Catholic News 2
BEIRUT (AP) -- The Latest on Syria's civil war and the escalating violence in the contested northern city of Aleppo (all times local):...
PHOENIX (AP) -- The Navy SEAL killed in Iraq has been identified as Charlie Keating IV, the grandson of the late Arizona financier involved in savings and loan scandal....
WEST PORTSMOUTH, Ohio (AP) -- Traffic stopped for miles as black hearses left a church and snaked past mobile homes, weathered shops and green fields, leading a procession of mourners in more than 150 vehicles....
WASHINGTON (AP) -- Donald Trump wins the Republican presidential primary in Indiana, continuing his surge toward clinching the GOP nomination over rivals Ted Cruz and John Kasich....
INDIANAPOLIS (AP) -- Donald Trump took a major step toward sewing up the Republican presidential nomination Tuesday with a victory in Indiana's primary election, dashing the hopes of rival Ted Cruz and other GOP forces who fear the brash businessman will doom their party in the general election....
(Vatican Radio) The future of the Church in Europe, especially in light of the migration crisis, was at the top of the agenda as leaders of the Council of European Bishops’ Conferences, or CCEE, met with Pope Francis in the Vatican this week. Following that audience, CCEE President, Cardinal Peter Erdo from Hungary, along with the two vice presidents, Italian Cardinal Angelo Bagnasco and Albanian Archbishop Angelo Massafra, gave a press conference on Tuesday to share some of the Pope’s concerns.Listen to Philippa Hitchen's report: Cardinal Erdo told journalists the Pope had strong words of encouragement for all members of the CCEE as they seek to rediscover and reinforce the Christian roots at the heart of European society. Cardinal Bagnasco stressed the need to form consciences and build a “culture of relationships”, opposing those “economic forces” that seek to manipulate people and promote instead a culture of consumerism and indivi...
(Vatican Radio) The future of the Church in Europe, especially in light of the migration crisis, was at the top of the agenda as leaders of the Council of European Bishops’ Conferences, or CCEE, met with Pope Francis in the Vatican this week. Following that audience, CCEE President, Cardinal Peter Erdo from Hungary, along with the two vice presidents, Italian Cardinal Angelo Bagnasco and Albanian Archbishop Angelo Massafra, gave a press conference on Tuesday to share some of the Pope’s concerns.
Listen to Philippa Hitchen's report:
Cardinal Erdo told journalists the Pope had strong words of encouragement for all members of the CCEE as they seek to rediscover and reinforce the Christian roots at the heart of European society. Cardinal Bagnasco stressed the need to form consciences and build a “culture of relationships”, opposing those “economic forces” that seek to manipulate people and promote instead a culture of consumerism and individualistic identity.
Britain's referendum reveals 'unease'
Cardinal Bagnasco also spoke about the upcoming British referendum on whether or not to remain in the EU, saying regardless of the result, the unease which many people feel must make European institutions reflect on how they can better respect and value the cultures of the different member countries.
Welcome and integration for migrants
All the Church leaders spoke at length about the migration crisis, saying it’s vital to distinguish between the different challenges facing countries of origin, of transit and of destination. As well as welcoming those in need, they stressed the importance of European countries supporting one another in the longer term integration process.
Mgr Duarte da Cunha, secretary general of the CCEE, said the first rule is that Churches have to “receive everyone with love and mercy, to help all in need”. At this moment, works are more important than words and the testimony of so many Church organisations are a “witness of what this means concretely”.
Secondly, Mgr Duarte said ‘union’ does not mean everyone should do the same thing but rather understand the different situations of countries and the realities of what the refugees want, or where they want to go. “A common policy doesn’t mean the same policy in each country, but a policy that coordinates the different situations”, he said.
Churches can model dialogue and solidarity
Mgr Duarte says Church leaders have an advantage over politicians since they share the same faith and live their lives by the same principles and values. That enables them to listen, to avoid conflict, to respect differences but also to help and welcome those most in need. It doesn’t mean that bishops in one country should say what bishops in another country should do, he said, adding that Pope Francis had been “very aware of this” during the meeting on Monday. Rather than abstract solutions “in the air”, he said, Europe needs concrete solutions responding to the reality on the ground.
