(Vatican Radio) The Catholic Church in Indonesia is calling on the government to combat Islamic radical groups and to preserve the country’s multi-cultural and multi-religious identity.Indonesia is preparing to host two major Catholic youth events during 2016-2017. The first event is Indonesian Youth Day, which takes place from 1 - 6 October, 2016, in Manado. The next year, Indonesia will host Asian Youth Day from 30 July – 6 August, 2017, in Yogyakarta.Father Agustinus Ulahayanan serves as the executive secretary of the Indonesian bishops' Commission for Ecumenical and Interreligious Affairs.Listen to the interview by Stefano Leszczynski with Father Agustinus Ulahayanan: He told Vatican Radio relations between the majority Muslim populations and Christian minority have traditionally been good in the country, but have recently been upset by new religious groups.“They have a kind of intolerant way of thinking, and we are trying to observe this and to res...
(Vatican Radio) The Catholic Church in Indonesia is calling on the government to combat Islamic radical groups and to preserve the country’s multi-cultural and multi-religious identity.
Indonesia is preparing to host two major Catholic youth events during 2016-2017. The first event is Indonesian Youth Day, which takes place from 1 - 6 October, 2016, in Manado. The next year, Indonesia will host Asian Youth Day from 30 July – 6 August, 2017, in Yogyakarta.
Father Agustinus Ulahayanan serves as the executive secretary of the Indonesian bishops' Commission for Ecumenical and Interreligious Affairs.
Listen to the interview by Stefano Leszczynski with Father Agustinus Ulahayanan:
He told Vatican Radio relations between the majority Muslim populations and Christian minority have traditionally been good in the country, but have recently been upset by new religious groups.
“They have a kind of intolerant way of thinking, and we are trying to observe this and to respond to it, but we do it together,” Father Ulahayanan said.
He said Christians and Muslims have agreed to tackle extremism from within their own ranks.
“For example, if the intolerant people or activities come from [the Muslim people], those who are moderate, they will be in the front to handle it,” – he continued – “he same thing also for the Christians, and the Christian people – Catholic or Protestant – will be the first person to respond to the problem.”
The priest also said the two communities continue to work together to combat extremism, as well as cooperate on economic, social, and educational issues.
A surge in killings of people with albinism, whose body parts are used in ritual practices, has exposed a systematic failure of policing in Malawi and left this vulnerable group living in fear, Amnesty International reveals in a new report published Tuesday.The report, “We are not animals to be hunted or sold”: Violence and discrimination against people with albinism in Malawi”, exposes how the wave of violent attacks against people with albinism have increased sharply over the last two years, with four people, including a baby, murdered in April 2016 alone.“The unprecedented wave of brutal attacks against people with albinism has created a climate of terror for this vulnerable group and their families who are living in a state of constant fear for their lives,” said Deprose Muchena, Amnesty International’s Director for Southern Africa.“Malawian authorities have dismally failed them, leaving this population group at the mercy of criminal g...
A surge in killings of people with albinism, whose body parts are used in ritual practices, has exposed a systematic failure of policing in Malawi and left this vulnerable group living in fear, Amnesty International reveals in a new report published Tuesday.
The report, “We are not animals to be hunted or sold”: Violence and discrimination against people with albinism in Malawi”, exposes how the wave of violent attacks against people with albinism have increased sharply over the last two years, with four people, including a baby, murdered in April 2016 alone.
“The unprecedented wave of brutal attacks against people with albinism has created a climate of terror for this vulnerable group and their families who are living in a state of constant fear for their lives,” said Deprose Muchena, Amnesty International’s Director for Southern Africa.
“Malawian authorities have dismally failed them, leaving this population group at the mercy of criminal gangs who hunt them down for their body parts.”
Since November 2014, at least 18 people have been killed and at least five have been abducted and remain missing. Their bones are believed to be sold to practitioners of traditional medicine in Malawi and Mozambique for use in charms and magical potions in the belief that they bring wealth and good luck. The macabre trade is also fuelled by a belief that bones of people with albinism contain gold.
Amnesty International believes that the actual number of people with albinism killed is likely to be much higher due to the fact that many secretive rituals in rural areas are never reported. There is also no systematic documentation of crimes against people with albinism in Malawi.
