but, at the same time, "remains vigilant." Msgr. Socrates Villegas, president of the Filipino bishops (CBCP), said at the beginning of the mandate of the Head of State who, in several statements, has expressed controversial judgments on the work of the Church.
“Pursuing the same vision as Filipinos and as Catholics, we will be vigilant because vigilance is the great price for freedom… We will offer our critique and denounce error but kindly look at us, not as enemies wanting governments to fall, but as brethren and friends wishing politics to succeed,” added Msgr. Villegas said on Thursday.
Duterte was sworn in at noon on Thursday in Manila, declaring before a Supreme Court justice that he would "preserve and protect" the constitution, which analysts say will likely see major changes during his six years in office. Crowning a rise from little-known mayor to leader of a huge nation, Duterte came to power after a landslide election victory in May, 2016.
Nicknamed "The Punisher", Duterte overthrew the political establishment, promising a "bloody war" on crime and action on corruption. At his inaugural speech he promised to make sweeping changes to the country's political system. "I see the erosion of the people's trust in their country's leaders," he said. "The erosion of faith in our judicial system. The erosion of confidence in the capacity of our public servants to make the people's lives better, safer and healthier."
Duterte is credited with a dramatic reduction in crime in Davao, but rights groups say it was at the expense of human rights. There are already concerns being raised over an increase in vigilante mobs and Philippine experts almost uniformly warn that one of the greatest risks of the new Duterte presidency is the rise of paramilitaries.
But reiterating, his point that politics is a ‘gift of God’, the president of the CBCP emphasizes that politics can preserve the peace and promote the progress of society. Hence, the regret that due to the institutional representatives politics “ has become not a mine of gold and diamonds but a filthy septic tank of waste and dirt. It happens because men and women use politics for their enrichment and not for the good of others.” A phenomenon progressed over time, said Msgr. Villegas, and has caused a slow erosion of values ??and virtues getting compromised.
“Politics becomes dirty and filthy when there is administration without accountability. Public servants are employees of the people”, said Msgr. Villegas
“Administration without accountability leads to another filth which is governance without godliness. There is separation of Church and State and that is a law that both religion and government must respect. But there must be no separation between God and man. Governor Espino is our governor but Christ alone is our King. When governance has no ethics and plays blind to the precepts of godliness, politics starts to stink,” Msgr. Villegas emphasized.
Calling politicians to live exemplary lives of integrity, the prelate further said “Speeches are easy to write and smooth to deliver but what society needs now are not eloquent speakers but inspiring examples of life. Let lifestyle be inspiring. Let private lives shine forth as examples of integrity. When lives become examples, speeches become more empowering.”
Finally expressing hope Msgr. Villegas said “Can politicians be saints? Yes. Kings have become saints serving their kingdoms. Politics can be a mine of sanctity for leaders and their peoples. Politicians are called to be saintly like all of us.”
Elected on 9 May this year, Duterte, is known for his "iron fist" against crime, the new president has already announced plans to reinstate the death penalty in the country. Moreover, on several occasions, he has attacked the Catholic Church, calling it "the most hypocritical institution" in the world and has criticized its work in defense of life and against the use of contraceptives.
(Vatican Radio) "After the attack in Dhaka, we are very concerned about the growth of terrorism. These terrorist acts are damaging the country and its image abroad. The situation we are experiencing is really difficult": says to Agenzia Fides Fr. Dilip Costa, Director of the Pontifical Mission Societies in Bangladesh, commenting on the latest episode that has shaken the country.Special forces put an end to the actions of a terrorist group that was holding several foreigners hostage in a restaurant in Dhaka. 20 foreigners have died and several wounded. "Most of (the hostages) were killed mercilessly by sharp weapons last night," Army Brigadier General Naim Asraf Chowdhury said, before the siege began on Saturday. Six of the attackers were killed by Bangladeshi forces, ending an over 10-hour standoff. A terrorist was caught alive, Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina announced on Saturday."It is true that most Muslims condemn acts such as this and that ra...
(Vatican Radio) "After the attack in Dhaka, we are very concerned about the growth of terrorism. These terrorist acts are damaging the country and its image abroad. The situation we are experiencing is really difficult": says to Agenzia Fides Fr. Dilip Costa, Director of the Pontifical Mission Societies in Bangladesh, commenting on the latest episode that has shaken the country.
Special forces put an end to the actions of a terrorist group that was holding several foreigners hostage in a restaurant in Dhaka. 20 foreigners have died and several wounded. "Most of (the hostages) were killed mercilessly by sharp weapons last night," Army Brigadier General Naim Asraf Chowdhury said, before the siege began on Saturday. Six of the attackers were killed by Bangladeshi forces, ending an over 10-hour standoff. A terrorist was caught alive, Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina announced on Saturday.
"It is true that most Muslims condemn acts such as this and that radical groups are a minority. But there are dangers and we Christians can feel the dangers, because there have also been attacks on Christian sites and missionaries. the government says it will do its best, but apparently it is not enough to stop them. We do not know how direct and concrete the relationship of local violent radical groups is with the Islamic State in the Middle East, but certainly this is a risk we run", adds the Director of PMS.
