Catholic News 2
PROVIDENCE, R.I. (AP) -- An elephant carrying a performer holding an American flag kicked off the final elephant performance at Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus on Sunday, as the show closes its own chapter on a practice that has entertained audiences in America for two centuries but has come under fire by animal rights activists....
(Vatican Radio) Ukraine's central government and separatists say three people have been killed in clashes in eastern Ukraine despite a previously agreed armistice for Orthodox Easter.The reports of gunfire came while Orthodox Christians had just begun observing Easter Sunday. Listen to the report by Stefan Bos: Ukraine's military said at least one soldier had been killed and seven more injured in the past 24 hours when separatists shelled government positions overnight at several locations, including the suburbs of the rebel stronghold of Donetsk. Rebel authorities reported two fighters dead and four injured in heavy shelling by government forces on Easter night in the past 24 hours.OSCE SETBACKThe latest clashes came as a setback for Martin Sajdik, the special envoy of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) who had been working for peace in the region. Sajdik announced earlier that government forces and Russia-backed separatists had ...
(Vatican Radio) Ukraine's central government and separatists say three people have been killed in clashes in eastern Ukraine despite a previously agreed armistice for Orthodox Easter.
The reports of gunfire came while Orthodox Christians had just begun observing Easter Sunday.
Listen to the report by Stefan Bos:
Ukraine's military said at least one soldier had been killed and seven more injured in the past 24 hours when separatists shelled government positions overnight at several locations, including the suburbs of the rebel stronghold of Donetsk.
Rebel authorities reported two fighters dead and four injured in heavy shelling by government forces on Easter night in the past 24 hours.
OSCE SETBACK
The latest clashes came as a setback for Martin Sajdik, the special envoy of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) who had been working for peace in the region.
Sajdik announced earlier that government forces and Russia-backed separatists had agreed to observe a new cease-fire with the start of the Orthodox Easter in eastern Ukraine, where the festivity is observed both by the Orthodox and by Greek Catholics.
He explained that the Easter ceasefire is needed as "there has been a high level of unrest in the conflict zone and numerous violations of the [previous] ceasefire [agreed in Minsk, Belarus] that cause new human casualties and material damage."
Sajdik also expressed disappointment that prisoners of war remain detained this Orthodox Easter.
PRISONERS REMAIN
"Unfortunately, I have to note that an agreement for releasing detained persons before Easter has not been reached. We are planning to continue working on this issue at the next meeting," he told reporters.
Church leaders have still tried to send out an Easter appeal for peace.
Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople, Bartholomew I, urged believers to bear witness to the love of their neighbors amid the atrocities of the contemporary world which, he said, "is torn by terrorism, wars and suffering".
Fighting in the Ukrainian industrial heartland has been raging for more than two years now, claiming more than 9,300 lives.
Trade unions and other groups are staging rallies around the world to mark International Workers Day. A look at some May Day events:...
WASHINGTON (AP) -- A CSX freight train heading to North Carolina derailed near a Metro stop in Washington, D.C., on Sunday, sending 14 cars off the tracks and spilling hazardous material, officials said....
Vaalwater, South Africa (AP) -- Lions rescued from circuses in Colombia and Peru and airlifted to South Africa scratched their manes on trees and explored their new territory in the African bush after being released into a sanctuary north of Johannesburg Sunday....
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) -- On stage, Prince was still captivating audiences at recent performances in Australia and California. He hosted a pop-up party at his Paisley Park studio, and there were few outward signs in his final months that anything was wrong....
BAGHDAD (AP) -- Anti-government protesters disbanded at least temporarily Sunday from the heavily fortified Green Zone they had stormed a day earlier after the Islamic State group carried out its second major attack in Iraq in as many days - a pair of car bombs that killed more than 30 people....
