Catholic News 2

 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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(Vatican Weekend)  Vatican Weekend for February 6, 2016  features interviews looking ahead to the forthcoming Apostolic journey of Pope Francis to Mexico from the 12th to the 17th of February. The first is  with Mexican  born Dominican Father  Alejandro Crosthwaite and the second with a parish priest in El Paso Texas, Monsignor Arturo Bañuelas.The programme ends with a musical meditation focusing on Ash Wednesday with Monsignor Philip Whitmore.

A programme presented and produced by Veronica Scarisbrick:

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(Vatican Radio) On Vatican Weekend for February 7, 2016 we bring you this week's edition of 'There's More in the Sunday Gospel than Meets the Eye' presented by Jill Bevilacqua and a couple of interviews relating to the forthcoming Apostolic visit of Pope Francis to Mexico from the 12th to the 17th of February. The first highlights for us how Mexico is a land of contrasts: overwhelmingly Catholic yet historically anticlerical. And the second  the importance of the visit of Pope Francis to Ciudad Juarez on the border with El Paso,Texas.

A programme presented and produced by Veronica Scarisbrick: 

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(Vatican Radio) Pope Francis met with the President of Zambia, Edgar Chagwa Lungu, on Friday morning. A communiqué from the Press Office of the Holy See informs that the Pope and the President held cordial discussions on a range of topics, including the contribution of the Catholic Church to the upbuilding of Zambian society, the promotion of peaceful co-existence through a culture of dialogue and encounter, migration, climate change and the protection of the environment. The Holy Father and the President also discussed international issues, with special focus on the conflicts that affect various areas of Africa and the commitment of the country to regional peace.

Below, please find the full text of the official Communiqué, in English

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On the morning of Friday 5 February 2016, the Holy Father Francis received in audience, in the Vatican Apostolic Palace, the president of the Republic of Zambia, Mr. Edgar Chagwa Lungu, who subsequently met with His Eminence Cardinal Secretary of State Pietro Parolin, accompanied by His Excellency Archbishop Paul R. Gallagher, secretary for Relations with States.

During the cordial discussions, the good relations between the Holy See and the Republic of Zambia were noted. The Parties focused on the contribution of the Catholic Church through her educational, social and healthcare institutions, as well as her collaboration in combating poverty and social inequality, and the promotion of peaceful social and religious co-existence through a culture of dialogue and encounter. Attention then turned to themes of common interest, including migration, climate change and the protection of the environment.

Finally, mention was made of the international situation, with special attention to the conflicts that affect various areas of Africa and the commitment of the country to the peace processes in the Region.

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The Catholic Bishops’ Conference of India (CBCI) has pledged the commitment and closeness of the Catholic Church of India to the Christians of the eastern state of Odisha who continue to suffer after facing untold violence over 7 years ago.    Cardinal Baselios Cleemis, Archbishop Trivandrum, the president of the CBCI, the apex body of the Catholic Church in India, expressed this in a message to Archbishop John Barwa of Cuttack-Bhubaneswar whose jurisdiction covers Kandhamal district, which in 2008  witnessed perhaps the worst anti-Christian violence in the history of India.  “I join in praying and thanking God for the blessings showered upon the Kandhamal Christian community. I want to assure my commitment and the unwavering support of the CBCI to the suffering brethren in Kandhamal,” Cardinal Cleemis wrote in his letter. 

Meanwhile, CBCI has accepted a suggestion from Archbishop Barwa to discuss the anti-Christian persecution of 2007 and 2008 in Kandhamal at its plenary assembly scheduled, March 2-9 at St. John’s Medical College Campus, Bangalore.  Archbishop Barwa, chairman of regional Odisha Catholic Bishops’ Council (OCBC), is scheduled to speak for 20 minutes giving a panoramic view of Kandhamal violence from 2007 to 2016, on March 4, 2016, and 10 minutes will be spent for question and answer.  Archbishop Barwa, expressed satisfaction that the CBCI is keen to know about the status of Kandhamal violence for the first time after almost eight years.  

