Catholic News 2

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(Vatican Radio) Four people have been detained after a doomed boating expedition took the lives of more than a dozen children in northern Russia this weekend. Some 37 people are said to have survived the tragedy, which happened despite warning of a storm.

Listen to the report by Stefan Bos:

Distraught parents began searching for answers as to why despite repeated warnings of an advancing Atlantic cyclone, organizers took their children with them in boats. Russian officials said several boats overturned Saturday on a lake in bad weather in Russia's northwestern region of Syamozero, 120 kilometers east of the border with Finland. 

Russia's main state investigative agency said that of 47 children and four adult instructors in the boats, at least 
14 children died. No life jackets were reportedly found among the dead.   

Survivors who managed to reach the coast in freezing waters cried for help, but by than it was too late for many of their friends, explained Alexei Smirnov, deputy head of Russia's National Crisis Management Centre. "A non-registered tourist group atop two boats and one raft came into a storm at Lake Syamozero in the Republic of Karelia...resulting in the capsizing of two boats with 26 people aboard including 24 children and two attendants." 

FEW SURVIVORS

Many of those who died were believed to be mostly children aged 12 to 15. 

Authorities say four people have been detained on suspicions of violating safety rules. 

Among them are two instructors as well as the director and deputy director of a hotel where they were staying 
and which reportedly organized the boating.

Yet the latest incident has raised questions about a respect of safety rules in Russia. 

Widespread corruption and general negligence are said to have contributed to several incidents in the country.  

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(Vatican Radio) More than 20 people were killed in separate bomb attacks in Afghanistan on Monday, including at least 14 when a suicide bomber struck a minibus carrying Nepalese security contractors.

Hours later, a bomb planted in a motorbike reportedly killed at least eight civilians and wounded another 18 in a crowded market in the northern province of Badakhshan.

Officials say the casualty count could rise.

The attacks are the latest in a recent surge of violence that highlights the challenges faced by the Afghan government in Kabul and its Western backers as Washington slowly draws down its remaining troops despite a persistent insurgency.

The Taliban claimed responsibility for the Kabul attack in a statement from the Islamist group's main spokesman.

Another explosion in Kabul later on Monday morning wounded a provincial council member and at least three of his bodyguards. A police spokesman said. It was thought a bomb had been attached to the lawmaker's car.

The attacks underline how serious the security threat facing Afghanistan remains since former Taliban leader Mullah Akhtar Mansour was killed in a U.S. drone strike last month and was replaced by Mullah Haibatullah Akhundzada. (Source Reuters)

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(Vatican Radio)  Before judging others we should look first in the mirror to see how we, ourselves, appear. That’s what Pope Francis said at Monday morning’s Mass at the Santa Marta guesthouse in the Vatican.  In his last Mass with a Homily there ahead of the summer break, the pontiff pointed out that what distinguishes God's judgment from ours is not “omnipotence” but “mercy.”

Listen to the report by Tracey McClure:

Judgment belongs to God alone, so if we do not want to be judged, we should not judge others says Pope Francis.  Focusing on the day’s Gospel, the Pope said “all of us want the Lord “to look upon us with kindness” on Judgment Day and that He “will forget the many bad things we have done in life."

Jesus calls us hypocrites when we are judgmental

Therefore, if "you judge others constantly,” he warned, “with the same measure you shall be judged." The Lord, he said, therefore asks us to look in the mirror:

"Look in the mirror, but not to put on makeup to hide the wrinkles. No, no, no, that's not the advice! Look in the mirror to look at yourself as you are. 'Why do you see the speck that is in your brother’s eye and do not notice the log that is in your own eye?'  Or, how can you say to your brother, 'Let me take the speck out of your eye,' while the log is still in your eye? And how does the Lord look at us then, when we do this? One word: 'hypocrite.’ First take the log out of your eye, and then you shall see clearly to take the speck out of your brother’s eye'.”

Pray for others instead of judging them

We see that the Lord gets "a little 'get angry here," said the Pope.  He calls us hypocrites when we put ourselves "in God’s place." This, he added, is what  the serpent persuaded Adam and Eve to do: "If you eat this, you'll be like Him." They, he stressed, "wanted to take the place of God":

"For this, being judgmental is very ugly. Judgment belongs only to God, to Him alone!” the Pope exclaimed.  It is for us to “love,” to “understand, to pray for others when we see things that are not good” said the Pope, inviting us to talk kindly to others so that they may learn from their mistakes:   “But never judge. Never. And this is hypocrisy, if we judge."

