Catholic News 2
ATHENS, Greece (AP) -- The death toll in Europe's migration crisis rose Friday when two overcrowded smuggling boats foundered off Greece and at least 46 people drowned - more than a third of them children - as European officials remained deeply divided on how to handle the influx....
DETROIT (AP) -- An advisory panel to Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder on Friday recommended steps the state should take to restore reliable drinking water to Flint, including hiring an unbiased third-party to declare when the system is free of lead....
WASHINGTON (AP) -- Recall this 2008 storyline: Hillary Clinton enters the presidential campaign as the Democratic front-runner, runs into an inspirational candidate who generates big crowds and enthusiasm. And she winds up in a dogfight in Iowa....
WASHINGTON (AP) -- One in seven Americans will get at least half a foot of snow outside their homes when this weekend's big storm has finished delivering blizzards, gale-force winds, whiteout conditions and flooding to much of the eastern United States....
WASHINGTON (AP) -- The latest on the blizzard slamming the eastern part of the United States. (all times local)...
 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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(Vatican Radio) Vatican Weekend for January 24, 2016 features our weekly reflection on the Sunday Gospel by the title of ‘There’s More in the Sunday Gospel than Meets the Eye’ presented by Jill Bevilacqua and a bird’s eye view of the past week in the Vatican presented by EWTN’s bureau chief here in Rome Joan Lewis, for the series 'Joan knows..'.A programme presented and produced by Veronica Scarisbrick:
(Vatican Radio) Vatican Weekend for January 24, 2016 features our weekly reflection on the Sunday Gospel by the title of ‘There’s More in the Sunday Gospel than Meets the Eye’ presented by Jill Bevilacqua and a bird’s eye view of the past week in the Vatican presented by EWTN’s bureau chief here in Rome Joan Lewis, for the series 'Joan knows..'.
A programme presented and produced by Veronica Scarisbrick:
(Vatican Radio) Vatican Weekend for January 23, 2016 is a programme with a special focus on the 'Week of Prayer for Christian Unity'. It features our report on the weekly general audience of Pope Francis with pilgrims from across the world and an interview with Cardinal Kurt Koch, President of the Pontifical Council for Christian Unity. Also in the programme we bring you the story of Saint Paul the Apostle recounted for us by scripture scholar Mark Benedict Coleridge, Archbishop of Brisbane in Australia. And finally we shine the spotlight on Caravaggio's depiction of the conversion of Saint Paul with well known author and art historian Monsignor Timothy Verdon and share a timely musical meditation by Monsignor Philip Whitmore.A programme presented and produced by Veronica Scarisbrick:
(Vatican Radio) Vatican Weekend for January 23, 2016 is a programme with a special focus on the 'Week of Prayer for Christian Unity'. It features our report on the weekly general audience of Pope Francis with pilgrims from across the world and an interview with Cardinal Kurt Koch, President of the Pontifical Council for Christian Unity. Also in the programme we bring you the story of Saint Paul the Apostle recounted for us by scripture scholar Mark Benedict Coleridge, Archbishop of Brisbane in Australia. And finally we shine the spotlight on Caravaggio's depiction of the conversion of Saint Paul with well known author and art historian Monsignor Timothy Verdon and share a timely musical meditation by Monsignor Philip Whitmore.
A programme presented and produced by Veronica Scarisbrick:
The contribution of religions, which go beyond racial and ethnic divisions, is important for peace and reconciliation, said Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena and Card Malcolm Ranjith, Archbishop of Colombo, at a ceremony marking the Tamil harvest festival of Thai Pongal, which this year fell on 18 January. At the event, held at the Payagala Hindu College in Kalutara (south of Colombo), several cultural and religious activities were held to promote peace and reconciliation, starting with pupils. "Building peace and reconciliation does not take place only through the implementation of laws and the adoption of a new Constitution. It can only be done through religious philosophies,” said President Sirisena in his address. In a country that is still suffering from the wounds caused by the war between the army and Tamil rebels, which lasted about 30 years, “religion is essential in the construction of national unity,” said Card Ranjith. Fo...
