(Vatican Radio) The head of the Chaldean Church and Archbishop of Baghdad, Patriarch Louis Sako has described the destruction by jihadists of the ancient monastery of St Elijah near the city of Mosul as an attempt to wipe out the history and heritage of Christianity in Iraq. New satellite images confirmed that St Elijah’s monastery which dated back to the 6th century has been razed to the ground. Patriarch Sako was asked by Susy Hodges for his reaction to the news. Listen to the interview with the Patriarch of Babylon of the Chaldeans, Archbishop Louis Sako: St Elijah’s monastery belonged to the Chaldean Church and was one of Iraq’s most ancient Christian monasteries and Patriarch Sako described its destruction as “a disaster.” He said that through this action against ancient Christian sites, the jihadists are seeking to “cancel the memory” of the Church’s history and heritage in Iraq. The Chaldean Patriarch noted th...
(Vatican Radio) The head of the Chaldean Church and Archbishop of Baghdad, Patriarch Louis Sako has described the destruction by jihadists of the ancient monastery of St Elijah near the city of Mosul as an attempt to wipe out the history and heritage of Christianity in Iraq. New satellite images confirmed that St Elijah’s monastery which dated back to the 6th century has been razed to the ground. Patriarch Sako was asked by Susy Hodges for his reaction to the news.
Listen to the interview with the Patriarch of Babylon of the Chaldeans, Archbishop Louis Sako:
St Elijah’s monastery belonged to the Chaldean Church and was one of Iraq’s most ancient Christian monasteries and Patriarch Sako described its destruction as “a disaster.” He said that through this action against ancient Christian sites, the jihadists are seeking to “cancel the memory” of the Church’s history and heritage in Iraq. The Chaldean Patriarch noted that the nearby city of Mosul had been in the past a “totally Christian city” and as a result it contained many historic monasteries and churches dating back to the early centuries after Christ. Archbishop Sako said he feared that all these ancient buildings could be destroyed in the same way in the future.
St Elijah’s monastery was named after the monk of the same name who built it in the 6th century. It had been a holy site for Iraqi Christians for centuries. In 1743, its monks were given an ultimatum by Persian forces to convert to Islam. They refused and as many as 150 were massacred whilst the monastery building sustained heavy damage.
Before its destruction by the IS militants, the monastery had 26 distinctive rooms including a sanctuary and chapel, although its roof was largely missing. Since taking control of large areas of Iraq and Syria in 2014, the IS group has damaged or destroyed a large number of monasteries, churches and mosques as well as ancient monuments in Nineveh, Palmyra and Hatra.
Religious leaders in Sierra Leone met on Thursday 21 Janauary to come up with a common position on a recently passed Bill that legalises abortion in the West African nation.The national interfaith summit at the St. Anthony’s Parish Hall in Freetown is being hosted by the Catholic Church which has spearheaded the campaign against the proposed abortion law.The Safe Abortion Bill 2015 was passed into an act of parliament on 8 December, five years after campaigners began lobbying for a review of the current law in existence since 1861 which criminalises abortion.Shortly after it was passed last month, Christian and Muslim leaders under the umbrella of the Inter Religious Council of Sierra Leone (IRCSL) paid a visit to President Ernest Bai Koroma to register their disapproval. On that occasion, the president who had until 6 January to sign it into law promised to send the piece of legislation back to parliament for review.If it becomes law, the act will allow women to have an abo...
Religious leaders in Sierra Leone met on Thursday 21 Janauary to come up with a common position on a recently passed Bill that legalises abortion in the West African nation.
The national interfaith summit at the St. Anthony’s Parish Hall in Freetown is being hosted by the Catholic Church which has spearheaded the campaign against the proposed abortion law.
The Safe Abortion Bill 2015 was passed into an act of parliament on 8 December, five years after campaigners began lobbying for a review of the current law in existence since 1861 which criminalises abortion.
Shortly after it was passed last month, Christian and Muslim leaders under the umbrella of the Inter Religious Council of Sierra Leone (IRCSL) paid a visit to President Ernest Bai Koroma to register their disapproval. On that occasion, the president who had until 6 January to sign it into law promised to send the piece of legislation back to parliament for review.