Our judgment lacks mercy; only God can judge

When we judge others, he continued, "we put ourselves in the place of God", but "our judgment is poor judgment;" it can never "be true judgment."

But “can’t our judgment be like the Lord’s?” wondered the Pope.  “Because God is Almighty and we are not? " No, Francis answers, “because our judgment is lacking mercy. And when God judges, He judges with mercy:"

"Let us think today about what the Lord says to us: Do not judge, lest you be judged; the measure… by which we judge will be the same that will be used for us; and, third, let us look in the mirror before judging. 'But this fellow does this ... that fellow does that...' 'But, wait a minute ...'  I look in the mirror and then think. On the contrary, I'll be a hypocrite if I put myself in the place of God and, also, my judgement is poor judgment.”  Human judgement lacks the mercy of the Lord’s judgment, Pope Francis concluded, “May the Lord make us understand these things." 

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TEHRAN, Iran (AP) -- Iranian intelligence officials have broken up one of the "biggest terrorist" plots ever planned to target Tehran and other provinces in the Islamic Republic, the country's state media reported on Monday....

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KABUL, Afghanistan (AP) -- A Taliban suicide bomber killed 14 Nepalese security guards in an attack Monday on their minibus in the Afghan capital, Kabul, the Interior Ministry and an Afghan security official said....

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(Vatican Radio) Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew on Sunday concelebrated at a Divine Liturgy in the Metropolitan Church of St Minas in Heraklion, Crete, for the opening of the Holy and Great Council of the Orthodox Church.

Speaking to the patriarch, bishops and leaders of the Orthodox Churches in countries around the world, Bartholomew  said every local Orthodox Church has its own treasure to offer and is a vital part of the One, Holy, Catholic, and Apostolic Church.

At the same time, he said, the Church is “crying out” to the Holy Spirit “to come and abide in us and keep us in Its Truth and Its sanctification”  This appeal, he said on the day the Eastern Church mark the feast of Pentecost, remains “the primary request of all humanity in a divided world that is full of strife, and which thirsts for unity, on behalf of which the Son of God gave up Himself so that all of us may have life, and that we may have it more abundantly”.

Speaking in Rome on Sunday, Pope Francis prayed for all the Orthodox leaders gathered in Crete for the week long meeting, urging Catholics to unite themselves in prayer to all their Orthodox brothers and sisters.

Please find below the full text of Patriarch Bartholomew’s homily at the Divine Liturgy in St Minas Metropolitan Church, Heraklion, Crete.

(Sunday of Pentecost, June 19, 2016)

Your Beatitudes, Holy Brother Primates of the local Orthodox Churches, Theodoros of Alexandria, John of Antioch, Theophilos of Jerusalem, Kirill of Moscow, Irinej of Belgrade, Daniel of Bucharest, Neophyte of Bulgaria, Ilia of Georgia, Chrysostomos of Cyprus, Ieronymos of Athens, Sawa of Warsaw, Anastasios of Tirana, and Rastislav of Prešov, together with Your honorable delegations,

Your Excellency Mr. President of the Hellenic Republic,

Your Eminence Archbishop Irenaios of Crete, together with the Most Reverend and beloved brothers who, together with you, comprise the Holy Eparchial Synod of the Church of Crete,

Most Reverend and Right Reverend holy brothers,

Blessed Orthodox Clergy and Laity from all across the world,

A joyful day has now dawned, in which we celebrate the historic manifestation of the institution of the Church, which is constituted by the Holy Spirit, and we Orthodox brothers, who represent all the local Orthodox Autocephalous Churches, have gathered together in a liturgical assembly, so that we may carry out the duty and responsibility of the one Orthodox Church to the people and to the world today, by convening our Holy and Great Council.

Today is a day of unity, as we are all united in the faith and the sacraments through our liturgical gathering in one place and have come together “in the breaking of the Bread.” The Holy Eucharist truly reaffirms the unity and catholicity of our Orthodox Church.