(Vatican Radio) Pope Francis has sent his greetings to the faithful of the Eastern Churches who are celebrating Holy Easter on Sunday, May 1 according to the Julian calendar. Speaking to pilgrims gathered in St. Peter’s Square for the Regina Coeli prayer he said: “May the Risen Lord bring to our brothers of the Eastern Churches all the gifts of His light and His peace. Christos anesti!”Earlier, in a tweet launched through his @Pontifex account, the Pope said “I address a cordial greeting to the faithful of the Eastern Churches who are celebrating Holy Pascha today. Χριστ?ς ?ν?στη!” Meanwhile during negotiations in Minsk, on the occasion of the Eastern Orthodox Easter, it was agreed that Ukrainian government forces and Russia-backed separatists were to observe a comprehensive cease-fire in the south-east of Ukraine where the festivity is observed both by the Orthodox and by Greek Catholics.The ar...
(Vatican Radio) Pope Francis has sent his greetings to the faithful of the Eastern Churches who are celebrating Holy Easter on Sunday, May 1 according to the Julian calendar.
Speaking to pilgrims gathered in St. Peter’s Square for the Regina Coeli prayer he said: “May the Risen Lord bring to our brothers of the Eastern Churches all the gifts of His light and His peace. Christos anesti!”
Earlier, in a tweet launched through his @Pontifex account, the Pope said “I address a cordial greeting to the faithful of the Eastern Churches who are celebrating Holy Pascha today. Χριστ?ς ?ν?στη!”
Meanwhile during negotiations in Minsk, on the occasion of the Eastern Orthodox Easter, it was agreed that Ukrainian government forces and Russia-backed separatists were to observe a comprehensive cease-fire in the south-east of Ukraine where the festivity is observed both by the Orthodox and by Greek Catholics.
The armistice was supposed to go into effect at midnight Saturday, but according to Ukrainian government sources a soldier was killed and several wounded on Sunday in the country’s east in what appears to be a violation of the armistice.
In a message, the Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople, Bartholomew I, urged the faithful to bear witness to the love of their neighbors amid the atrocities of the contemporary world which, he said, is torn by terrorism, wars and suffering.
The Orthodox Metropolitan of Italy and Malta, Gennasius, also issued an appeal “to purify one's heart” to be able “to fully feel the presence of the Risen One”, while the Patriarch of the Serbian Orthodox Church, Irinej, sent a message asking the faithful to forgive, “not to judge others” and “not to be afraid of the world in spite of worldly ideologies, disunity, hatred and violence.”
(Vatican Radio) Before praying the Regina Coeli in St Peter’s Square, Pope Francis’ catechesis on Sunday drew inspiration from the Gospel reading that speaks of the Last Supper and of Jesus’ promise to the Apostles.He tells them, the Pope said, that their mission was to take the Gospel message into the world and that they would not be alone: "The Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you everything and remind you of all that I have said to you: teach and remember”.Listen to the report by Linda Bordoni: The Pope explained that the Spirit would remember the teachings of Jesus in various concrete circumstances of life, so as to be able to put them into practice.That, he said, is precisely what is happening in the Church today, a Church that is guided by the light and by the strength of the Holy Spirit so that the Lord can bring the gift of salvation to everyone, the love and the mercy of God.The Pope urged the ...
(Vatican Radio) Before praying the Regina Coeli in St Peter’s Square, Pope Francis’ catechesis on Sunday drew inspiration from the Gospel reading that speaks of the Last Supper and of Jesus’ promise to the Apostles.
He tells them, the Pope said, that their mission was to take the Gospel message into the world and that they would not be alone: "The Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you everything and remind you of all that I have said to you: teach and remember”.
Listen to the report by Linda Bordoni:
The Pope explained that the Spirit would remember the teachings of Jesus in various concrete circumstances of life, so as to be able to put them into practice.
That, he said, is precisely what is happening in the Church today, a Church that is guided by the light and by the strength of the Holy Spirit so that the Lord can bring the gift of salvation to everyone, the love and the mercy of God.
The Pope urged the faithful to read a passage from the Gospel every day and reminded them they are not alone: “Jesus is near us, among us, within us! His new presence in history takes place through the gift of the Holy Spirit, through whom you can establish a living relationship with Him, the Crucified and Risen One”.
He said the Holy Spirit, poured into us through the sacraments of Baptism and Confirmation, acts as a guide in our lives, directing us in the way we think, in the way we act, helping us distinguish good from bad. It helps us to practice the charity of Jesus, giving to others, especially to the neediest.
