Catholic News 2
SAN FRANCISCO (AP) -- Tens of thousands of people waving rainbow flags lined streets for gay pride parades Sunday in coast-to-coast events that took both celebratory and political tones, the latter a reaction to what some see as new threats to gay rights in the Trump era....
UNDATED (AP) -- Japanese air bag maker Takata Corp. has filed for bankruptcy protection in Tokyo and the U.S., overwhelmed by lawsuits and recall costs related to its production of faulty air bag inflators....
(Vatican Radio) American bishops have called on the U.S. Senate to remove what they deem are unacceptable flaws in the discussion draft of its health care bill.Listen to the report by Linda Bordoni: In a statement signed by Bishop Frank Dewane, Chairman of the U.S. Bishops' Committee on Domestic Justice and Human Development, the bishops express their concern regarding some points in the legislation they fear will harm those most in need.The bishops praise some fundamental elements in the bill but point out that an acceptable health care system must provide access to all, regardless of their means, and at all stages of life. They also say such a health care system must protect conscience rights, as well as extend to immigrant families.The statement calls on the Senate to act to make changes to the draft to protect those persons on the peripheries of the American health care system.
(Vatican Radio) American bishops have called on the U.S. Senate to remove what they deem are unacceptable flaws in the discussion draft of its health care bill.
Listen to the report by Linda Bordoni:
In a statement signed by Bishop Frank Dewane, Chairman of the U.S. Bishops' Committee on Domestic Justice and Human Development, the bishops express their concern regarding some points in the legislation they fear will harm those most in need.
The bishops praise some fundamental elements in the bill but point out that an acceptable health care system must provide access to all, regardless of their means, and at all stages of life.
They also say such a health care system must protect conscience rights, as well as extend to immigrant families.
The statement calls on the Senate to act to make changes to the draft to protect those persons on the peripheries of the American health care system.
(Vatican Radio) Thousands of people have gathered in Lithuania's capital Vilnius to attend the official beautification ceremony of Archbishop Teofilius Matulionis, whom - as Stefan Bos reports - became a symbol of persecution endured by Christians when the country was still part of the Soviet Union.Listen: They gathered while Pope Francis called to pay respects to Matulionis and the Lithuanian people as the late church leader became the first Catholic martyr from Lithuania's communist era to be declared blessed.In front of the neo-classical Vilnius Cathedral in the capital, many sang and prayed as they remembered the suffering of a man who spent many years in prisons and labor camps because of his public dedication to Christ and the Church when Lithuania and effectively ruled by atheist leaders in Moscow. Teofilius Matulionis was eventually executed in 1962 after 16 years in detention. He was raised to archbishop by Pope John XXIII in 1962. But the archbish...
(Vatican Radio) Thousands of people have gathered in Lithuania's capital Vilnius to attend the official beautification ceremony of Archbishop Teofilius Matulionis, whom - as Stefan Bos reports - became a symbol of persecution endured by Christians when the country was still part of the Soviet Union.
Listen:
They gathered while Pope Francis called to pay respects to Matulionis and the Lithuanian people as the late church leader became the first Catholic martyr from Lithuania's communist era to be declared blessed.
In front of the neo-classical Vilnius Cathedral in the capital, many sang and prayed as they remembered the suffering of a man who spent many years in prisons and labor camps because of his public dedication to Christ and the Church when Lithuania and effectively ruled by atheist leaders in Moscow.
Teofilius Matulionis was eventually executed in 1962 after 16 years in detention.
He was raised to archbishop by Pope John XXIII in 1962. But the archbishop was refused Soviet permission to attend the Second Vatican Council. Soon after, on August 20, 1962, he died from a lethal injection, which was apparently administered by a police nurse of the secret service KGB, following a brutal beating in his apartment.
SAINTHOOD CAUSE
The sainthood cause launched in 1990 after Lithuania’s independence from Soviet rule. A papal decree on his martyrdom in December 2016 opened the door to his beautification which, seen by those involved in the procedure as a crucial step to sainthood.
In a recent pastoral message, the Lithuanian bishops’ conference said Matulionis had “lived the Easter message” referring to his strong faith in the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead and salvation for everyone who believes in Him.