Odisha’s bishops wanted the CBCI to discuss the possibilities of observing Kandhamal Martyrs’ Day at national level, initiating the canonization process for Kandhamal martyrs and putting up an exhibition on Kandhamal violence at the venue of the CBCI plenary assembly.  However, requests for an exhibition on Kandhamal violence and testimonies by the survivors of the violence at the plenary assembly were turned down.

Meanwhile a group of priests and lay people is preparing a detailed list of Kandhamal martyrs, according to the dates of their death, denomination or religion. The Kandhamal violence of August 2008 that lasted for nearly four months claimed more than 90 lives and wounded hundreds of people. More than 50,000 people were rendered homeless.

During the plenary the bishops are expected to seek ways to help the Church respond meaningfully to modern challenges.  Heads of India’s 171 dioceses, auxiliary and retired bishops are expected to attend the assembly that has chosen the theme, “The Response of the Church in India to the present day Challenges.”  Justice Cyriac Joseph, a retired Supreme Court judge and acting chairperson of the National Human Rights Commission, will be the main speaker at the next plenary, said CBCI secretary general Archbishop Albert D’Souza of Agra in a report.  The bishops have invited US Cardinal Donald Wuerl of Washington, to address the plenary.  Eminent persons from other Christian denominations and religions have been invited to express their views on the issues the bishops will discuss.  CBCI’s last plenary was held at Palai, Kerala, in February 2014 on the theme, “Renewed Church for a Renewed Society – Responding to the Call of Vatican II.”  (Source: Santosh Digal)

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The Holy Father, Pope Francis has met Zambia’s Republican President, Mr. Edgar Chagwa Lungu Friday morning in the Vatican’s Apostolic Palace. 

The Zambian President, Mr. Lungu arrived shortly after 10.30 hours. He was accompanied to the Vatican by his wife, Esther. Also, with the President was Zambia’s Foreign Affairs Minister, Mr. Harry Kalaba, Zambia’s High Commissioner to the United Kingdom, Mr. Muyeba Chikonde  who is also accredited to the Holy See. Others were Zambian government officials and state house aides. 

Upon arrival in the Vatican, Mr. Lungu was welcomed by Archbishop Georg Gänswein who is the Prefect of the Papal Household and the personal secretary of Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI. Archbishop Gänswein then led President Lungu to Pope Francis’ private library. 

In the library, Pope Francis held a closed-door meeting with Mr. Lungu that lasted almost 25 minutes. Later the Vatican Press Office released a statement saying that the discussions were cordial and about the good relations between the Holy See and the Republic of Zambia. Also discussed were the contribution of the Catholic Church in Zambia through involvement in the educational, social and healthcare institutions, as well as the Church’s collaboration in combating poverty and social inequality and the promotion of peaceful social and religious co-existence through a culture of dialogue and encounter. 

The statement further said attention then turned to themes of common interest, including  migration, climate change and the protection of the environment. Finally, Pope Francis and Mr. Lungu discussed the international situation, with the focus on conflicts that affect various areas of Africa as well as Zambia’s commitment to peace.

At the end of the visit, the Pope Francis and President Lungu exchanged gifts. The Holy Father also personally gave rosaries to Mr. Lungu’s entourage. The Zambian President gave to Pope Francis a big Copper plaque depicting the big five animals found in Zambia. 
Later, President Lungu met the Vatican’s Secretary of State, Cardinal Pietro Parolin.

President Lungu was in the afternoon expected to hold talks with the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD). The two international organisations have their head offices in Rome. 
In the evening of the same day, Mr. Lungu was expected to meet Zambians living in Italy at the residence of Zambia’s ambassador to Italy, Ms. Gertrude Mwape. 

The following day, 6 February President Lungu and his entourage were scheduled to tour Saint Peter’s Basilica before leaving Italy in the afternoon for another official visit to France.

(Fr. Paul Samasumo, Vatican Radio) 

email: engafrica@vatiradio.va

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(Vatican Radio)  Father Kirill Gorbunov, Press Secretary for the Catholic Archdiocese of the Mother of God in Moscow, said on Friday that he believes the upcoming meeting between Pope Francis and Patriarch Kirill, the leader of the Russian Orthodox Church, will help take relations “to a new level” between the two Churches. He spoke to Susy Hodges shortly after the announcement that this historic meeting between the two spiritual leaders will take place in Cuba on February 12th.