And reiterating that we are not alone, the Pope said the sign of the presence of the Holy Spirit is also in the peace that Jesus gives to his disciples.
It is different – he said - from what men hope or attempt to accomplish: “the peace of Jesus arises from victory over sin, over that selfishness that prevents us from loving one another as brothers”.
The Pope concluded his catechesis saying that every disciple who is called to follow Jesus carrying the cross, receives the peace of the Risen Christ in the certainty of his victory, and in expectation of his coming.
Caracas, Venezuela, May 1, 2016 / 06:04 am (CNA/EWTN News).- Amid Venezuela's grave economic crisis, the country's bishops have urged the government of President Nicolás Maduro to allow the Church to bring in much-needed supplies such as food and medicine.Venezuela is suffering from a triple-digit inflation rate, economic recession, shortages of basic goods, and a power crisis.In their April 27 statement, the Venezuelan bishops warned that never before had the country suffered from such an “extreme lack of goods and basic food and health products” along with “an upsurge in murderous and inhuman crime, the unreliable rationing of electricity and water, and deep corruption in all levels of the government and society.”“Casting the situation in terms of an ideology and pragmatism in order to manipulate it are exacerbating it,” they warned. Venezuela's socialist government is widely blamed for the crisis. Since 2003, pric...
Caracas, Venezuela, May 1, 2016 / 06:04 am (CNA/EWTN News).- Amid Venezuela's grave economic crisis, the country's bishops have urged the government of President Nicolás Maduro to allow the Church to bring in much-needed supplies such as food and medicine.
Venezuela is suffering from a triple-digit inflation rate, economic recession, shortages of basic goods, and a power crisis.
In their April 27 statement, the Venezuelan bishops warned that never before had the country suffered from such an “extreme lack of goods and basic food and health products” along with “an upsurge in murderous and inhuman crime, the unreliable rationing of electricity and water, and deep corruption in all levels of the government and society.”
“Casting the situation in terms of an ideology and pragmatism in order to manipulate it are exacerbating it,” they warned.
Venezuela's socialist government is widely blamed for the crisis. Since 2003, price controls on some 160 products, including cooking oil, soap, and flour, have meant that while they are affordable, they fly off store shelves only to be resold on the black market at much higher rates.
The bishops reminded the Maduro government of its duty to “encourage all forms of assistance to its citizens” to overcome the shortages.
They pointed out that “authorization is urgently needed for private institutions in the country, such as Caritas or other programs of different religious denominations (…) to bring in food, medicine, and other basic needs from national and international aid groups, and to organize distribution networks in order to meet the urgent needs of the people.”
The economic crisis has led to smuggling and a thriving black market. Widespread looting broke out last week in several cities, after extended power cuts.
Venezuela's bishops also addressed “all those who are taking advantage of the shortages” by speculating on prices or and “those who are abusing their authority by demanding bribes.”
“This kind of behavior is morally unacceptable and makes apparent the lack of ethical values in their lives. Taking advantage of another person's need for profit is a crime and a mortal sin,” they warned.
The bishops also touched on the issue of an amnesty bill which has been approved by the National Assembly, Venezuela's unicameral legislature, which is led by the opposition. Maduro has rejected the bill.
“The amnesty law is a national and international outcry and a contribution to easing social tensions,” the bishops said. “To ignore the National Assembly is to ignore and trample on the will of the majority of the people.”
“All government officials, including those of the opposition, should express their serious concern for the entire people, without getting carried away by partisan or special interests. Now is the time to demonstrate your frame of mind to stand up for the common good and the genuine interests of every citizen of Venezuela,” they added.
They urged the people to not let themselves be “manipulated by those would offer to change the situation by means of social violence. But neither let yourselves be manipulated by those who urge resignation, or those who force you into silence with threats … violence, resignation, and hopelessness are serious dangers for a democracy.”
“We should never be passive or conformist citizens, but individuals aware of our own and calamitous reality: peaceful individuals, but active, and as as result, acting like protagonists of the transformation of our history and our culture. The Gospel calls us to be effective!”
This week, the Venezuelan opposition claimed that 600,000 people – triple the number needed – have signed a petition which is the first step towards a recall referendum on Maduro.
