(Vatican Radio) Stormy weather on Saturday halted search and recovery efforts by the Greek Coast Guard after at least 45 Middle Eastern migrants and refugees perished in the icy waters off the eastern Greek islands, in three separate boat wrecks.Listen to John Carr's report: The Greek Coast Guard blames Turkish traffickers for cramming the migrants into unsafe craft and sending them on their way despite the high winds in the region. Dozens of migrants are reported missing, while about one-third of the victims are children.Yet public opposition on the islands of Lesbos and Chios has blocked the planned opening of an EU-approved so-called ‘hot spot’ for migrant processing on the islands. And neighbouring Macedonia to the north is sending back to Greece anyone who is not Syrian or Afghan.All of which builds up the pressure on Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras and his pro-migration Syriza government. He has received veiled warnings from other European countries that ...
(Vatican Radio) Stormy weather on Saturday halted search and recovery efforts by the Greek Coast Guard after at least 45 Middle Eastern migrants and refugees perished in the icy waters off the eastern Greek islands, in three separate boat wrecks.
Listen to John Carr's report:
The Greek Coast Guard blames Turkish traffickers for cramming the migrants into unsafe craft and sending them on their way despite the high winds in the region. Dozens of migrants are reported missing, while about one-third of the victims are children.
Yet public opposition on the islands of Lesbos and Chios has blocked the planned opening of an EU-approved so-called ‘hot spot’ for migrant processing on the islands. And neighbouring Macedonia to the north is sending back to Greece anyone who is not Syrian or Afghan.
All of which builds up the pressure on Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras and his pro-migration Syriza government. He has received veiled warnings from other European countries that if Greece cannot control the constant influx of migrants it may be ousted from the visa-free Schengen scheme.
So far the Greek government’s stance has been to blame other European countries for raising barriers. Meanwhile, the bodies of children continue to be washed up on the islands’ shores.
NEW YORK (AP) -- The widespread outrage over two straight years of largely white Oscar nominees coalesced behind three damning, viral words: "OscarsSoWhite." The hashtag, which activist April Reign is credited with creating, lent social-media unity to a tide of frustration that on Friday led to diversity reforms announced by the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences....
NEW YORK (AP) -- The widespread outrage over two straight years of largely white Oscar nominees coalesced behind three damning, viral words: "OscarsSoWhite." The hashtag, which activist April Reign is credited with creating, lent social-media unity to a tide of frustration that on Friday led to diversity reforms announced by the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences....
BURNS, Ore. (AP) -- The leader of an armed group occupying a national wildlife refuge in Oregon plans to have a ceremony Saturday for ranchers to renounce federal ownership of public land and tear up their federal grazing contracts....
BURNS, Ore. (AP) -- The leader of an armed group occupying a national wildlife refuge in Oregon plans to have a ceremony Saturday for ranchers to renounce federal ownership of public land and tear up their federal grazing contracts....
LOS ANGELES (AP) -- Southern California authorities launched a frantic manhunt Saturday after three inmates charged with violent crimes, including torture and murder, escaped an Orange County jail....
LOS ANGELES (AP) -- Southern California authorities launched a frantic manhunt Saturday after three inmates charged with violent crimes, including torture and murder, escaped an Orange County jail....
NEW YORK (AP) -- Former New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg is taking early steps toward launching an independent campaign for president, seeing a potential path to the White House amid the rise of Republican Donald Trump and Democrat Bernie Sanders....
NEW YORK (AP) -- Former New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg is taking early steps toward launching an independent campaign for president, seeing a potential path to the White House amid the rise of Republican Donald Trump and Democrat Bernie Sanders....
CLINTON, Iowa (AP) -- Hillary Clinton dialed back her biting attacks on rival Bernie Sanders on Saturday, refocusing on Republicans and her own experience in President Barack Obama's administration as she launched her closing argument to voters in Iowa....
CLINTON, Iowa (AP) -- Hillary Clinton dialed back her biting attacks on rival Bernie Sanders on Saturday, refocusing on Republicans and her own experience in President Barack Obama's administration as she launched her closing argument to voters in Iowa....
WASHINGTON (AP) -- In the spring of 2014, as a team of experts was examining what ailed the U.S. nuclear force, the Air Force withheld from them the fact that it was simultaneously investigating damage to a nuclear-armed missile in its launch silo caused by three airmen....
WASHINGTON (AP) -- In the spring of 2014, as a team of experts was examining what ailed the U.S. nuclear force, the Air Force withheld from them the fact that it was simultaneously investigating damage to a nuclear-armed missile in its launch silo caused by three airmen....
SILVER SPRING, Md. (AP) -- A blizzard with hurricane-force winds brought much of the East Coast to a standstill Saturday, dumping as much as 3 feet of snow, stranding tens of thousands of travelers and shutting down the nation's capital and its largest city....
SILVER SPRING, Md. (AP) -- A blizzard with hurricane-force winds brought much of the East Coast to a standstill Saturday, dumping as much as 3 feet of snow, stranding tens of thousands of travelers and shutting down the nation's capital and its largest city....
 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
(Vatican Radio) Pope Francis on Saturday welcomed in the Vatican the new ambassador of Taiwan, Matthew S.M. Lee. At a formal ceremony, Lee presented the Pope his credentials at the start of his diplomatic mission with the Holy See. The Holy See maintains diplomatic ties with Taiwan, officially called the Republic of China (ROC), which mainland China, officially known as the People’s Republic of China (PRC) regards as its renegade territory. In 1951, Communist China, which is officially an atheist state, expelled foreign missionaries, severed diplomatic relations with the Holy See and by 1957 set up its own church - the Chinese Patriotic Catholic Association - in defiance of the Rome-based Catholic Church headed by the Pope. But the Holy See continued to recognize Taipei as the legitimate Chinese government. One of the conditions set by Beijing in re-establishing diplomatic ties with the Holy See is that t...
(Vatican Radio) Pope Francis on Saturday welcomed in the Vatican the new ambassador of Taiwan, Matthew S.M. Lee. At a formal ceremony, Lee presented the Pope his credentials at the start of his diplomatic mission with the Holy See.
The Holy See maintains diplomatic ties with Taiwan, officially called the Republic of China (ROC), which mainland China, officially known as the People’s Republic of China (PRC) regards as its renegade territory. In 1951, Communist China, which is officially an atheist state, expelled foreign missionaries, severed diplomatic relations with the Holy See and by 1957 set up its own church - the Chinese Patriotic Catholic Association - in defiance of the Rome-based Catholic Church headed by the Pope. But the Holy See continued to recognize Taipei as the legitimate Chinese government. One of the conditions set by Beijing in re-establishing diplomatic ties with the Holy See is that the Vatican sever ties with Taiwan.
