Mexico City, Mexico, Feb 15, 2016 / 10:02 am (CNA/EWTN News).- In today's throwaway culture, young people are being anesthetized against the desire for a better world, Pope Francis said Monday, celebrating Mass in Mexico's Chiapas region.“In many ways there have been endeavours to subdue and lull our children and young people into a kind of lassitude by suggesting that nothing can change, that their dreams can never come true,” the Pope said.The pontiff spoke of the attempts to “silence and dull this yearning” and to “anaesthetize” the soul, especially in young people.“Exposed to a culture that seeks to suppress all cultural heritage and features in pursuit of a homogenized world, the youth of today need to cling to the wisdom of their elders!”The Feb. 15 Mass was celebrated at the San Cristóbal de las Casas municipal sport's center with representatives of the indigenous communities of Chiapas, marking the start of P...
Mexico City, Mexico, Feb 15, 2016 / 10:02 am (CNA/EWTN News).- In today's throwaway culture, young people are being anesthetized against the desire for a better world, Pope Francis said Monday, celebrating Mass in Mexico's Chiapas region.
“In many ways there have been endeavours to subdue and lull our children and young people into a kind of lassitude by suggesting that nothing can change, that their dreams can never come true,” the Pope said.
The pontiff spoke of the attempts to “silence and dull this yearning” and to “anaesthetize” the soul, especially in young people.
“Exposed to a culture that seeks to suppress all cultural heritage and features in pursuit of a homogenized world, the youth of today need to cling to the wisdom of their elders!”
The Feb. 15 Mass was celebrated at the San Cristóbal de las Casas municipal sport's center with representatives of the indigenous communities of Chiapas, marking the start of Pope Francis' third full day in Mexico.
He centered his homily on the Psalm from the day's Mass: “The law of the Lord is perfect; it revives the soul.”
The law referred to here is that which was given by Moses to the people of Israel – who had endured slavery, suffering, and oppression – to help them “live in the freedom to which they were called,” he explained.
“And here the true face of God is seen, the face of the Father who suffers as he sees the pain, mistreatment, and lack of justice for his children,” he said.
“His word, his law, thus becomes a symbol of freedom, a symbol of happiness, wisdom and light.”
Pope Francis observed how the experiences of the people of Israel are reminiscent of a prayer originating from the Popol Vuh, a work originating from the Guatemalan highlands.
“The sun rose for the people who at various times have walked in the midst of history’s darkest moments,” he said.
“In this expression, one hears the yearning to live in freedom, there is a longing which contemplates a promised land where oppression, mistreatment and humiliation are not the currency of the day.”
“In the heart of man and in the memory of many of our peoples is imprinted this yearning for a land, for a time when human corruption will be overcome by fraternity, when injustice will be conquered by solidarity and when violence will be silenced by peace.”
This longing, he said, is shared by the Father, who “himself inspired it and continues to do so in giving us his son Jesus Christ,” in whom “we discover the solidarity of the Father who walks by our side.”
“In him, we see how the perfect law takes flesh, takes a human face, shares our history so as to walk with and sustain his people.”
“He becomes the Way, he becomes the Truth, he becomes the Life, so that darkness may not have the last word and the dawn may not cease to rise on the lives of his sons and daughters.”
Meanwhile, efforts are made dissuade people, especially the youth, against the yearning for fraternity, justice. As a result, “creation itself also raises an objection,” the Pope said.
He added, quoting his encyclical on the environment, Laudato, Si: “The violence present in our hearts, wounded by sin, is also reflected in the symptoms of sickness evident in the soil, in the water, in the air and in all forms of life.”
“We can no longer remain silent before one of the greatest environmental crises in world history,” he said.
While the people throughout Latin America “know how to interact harmoniously with nature,” they have often, “in a systematic and organized way... been misunderstood and excluded from society,” the Pope said, addressing the region's bishops.
“Some have considered your values, culture and traditions to be inferior. Others, intoxicated by power, money and market trends, have stolen your lands or contaminated them.”
“How sad this is! How worthwhile it would be for each of us to examine our conscience and learn to say, 'Forgive me!'”
He stressed the responsibility toward the world which has become ravaged “by a throwaway culture.”
“Today’s world, overcome by convenience, needs to learn anew the value of gratitude!
Pope Francis' Feb. 12-17 trip to Mexico is his first as pontiff. He is the third Pope to visit the nation: St. John Paul II visited Mexico five times over the course of his 27 year pontificate, and Benedict XVI in 2012.
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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. --- 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 # # # MEDIA CONTACT Don Clemmer O: 202-541-3206
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...
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 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 --- 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
(Vatican Radio) Pope Francis on Sunday made his way through one of Mexico City's most lawless neighborhoods, Ecatepec, to celebrate Mass for a massive crowd of faithful.Fr. Federico Lombardi, Director of the Holy See Press Office, spoke to Veronica Scarisbrick about the exuberant welcome received by the Pope from the Mexican people.Listen to their full conversation: Pope Francis, Fr. Lombardi said, has said his main sentiment regarding his welcome in Mexico is gratitude. "He feels that these people who come in the street to show him love, joy for his coming, desire of blessing is something that expresses a love that is without interest, without looking for something material. In this sense, his experience of meeting the people is meeting them in a spiritual way, a joyful way."Messenger of mercy and peaceHe said the key to the Holy Father's Apostolic Journey to Mexico is his coming as a messenger of mercy and peace. The people "understand the presence o...