If it becomes law, the act will allow women to have an abortion during the first 12 weeks of pregnancy. After the 12 weeks, it is only allowed in the cases of rape, incest or risk to the health of fetus or mother. Girls under 18 can have an abortion only with the permission of a parent or guardian.
The Catholic Church teaches that life begins from the time of conception. And that from that time to its natural end (death), human life must be protected and must not be taken either through abortion or euthanasia.
(Vatican Radio) Thousands of refugees making the perilous journey into Europe and who are currently in Macedonia and Serbia are at risk of hypothermia and pneumonia as temperatures have plunged to as low as -17C°.Children are amongst those most vulnerable and the aid organization “Save the Children” is warning of a humanitarian emergency as thousands of refugee families and unaccompanied minors from Syria, Afghanistan and Iraq continue to attempt to crossing into the European Union every day.Linda Bordoni spoke to Save the Children’s Valentina Bollenback: Bollenback is currently stationed in Presevo on the Serbian border with Macedonia. She says that “the situation is absolutely dreadful”.“Refugees are having to walk two kilometers across a field on an icy path with temperatures dropping as low as – 17°C, day and night” she says.She says that amongst those on the move are many families with small babies.“I saw a mother ...
(Vatican Radio) Thousands of refugees making the perilous journey into Europe and who are currently in Macedonia and Serbia are at risk of hypothermia and pneumonia as temperatures have plunged to as low as -17C°.
Children are amongst those most vulnerable and the aid organization “Save the Children” is warning of a humanitarian emergency as thousands of refugee families and unaccompanied minors from Syria, Afghanistan and Iraq continue to attempt to crossing into the European Union every day.
Linda Bordoni spoke to Save the Children’s Valentina Bollenback:
Bollenback is currently stationed in Presevo on the Serbian border with Macedonia. She says that “the situation is absolutely dreadful”.
“Refugees are having to walk two kilometers across a field on an icy path with temperatures dropping as low as – 17°C, day and night” she says.
She says that amongst those on the move are many families with small babies.
“I saw a mother having to blow heat from her mouth with her breath onto her baby’s face because the baby’s lips were blue. This is a terrible humanitarian situation” she says.
Bollenback says “Save the Children” is running a night shelter in Presevo just up the road from the registration center where mothers and babies, and children who are travelling alone can stay the night.
“The center is open during the coldest hours. It is equipped with 20 beds and air mattresses. People who come to the center are given food, hot drinks, coats, jumpers, hats, scarves, winter-proof shoes and they are also given support” she says.
She says there is also a place where children can play: “it is important to remember that these are just innocent children. They come into the center and they run to the table which is full of colouring books”.
Bollenback points out that there are a lot of children, under the age of 18, travelling by themselves and they are extremely vulnerable.
“They are vulnerable to multiple forms of exploitation and to abuses. It is extremely important that European governments do their part in making sure that these children are protected” she says.
Bollenback says minors account for some 30% to 40% of the refugees crossing the borders – and of those she says – we are seeing between 1,000 and 2,000 people every day.
She speaks of the resilience of the children which is admirable but also of their fear in the current situation and of their hope to be able to build a future for themselves.
By Junno Arocho EstevesVATICAN CITY (CNS) --Jealousy and envy are ugly sins that grow like weeds in one's heart, PopeFrancis said at his morning Mass.A heart that is envious isnot only tormented, but can even "lead one to kill," the pope said Jan. 21 duringthe Mass in the chapel of Domus Sanctae Marthae. The pope focused his homilyon the day's first reading (1 Sm 18: 6-9; 19: 1-7) in which Saul plots to killDavid out of jealousy for his growing fame. Although Saul heeded his son'sadvice to not murder David, thepope said, his jealousy returned like a "sickness" that openedthe door to envy."Envy is an ugly thing!It is an attitude, an ugly sin," he said. "And jealousy or envy growsin the heart like a bad weed: It grows, but does not let the grass grow."One who has an envious heart,he continued, cannot find peace and is tormented. The pope noted that becauseof Satan's envy, "death entered into the world.""Envy kills and itcannot tolerate that someone has something that I don't have," h...
By Junno Arocho Esteves
VATICAN CITY (CNS) --
Jealousy and envy are ugly sins that grow like weeds in one's heart, Pope
Francis said at his morning Mass.