The bishops noted that the late Matulionis had in their words consistently shown “peace, confidence, and goodness,” even to his persecutors.
Sunday's beatification was also the highlight of the Ninth National Day of Lithuanian youths in Vilnius of which Matulionis has been declared the Patron Saint. Thousands of young believers gathered around this year's theme taken from the Biblical Gospel of John: “truth will set you free”.
The last Lithuanian to be beatified was Bishop Jerzy Matulewicz-Matulaitis, who lived from 1871 to 1927 and was the founder of the Sisters of the Immaculate Conception order. He was declared blessed in Rome by then Pope John Paul II in 1987.
Lithuania's Catholic Church seeks the beatification of Bishop Vincentas Borisevicius, who was shot and killed in 1946 for alleged links with underground fighters, and Archbishop Mecislovas Reinys. He died in a Russian prison in 1953.
Vatican City, Jun 25, 2017 / 11:38 am (CNA/EWTN News).- In his Angelus address on Sunday, Pope Francis reminded the faithful that following Christ does not mean our lives will be free from all earthly troubles.“There is no Christian mission in the name of tranquility,” the Pope said, speaking to those gathered in St. Peter’s Square on June 25. “Difficulties and tribulations are part and parcel of evangelization.”Pope Francis reflected on the day’s Gospel, in which Jesus instructs his followers not to be afraid.“Jesus’ mission did not guarantee the disciples success, nor did it shield them from failure or suffering,” the Holy Father said.But Christ did promise them that he would always be with them as they faced the trials that were ahead.The same is true for us today, the Pope said. We should expect suffering and even persecution if we follow in the path of the crucified Christ, but at the same time, we can take comfort in knowin...
Vatican City, Jun 25, 2017 / 11:38 am (CNA/EWTN News).- In his Angelus address on Sunday, Pope Francis reminded the faithful that following Christ does not mean our lives will be free from all earthly troubles.
“There is no Christian mission in the name of tranquility,” the Pope said, speaking to those gathered in St. Peter’s Square on June 25. “Difficulties and tribulations are part and parcel of evangelization.”
Pope Francis reflected on the day’s Gospel, in which Jesus instructs his followers not to be afraid.
“Jesus’ mission did not guarantee the disciples success, nor did it shield them from failure or suffering,” the Holy Father said.
But Christ did promise them that he would always be with them as they faced the trials that were ahead.
The same is true for us today, the Pope said. We should expect suffering and even persecution if we follow in the path of the crucified Christ, but at the same time, we can take comfort in knowing that “God does not abandon his children during the storm.”
Sometimes this storm comes not in the form of active persecution, but in indifference, through “people who do not want to be awakened from a worldly numbness, who ignore the truth of the Gospel message and build their own ephemeral truth.”
Regardless of the form that trials may take, we should persevere in faithfulness, he said, also reminding those gathered in the square to pray for those facing serious persecution.
“Jesus does not leave us alone because we are precious to Him.”
Following the Angelus, the Pope offered prayers for landslide victims in southwestern China. He also offered a message to members of the Greek-Catholic Ukrainian Church on the 150th anniversary of the canonization of St. Josaphat, as well as to Lithuanians celebrating Blessed Theofilius Matulonius.
NEW YORK (AP) -- Sportscaster Erin Andrews and former NHL player Jarret Stoll have tied the knot....
NEW YORK (AP) -- Matthew Howard Sr. was just leaving a New York amusement park Saturday evening with his family when he heard someone screaming for help....
ISTANBUL (AP) -- Turkish police stopped activists for lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans and intersex rights from gathering in large numbers for an LGBT pride event in Istanbul on Sunday, but smaller groups made impromptu press statements defying a ban imposed by the governor....
LONDON (AP) -- The list of high-rise apartment towers in Britain that have failed fire safety tests grew to 60, officials said Sunday, revealing the mounting challenge the government faces in the aftermath of London's Grenfell Tower fire tragedy....
WASHINGTON (AP) -- Making a final push, President Donald Trump said he doesn't think congressional Republicans are "that far off" on a health overhaul to replace "the dead carcass of Obamacare." Expressing frustration, he complained about "the level of hostility" in government and wondered why both parties can't work together on the Senate bill as GOP critics expressed doubt over a successful vote this week....
