Catholic News 2
BEIRUT (AP) -- In a brazen assault near the Syrian capital, Islamic State militants on Thursday abducted 300 cement workers and contractors in an area northeast of Damascus, Syrian state TV reported as fighting elsewhere in the country also worsened....
BRUSSELS (AP) -- Belgian prosecutors launched a public appeal Thursday seeking any information on "the man in a hat" seen before the Brussels Airport suicide bombings that killed 16 people....
BERLIN (AP) -- The European Union has threatened to sanction countries like Panama if they continue to refuse to cooperate fully to fight money laundering and tax evasion, after a leak of data showed the tiny country remains a key destination for people who want to hide money....
WASHINGTON (AP) -- The stalled nomination of Judge Merrick Garland to the Supreme Court is giving President Barack Obama a chance to do what he says he's missed: go back to school....
NEW YORK (AP) -- The race for the Democratic nomination took a decidedly negative turn, with Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders exchanging a series of barbs over each other's qualifications for the presidency....
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) -- When Donald Trump came to St. Louis last month for a raucous rally with thousands, Missouri Sen. Roy Blunt was more than 130 miles away, announcing a Missouri Farm Bureau endorsement to a few dozen company employees and two news reporters....
(Vatican Radio) Turkey and Germany said Wednesday an agreement put in place Monday to stem the flow of migrants to the Greek islands was showing signs of success, but many were still trying to cross the sea and the route remains far from closed. The influx of migrants and refugees has increased pressure on an already struggling Greek economy. Greek unions have announced strikes in many sectors against plans to overhaul the country’s pension system which could be finalized this week in talks with bailout negotiators.Listen to John Carr's report: Much of Greece’s public sector grinds to a halt today, in a 24-hour general strike called to protest planned cuts to pensions and benefits.Aviation authorities said there will be no flights in and out of Greek airports today, limited public transport, and no news about any of it, as journalists, too, are joining the walkout. Greece’s unions fear that the government will soon be forced to make more auste...
(Vatican Radio) Turkey and Germany said Wednesday an agreement put in place Monday to stem the flow of migrants to the Greek islands was showing signs of success, but many were still trying to cross the sea and the route remains far from closed. The influx of migrants and refugees has increased pressure on an already struggling Greek economy. Greek unions have announced strikes in many sectors against plans to overhaul the country’s pension system which could be finalized this week in talks with bailout negotiators.
Listen to John Carr's report:
Much of Greece’s public sector grinds to a halt today, in a 24-hour general strike called to protest planned cuts to pensions and benefits.
Aviation authorities said there will be no flights in and out of Greek airports today, limited public transport, and no news about any of it, as journalists, too, are joining the walkout.
Greece’s unions fear that the government will soon be forced to make more austerity cuts in pensions and benefits, and hope the strike will stiffen the government in its ongoing talks with Greece’s creditors.
Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras has been showings signs of fighting back against what most Greeks believe are the excessive austerity demands of the International Monetary Fund, the European Central Bank and the European Commission. This week he said he did not intend to make any more concessions.
Demonstrations are planned for the centre of Athens today, in what will probably not be the last such mass protest against creditor-imposed austerity.
(Vatican Radio) The European Union is facing another political crisis after an overwhelming majority of Dutch voters participating in a referendum rejected a far reaching EU trade and political deal with Ukraine. The main national broadcasters and news agency in the Netherlands said 61.1 percent of voters rejected the agreement while just 38.1 percent supported it. However turnout was low with just 32.2 percent participating in the referendum, just above the threshold of 30 percent needed to validate the vote.Listen to Stefan Bos' report: "The democratic revolution has begun...And the bar is open" said leading Dutch journalist and writer Thierry Baudet of the Forum for Democracy group. He is pleased that most voters rejected the EU Association Agreement with Ukraine.Baudet and other campaigners view the far reaching economic and cooperation deal as another example of the expanding undemocratic European Union. They also say it could lead to eventual EU memb...
