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LOS ANGELES (AP) -- Authorities on Saturday called off the search for survivors of a midair collision that sent at least one plane plunging into the ocean near the Port of Los Angeles and instead turned to hunting bodies and wreckage....
MOGADISHU, Somalia (AP) -- A suicide bomber is suspected to have set off the explosive that blew a hole in a jetliner, sucked the man out of the plane and forced the aircraft to make an emergency landing on Tuesday in Somalia's capital, Mogadishu, Somali officials said Saturday....
SAN FRANCISCO (AP) -- The headlines hit in a persistent stream this season, and the onslaught only grew steadier as the Super Bowl approached....
BEIRUT (AP) -- Turkey came under mounting pressure to open its border Saturday as tens of thousands of Syrians fleeing a government onslaught sought entry and the European Union called on Ankara to grant them refuge....
MANCHESTER, N.H. (AP) -- Marco Rubio headed into the latest Republican debate ready for an onslaught of attacks about his experience and preparedness from a trio of rivals whose performance in the New Hampshire primary on Tuesday will be critical to their White House hopes....
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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The world's largest exhibition to be held outside the Vatican of liturgical artifacts used by popes was launched Feb. 4 at the National Palace Museum in Taipei City, Taiwan."Treasures from Heaven: A Special Exhibition of Artifacts from the Holy See" comprises 60 sets of objects illustrating the artistic values and cultural content of the church and its development in the Chinese-speaking world. It underscores 73 years of diplomatic relations between Taiwan and the Vatican, and highlights the deepening of bilateral relations and exchanges between the two sides.Archbishop Piero Marini, president of the Pontifical Committee for International Eucharistic Congresses, attended the opening ceremony telling the group, that the exhibition will promote friendship and understanding between the two sides.The exhibitions runs till May 2. The six categories such as, The Altar, Catholicism Spreads East, The Holy See, The Liturgical Year, The Pope and History, and ...
The world's largest exhibition to be held outside the Vatican of liturgical artifacts used by popes was launched Feb. 4 at the National Palace Museum in Taipei City, Taiwan.
"Treasures from Heaven: A Special Exhibition of Artifacts from the Holy See" comprises 60 sets of objects illustrating the artistic values and cultural content of the church and its development in the Chinese-speaking world. It underscores 73 years of diplomatic relations between Taiwan and the Vatican, and highlights the deepening of bilateral relations and exchanges between the two sides.
Archbishop Piero Marini, president of the Pontifical Committee for International Eucharistic Congresses, attended the opening ceremony telling the group, that the exhibition will promote friendship and understanding between the two sides.
The exhibitions runs till May 2. The six categories such as, The Altar, Catholicism Spreads East, The Holy See, The Liturgical Year, The Pope and History, and The Sacraments were chosen to offer a deeper understanding of the history of the Catholic Church, as well as the background and purpose of artifacts used in the Holy Eucharist.
The exhibition represents the ongoing engagement among different cultures, and is hoped that the two sides will continue enjoying prosperity and friendship going forward. (UCAN)
(Vatican Radio) The Vatican's Promoter of Justice, Gian Piero Milano, issued a report Saturday to inaugurate the 81st year of the Vatican's judicial tribunal.In the report Milano noted that the reforms initiated by Pope Francis profoundly affect the internal life of the Vatican City State, its legislative, judicial and administrative activities. "They also affect the level of relations with other jurisdictions,” he said, “to whom the Church and its institutional expressions can offer a unique and significant contribution.”Justice affects the individual person and also the entire community. The love of neighbor, peace, care for creation, tireless concern for the elimination of inequalities, are themes of the report and are values ??that challenge legal practitioners who are called to intervene when rules are violated. Justice, as identified by Pope Francis, is not enough. We have a God also of mercy and forgiveness.With the pontificate of Po...
(Vatican Radio) The Vatican's Promoter of Justice, Gian Piero Milano, issued a report Saturday to inaugurate the 81st year of the Vatican's judicial tribunal.
In the report Milano noted that the reforms initiated by Pope Francis profoundly affect the internal life of the Vatican City State, its legislative, judicial and administrative activities. "They also affect the level of relations with other jurisdictions,” he said, “to whom the Church and its institutional expressions can offer a unique and significant contribution.”
Justice affects the individual person and also the entire community. The love of neighbor, peace, care for creation, tireless concern for the elimination of inequalities, are themes of the report and are values ??that challenge legal practitioners who are called to intervene when rules are violated. Justice, as identified by Pope Francis, is not enough. We have a God also of mercy and forgiveness.
With the pontificate of Pope Francis a new legislative phase has begun to address concerns of the international community to prevent money laundering and the financing of terrorism. The Holy See and the Vatican City State is also committed to adopting a series of measures for implementing specific EU requirements in these areas.
In criminal matters, new offences have been identified: crimes against the person (racial discrimination, human trafficking, torture); crimes against children (sale of children, induction or management of child prostitution, sexual violence, child pornography, child recruitment); crimes against humanity (genocide and other crimes against the civilian population); war crimes and crimes related to terrorism and narcotics.
Financial matters have been reformed, including modernization efforts in the field of regulating the financial system. Vatican financial ordering is now on par with that of European standards. Measures have been introduced to increase the transparency, integrity and stability of the system, operating on the “due diligence” system.
With the Motu proprio "Fidelis dispensator et prudens" of 24 February 2014 the department has established the Council for the Economy and the State Secretariat for the Economy. The first has the duty to ensure the structures and administrative and financial activities of the departments of the Roman Curia, the institutions connected with the Holy See and Vatican City State. The second has the task of implementing economic control and the supervision of those organizations and institutions.
The Promoter also reported on the progress of the agreement between the Holy See and Italy on tax matters, signed 1 April 2015. This convention allows full compliance with simplified procedures, tax obligations related to the financial assets held by entities conducting financial activities in the Holy See from natural and legal persons resident for tax purposes in Italy.
Reforms have also affected the judiciary. New arrangements ensure a dialogue and cooperation with other jurisdictions and a more effective adoption of foreign legal instruments.
In reporting on the Gendarmerie, the Promoter stated that controls on cross-border cash transportation have resulted in an average of 30 inspections per day for a total of 11,000 per year. More generally, in the course of 2015, 8 arrests and 53 detentions were effected. Complaints of theft numbered 58, there were 88 fines, 64 road accidents and 3 fraud attempts.
Among the activities of the judicial police, efforts were made in the area of cyber crime. Websites with defamatory content in regard to the Vatican City State and the Holy See were shut down, as well as email accounts connected to fraud and identity theft.
Finally, the report states that there has been a significant increase in the judicial burden during the past judicial year.