The event of Pentecost, which took place in Jerusalem, marked the Church’s starting point in its historical journey and laid the foundations for the sanctification of human history in its entirety. The Apostles and the three thousands Christians who were baptized by them at that time comprised the first Church, which is a theanthropic reality of Christ, present in all of its members. Today, we, too, are filled with the same inspiration from the tongues of fire – from the Holy Spirit – and we are one Church, one body, even though we come from different ethnic, linguistic, and cultural traditions. Christ the God-man, the “firstborn among many brethren” (cf. Rom. 8:29), is present in each of our members.

Today, the fulfillment of the purpose of Divine Economy in its totality is taking place. Because, at Pentecost and after Pentecost, “God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit” (Rom. 5:5). There is one Christ and we are all His joints and members: “All these are inspired by one and the same Spirit, who apportions to each one individually as he wills” (1 Cor. 12:11).

Through our distinctness, each Orthodox Church, as well as every faithful Orthodox Christian, are joined to one body, each with his own gifts, over which we should not look to others with suspicion or anger, but rejoice as if they were our own: “The treasure that my brother acquires … I possess also,” proclaims Macarius of Egypt (Spiritual Homilies 3, 2, ΒΕΠΕΣ [Library of Greek Fathers and Ecclesiastical Authors], 41, p. 156).

Every local Orthodox Church has its own treasure and offers it to Christ. The eye cannot say to the hand “I have no need of you,” nor again the head to the feet. Within the Church, there is no individual local Church that does not hold significance in its own right, so as to enable the One, Holy, Catholic, and Apostolic Church not to be in need of each and every one of its members, nor can one member exist independently and absolutely sovereign, as is being attempted by those outside of the Church; especially during these last days. The Orthodox Church Militant, most honorable brothers, which is present on earth, perpetually continues the “upper room” of Pentecost, our local Churches, which are represented by all of us here today. We represent the mystical body of Christ, which extends unto the ages and delivers the human race from manifold suffering and impasses, and we are united with the Church Triumphant, fulfilling God’s dispensation and unifying the earthly with the heavenly (see the Kontakion of the feast of the Ascension). This is precisely the mission of our Orthodox Church.

At the same time, today is a day of crying out to the gracious Paraclete to come and abide in us and keep us in Its Truth and Its sanctification, as stated by our Lord during his agonizing prayer in the Garden of Gethsemane. This entreaty of our Lord, which is fulfilled here on this great day of Pentecost, is and remains the primary request of all humanity in a divided world that is full of strife, and which thirsts for unity, on behalf of which the Son of God gave up Himself so that all of us may have life, and that we may have it more abundantly.

Our Orthodox Church has the supreme gift and blessing of possessing the treasure of truth and preserving intact the gift of the All-Holy Spirit, which “has filled the whole world” (Wis. 1:7), and it is obliged to give the contemporary world a testimony of love and unity, and to reveal the hidden hope that lies within it. Of course, we do not boast over the truth of our Church. We sense its singular splendor, but also our own personal weakness and unworthiness. However, this is not enough when it remains on a theoretical level. It behooves a response on the practical level, where, unfortunately, we are greatly lacking.

The Lord began His preaching to the world by calling on the people to repent. The work of a Christian throughout the duration of his life is repentance. We, the leaders of the Church, especially, are obliged to provide a good example and embrace the entirety of the truth which we have received; because our opponent tries to scatter misguided ideas in our hearts which negate the truth of our faith. Those fellow men and women of ours who are misled about the truth spread these misguided ideas, which appear novel and worthy of attention, and often manage to lure away a good amount of faithful through the repeated skillful presentation of these ideas. For this reason, we Bishops ought to gather together to discuss the matters that are confronting the Orthodox Church at different times and throughout the world, so as to adopt the appropriate measures to protect the faithful from the prevailing errors. Especially in our time, there is a very large number of errors that are circulating, and the arguments used by the deceivers are particularly sophisticated, which means that a coordinated effort on the part of the shepherds of the Orthodox Church is required in order to inform the faithful. The number of religious factions that are attempting to lead the Orthodox faithful astray are in the hundreds. The discussions and exchange of related experiences on the manner in which to counter the methods of the aforementioned organizations during the Council will have much to offer to the Orthodox Church.

The Lord of the Orthodox Church, Who is “the same yesterday, today and forever,” worked with us so that we could reach today’s historic moment of the Holy and Great Council, this liturgical Gathering, and communion from one Common Cup. Regardless of our different opinions, we Orthodox Christians ought to point out that the only road on our course in this world is unity. Of course, this road demands a living sacrifice, much work, and is achieved after great struggle. It is certain that this Council of ours will contribute towards this direction by creating a climate of mutual trust and understanding through our meeting in the Holy Spirit and through an edifying and sincere dialogue.