As well as extreme forms of violence, the report also finds that people with albinism in Malawi experience widespread societal discrimination including verbal abuse and exclusion from accessing basic public services. They are discriminated against in the education system and many die from skin cancer because of lack of access to preventative resources such as sunscreen and information about the condition.
There has been a steep upsurge in killings and abductions of people with albinism since November 2014. Women and children with albinism are particularly vulnerable to killings, sometimes targeted by their own close relatives.
The bloodiest month recorded by Amnesty International was April 2016 when four people with albinism were murdered.
(Vatican Radio) At one point in his life English composer Sir Edwar Elgar suffered from writer's block. That's until someone suggested he compose something using odd bits of music he'd written when he was young, such as ideas he never really fully developed at the time. Elgar gave it a try, and the result was his 'Nursery Suite' dedicated to two young princesses, Elizabeth and Margaret and their mother. Listen to a programme presented by Monsignor Philip Whitmore and produced by Veronica Scarisbrick:
(Vatican Radio) At one point in his life English composer Sir Edwar Elgar suffered from writer's block. That's until someone suggested he compose something using odd bits of music he'd written when he was young, such as ideas he never really fully developed at the time. Elgar gave it a try, and the result was his 'Nursery Suite' dedicated to two young princesses, Elizabeth and Margaret and their mother.
Listen to a programme presented by Monsignor Philip Whitmore and produced by Veronica Scarisbrick:
(Vatican Radio) A holistic approach for caring for those with Hansen’s Disease (Leprosy) is the theme of an international seminar in Rome on June 9-10th jointly organized by the Pontifical Council for Healthcare Workers and a number of charitable foundations. The organisers of the seminar released details of the 2-day event at a press conference in the Holy See on Tuesday. Those taking part in the seminar include the Sovereign Order of Malta and the charitable Foundations, ‘The Good Samaritan,’ the ‘Nippon’, the ‘Raoul Follereau’ and the ‘Sasakawa Memorial Health.’The 2-day event brings together leading experts in treating and caring for those with Hansen’s Disease from across the world to discuss the theme “Towards Holistic Care for People with Hansen’s Disease, Respectful of their Dignity.” The first speaker at the press conference was Monsignor Jean Marie Mupendawatu, Secretary of the Pontifical...
(Vatican Radio) A holistic approach for caring for those with Hansen’s Disease (Leprosy) is the theme of an international seminar in Rome on June 9-10th jointly organized by the Pontifical Council for Healthcare Workers and a number of charitable foundations. The organisers of the seminar released details of the 2-day event at a press conference in the Holy See on Tuesday. Those taking part in the seminar include the Sovereign Order of Malta and the charitable Foundations, ‘The Good Samaritan,’ the ‘Nippon’, the ‘Raoul Follereau’ and the ‘Sasakawa Memorial Health.’
The 2-day event brings together leading experts in treating and caring for those with Hansen’s Disease from across the world to discuss the theme “Towards Holistic Care for People with Hansen’s Disease, Respectful of their Dignity.” The first speaker at the press conference was Monsignor Jean Marie Mupendawatu, Secretary of the Pontifical Council for Healthcare Workers, who reminded his audience that although curable, around 200,000 new cases of Hansen’s Disease are diagnosed each year worldwide and this has a devastating impact on their social and economic future, forcing patients, sometimes with their entire family, to live on the margins of society. Even those who are cured from the disease but who bear the disfigurement it causes, he said, are often ostracized by their communities and denied the chance to work or to study. The disease is still very prevalent in many poor areas of the world, especially in India and Brazil.
Referring to the strong social stigma that still surrounds Hansen’s Disease, Father Augusto Chendi, Under Secretary of the Pontifical Council for Healthcare Workers, said the fight against leprosy does not just include measures to diagnose and treat the disease whilst still at an early stage but also to show solidarity and mercy towards those suffering from leprosy and help them to live a dignified life.
Yohei Sasakawa who heads the Nippon Foundation described how it had helped to cure 7 million patients across the world suffering from leprosy by distributing free of charge the medical treatment used against the disease.
Another speaker was Dr Roch Christian Johnson of the Raoul Follereau Foundation who spoke of how their Foundation supports the fight against leprosy in 12 Francophone African countries and seeks to break the chain of transmission through early detection and treatment of patients, as well as campaigning against the exclusion of patients from society.
