Catholic News 2
ENGLEWOOD, Colo. (AP) -- His voice cracking with emotion, Peyton Manning said good bye to the game he loved at a news conference packed with friends, family and laughter....
BRUSSELS (AP) -- Turkey on Monday demanded an additional 3 billion euros ($3.3 billion) from the European Union to help deal with the refugee crisis as EU leaders appealed to Ankara to take back thousands of migrants and prevent others from setting off for Europe....
BRUSSELS (AP) -- The Latest on the migration crisis as leaders from the EU and Turkey meet in Brussels (all times local):...
MEXICO CITY (AP) -- Mexican President Enrique Pena Nieto compared the language of Republican presidential hopeful Donald Trump to that of dictators Adolf Hitler and Benito Mussolini in an interview published Monday, and said it has hurt U.S.-Mexico relations....
DENVER (AP) -- Should he win the Republican nomination, Donald Trump's most plausible path to victory in the general election would be a GOP map unlike any in years. He'd be relying on working class, largely white voters in states that have long been Democratic bastions in presidential contests, from Maine to Pennsylvania to Michigan....
WASHINGTON-Cardinal Timothy M. Dolan of New York called on everyone "concerned about the tragedy of abortion" to recommit to a "vision of life and love, a vision that excludes no one" on January 14. His statement marks the 43rd anniversary of Roe v. Wade, the 1973 U.S. Supreme Court decision legalizing abortion. Cardinal Dolan chairs the Committee on Pro-Life Activities of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops."Most Americans oppose a policy allowing legal abortion for virtually any reason - though many still do not realize that this is what the Supreme Court gave us," wrote Cardinal Dolan. "Most want to protect unborn children at later stages of pregnancy, to regulate or limit the practice of abortion, and to stop the use of taxpayer dollars for the destruction of unborn children. Yet many who support important goals of the pro-life movement do not identify as 'pro-life,' a fact which should lead us to examine how we present our pro-life vision to others.""Even as Americans rema...
WASHINGTON-Cardinal Timothy M. Dolan of New York called on everyone "concerned about the tragedy of abortion" to recommit to a "vision of life and love, a vision that excludes no one" on January 14. His statement marks the 43rd anniversary of Roe v. Wade, the 1973 U.S. Supreme Court decision legalizing abortion. Cardinal Dolan chairs the Committee on Pro-Life Activities of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops.
"Most Americans oppose a policy allowing legal abortion for virtually any reason - though many still do not realize that this is what the Supreme Court gave us," wrote Cardinal Dolan. "Most want to protect unborn children at later stages of pregnancy, to regulate or limit the practice of abortion, and to stop the use of taxpayer dollars for the destruction of unborn children. Yet many who support important goals of the pro-life movement do not identify as 'pro-life,' a fact which should lead us to examine how we present our pro-life vision to others."
"Even as Americans remain troubled by abortion," wrote Cardinal Dolan, a powerful and well-funded lobby holds "that abortion must be celebrated as a positive good for women and society, and those who cannot in conscience provide it are to be condemned for practicing substandard medicine and waging a 'war on women'." He said this trend was seen recently when President Obama and other Democratic leaders prevented passage of the Abortion Non-Discrimination Act, "a modest measure to provide for effective enforcement" of conscience laws.
"While this is disturbing," said Cardinal Dolan, "it is also an opportunity." Pro-life Americans should reach out to "the great majority of Americans" who are "open to hearing a message of reverence for life." He added that "we who present the pro-life message must always strive to be better messengers. A cause that teaches the inexpressibly great value of each and every human being cannot show disdain or disrespect for any fellow human being." He encouraged Catholics to take part, through prayer and action, in the upcoming "9 Days for Life" campaign, January 16-24. More information on the campaign is available online: www.youtube.com/watch?v=gxJwfcefUiU
He also cited the Year of Mercy called by Pope Francis as a time for women and men to find healing through the Church's Project Rachel post-abortion ministry.
The full text of Cardinal Dolan's message is available online.
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Keywords: Roe v. Wade, anniversary, Pro-Life, Cardinal Timothy M. Dolan, 9 Days for Life, USCCB, U.S. bishops, U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, Year of Mercy, Project Rachel, Pope Francis
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Don Clemmer
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WASHINGTON-The Office of General Counsel of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) filed an amicus curiae brief in the U.S. Supreme Court, February 1, on behalf of USCCB, the Texas Catholic Conference and several Christian partners in support of a Texas law mandating health and safety standards protecting women who undergo abortions. Other groups joining the brief include the National Association of Evangelicals, the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod, the Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission of the Southern Baptist Convention, and the Southern Baptists of Texas Convention. The case is Whole Woman's Health v. Hellerstedt, currently before the U.S. Supreme Court."There is ample evidence in this case that hospital admitting privileges and ambulatory surgical center requirements protect women's lives and health," said the brief. "When such requirements are not enforced, abuses detrimental to women's lives and health arise."The brief noted that some abortion clinics have decla...