The unity of the Orthodox Church and its faithful represents our mission. It is followed by the testimony of our Church, so that the world may see “its good works” – our good works – shining brightly, be refreshed, and glorify “our Father who is in heaven.” Our ecclesial unity does not take on the form of a federation, nor does it stem from the congregating around some mortal figure. It proceeds from and is made complete by our common faith, which is synonymous with salvation, with eternal life. “And this is eternal life,” to know the Father and Him whom He sent, Jesus Christ, the King of kings and Lord of lords, as he is depicted in our Orthodox Iconography as well.

Your Beatitudes, Holy brethren,

Your Excellency Mr. President of the Hellenic Republic,

Blessed Orthodox Christians, clergy, monastics, and people everywhere under the heavens,

We are convinced – and we proclaim at this historic moment from the altar of the Metropolitan Cathedral of the Island of Crete, which is an extension of the one belonging to the Holy and Great Church of Christ, the church of the Haghia Sophia (Holy Wisdom), Haghia Irene (Holy Peace), and Haghia Dynamis (Holy Might); that is, the Holy Synthrone of John Chrysostom, Gregory the Theologian, and Photios the Great – that only in unity and by living out our Orthodoxy as an experience of faith and life is it possible to navigate through the modern world’s dramatic history and give a testimony of salvation to those both near and far.

Setting aside the problems that arise from our different ethnic backgrounds, we beseech the descent of the Paraclete upon all of us as well, so that illuminated by Him – by the “Light and Life, and living fountain of reason; by the Spirit of wisdom, the Spirit of understanding … the Spirit of sovereignty and the Spirit that expiates sins; the God Who deifies” (cf. sticheron for the vespers of Pentecost) – we may issue a message of truth, genuineness, and hope all across today’s world, which thirsts, and our Churches as an institution and we as persons may reaffirm that we are precious vessels.

The Holy Spirit unites us in the Church through the “bond of perfection” and love, and is expressed and borne witness to by the persons of the Holy Trinity, which is of one nature, but reveals itself in three persons. Similarly, the Orthodox Church is One, but reveals itself in the world through its individual local vines, which are unbreakably and indivisibly attached to one – to one Church, to one body.

Brothers, fathers and children, today the totality of our Holy Orthodox Church is represented here in Crete: “we have seen the true light; we have received the heavenly Spirit; we have found the true faith, worshipping the undivided Trinity, for the Trinity has saved us.” Therefore, we bless the Lord of Mercy and Compassions, and every supplication with one voice and one heart, for He is “the source of our existence, our breath, our understanding, our knowledge of God, the Holy Spirit and the Father Who is without beginning, and His only begotten Son … the One Who gave us to comprehend the beauty of heaven, the sun in its course, the orb of the moon, the order of the stars and the harmony and different movements that prevail among them … the turning hours, the changing seasons, the flowing air, the cycle of years … our hope of gaining the heavenly kingdom, equality of honor with the angels, the contemplation of glory.”

To this All-Holy Spirit, which brings to perfection all good things, and today’s concelebration, and the testimony of our Orthodox Church to the entire world in and through this Holy and Great Council of ours, to It, together with the Father and the Son, do we dutifully offer praise, now and forever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen

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(Vatican Radio) Each day war, violence and persecution force thousands of families to flee their homes. To escape, they leave everything behind – everything except their hopes and dreams for a safer future. 

On June 20th the world commemorates the courage, the strength and the resilience of the some 60 million refugees in the world today.

On this special day, the Jesuit Refugee Service (JRS) is asking all of us not only to provide refugees with a safe place to stay, but with opportunities to grow and contribute to society.

The very things Pope Francis has called for again and again as he has reached out to refugees in countless occasions and made appeals to world leaders and policy-makers. 

The Director of JRS International, Tom Smolich SJ, explains to Vatican Radio’s Linda Bordoni why this year JRS is using the theme: “Open minds, unlock potential”.

Listen: 

“Open minds, unlock potential: this clearly ties into JRS’ focus on education for refugees and also on our ‘Mercy in Motion’ campaign this year - paralleling the Pope’s Year of Mercy – to open our hearts and invite people to focus on the real needs of refugees” says Fr Tom Smolich.