(Vatican Radio) May 3rd each year marks World Press Freedom Day (WPFD), highlighting the need for the international right for freedom of expression in the media and the right to knowledge. Recent reports show that there has been a distressing decline in press freedom globally.This year there is a particular focus on the freedom of information as a human right, protection from censorship and surveillance overreach, as well as insuring safety for journalism both on and offline.Andy Smith, a member of the Executive Committee of the National Union of Journalists in UK and Ireland, spoke to Georgia Gogarty, about the significance of World Press Freedom Day and the main issues that journalists are currently facing.Listen: Smith spoke about how WPFD is an “opportunity to mark the importance of the freedom of the press” once a year, 25 years after the Windhoek declaration in Africa. However the situation for free media is worsening, he said.So far this year the International F...
(Vatican Radio) May 3rd each year marks World Press Freedom Day (WPFD), highlighting the need for the international right for freedom of expression in the media and the right to knowledge. Recent reports show that there has been a distressing decline in press freedom globally.
This year there is a particular focus on the freedom of information as a human right, protection from censorship and surveillance overreach, as well as insuring safety for journalism both on and offline.
Andy Smith, a member of the Executive Committee of the National Union of Journalists in UK and Ireland, spoke to Georgia Gogarty, about the significance of World Press Freedom Day and the main issues that journalists are currently facing.
Listen:
Smith spoke about how WPFD is an “opportunity to mark the importance of the freedom of the press” once a year, 25 years after the Windhoek declaration in Africa. However the situation for free media is worsening, he said.
So far this year the International Federation of Journalists has calculated that 26 journalists and media staff have been killed, and according to Smith, due to the “appalling rate of conviction in some countries” and a “widespread culture of impunity in some jurisdictions”, those responsible are failing to be prosecuted.
Smith said that “a healthy open democracy depends on the flow of information” and that without public access to information “you can’t have an open democratic government”. It is essential that a free media has a “plurality of independent voices” in order to communicate information that is not manipulated by the state, large businesses or crime organizations.
Speaking about the key threats to free press, Smith stressed that the greatest is “not to journalists in conflict zones but journalists in countries where the rule of law simply does not protect them”, specifically in countries like Egypt, Turkey and Honduras as well as the wider Middle East region. Due to increases in surveillance, many sources now feel unable to come forward with information about corruption and malpractice he said, resulting in a huge impact on the journalistic ability to highlight those issues and make the public aware.
When asked about the impact of WPFD, Smith expressed the importance of journalists working together with national governments to get them to support their words with actions, for example by engaging with the guidelines set out by the European Council for the protection of journalists. Many governments “profess to having a free press but the practice on the ground is very different”, according to Smith, and as a result the freedom of press is restricted, resulting in journalists being harassed, detained and in some cases even killed.
Vatican City, May 3, 2016 / 11:48 am (CNA/EWTN News).- In his May prayer video Pope Francis issued a global petition that women in all countries would be respected and valued, asking rhetorically if the mere recognition of their role is enough, or if more can be done.“The contribution of women in all areas of human activity is undeniable, beginning with the family. But only to recognize it – is that enough?” the Pope asked in the video, published May 3.“We have done little for women who are in very difficult situations: despised, marginalized, and even reduced to slavery,” he said, stressing that “we must condemn sexual violence against women and remove the barriers that prevent their full integration into social, political and economic life.”The Pope speaks in Spanish as images of women working in various fields, including science, teaching, and medicine flash across the screen. However, women in desperate, marginalized circumstances also a...
Vatican City, May 3, 2016 / 11:48 am (CNA/EWTN News).- In his May prayer video Pope Francis issued a global petition that women in all countries would be respected and valued, asking rhetorically if the mere recognition of their role is enough, or if more can be done.
“The contribution of women in all areas of human activity is undeniable, beginning with the family. But only to recognize it – is that enough?” the Pope asked in the video, published May 3.
“We have done little for women who are in very difficult situations: despised, marginalized, and even reduced to slavery,” he said, stressing that “we must condemn sexual violence against women and remove the barriers that prevent their full integration into social, political and economic life.”
The Pope speaks in Spanish as images of women working in various fields, including science, teaching, and medicine flash across the screen. However, women in desperate, marginalized circumstances also appear next to phrases such as “I do my job as well as a man,” “I will never be a slave,” “no gender violence,” and “enough of discrimination at work.”
A final image of a woman writing on a chalkboard appears next to the phrase “men and women are children of God,” as Francis asks viewers to join in his heartfelt petition “that in all countries of the world women may be honored and respected and valued for their essential contribution to society.”
Pope Francis’ prayer video was the latest in a new series of short clips dedicated to his monthly prayer intentions, called “The Pope Video.”
