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HAVANA (AP) -- Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos and the head of the country's leftist FARC rebels agreed Thursday on a cease-fire and rebel disarmament deal that moves the country to the brink of ending a 52-year war that has left more than 220,000 people dead....
VENTURA, Calif. (AP) -- Thousands of gallons of crude oil spilled Thursday from a pipeline and flowed down a ravine in Southern California but did not reach the ocean, officials said....
BALTIMORE (AP) -- A judge explained why he found a police driver not guilty in the death of Freddie Gray, a 25-year-old black man whose neck was broken on the way to the station: He didn't see any evidence of a crime....
FALLUJAH, Iraq (AP) -- Iraqi commanders are preparing to dislodge Islamic State group fighters from pockets of territory in Fallujah's northern and western neighborhoods where the militants have dug in after largely fleeing their positions in the city center last week....
WASHINGTON (AP) -- House Democrats have ended their 25½-hour sit-in on the chamber's floor that they've been staging to demand votes on gun control....
(Vatican Radio) A commentator for the “Catholic Voices” association in the UK said it’s not just Britons but Catholic too who are split down the middle on the Brexit issue. James Newman, a newly-qualified doctor based in London and part of the Catholic Voices team was speaking to Susy Hodges. His comments came on the eve of Britain’s historic referendum to decide whether the nation leaves or remains in the European Union. Opinion polls in the immediate run-up to the vote had suggested that the ‘Remain’ and ‘Leave’ camps were running neck and neck, with the result too close to call.Listen to the interview with James Newman of the "Catholic Voices" association: Asked whether it will be easy to heal the divisions that the referendum campaign laid bare in British society, Newman says he hopes that happen as he believes “reconciliation” will be needed because “there will be a large number of British vote...
(Vatican Radio) A commentator for the “Catholic Voices” association in the UK said it’s not just Britons but Catholic too who are split down the middle on the Brexit issue. James Newman, a newly-qualified doctor based in London and part of the Catholic Voices team was speaking to Susy Hodges. His comments came on the eve of Britain’s historic referendum to decide whether the nation leaves or remains in the European Union. Opinion polls in the immediate run-up to the vote had suggested that the ‘Remain’ and ‘Leave’ camps were running neck and neck, with the result too close to call.
Listen to the interview with James Newman of the "Catholic Voices" association:
Asked whether it will be easy to heal the divisions that the referendum campaign laid bare in British society, Newman says he hopes that happen as he believes “reconciliation” will be needed because “there will be a large number of British voters who will feel quite alienated, depending on which way the vote goes.”
Newman also said the government will need to adopt a unifying stance and reach out to the losing camp following the results of the vote.
“It will be incumbent on the government to seek some middle ground and some form of compromise with whoever the losing party is and come up with “some initiatives to address their concerns.”
The disabled children, abandoned by their parents and the orphans welcomed at the Don Bosco Institute of Da Ming, on June 19 celebrated Father’s Day, celebrating the priests who take care of them and consider them their fathers. Father's Day is celebrated in China every third Sunday of June.The priests of the diocesan seminary community of the Sacred Heart give spiritual assistance to the nuns who run the Institute and host the children. The children wanted to celebrate the priests on Father's Day and sent flowers made with their hands to other priests who were not present, who in turn take care of them.The Don Bosco Institute in Da Ming was born in 1984 when Sister Wu Yong Bo, of the Congregation of the Mother of God, at the time eighty, welcomed a disabled baby girl who was left in front of the church door. From that moment the elderly nun decided to take care of these children. In October 1994, the Don Bosco Institute was officially opened in a buildin...
The disabled children, abandoned by their parents and the orphans welcomed at the Don Bosco Institute of Da Ming, on June 19 celebrated Father’s Day, celebrating the priests who take care of them and consider them their fathers. Father's Day is celebrated in China every third Sunday of June.
The priests of the diocesan seminary community of the Sacred Heart give spiritual assistance to the nuns who run the Institute and host the children. The children wanted to celebrate the priests on Father's Day and sent flowers made with their hands to other priests who were not present, who in turn take care of them.
The Don Bosco Institute in Da Ming was born in 1984 when Sister Wu Yong Bo, of the Congregation of the Mother of God, at the time eighty, welcomed a disabled baby girl who was left in front of the church door. From that moment the elderly nun decided to take care of these children. In October 1994, the Don Bosco Institute was officially opened in a building suitable to the needs of these children.