Smolich says out that JRS firmly believes that education not only is a fundamental human right, it is a basic but precious tool for refugees to be able to contribute to society and fulfill their human potential.      

He points out that only about 2% of the money that is set aside for the needs of refugees goes to education.

“How can we expect people to be able to improve their lives? How can we expect people to be able to make a difference wherever they wind up – whether they stay where they are, whether they go back to their homes, whether they are resettled or relocated somewhere else – if they don’t have the education to make the difference?” he asks.

That, he says, is what we are trying to say with this year’s motto: “give people a chance, allow them to learn at least some of what most of us take for granted. You’ll unlock the potential”.

In it, he says is a spiritual potential, a human potential, an economic potential: “there is the grace that comes with being able to do what one is called to do by God”.     

As regards JRS’s ongoing ‘Mercy in Motion’ campaign that aims to provide educational services to 100,000 more refugees by the year 2020, Smolich says the  it also helping people tie in with the reality of refugees and remind them constantly that this is what Pope Francis means when he tells people to be aware of the situation and welcome refugees and migrants.

He says that 2016 will be remembered as the year in which many came to terms with the fact that the refugee issue is a global one: “how we respond to this global phenomenon is challenge all of us face right now”.

Pope Francis repeats his call to welcome the ‘stranger’ - the refugee – again and again. Smolich acknowledges that although sometimes we may feel overwhelmed, frustrated and feel the need to blame these people for the situation they find themselves in, he says it is important people understand the reasons that cause so many people to have to flee their homes and balance that with the right that everybody has to be recognized their basic human rights of food, clothing, shelter and – at this moment – especially safety.

“I think the Pope is trying to remind us that this is my sister, this is my brother, he/she is entitled to the basic gifts, the basic rights that I have as well” he says.

Regarding Pope Francis’ appeals to policymakers to improve the conditions of people seeking shelter and to safeguard their safety as well as to implement new legislation to integrate them and provide them with the possibility of contributing to society, Smolich says his certainly serve to remind them of “their better selves, those instincts that are deeply within us that say we are all God’s children and that’s the place we need to making decisions out of”.

“Not out of fear, not out anxiety, not out of the disruptive comments that politicians would use to make their own points” he says.

Smolich also comments on Pope Francis’ pastoral approach even when he does something powerfully symbolic like bring refugee families back to Rome with him from the island of Lesbos.

“People accuse him of being political at times, and I want to say ‘political’ is not a bad word. Political is choosing or making actions designed to bring change” he says.

He says the Pope’s going to Lampedusa a while ago, and then to Lesbos says: “my being with these people is something I can do; it is something that you can do as well”.

Smolich says that when the Pope invited Parishes and communities to take in refugee families he did not ask the impossible, “he asked what a good student of the human soul does. He asked for the possible”.

Regarding the significance of the annual World Refugee Day Smolich says that although refugee issues are part of our daily conversation, “it’s one of those things that does focus attention differently” and on how we may be able to respond.     

“What we are trying to do is to make sure that it is the one day in which refugees are able to speak, (…) to allow refugees’ voices to be the leaders on June 20th ” he says.

And Smolich concludes inviting everyone to look at the JRS website which not only features testimonies and stories, but provides the opportunity for refugees to actually say what they know from their own experience.   

 

 

             

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At least 35 people have been killed by landslides and floods on Indonesia's Java island and many others are missing.

Dozens of houses were buried in the landslides and thousands of homes were inundated by floods in 16 districts and towns in Central Java province over the weekend.

Rescue workers including soldiers, police and volunteers are still searching for victims.

The spokesman for the National Disaster Management Agency, Sutopo Purwo Nugroho, said that 25 villagers were still missing in the worst-hit district of Purworejo, where 19 people died.

Seasonal rains often cause flooding and landslides in Indonesia, an archipelago of 17,000 islands where millions of people live in mountainous areas or flood-prone plains close to rivers.  (Source: AP)

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CLEVELAND (AP) -- More tears. Only this time, tears of joy....

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LOS ANGELES (AP) -- A wildfire that for days has threatened hundreds of homes and popular seaside campgrounds near Santa Barbara was half-surrounded and held in check, though firefighters were about to face the hottest day yet and the kind of dry, torrid conditions prevailing from the West Coast all the way to New Mexico....

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