An initiative of the Jesuit-run global prayer network Apostleship of Prayer, the videos are filmed in collaboration with the Vatican Television Center and mark the first time the Pope’s monthly prayer intentions have been featured on video.
Since the late 1800s the organization has also received a monthly, universal intention from the Pope. In 1929 an additional missionary intention was added by the Holy Father, aimed at the faithful in particular.
While there are two intentions, the prayer videos are centered on the first, universal intention.
The universal intention is that “in every country of the world, women may be honored and respected and that their essential contribution to society may be highly esteemed.”
The Pope’s missionary intention for May, which is dedicated to Mary, is that “families, communities, and groups may pray the Holy Rosary for evangelization and peace.”
The Pope’s May video was released the same day as a new version of a Vatican publication on women, called “Women, Church, World,” which is linked to the Vatican newspaper L’Osservatore Romano.
Established in 2012, the publication has been expanded to a 40 page, color magazine published every two months and designed to give voice to women from around the world on a variety of topics related to the role of women in the world.
In addition to covering the traditional topics of major questions linked to the role of women in the Church, the new version of the magazine will now include two new meditations on the topic of each specific edition. The first is a meditation on scripture, while the second will be dedicated to art.
The May edition has already been released and is dedicated to the same topic as the first edition of the publication in 2012: the Visitation.
Future editions will reflect on different aspects of feminine identity such as: Maternity as caring for the world; Maternity as reconciliation, taking into account various testimonies of reconciliation from around the world; Women and Canon Law; Forgotten women and Women of prayer.
Vatican Secretary of State Cardinal Pietro Parolin, who spoke at the May 3 presentation of the new version of the magazine, said in comments to journalists that the publication is “a very important initiative” in terms of understanding and reflecting on the role of women in the Church.
He noted how women have made contributions of “exceptional value” to the Church throughout history, and named St. Catherine of Siena as one of the Church’s most influential female giants.
“If one thinks about the role St. Catherine of Siena had, in the spiritual life but also in the life of the Church, she was a great politician (and) she was a diplomat, so she had a large role. She truly influenced the life of the Church,” he said.
The cardinal condemned the idea that there ought to be a “gender quota” in the Vatican, and stressed that in his experience, what women really want is “to advance with their merits (and) their abilities, without reserved institutional spaces.”
Women, he said, “must have their contribution for what they are, for what they do,” and not so much for what is set aside for them. This, he said, is why he sense a certain “reluctance to accept this concept of the gender quota.”
In terms of top positions or management roles in the Church, Cardinal Parolin stressed that the Church has positions “that are already definitive,” such as when it comes to the priesthood, for example.
In order to overcome an attitude of machismo within the Church, the cardinal encouraged the promotion of initiatives, such as the magazine, which create space for women to have a voice and give their own contributions, and which “nourish what can also be a heritage” for the Church and for the world.
By Junno Arocho EstevesVATICANCITY (CNS) -- Christians distracted from the path set out by Jesus can turninto decrepit "spiritual mummies," Pope Francis said at his morning Mass. Spiritualmummies stray from the path of Christian life by choosing to stand still "not doing evil,but not doing good" either, the pope said May 3 in his homily during Mass in the Domus Sanctae Marthae."AChristian who doesn'twalk, who doesn't move on the path, is a'non-Christian' Christian. No one knows what he is. He is a bit of a'paganized' Christian; he's there, he's still, but he doesn't go forward inChristian life. The Beatitudes do not flourish in his life; he does not do theworks of mercy; he is still," the pope said. Theday's Gospel reading wasJesus' discourse during the Last Supper in which he tells his disciples that heis "the way, the truth and the life.""Amen, amen, I say to you, whoever believes in me willdo the works that I do, and will do greater ones than these, because I am goingto the Fath...
By Junno Arocho Esteves
VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- Christians distracted from the path set out by Jesus can turn into decrepit "spiritual mummies," Pope Francis said at his morning Mass.
Spiritual mummies stray from the path of Christian life by choosing to stand still "not doing evil, but not doing good" either, the pope said May 3 in his homily during Mass in the Domus Sanctae Marthae.
"A Christian who doesn't walk, who doesn't move on the path, is a 'non-Christian' Christian. No one knows what he is. He is a bit of a 'paganized' Christian; he's there, he's still, but he doesn't go forward in Christian life. The Beatitudes do not flourish in his life; he does not do the works of mercy; he is still," the pope said.