Listen to the interview with Father Kirill Gorbunov, Spokesman for the Catholic Archdiocese of the Mother of God in Moscow:  

Father Gorbunov says besides being an historic first, the meeting between Pope Francis and Patriarch Kirill is hugely significant because around two thirds of the world’s Orthodox Christians belong to the Russian Orthodox Church. Although there has never been a meeting before between the leaders of the Catholic Church and the Russian Orthodox Church, Father Gorbunov said over the years there have been regular lower-level contacts between the two Churches that he described as “very rich and fruitful.”  He noted that before becoming Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia, Kirill had met with two Popes, John Paul II and Benedict XVI.

“Take relations to a new level”

Father Gorbunov said he believed this historic meeting will help take relations “to a new level” between the Catholic Church and the Russian Orthodox Church and from now on both sides will have “more freedom and more courage” to seek better relations and work together more.

“A common witness”

The Russian Orthodox Church said the central item on the agenda during the meeting in Cuba between Pope Francis and Patriarch Kirill will be the persecution of Christians in the Middle East and elsewhere in the world. Father Gorbunov said the planned meeting showed that both Churches are putting aside their long-standing differences and disagreements in order to provide a united front and “a common witness” to respond to the suffering and persecution of Christians in today’s world.   

“What is most important is saving peoples’ lives and (helping) Churches that are struggling to survive and this is really a very important thing to discuss," said Father Gorbunov.  

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(Vatican Radio) Pope Francis is asking people around the world to pray during the month of February for an increase of attention to and care for our common home. The Holy Father is making the request through his new video initiative in cooperation with the Jesuit-operated Apostleship of Prayer. Below, please fin the full text of the Holy Father's Message, which you can view at thepopevideo.org/.

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Believers and unbelievers agree that the earth is our common heritage, the fruits of which should benefit everyone.

However, what is happening in the world we live in?

The relationship between poverty and the fragility of the planet requires another way of managing the economy and measuring progress, conceiving a new way of living.

Because we need a change that unites us all.

Free from the slavery of consumerism.

This month I make a special request:

That we may take good care of creation–a gift freely given–cultivating and protecting it for future generations.

Caring for our common home.

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(Vatican Radio) The Vatican and the Russian Orthodox Church announced on Friday that Pope Francis and Patriarch Kirill will hold a historic first encounter in Cuba on February 12th. A statement released jointly in Moscow and in Rome said the meeting will mark “an important stage in relations” between the Catholic and Orthodox Churches and a “sign of hope for all people of good will”.

Philippa Hitchen reports: 

Pope Francis announced at the start of the Jubilee  year of mercy that he himself intended to make some practical gestures showing God’s mercy to the world on one Friday of each month. Friday February 12th may prove to be the most significant of all those gestures, as the leader of the Catholic world and the head of the largest Orthodox Church meet together to show that, despite the issues still dividing them, they are determined to pursue the path of mercy, forgiveness and the restoration of full Christian unity.

The historic encounter has been years in the making, at least since the fall of the Soviet Union, when Pope John Paul II first expressed his desire to visit Russia and further the reconciliation of East and Western Christianity which officially divided in 1054. Since then there have been several behind-the-scenes attempts to orchestrate a meeting between popes and patriarchs, but political and religious tensions continued to stand in the way.

Warming of Catholic-Orthodox relations

Following a significant warming of relations – Cardinal Koch of the Pontifical Council for Christian Unity travelled to Moscow and Metropolitan Hilarion came to Rome four times last year – the opportunity arose for a meeting on neutral territory in Cuba. The island nation was a key ally of Moscow during the Cold War and more recently Pope Francis played an important role in the rapprochement between Washington and Havana.

Two hour private conversation at Havana airport

The Pope will stop over at Havana airport en route to Mexico City, while Patriarch Kirill will arrive the previous day at the start of a visit to three Latin American nations. They will have a two hour private conversation, in Spanish and Russian, with just their interpreters and closest advisers present in the airport salon. They will exchange gifts and sign a joint declaration before speaking briefly with journalists to share their impressions and expectation. Both leaders have asked Christians everywhere to pray for this encounter, a practical sign of healing, forgiveness and great hope for the future. 

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