In his intervention at the press conference, Dr Ivo Graziani from the Sovereign Order of Malta said their Order was fighting Hansen’s disease in 17 countries worldwide and gave details of its campaign to help eradicate leprosy in Cambodia by diagnosing, treating and rehabilitating those affected by the disease. As part of its holistic approach towards leprosy-affected persons, Dr Graziani said the Order is active in organizing self-care courses to prevent disabilities caused by leprosy as well as by raising awareness and spreading the simple message that if diagnosed early, leprosy is easy to cure whereas if left untreated the disease leads to disability and stigmatization.
The World Health Organisation says there are around 100 countries across the world where leprosy is still endemic and the age-old stigma associated with the disease remains a key obstacle in ongoing efforts to eradicate it.
(Vatican Radio) Pope Francis has sent his greetings to the 11th National Eucharistic Congress of Argentina, currently taking place in Tucuman.In a Message sent through the Vatican Secretary of State, Cardinal Pietro Parolin, the Holy Father gave urged all the faithful to “continue in deepening their love for the Eucharist, which is the daily food which strengthens faith, as well as nourishing fraternity and the commitment to those most in need.”The Message concluded by asking participants to pray for the Pope, while also invoking the maternal protection of the Virgin of Lujan.
(Vatican Radio) Pope Francis has sent his greetings to the 11th National Eucharistic Congress of Argentina, currently taking place in Tucuman.
In a Message sent through the Vatican Secretary of State, Cardinal Pietro Parolin, the Holy Father gave urged all the faithful to “continue in deepening their love for the Eucharist, which is the daily food which strengthens faith, as well as nourishing fraternity and the commitment to those most in need.”
The Message concluded by asking participants to pray for the Pope, while also invoking the maternal protection of the Virgin of Lujan.
Los Angeles, Calif., Jun 7, 2016 / 06:18 am (CNA/EWTN News).- California’s assisted suicide bill will go into effect on June 9, and the Archdiocese of Los Angeles is fighting back — with prayer.On June 1, Auxiliary Bishop David G. O’Connell celebrated Mass at Santa Teresita, a home for seniors in need of assisted living and nursing services. The Mass marked the beginning of a call to nine days of prayer and fasting for the elderly, disabled and terminally ill.“This is a challenge to all of us. Especially to all of us who have faith,” the bishop said, “to teach always about the infinite value of each human life.”Bishop O’Connell, who has lived in California for more than 30 years, said the passing of the End of Life Option Act makes it a sad time for the state.“This is a failure of our love,” he said.“A failure of heart really, that we can’t think of anything else we can do for people who have been told that they...
Los Angeles, Calif., Jun 7, 2016 / 06:18 am (CNA/EWTN News).- California’s assisted suicide bill will go into effect on June 9, and the Archdiocese of Los Angeles is fighting back — with prayer.
On June 1, Auxiliary Bishop David G. O’Connell celebrated Mass at Santa Teresita, a home for seniors in need of assisted living and nursing services. The Mass marked the beginning of a call to nine days of prayer and fasting for the elderly, disabled and terminally ill.
“This is a challenge to all of us. Especially to all of us who have faith,” the bishop said, “to teach always about the infinite value of each human life.”
Bishop O’Connell, who has lived in California for more than 30 years, said the passing of the End of Life Option Act makes it a sad time for the state.
“This is a failure of our love,” he said.
“A failure of heart really, that we can’t think of anything else we can do for people who have been told that they have terminal illness, than to offer them a package of pills where they can take their own life and say, ‘go ahead, just commit suicide.’”
California state legislators met in October 2015 to sign the law allowing terminally ill patients, 18 years or older, to request an ‘aid-in-dying’ drug from their physician.
A push for assisted suicide in the state drew significant media attention in 2014, when 29-year-old Brittany Maynard moved from California to Oregon in order to take advantage of the legalized physician-assisted suicide there. Maynard had been given six months to live, due to an aggressive brain tumor.
With the passage of the law, California now joins Oregon, Vermont and Washington in legalizing physician-assisted suicide. The practice was also approved in Montana by a court ruling.
Similar legislation is making international headlines as well.
Canada’s assisted suicide bill was recently sent to the Senate for final approval, hoping to meet its June 6 court-imposed deadline, but is facing delays due to disagreements in the inclusion of minors and protection for medical institutions.
The Netherlands, Switzerland, Colombia, Luxembourg, England and Wales already have various forms of the law instituted.