The day's Gospel reading was Jesus' discourse during the Last Supper in which he tells his disciples that he is "the way, the truth and the life."
"Amen, amen, I say to you, whoever believes in me will do the works that I do, and will do greater ones than these, because I am going to the Father," Jesus said.
The pope said there are two types of Christians who fail in following the true path: those who are stubborn and those who wander like vagabonds.
Stubborn Christians tend to believe they know the path and "do not allow the voice of the Lord to tell them: 'Go back and take the right path,'" he said. On the other hand, vagabond Christians walk around aimlessly in circles and are easily distracted by worldly vanities.
"There are others who on the path are seduced by something beautiful and they stop midway; fascinated by what they see -- by this idea, by that proposal, by that landscape -- and they stop! Christian life is not something charming: it is a truth! It is Jesus Christ!" he said.
Pope Francis called on the faithful to reflect on whether they have strayed from the path of Christian life laid out in the Beatitudes and the works of mercy. Although Jesus' path leads to the cross, it is also '"full of consolations" and "peace in the soul."
"Let us ask the Holy Spirit to teach us to walk well (on this path), always! And when we tire, (to give us) a little refreshment to go forward. Let us ask for this grace," the pope said.
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Follow Arocho on Twitter: @arochoju.
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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.
By Paul HaringVATICAN CITY (CNS) -- Pope Francisreceives countless gifts, but most do not require anything in return. However,at his audience with members of the military April 30, the pope received asmall gift with a tradition -- and obligation -- attached. Auxiliary Bishop F. Richard Spencerof the U.S. Archdiocese for the Military Services gave the pope a militarychallenge coin with a prayer from St. Francis of Assisi stamped on it.Bishop Spencer, who ministers toU.S. service members in Europe and Asia, explained to the pope -- and then toCatholic News Service -- the tradition of military challenge coins. "Along-standing military tradition is for leaders to 'coin' a person as anoutward sign of appreciation and admiration for their actions and service,"the bishop said.Military challenge coins come with acatch. "The next time the two of you meet after being 'coined,' the personreceiving the coin must show the coin from the original presenter. If they donot have the coin with them, t...
By Paul Haring
VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- Pope Francis receives countless gifts, but most do not require anything in return. However, at his audience with members of the military April 30, the pope received a small gift with a tradition -- and obligation -- attached.
Auxiliary Bishop F. Richard Spencer of the U.S. Archdiocese for the Military Services gave the pope a military challenge coin with a prayer from St. Francis of Assisi stamped on it.
Bishop Spencer, who ministers to U.S. service members in Europe and Asia, explained to the pope -- and then to Catholic News Service -- the tradition of military challenge coins. "A long-standing military tradition is for leaders to 'coin' a person as an outward sign of appreciation and admiration for their actions and service," the bishop said.
Military challenge coins come with a catch. "The next time the two of you meet after being 'coined,' the person receiving the coin must show the coin from the original presenter. If they do not have the coin with them, then they owe you a beer!" said Bishop Spencer, whose began his military service as an Army officer in 1973.
Bishop Spencer said he explained the custom to the pope, who "asked, with a smile, if I would accept wine instead!"
In offering wine, the pope was in fact keeping with the original European heritage of challenge coins. The history begins in World War I when an airman with the U.S. Army Air Service was shot down and captured by the Germany army, who took away his identification and belongings.
U.S. Airman 1st Class Deana Heitzman, who wrote a recent article about challenge coins for U.S. Air Force websites, explained the story: "While escaping from the grasp of the Germans, the pilot made his way to France, where they believed he was a spy and sentenced him to be executed. To prove his identity and save his life, he revealed a bronze medallion with his flying squadron's emblem, confirming he was an American pilot. The French spared his life and celebrated by giving him a bottle of wine instead," wrote Heitzman.
Carrying a unit coin became a tradition for the saved pilot's squadron in Germany. Coin challenges developed as a way to ensure everyone was carrying their coin. If they didn't have it, they would be buying drinks.
But coins are much more than just a fun tradition that leads to drinks. They also are exchanged on important occasions and mark significant events in a service member's career. Many service members display important coins in cases as a reminder.
Pope Francis would have no trouble participating in a coin challenge. The Vatican has a long history of creating papal coins. The 2016 Pope Francis coins available from the Vatican are genuine euro tender and range in value from one euro-cent to a 50-euro gold coin that sells for 1,090 euro.
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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.