To date about 300 disabled children, abandoned, orphans have been welcomed with love here. Many of them were able to go to college or were adopted by families chosen and followed by the nuns. To raise the necessary funds for the Institute, the sisters also participated in the annual marathon in Beijing. Thanks to them, to the priests and to the generosity of so many lay faithful, the Institute now also offers professional courses for adults with disabilities, professional qualification for those affected by cerebral palsy, also organizes meetings to improve training and the social life of these children. Today there are 61 children at the Institute. (Fides)
(Vatican Radio) The Director of the Vatican Press Office, Father Federico Lombardi, said the Holy See has no direct information on the declarations attributed to the auxiliary bishop of Shanghai. Father Lombardi was responding to requests for information from various journalists following remarks attributed to Bishop Taddeo Ma Daqin where, writing in his blog, he praised the Chinese Patriotic Catholic Association for its “irreplaceable role” in the development of the Church in China. Bishop Ma Daqin has spent four years under house arrest for quitting the Chinese Patriotic Catholic Association and the Chinese authorities also forbade him from exercising his episcopal ministry. Please see below a translation into English of Father Lombardi’s remarks:In response to requests for information from various journalists, I am able to say the following:1) With regard to the recent declarations attributed to Msgr. Taddeo Ma Daqin, auxiliarybishop of Shangh...
(Vatican Radio) The Director of the Vatican Press Office, Father Federico Lombardi, said the Holy See has no direct information on the declarations attributed to the auxiliary bishop of Shanghai. Father Lombardi was responding to requests for information from various journalists following remarks attributed to Bishop Taddeo Ma Daqin where, writing in his blog, he praised the Chinese Patriotic Catholic Association for its “irreplaceable role” in the development of the Church in China. Bishop Ma Daqin has spent four years under house arrest for quitting the Chinese Patriotic Catholic Association and the Chinese authorities also forbade him from exercising his episcopal ministry.
Please see below a translation into English of Father Lombardi’s remarks:
In response to requests for information from various journalists, I am able to say the following:
1) With regard to the recent declarations attributed to Msgr. Taddeo Ma Daqin, auxiliary
bishop of Shanghai, these have come to the attention of the Holy See through his blog and
via press agencies. No direct information is currently available.
2) Any speculation with regard to a presumed role of the Holy See is inappropriate.
3) The personal and ecclesial life of Msgr. Ma Daqin, like that of all Chinese Catholics, is
followed with particular care and concern by the Holy Father, who remembers them daily in
prayer.
IMAGE: CNS photo/Graham Lacdao, Chapter of St Paul'sBy Dale GavlakLONDON (CNS)-- As Europe held its breath on whether Britain would vote to remain or exitthe European Union, the U.N. refugee agency, UNHCR, reported that numbersfleeing war and persecution have soared four times over the past decade, to 24 peopleper minute or more than 65 million people forcibly displaced worldwide.Concernsover immigration might tip the so-called Brexit vote, but a June 19 liturgy broughthome the precarious plight of the displaced and how Christians respond to it.Astark, weather-beaten cross stood at the center of the ornate 17th-century baroqueSt. Paul's Anglican Cathedral in the English capital. It was carved by Italiancarpenter Francesco Tuccio from pieces of a boat wrecked Oct. 11, 2013, off thecoast of Lampedusa, Italy. More than 300 Eritrean and Somali refugees drownedwhile attempting to reach Europe that day, but the inhabitants of Lampedusahelped to save the lives of 155 others. Aftermeeting s...
IMAGE: CNS photo/Graham Lacdao, Chapter of St Paul's
By Dale Gavlak
LONDON (CNS) -- As Europe held its breath on whether Britain would vote to remain or exit the European Union, the U.N. refugee agency, UNHCR, reported that numbers fleeing war and persecution have soared four times over the past decade, to 24 people per minute or more than 65 million people forcibly displaced worldwide.
Concerns over immigration might tip the so-called Brexit vote, but a June 19 liturgy brought home the precarious plight of the displaced and how Christians respond to it.