A heart that is envious is
not only tormented, but can even "lead one to kill," the pope said Jan. 21 during
the Mass in the chapel of Domus Sanctae Marthae.
The pope focused his homily
on the day's first reading (1 Sm 18: 6-9; 19: 1-7) in which Saul plots to kill
David out of jealousy for his growing fame. Although Saul heeded his son's
advice to not murder David, the
pope said, his jealousy returned like a "sickness" that opened
the door to envy.
"Envy is an ugly thing!
It is an attitude, an ugly sin," he said. "And jealousy or envy grows
in the heart like a bad weed: It grows, but does not let the grass grow."
One who has an envious heart,
he continued, cannot find peace and is tormented. The pope noted that because
of Satan's envy, "death entered into the world."
"Envy kills and it
cannot tolerate that someone has something that I don't have," he said.
"And he is always suffering because the heart of someone jealous or
envious suffers. It is a suffering heart."
The pope called on Christians
to pray for the grace to not open their "hearts to jealousy, to not open
the heart to envy because these things always lead to death."
Envy, he added, was also
"the instrument" used by the high priests and scribes to deliver
Jesus to Pontius Pilate and be put to death.
"Let us also ask the
Lord for the grace to never deliver to death a brother, a sister of the parish,
of the community, not even a neighbor because of envy," Pope Francis said.
"Each one has their sins, each one has their virtues; they are specific to
each one. Look for the good and do not kill (others) with gossip out of envy or
jealousy."
MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) -- Baseball cap turned backward, pumping himself up with cries of "C'MON!" Lleyton Hewitt fought one last feisty encounter. Then he gathered his three young kids on center court and said farewell....
MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) -- Baseball cap turned backward, pumping himself up with cries of "C'MON!" Lleyton Hewitt fought one last feisty encounter. Then he gathered his three young kids on center court and said farewell....
NEW YORK (AP) -- Will Smith says he will not attend the Academy Awards next month, joining his wife, Jada Pinkett Smith, and others in protest against two straight years of all-white acting nominees. Best supporting actor nominee Mark Ruffalo also says he's considering skipping the ceremony....
NEW YORK (AP) -- Will Smith says he will not attend the Academy Awards next month, joining his wife, Jada Pinkett Smith, and others in protest against two straight years of all-white acting nominees. Best supporting actor nominee Mark Ruffalo also says he's considering skipping the ceremony....
BAGHDAD (AP) -- Two powerful Shiite militias are top suspects in the abduction of three Americans last weekend in a southern neighborhood of the Iraqi capital, an Iraqi police commander and a Western security official in Baghdad said Thursday....
BAGHDAD (AP) -- Two powerful Shiite militias are top suspects in the abduction of three Americans last weekend in a southern neighborhood of the Iraqi capital, an Iraqi police commander and a Western security official in Baghdad said Thursday....
WASHINGTON (AP) -- Republican senators are confronting an unsettling possibility: Sen. Ted Cruz, their least favorite colleague, stands within reach of becoming the party's presidential nominee and standard-bearer....
WASHINGTON (AP) -- Republican senators are confronting an unsettling possibility: Sen. Ted Cruz, their least favorite colleague, stands within reach of becoming the party's presidential nominee and standard-bearer....
WASHINGTON (AP) -- A light dusting of snow that stuck drivers in icy gridlock for hours in and around Washington served an ominous prelude to the massive blizzard bearing down Thursday on the nation's capital and threatening the eastern United States....
WASHINGTON (AP) -- A light dusting of snow that stuck drivers in icy gridlock for hours in and around Washington served an ominous prelude to the massive blizzard bearing down Thursday on the nation's capital and threatening the eastern United States....
DAVOS, Switzerland (AP) -- Worries over a British exit from the European Union weighed on participants at the World Economic Forum on Thursday, with France's prime minister warning that it would be a "tragedy" that could prove an inspiration to populists around the region at a time when many countries are contending with massive numbers of refugees....
DAVOS, Switzerland (AP) -- Worries over a British exit from the European Union weighed on participants at the World Economic Forum on Thursday, with France's prime minister warning that it would be a "tragedy" that could prove an inspiration to populists around the region at a time when many countries are contending with massive numbers of refugees....
