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SEOUL, South Korea (AP) -- South Korea said Wednesday that it will shut down a joint industrial park with North Korea in response to its recent rocket launch, accusing the North of using hard currency from the park to develop its nuclear and missile programs....
KOLKATA, India (AP) -- A wild elephant rampaged through an east Indian town on Wednesday, smashing homes and sending panicked residents running....
SAN DIEGO (AP) -- For nearly 50 years, Sirhan Sirhan has been consistent: He says he doesn't remember fatally shooting Sen. Robert F. Kennedy in a crowded kitchen pantry of the Ambassador Hotel in Los Angeles....
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) -- An Iranian drone that flew over a U.S. aircraft carrier last month was the first to conduct an overflight of an American carrier since 2014, according to a U.S. Navy report obtained by The Associated Press on Wednesday....
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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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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(Vatican Radio) Pope Francis on Wednesday morning sent an audio-message to the young people of the Prelature of the Pontifical Shrine of Our Lady of Pompeii.It is the first contribution in the “Keep Lent” initiative of the Shrine’s youth ministry office, which will provide a daily Gospel reading and commentary from leading clergymen and lay catechists through social media throughout the penitential season.Listen to Christopher Wells' report: In his message, Pope Francis reflects on the Gospel reading from the Ash Wednesday Mass, in which Jesus warns against practicing good works so others may see them.“When we do something good, sometimes we are tempted to seek praise and to be rewarded: that’s human glory,” Pope Francis said. “But it’s a false reward because it makes us focus on what others think of us.”The Holy Father said Jesus asks us to do good for the sake of good.“He asks us to feel we are under the watchful ga...
(Vatican Radio) Pope Francis on Wednesday morning sent an audio-message to the young people of the Prelature of the Pontifical Shrine of Our Lady of Pompeii.
It is the first contribution in the “Keep Lent” initiative of the Shrine’s youth ministry office, which will provide a daily Gospel reading and commentary from leading clergymen and lay catechists through social media throughout the penitential season.
Listen to Christopher Wells' report:
In his message, Pope Francis reflects on the Gospel reading from the Ash Wednesday Mass, in which Jesus warns against practicing good works so others may see them.
“When we do something good, sometimes we are tempted to seek praise and to be rewarded: that’s human glory,” Pope Francis said. “But it’s a false reward because it makes us focus on what others think of us.”
The Holy Father said Jesus asks us to do good for the sake of good.
“He asks us to feel we are under the watchful gaze of our Heavenly Father at all times and to live in relationship with Him – not in relationship with the opinion of others,” the Pope said.
“Let us do what we can, in prayer, in sacrifice, and in acts of charity, humbly before God. This way we will be worthy of God the Father’s reward,” he concluded.
A Vatican Radio English translation of the full text of Pope Francis’ audio-message is below.
Dear young people,
Jesus said to his disciples: “Be careful not to practice your good works before men to be seen by them”… “When you give to the poor do not sound a trumpet before you”… “Your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you”.
The Word of God gives us the right perspective in which to live Lent well. When we do something good, sometimes we are tempted to seek praise and to be rewarded: that’s human glory. But it’s a false reward because it makes us focus on what others think of us.
Jesus asks us to do good for the sake of good. He asks us to feel we are under the watchful gaze of our Heavenly Father at all times and to live in relationship with Him – not in relationship with the opinion of others.
Living in the presence of the Father gives us a much deeper joy than worldly glory can give us. May our attitude this Lent be one of living in secret where the Father sees us, loves us and waits for us. Naturally, exterior things are important too, but we must always choose to live in the presence of God.
Let us do what we can, in prayer, in sacrifice, and in acts of charity, humbly before God. This way we will be worthy of God the Father’s reward.
I wish you a blessed Lent.
May Our Lady of Pompeii accompany you and, please, pray for me.
(Vatican Radio) Pope Francis is set to travel to Mexico from the 12th to the 17th of February on a six day apostolic journey which takes him to some of the hotspots of this overwhelmingly Catholic nation. He goes in the footsteps of Saint John Paul II and Benedict XVI, now Pope emeritus.While he’ll be based in the nation’s capital Mexico City, site of the Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe, patroness of the Americas, he’ll also be spending a day in Chiapas home to a majority indigenous population, in Michoacán one of the most crime ridden parts of the country, and Ciudad Juarez on the border with Texas until very recently dubbed ' the murder capital of the world'.Ahead of the Pope’s journey Veronica Scarisbrick sat down with Mexican born Dominican Father Alejandro Crosthwaite, Dean of Catholic social teaching at the University of Saint Thomas here in Rome, in an effort to shed light on some of the issues connected to this visit. Listen...