A stark, weather-beaten cross stood at the center of the ornate 17th-century baroque St. Paul's Anglican Cathedral in the English capital. It was carved by Italian carpenter Francesco Tuccio from pieces of a boat wrecked Oct. 11, 2013, off the coast of Lampedusa, Italy. More than 300 Eritrean and Somali refugees drowned while attempting to reach Europe that day, but the inhabitants of Lampedusa helped to save the lives of 155 others.
After meeting some of the Eritrean Christian survivors and frustrated at what he could do to help, Tuccio created a cross from the wreckage of the boat for each one as a reminder of their salvation from the sea and hope for the future.
"There were and are wooden boats coming to Lampedusa carrying people looking for help. And I have helped many. I also saw children and adults downing," Tuccio said. "After I had seen so many landings, I was utterly dismayed.
"I looked at Jesus nailed on the cross and a deep emotion struck me -- now I am the castaway searching for providence, desperately trying to give voice to the scream that is dying in my throat, with a wish to raise awareness, to create a solid chain of help," he said.
"The answer came, it was always there, in front of my eyes -- Jesus. That is why I built a cross from the wood of those refugee boats arriving in Lampedusa," Tuccio added. "I decided not to polish the wood, instead leaving it as it is: a wretched witness, ruined by so much pain."
A similar cross was made for Pope Francis, who carried it at a memorial service for those who had perished. The British Museum commissioned the cross displayed at the cathedral, and it now holds a prominent place in the museum to mark an extraordinary moment in European history and the kindness of tiny Lampedusa's inhabitants.
Tuccio's story first came to light by BBC's Emma Jane Kirby.
"If fear drives our responses, little wonder that we are inclined to separate ourselves from those we see as 'other,' believing that they have no claim on us," Canon Tricia Hillas told Catholic News Service. But the "understanding that God entrusts us to one another means that we can't so lightly ignore our connection."
"This cross is a reminder of the words of Jesus: 'What you did to the least of these, you did to me.' Please pray for refugees today and for the world's compassion," Canon Mark Oakley said.
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By Cindy WoodenVATICAN CITY (CNS) -- Pope Francis said he would travel toArmenia June 24-26 topromote closer bonds with the Armenian Orthodox church, honor the Armenianpeople's steadfast faith in the face of tragedy and support them in theirefforts to build a peaceful future.In a video message transmitted June 22 on Armenian television,the pope said he admires the Armenian people but also shares their pain overthe difficult moments of the country's history and its people.In more than 1,700 years as an officially Christian nation,he said, "you have found in the cross of Christ and in your genius thestrength always to rise again even from the sufferings that were among the mostterrible that history recalls." The remarks were an obvious reference towhat is widely known as the Armenian Genocide when 1.5 million Armenians were killedby Ottoman Turks in 1915-18.However, he said, "we must not allow painful memoriesto take possession of our hearts. Even in the face of repeated assaults ofe...
By Cindy Wooden
VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- Pope Francis said he would travel to Armenia June 24-26 to promote closer bonds with the Armenian Orthodox church, honor the Armenian people's steadfast faith in the face of tragedy and support them in their efforts to build a peaceful future.
In a video message transmitted June 22 on Armenian television, the pope said he admires the Armenian people but also shares their pain over the difficult moments of the country's history and its people.
In more than 1,700 years as an officially Christian nation, he said, "you have found in the cross of Christ and in your genius the strength always to rise again even from the sufferings that were among the most terrible that history recalls." The remarks were an obvious reference to what is widely known as the Armenian Genocide when 1.5 million Armenians were killed by Ottoman Turks in 1915-18.
However, he said, "we must not allow painful memories to take possession of our hearts. Even in the face of repeated assaults of evil, we cannot give up."
Connecting with Armenia's traditional attachment to the story of Noah's Ark, which according to legend came to rest on Mount Ararat, which is now in neighboring Turkey, Pope Francis told the people that they should be like Noah, "who after the flood never tired of looking toward the heavens and kept releasing doves."
When a dove finally returned carrying an olive branch, he said, Noah knew "that life could begin again and hope could be revived."
The pope said he would visit Armenia "as a pilgrim in this jubilee year to draw from the ancient wisdom of your people and drink from the springs of your faith."
As a guest of the patriarch of the Armenian Apostolic Church, Catholicos Karekin II, Pope Francis said he hoped to "strengthen our communion" and "advance on the path of reconciliation."
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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.