(Vatican Radio) The European Union is facing another political crisis after an overwhelming majority of Dutch voters participating in a referendum rejected a far reaching EU trade and political deal with Ukraine. The main national broadcasters and news agency in the Netherlands said 61.1 percent of voters rejected the agreement while just 38.1 percent supported it. However turnout was low with just 32.2 percent participating in the referendum, just above the threshold of 30 percent needed to validate the vote.
Listen to Stefan Bos' report:
"The democratic revolution has begun...And the bar is open" said leading Dutch journalist and writer Thierry Baudet of the Forum for Democracy group. He is pleased that most voters rejected the EU Association Agreement with Ukraine.
Baudet and other campaigners view the far reaching economic and cooperation deal as another example of the expanding undemocratic European Union. They also say it could lead to eventual EU membership for Ukraine, one of Europe's most corrupt nations.
Nearly two third of the roughly four million voters participating in Wednesday's vote rejected the deal. That came as a setback for Prime Minister Mark Rutte whose conservative-liberal VVD party campaigned for the Association Agreement saying it would boost trade.
Though this was a non-binding referendum, Rutte warned that his government would take the outcome seriously. "My political opinion is that if voter turnout is above the required 30 percent threshold with such a huge victory for the "No" camp, we can not just automatically ratify the agreement," he said in a reaction.
"Respecting voters"
Rutte added that he wants to take his time to speak with his cabinet, the EU and Parliament about the impact of the referendum "out of respect towards all voters."
Most Dutch parties have already suggested that the agreement can not be ratified if the results are officially confirmed.
The Netherlands, which took over the rotating EU presidency in January, is the only EU member states that didn't officially approve the deal. Yet to make the association agreement valid, all 28 member states have to ratify it.
That worries Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko. He said his nation of 45 million million had become "the victim of an internal debate on the EU future in the Netherlands."
Analysts agree that the debate about the Association Agreement, which most Dutch people didn't even read, reflects growing anti-EU sentiments in this nation at a time when Europe faces is biggest refugee crisis since World War Two. Firebrand politician Geert Wilders of the anti-Islam Party for Freedom called the referendum in a tweet "the beginning of the end of the EU."
(Vatican Radio) On Thursday 7th April for World Health Day, the World Health Organisation has called for action against diabetes which has seen the number of adults suffering with the disease nearly quadruple to 422 million since 1980.The charity, HelpAge International, is encouraging older campaigners in more than 50 countries to call for earlier diagnosis and treatment of diabetes through screening, testing, treatment and education.Vatican Radio’s Georgia Gogarty spoke to the charity’s Health and Care Policy Advisor, Rachel Albone, who highlights the risks of diabetes within aging communities.Listen to the full interview: Current Challenges: Lack of DataAlbone notes that many surveys exclude data regarding the number of diabetics in aging communities, making them ‘invisible’. Many studies into diabetes do not disaggregate by age, or even go as far as to not assess those over the age of 64.Preventing and Managing DiabetesOne of the key issues f...
(Vatican Radio) On Thursday 7th April for World Health Day, the World Health Organisation has called for action against diabetes which has seen the number of adults suffering with the disease nearly quadruple to 422 million since 1980.
The charity, HelpAge International, is encouraging older campaigners in more than 50 countries to call for earlier diagnosis and treatment of diabetes through screening, testing, treatment and education.
Vatican Radio’s Georgia Gogarty spoke to the charity’s Health and Care Policy Advisor, Rachel Albone, who highlights the risks of diabetes within aging communities.
Listen to the full interview:
Current Challenges: Lack of Data
Albone notes that many surveys exclude data regarding the number of diabetics in aging communities, making them ‘invisible’. Many studies into diabetes do not disaggregate by age, or even go as far as to not assess those over the age of 64.
Preventing and Managing Diabetes
One of the key issues facing these communities is that many do not realise that they are living with the condition due to a lack of awareness. HelpAge International, whose main focus is overcoming the neglect of the elderly in our society, wants to aid those with the disease through the implementation of certain initiatives such as support groups and training health care workers in screening for diabetes.
When it comes to managing diabetes Rachel Albone emphasises the importance of healthy diets and routine physical exercise.
Inclusion of the Elderly
Pope Francis has often spoken about the importance of caring for the elderly in our society, something that Rachel Albone says is ‘hugely positive’ as it ‘builds the conversation’ around the issue.