"There is ample evidence in this case that hospital admitting privileges and ambulatory surgical center requirements protect women's lives and health," said the brief. "When such requirements are not enforced, abuses detrimental to women's lives and health arise."
The brief noted that some abortion clinics have declared the standards too strict, although the standards are similar to those issued by the abortion industry. It added that abortion providers "should not be allowed to rely upon their own failure to comply with health and safety laws" as a reason to strike such laws down. The brief said the providers' resistance to such regulations is not in the best interests of women's health and safety. It also noted that over 40 years of precedent, including the Court's 1992 decision in Planned Parenthood v. Casey, reaffirms that states may regulate abortion to protect maternal life and health.
Full text of the brief is available online: www.usccb.org/about/general-counsel/amicus-briefs/upload/Whole-Woman-s-Health-v-Hellerstedt.pdf
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Keywords: General Counsel, U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, USCCB, Texas law abortion, amicus curia, National Association of Evangelicals, Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod, Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission of the Southern Baptist Convention, Southern Baptists of Texas Convention, Whole Woman's Health v. Hellerstedt, U.S. Supreme Court
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Besides killing four Missionaries of Charity nuns and 12 other civilians during an attack on an old people’s home in Aden, Yemen on March 4, gunmen also kidnapped an Indian Salesian missionary priest who lived at the facility. At the time of the attack, he "was in the chapel praying." India’s Foreign Minister Sushma Swaraj said is a Tweet that an Indian national identified as Father Tom Uzhunnalil had been "abducted by terrorists in Yemen". She said officials in neighbouring Djibouti were trying to ascertain his whereabouts to secure his release. One of the slain nuns is an Indian. Fr. Tom, a Keralite Salesian priest belonging to Bangalore Province, had refused to abandon his charity work despite threats to his life earlier from the terrorists, said a report by Onmanorama, the online news of the popular Malayalam newspaper Malayala Manorama. Kunjaugusty...
Besides killing four Missionaries of Charity nuns and 12 other civilians during an attack on an old people’s home in Aden, Yemen on March 4, gunmen also kidnapped an Indian Salesian missionary priest who lived at the facility. At the time of the attack, he "was in the chapel praying." India’s Foreign Minister Sushma Swaraj said is a Tweet that an Indian national identified as Father Tom Uzhunnalil had been "abducted by terrorists in Yemen". She said officials in neighbouring Djibouti were trying to ascertain his whereabouts to secure his release. One of the slain nuns is an Indian.
Fr. Tom, a Keralite Salesian priest belonging to Bangalore Province, had refused to abandon his charity work despite threats to his life earlier from the terrorists, said a report by Onmanorama, the online news of the popular Malayalam newspaper Malayala Manorama. Kunjaugusty, a cousin of the abducted priest shared with Onmanorama more details on what happened Friday. When the gunmen stormed the old age home of the Missionaries of Charity in Aden, they first locked up Fr. Tom inside the chapel, and went about massacring 16 people. The gunmen then returned to the chapel, handcuffed Fr. Tom and drove him away in their vehicle to some unknown location, Kunjagusty said based on eyewitness accounts shared with him by Fr M.J. George, another Keralite priest in Yemen's Hodeidah city.
Fr Tom has been a missionary in Yemen for the past four years. The recent surge of extremism had made it difficult for him to continue his mission, and he had to be on the guard even while going to celebrate Mass. Last September, gunmen had set on fire a church where he was deputed. Since then, the 56-year-old had been staying at the MC’s home for the elderly in Aden. There were constant threats to Fr Tom's life but Friday's was the first time he was targeted.
Kunjaugusty told Onmanorama Fr. Tom never thought of abandoning from his mission in the troubled nation. It was his vocation and he is not someone to bow down to terror tactics, Kunjaugusty said. Fr Tom last contacted his family on the social media on Thursday. No one lives at his ancestral home in Ramapuram near Pala in Kottayam. Most of his siblings reside abroad. Fr Tom's relatives are in constant touch with the various government offices for any updates on his situation, even as they fervently pray for the well-being of this brave man of God, Kungaugusty said.
Catholic missions in Yemen, the United Arab Emirates and Oman come under the jurisdiction of the Apostolic Vicariate of Southern Arabia based in Abu Dhabi. Some 100 priests from various congregations serve a mostly expatriate community of Catholics in the Vicariate. Since a civil war broke out last year in Yemen, many of the missions have been abandoned.
The Missionaries of Charity, founded by Mother Teresa, have been present in Yemen since 1973 following the invitation from the then Government of North Yemen to take care of the care home for the aged and destitute. The house in Aden was opened in 1992.
The Catholic Bishops’ Conference of India, CBCI, has condemned the March 4 brutal attack on the home for the elderly in Aden, Yemen, in which several persons were killed, including four Missionaries of Charity of Mother Teresa, one of them from the Diocese of Gumla, in Jharkhand state. The apex body of the Catholic Church is holding its 32nd Plenary Assembly at St. John’s Medical College Campus, in Bangalore, from 2nd to 9th March, on the theme, “The Response of the Church in India to the Present Day Challenges.” CBCI President, Cardinal Baselios Cleemis led the Indian bishops in praying for the slain persons and expressed condolence to the Congregation of Missionaries of Charity and to the bereaved families of those killed. The bishops also expressed concern over the plight of Fr. Tom Uzhunnalil SDB, a native of India, who has been missing since Friday’s attack on the Home for the elderly. The Catholic Bishops’ Conference of I...