Christian institutions are protected by the police, but "all minorities live in a state of fear and we do not know where this precarious situation will lead the nation. As Christians we pray and we continue our mission especially with social works", he concludes.
“Since the beginning of the year, almost 20 people have been killed,” a Catholic source, anonymous for security reasons, recently told AsiaNews. “No one is targeted in particular; however, extremists seem to want to destabilise the country.” In recent months, ordinary people as well as Christians, Muslims, Hindus, and the wife of the Chittagong police chief, have become the victims of violence.
The latest case occurred on Friday when unidentified attackers stabbed and critically wounded a Hindu priest in southwest Bangladesh today, just a day after a Hindu temple worker was hacked to death in an attack by suspected terrorists. Police said 48-year-old priest Bhabasindhu Roy of the Sri Sri Radha Gobinda Temple in Satkhira district was attacked inside the temple compound as he slept.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Saturday, said she is determined to eradicate terrorism in Bangladesh. "It was an extremely heinous act. What kind of Muslims are these people? They don't have any religion," she said in a televised speech. "People must resist these terrorists. My government is determined to root out terrorism and militancy from Bangladesh," she reiterated.
(Vatican Radio) Pope Francis sent a video message to the participants in the gathering of the Together for Europe initiative – an initiative that brings together over 300 Christian Movements and Communities of diverse confessions from every part of the Continent. While preserving their independence, collectively they form a network to pursue shared goals, each bringing a contribution specific to their own charism.Below, please find the full text of the video message, in English******************************************Dear Friends in Together for Europe,I know that you are gathered in Munich, Bavaria, from many Movements and Groups, for your meeting called “Encounter – Reconciliation – Future”.You are right. It is time to get together, to face the problems of our day with a true European spirit. Apart from some visible walls, other invisible walls are being strengthened which tend to divide our continent. These walls are being built in peo...
(Vatican Radio) Pope Francis sent a video message to the participants in the gathering of the Together for Europe initiative – an initiative that brings together over 300 Christian Movements and Communities of diverse confessions from every part of the Continent. While preserving their independence, collectively they form a network to pursue shared goals, each bringing a contribution specific to their own charism.
Below, please find the full text of the video message, in English
******************************************
Dear Friends in Together for Europe,
I know that you are gathered in Munich, Bavaria, from many Movements and Groups, for your meeting called “Encounter – Reconciliation – Future”.
You are right. It is time to get together, to face the problems of our day with a true European spirit. Apart from some visible walls, other invisible walls are being strengthened which tend to divide our continent. These walls are being built in people’s hearts. They are walls made of fear and aggression, a failure to understand people of different backgrounds or faith. They are walls of political and economic selfishness, without respect for the life and dignity of every person.
Europe finds itself in a complex and highly mobile world, which is ever more globalised and therefore ever less Eurocentric.
If we are aware of these momentous issues, then we must have the courage to say: we need change! Europe is called to reflect and to ask itself whether its immense heritage, so permeated with Christianity, belongs in a museum or is still able to inspire culture and to offer its treasures to the whole of humankind.
You are meeting so as to look together at these challenges facing Europe and to highlight testimonies of life in society which enable networking, so as to welcome and show solidarity towards those who are weak and disadvantaged, to build bridges and overcome conflicts whether they are open or latent.
Europe’s history is an ongoing encounter between Heaven and earth. Heaven indicates openness to the Transcendent, to God, which has always been characteristic of European people. Earth represents their practical and concrete ability to address situations and problems.
You too, Christian communities and movements which began in Europe, are bearers of many charisms, which are gifts of God to be made available to others. “Together for Europe” is a unifying power with the clear aim of translating the basic values of Christianity into concrete responses to the challenges of a continent in crisis.
Your lifestyle is based on mutual love, lived out with Gospel radicalness. A culture of reciprocity means talking things over, esteeming one another, welcoming one another, helping one another. It means appreciating the diversity of charisms so as to move together towards unity and enrich it. The tangible and clear presence of Christ among you is the witness which leads to faith.
Every authentic unity draws on the wealth of diversity which forms it – like a family which grows in unity in so far as its members can fully and fearlessly be themselves. If Europe as a whole wants to be a family of peoples, it should put the human person back at the centre; it should be an open and welcoming continent, and continue to establish ways of working together that are not only economic but also social and cultural.
God always brings newness. You have experienced this so often in your lives! Are we open to surprises today too? You, who have answered the Lord’s call courageously, are called to show his newness in your lives and bring to life the fruits of the Gospel, fruits that have grown from Christian roots, which for the last 2,000 years have nourished Europe. And you will bear even greater fruit! Maintain the freshness of your charisms; continue to be “Together” and extend it further! Make your homes, communities and cities into workshops of communion, friendship and fraternity, which can bring people together and be open to the whole world.
Together for Europe? Today this is more than ever necessary. In a Europe made up of many nations, you bear witness to the fact that we are children of one Father and brothers and sisters to one another. You are a precious seed of hope, so that Europe can rediscover its vocation to contribute to the unity of all.