The new film, ‘Me Before You’ has prompted criticism for what is being described as a glorification of assisted suicide. It tells the story of a man with disabilities who falls in love with his caretaker and then decides to end his life with her support. The movie made its box office debut last week and earned more than $18 million dollars its opening weekend.
In his homily, Bishop O’Connell recognized the vastness of this issue and said Catholics and people of all faiths must realize this and make a change.
“We must renew in our hearts, my brothers and sisters,” he said.
“What’s happened here is a challenge to all of us in our beautiful Catholic faith but all of us in our humanity to say we have this law…let us try to renew our lives again, our love for Jesus, our love for each other.”
Bishop O’Connell said California has everything in regards to resources and opportunities. It is just missing one thing.
“If we stopped killing each other, we’d be in great shape.”
The bishop also discussed the effects of this law would have on the poor.
“In our hospitals, it is the poor who are being advised and counseled more and more towards abortions,” he said.
“Now it’s going to happen also, I’m sorry to say, with the elderly, the most poor and most vulnerable.”
This novena is just the start for Bishop O’Connell’s mission against this issue: to put faith into practice.
“This novena is to change our hearts first of all, so that nobody will have to use this shameful option that we’re offering those who are suffering and elderly.”
Surrounded by religious sisters from the Missionaries of Charity, the Immaculate Heart of Mary, and the Carmelite Sisters in Duarte (the order who run Santa Teresita), the bishop asked the sisters for their help in educating and informing young children, high school students and parishes.
He hopes to build up teams of people all over Los Angeles to do everything they can to help the elderly and those who are ill.
“If all of you have the same mission, than you will be united,” he said.
“We need to make sure nobody ever feels so lonely and unwanted that they feel this is their only option,” he said.
St. John Paul II Novena Prayer Cards, created by the Archdiocese’s Office of Life, Justice and Peace, have already been sent to parishes throughout the Archdiocese of Los Angeles, San Francisco and the Diocese of Orange. They are also available online at: archla.org/endoflife
By Carol GlatzVATICAN CITY (CNS) -- Prayer powers the light thatChristians are called to share with the world, Pope Francis said."You can do many great things for the church -- aCatholic university, a school, a hospital -- and they will even build you amonument as a benefactor of the church," the pope said June 7 during amorning Mass in the chapel of the Domus Sanctae Marthae."But if you don't pray," he said, all of thosecharitable efforts and works of mercy "will be a bit murky or dark"and without light because they weren't rooted in prayer, he said."What is the Christian's battery for making light?Simply prayer," he said, according to Vatican Radio.The thing that "gives life to Christian light, whatilluminates, is prayer" that comes from the heart and gives God thanks andpraise, he said.However, he said, it is important to share that light andnot be tempted to keep it for oneself, which would be a kind of"looking-glass spirituality" and "is something awful."When God asks that Chr...
By Carol Glatz
VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- Prayer powers the light that
Christians are called to share with the world, Pope Francis said.
"You can do many great things for the church -- a
Catholic university, a school, a hospital -- and they will even build you a
monument as a benefactor of the church," the pope said June 7 during a
morning Mass in the chapel of the Domus Sanctae Marthae.
"But if you don't pray," he said, all of those
charitable efforts and works of mercy "will be a bit murky or dark"
and without light because they weren't rooted in prayer, he said.
"What is the Christian's battery for making light?
Simply prayer," he said, according to Vatican Radio.
The thing that "gives life to Christian light, what
illuminates, is prayer" that comes from the heart and gives God thanks and
praise, he said.
However, he said, it is important to share that light and
not be tempted to keep it for oneself, which would be a kind of
"looking-glass spirituality" and "is something awful."
When God asks that Christians be the light of the world and
salt of the earth, both of these gifts are meant to be shared with others
through good works that render glory to God.
By recognizing that the gifts come from God, they will never
be exhausted because he gives freely, the pope said. His gift will
"continue to be given to you if you continue to give it -- illuminating
and giving. And it will never run out."
DEER LAKE, Pa. (AP) -- He called himself "The Greatest," but Muhammad Ali was humble, friendly and eminently approachable whenever he came to this out-of-the-way spot in northeastern Pennsylvania to train throughout the 1970s....
DEER LAKE, Pa. (AP) -- He called himself "The Greatest," but Muhammad Ali was humble, friendly and eminently approachable whenever he came to this out-of-the-way spot in northeastern Pennsylvania to train throughout the 1970s....