(Vatican Radio) Pope Francis on Sunday made his way through one of Mexico City's most lawless neighborhoods, Ecatepec, to celebrate Mass for a massive crowd of faithful.
Fr. Federico Lombardi, Director of the Holy See Press Office, spoke to Veronica Scarisbrick about the exuberant welcome received by the Pope from the Mexican people.
Listen to their full conversation:
Pope Francis, Fr. Lombardi said, has said his main sentiment regarding his welcome in Mexico is gratitude. "He feels that these people who come in the street to show him love, joy for his coming, desire of blessing is something that expresses a love that is without interest, without looking for something material. In this sense, his experience of meeting the people is meeting them in a spiritual way, a joyful way."
Messenger of mercy and peace
He said the key to the Holy Father's Apostolic Journey to Mexico is his coming as a messenger of mercy and peace. The people "understand the presence of someone that is giving to them mercy, love and hope to progress toward peace, if they have a Christian attitude, responsibility, and solidarity for others, as the Pope says the Gospel requires."
The Pope has drawn massive crowds to his events, and Fr. Lombardi said, "This movement of this many, many hundreds of thousands of people on the street ... I think is giving off its fruits in the sense which the Pope hopes: a growth in hope, in mercy, and solidarity."
He said Pope Francis' prayer before the Virgin of Guadalupe on Saturday is "always the atmosphere in which the Pope encounters the people of Mexico, and he asked the Mother of God to bless this people and to help this people to have hope [for] a better future. The problems are very hard, but the Pope encourages them not to be desperate, to try to build a world in which mutual understanding, solidarity, can really confront the situation."
Sunday Mass in Ecatepec
Speaking about the Holy Father's Mass in Ecatepec on Sunday, Fr. Lombardi said, "The people were listening to the Pope very willingly, they had waited for the Pope in a very cool night and morning, but they were very happy to meet the Pope. I think this Mass has been the most massive Mass that we have experienced. In this anonymous and terrific town, the message of love, of solidarity, of being together in love and hope is something very fundamental. We can see how the message of the gospel is needed to be human in this world."
Pope Francis at the end of the Mass told the people to not dialogue with the devil. Fr. Lombardi said his was a very traditional message, which "sometimes seems to be too simple, but in reality it [hits at] the profound roots of the problem. Without a conversion in the heart of everyone and also in society, we will not confront the problem of violence, the problem of disparity, and the unjust distribution of wealth. The origins of the problem are exactly in the temptations of Christ."
(Vatican Radio) Monday 15 February marks one year since video surfaced of the murder of 21 Orthodox Coptic Christians on a beach in northern Africa. The men were marched in orange suits across the beach, forced to kneel and then were beheaded by Islamic State militants.It is impossible to forget the images of the atrocity seared into the public imagination but the Egyptian Coptic community is celebrating the memory of their martyrdom this week with prayer meetings, liturgies and reflections, culminating in a solemn liturgy on Tuesday.The event is organized by the Coptic Orthodox diocese of Samalout in which most of the victims lived. The last words of the 21 martyrs was the name of Jesus and Pope Francis, at the time, recalled their heroic testimony of faith.Speaking in Spanish, the Holy Father noted those killed only asked for the help of Jesus. “They were killed simply for the fact they were Christians,” Pope Francis said. “The blood of our Chris...
(Vatican Radio) Monday 15 February marks one year since video surfaced of the murder of 21 Orthodox Coptic Christians on a beach in northern Africa. The men were marched in orange suits across the beach, forced to kneel and then were beheaded by Islamic State militants.
It is impossible to forget the images of the atrocity seared into the public imagination but the Egyptian Coptic community is celebrating the memory of their martyrdom this week with prayer meetings, liturgies and reflections, culminating in a solemn liturgy on Tuesday.
The event is organized by the Coptic Orthodox diocese of Samalout in which most of the victims lived.
The last words of the 21 martyrs was the name of Jesus and Pope Francis, at the time, recalled their heroic testimony of faith.
Speaking in Spanish, the Holy Father noted those killed only asked for the help of Jesus. “They were killed simply for the fact they were Christians,” Pope Francis said. “The blood of our Christian brothers and sisters is a testimony which cries out to be heard. It makes no difference whether they be Catholics, Orthodox, Copts or Protestants. They are Christians! Their blood is one and the same. Their blood confesses Christ.''
Pope Francis said that in remembering these brothers and sisters who have been murdered simply for confessing Christ, Christians should encourage one another in the ecumenical goal. There is, he said, an “ecumenism of blood.”
Coptic Catholic Bishop Anba Antonios Aziz Mina also remarked at the time that as in the passion of the early martyrs, “they entrusted themselves to Him who would receive them shortly thereafter. And so this is a celebration of their victory, a victory that no perpetrator can take from them.”
A new church is being built in the diocese to honour their memory.