The contribution of religions, which go beyond racial and ethnic divisions, is important for peace and reconciliation, said Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena and Card Malcolm Ranjith, Archbishop of Colombo, at a ceremony marking the Tamil harvest festival of Thai Pongal, which this year fell on 18 January. At the event, held at the Payagala Hindu College in Kalutara (south of Colombo), several cultural and religious activities were held to promote peace and reconciliation, starting with pupils.
"Building peace and reconciliation does not take place only through the implementation of laws and the adoption of a new Constitution. It can only be done through religious philosophies,” said President Sirisena in his address. In a country that is still suffering from the wounds caused by the war between the army and Tamil rebels, which lasted about 30 years, “religion is essential in the construction of national unity,” said Card Ranjith. For this reason, he said, it is essential to strengthen national unity and shared values. “Today we cannot afford to give in to hatred, racism and religious ideologies that imprison us in behaviours from a dark past." Instead, "we must be able to think independently and understand the needs of humanity,” the archbishop explained. President Sirisena concluded the Thai Pongal event calling on all of the country’s religious leaders to work together. "I ask you all,” the president said, “to further the government's goal of building peace and brotherhood among people, eliminating fear and suspicion in various communities. Racial and religious differences cannot act as a barrier to the plan to build a free and just society. " (Source: AsiaNews)
(Vatican Radio) International Director of Jesuit Refugee Service, Father Tom Smolich said unless we deal with the “push-factors” the flow of refugees and migrants to Europe will continue no matter what dangers, walls, borders or other barriers we place in their way. He said that’s why it's so imperative to end the war in Syria. Father Smolich was speaking about the latest tragedy involving the deaths of over 40 migrants when two smugglers boats capsized in the Aegean Sea and the remarks made by the French Prime Minister Manuel Valls who warned that Europe’s migration crisis was putting the EU at risk.Listen to the interview with Father Tom Smolich, International Director of Jesuit Refugee Service: Asked for his reaction to the deaths of over 40 migrants and refugees who drowned when two smugglers’ boats sank in the eastern Aegean Sea, Father Smolich spoke of his sadness, saying the drownings were another example of the lack of value placed b...
(Vatican Radio) International Director of Jesuit Refugee Service, Father Tom Smolich said unless we deal with the “push-factors” the flow of refugees and migrants to Europe will continue no matter what dangers, walls, borders or other barriers we place in their way. He said that’s why it's so imperative to end the war in Syria. Father Smolich was speaking about the latest tragedy involving the deaths of over 40 migrants when two smugglers boats capsized in the Aegean Sea and the remarks made by the French Prime Minister Manuel Valls who warned that Europe’s migration crisis was putting the EU at risk.
Listen to the interview with Father Tom Smolich, International Director of Jesuit Refugee Service:
Asked for his reaction to the deaths of over 40 migrants and refugees who drowned when two smugglers’ boats sank in the eastern Aegean Sea, Father Smolich spoke of his sadness, saying the drownings were another example of the lack of value placed by people on the lives of these desperate refugees and migrants. “We cannot carry on ignoring what is going on”, he warned, and “roll our eyes and say ‘that’s too bad’” when we hear of the latest drowning involving migrants.
“Steering them to a watery grave”
Father Smolich said it was especially tragic because if European countries were willing “to welcome and process” these refugees they would not need to put their lives at risk by crossing the sea in a flimsy smugglers boat that can end up “steering them to a watery grave.” He revealed how when he visited Greece in December 2015 he was told that if these people could enter the EU legally they could travel from Turkey to Greece paying just 20 Euros for the boat trip, (instead of the huge sums demanded by smugglers).
“Deal with the push-factors”
Commenting on the remarks made by French Prime minister Manuel Valls that Europe cannot take all the refugees fleeing the wars in Syria and Iraq as it would destabilize the continent’s societies, Father Smolich described his comments as unhelpful but said they reflected the fear that many Europeans feel when looking at the influx of refugees. He also warned that regardless of what EU leaders say, the flow of refugees will continue no matter what barriers Europe places in their way, “unless we deal with the push-factors” (like the war in Syria). “Any walls, any borders, any fears or any ways of stopping these people from coming are not going to work,” Father Smolich declared.