The Catholic Bishops’ Conference of India, CBCI, has condemned the March 4 brutal attack on the home for the elderly in Aden, Yemen, in which several persons were killed, including four Missionaries of Charity of Mother Teresa, one of them from the Diocese of Gumla, in Jharkhand state. The apex body of the Catholic Church is holding its 32nd Plenary Assembly at St. John’s Medical College Campus, in Bangalore, from 2nd to 9th March, on the theme, “The Response of the Church in India to the Present Day Challenges.” CBCI President, Cardinal Baselios Cleemis led the Indian bishops in praying for the slain persons and expressed condolence to the Congregation of Missionaries of Charity and to the bereaved families of those killed. The bishops also expressed concern over the plight of Fr. Tom Uzhunnalil SDB, a native of India, who has been missing since Friday’s attack on the Home for the elderly. The Catholic Bishops’ Conference of India noted with grief and concern that such dastardly attack on the Christian Missionaries by the evil minds should not deter the Church from its commitment to serve the poor and the sick.
Inaugurating the 28th Plenary Assembly of the Conference of Catholic Bishops of India (CCBI) of the Latin Church, in Bangalore on Sunday 6 March 2016, Archbishop Salvatore Pennacchio, the Apostolic Nuncio to India and Nepal, exhorted the Church in India to promote the Laity and Ecumenism.He said: “There is a need for constant dialogue and sustained formation of the laity in a transparent, credible and accountable manner so that they may truly understand their role in the Church. In today’s socio-political scenario, it is crucial to recognize the dignity of the laity and their participation in the mission and decision making of the Church so that they become sharers in Christ’s mission”.“Our Christian witness to the Gospel in a pluralistic world includes, engaging in dialogue with people of different faiths, religion and cultures.” “In the special context of India, the relationship between the Catholic and other non-Catholic Churches and ec...
Inaugurating the 28th Plenary Assembly of the Conference of Catholic Bishops of India (CCBI) of the Latin Church, in Bangalore on Sunday 6 March 2016, Archbishop Salvatore Pennacchio, the Apostolic Nuncio to India and Nepal, exhorted the Church in India to promote the Laity and Ecumenism.
He said: “There is a need for constant dialogue and sustained formation of the laity in a transparent, credible and accountable manner so that they may truly understand their role in the Church. In today’s socio-political scenario, it is crucial to recognize the dignity of the laity and their participation in the mission and decision making of the Church so that they become sharers in Christ’s mission”.
“Our Christian witness to the Gospel in a pluralistic world includes, engaging in dialogue with people of different faiths, religion and cultures.” “In the special context of India, the relationship between the Catholic and other non-Catholic Churches and ecclesial communities is progressing gradually. However, several factors still separate us and hinder us from coming together around the table of the Lord.” “In a time of increasingly marked secularization, and religious discriminations, Christians have to be united among themselves and extend a united and true common witness to the nation” mentioned the Apostolico Nuncio.
Cardinal Oswald Gracias, the CCBI President in his Presidential message, made an appeal to pray for the persecuted Christians in the world, especially for those Christians in the Middle East and expressed the concern of the Indian Church for the martyrs of Yemen. “We feel the pain even more because one of the sisters is our very own from Jharkhand. All of them tried to live the charism of Mother Teresa by giving themselves totally in service and in the process lost their lives. This killing was senseless but will bear fruit. We pray the blood they shed will bring peace and the presence of Jesus Christ to the strife torn area” said His Eminence Oswald Cardinal Gracias.
Bishops also requested the authorities to take immediate and necessary steps for the release of the missionary priest Rev. Fr Tom Uzhunnalil sdb, from Ramapuram, Kerala, who was abducted by the terrorists.
Archbishop Filipe Neri Ferrão the Vice President of the CCBI and the Archbishop of Goa and Daman presided over the inaugural meeting and read the message of the President of the Conference. The Secretary General of the CCBI Bishop Varghese Chakkalakal of Calicut presented the annual report. Archbishop Bernard Moras of Bangalore welcomed the gathering. Rev. Dr. Stephen Alathara, Deputy Secretary General of the CCBI proposed the vote of thanks.
The one day meeting of the CCBI discussed matters affecting the Latin Catholic Church in India. There are 131 dioceses and 180 Bishops of the Latin Church in India. The Conference of Catholic Bishops of India (CCBI) is the largest Episcopal Conference in Asia and fourth largest in the world.
The Catholic edition of the New Living Translation (NLT) of the Bible was released during the meeting. “Liturgy and Life” a book on liturgy edited by Rev. Dr. Ayres Fernandes and Rev. Dr. Stephen Alathara was also released.
Report from CCBI