(Vatican Radio) Pope Francis on Thursday met with members of the World Methodist Council, the Methodist Council of Europe, and the Methodist Church in Britain.The representatives of the Methodist community are in Rome to mark the opening of the new Methodist Ecumenical Office in Rome.Below, please find the full text of Pope Francis’ prepared remarks for the meeting:Meeting of His Holiness Pope Franciswith Members of the World Methodist Council,the Methodist Council of Europe, andthe Methodist Church in BritainThursday, 7 April 2016Dear brothers and sisters,I offer warm greetings to you in this Easter season, as we celebrate the resurrection of our Lord who enlightens the whole world. We come together united in the faith that Jesus is Lord and that God has raised him from the dead. This baptismal faith makes us truly brothers and sisters. I greet also the bodies that you represent: the World Methodist Council, the Methodist Council of Europe and the Methodist Church in Britai...
(Vatican Radio) Pope Francis on Thursday met with members of the World Methodist Council, the Methodist Council of Europe, and the Methodist Church in Britain.
The representatives of the Methodist community are in Rome to mark the opening of the new Methodist Ecumenical Office in Rome.
Below, please find the full text of Pope Francis’ prepared remarks for the meeting:
Meeting of His Holiness Pope Francis
with Members of the World Methodist Council,
the Methodist Council of Europe, and
the Methodist Church in Britain
Thursday, 7 April 2016
Dear brothers and sisters,
I offer warm greetings to you in this Easter season, as we celebrate the resurrection of our Lord who enlightens the whole world. We come together united in the faith that Jesus is Lord and that God has raised him from the dead. This baptismal faith makes us truly brothers and sisters. I greet also the bodies that you represent: the World Methodist Council, the Methodist Council of Europe and the Methodist Church in Britain.
I was pleased to learn of the opening of the Methodist Ecumenical Office in Rome. It is a sign of our growing closeness, and particularly of our shared desire to overcome all that stands in the way of our full communion. May the Lord bless the work of the office and make it a place where Catholics and Methodists can encounter one another and grow in appreciation of one another’s faith, whether they be groups of pilgrims, those training for ministry, or those who guide their communities. May it also be a place where the progress achieved through our theological dialogue is made known, celebrated, and advanced.
Almost fifty years have passed since our joint commission began its work. Although differences remain, ours is a dialogue based on respect and fraternity, one which enriches both our communities. The document currently being prepared, which should be published later this year, clearly witnesses to this. Building on the Methodist acceptance of the Joint Declaration on the Doctrine of Justification, it has as its theme “The Call to Holiness”. Catholics and Methodists have much to learn from one another in how we understand holiness and how it can be lived out. We both must do what we can to ensure that members of our respective congregations meet regularly, come to know one another, and encourage one another to seek the Lord and his grace. When we read the Scriptures, either alone or in a group, but always in an atmosphere of prayer, we open ourselves to the Father’s love, given in his Son and in the Holy Spirit. Even where differences remain between our communities, these can and must become the impetus for reflection and dialogue.
John Wesley, in his Letter to a Roman Catholic, wrote that Catholics and Methodists are called to “help each other on in whatever . . . leads to the Kingdom”. May the new common statement encourage Methodists and Catholics to help one another in our lives of prayer and devotion. In the same letter, Wesley also wrote, “if we cannot as yet think alike in all things, at least we may love alike”. It is true that we do not as yet think alike in all things, and that on issues regarding ordained ministries and ethics, much work remains to be done. However, none of these differences constitute such an obstacle as to prevent us from loving in the same way and offering a common witness to the world. Our lives of holiness must always include a loving service to the world; Catholics and Methodists together are bound to work in different ways in order to give concrete witness to the love of Christ. When we serve those in need, our communion grows.
In today’s world, afflicted by so much evil, it is more than ever vital that as Christians we offer a joint witness inspired by the light of Easter, becoming a sign of the love of God, which in the resurrection of Jesus is victorious. May this love, also through our humble and courageous service, reach the hearts and lives of our many brothers and sisters who are looking for such love even without knowing it. “Thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ” (1 Cor 15: 57).