(Vatican Radio) Pope Francis is set to travel to Mexico from the 12th to the 17th of February on a six day apostolic journey which takes him to some of the hotspots of this overwhelmingly Catholic nation. He goes in the footsteps of Saint John Paul II and Benedict XVI, now Pope emeritus.
While he’ll be based in the nation’s capital Mexico City, site of the Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe, patroness of the Americas, he’ll also be spending a day in Chiapas home to a majority indigenous population, in Michoacán one of the most crime ridden parts of the country, and Ciudad Juarez on the border with Texas until very recently dubbed ' the murder capital of the world'.
Ahead of the Pope’s journey Veronica Scarisbrick sat down with Mexican born Dominican Father Alejandro Crosthwaite, Dean of Catholic social teaching at the University of Saint Thomas here in Rome, in an effort to shed light on some of the issues connected to this visit.
Listen to Mexican born Dominican Father Alejandro Crosthwaite in an interview with Veronica Scarisbrick:
Veronica Scarisbrick asked Father Crosthwaite what he believed were some of the issues connected to the places the pope will visit during this journey, pinpointing economic justice, immigration and the rights of indigenous people.
Father Crosthwaite replies how the places Pope Francis has chosen to visit during this six day trip certainly give us a clue as to the issues he might address: “…For example I know that in Mexico City he will have to deal with the role of the hierarchy with regard to social justice, to drug related violence in the nation and sexual abuse issues. But I think also that when he goes to a neighborhood of Mexico City, Ecatapec, he’ll be touching on the issue of economic justice."
Queried then by Veronica Scarisbrick as to whether Pope Francis has revived ‘liberation theology’ Father Crosthwaite explains: “ I think he has taken tenets from ‘liberation theology’. Pope Francis definitely has more of an Argentinian take on it, what some people call the theology of the people and so not only do you feel solidarity and compassion for the poor but you also live with them, you identify and you walk with them. And I think that is the example Pope Francis gave himself when he was Archbishop of Buenos Aires. That’s to say being with the poor, not just fighting for them from a distance but actually living their experience and appreciating their spirituality. And I think that’s one of the challenges that he’s going to make especially to the Mexican hierarchy, that they need to be closer to the people".
Speaking of the scheduled meeting of Francis in Mexico City with the world of culture Father Crosthwaite says he believes the Pope is is aware of the influence Mexico has at a cultural level not just within the nation but also across Latin America. An influence which stems from the impact of its movies and television, in a special way of the ‘telenovelas’.
Moving on in the interview Veronica Scarisbrick highlights ‘liberation theology’ connecting it to the visit of Pope Francis to Chiapas, an area famous for the ministry to the indigenous people of Bishop Samuel Ruiz: “Of course the most famous Bishop there was Samuel Ruiz who basically practiced 'liberation theology' especially in Chiapas where there’s a high percentage of native Americans most of whom are of Mayan heritage. There Samuel Ruiz made a conscious decision to walk with the indigenous people to protect their rights, their culture, their traditions within the Catholic faith.’
Highlighting further the Chiapas region, which lies to the South of Mexico on the border with Guatemala, Father Crosthwaite points to the poverty in this neglected area of Mexico which also has the highest concentration of non- Catholics. Many, he says, have turned their backs on the Catholic Church and joined Protestant groups, especially the Evangelical and the Pentecostal.
Another city Pope Francis will visit is Morelia in Michoacàn, an area of Mexico, notorious for drug related violence. A beautiful city,says Father Crosthwaite: ".. but so violent that the government decided to send in the military to restore order. However what’s happening there now is that there’s a sort of civil war going on and the poorest of the poor are the ones to suffer most as they get caught in the cross-fire".
Speaking of the final day of Pope Francis in Mexico when he goes to Ciudad Juarez on the border between Mexico and the United States, in this interview Father Crosthwaite also highlights the issue of migration: “ When people think of migration”, he remarks,” they think of large numbers of Mexicans going to ‘El Norte’ but because of the financial crisis in the United States and the improved situation of the economy in Mexico it seems a lot of people are returning to Mexico. Recent statistics show that more Mexicans are leaving the United States than crossing the border now. Whereas migration from Central America to El Norte has increased. And of course the passage is on the Texan border".
EL-ARID, Egypt (AP) -- A donkey has leapt to fame in a small Egyptian village by defying her species' well-known stubbornness and jumping hurdles on command....
WASHINGTON (AP) -- Federal Reserve Chair Janet Yellen will address Congress on Wednesday at a time of deepening uncertainty about the Fed's interest rate policies....
