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TULSA, Oklahoma (AP) -- Conservative firebrand Sarah Palin joined Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump in Oklahoma Wednesday as part of her endorsement pledge in the increasingly intense race for the GOP nomination....
WASHINGTON (AP) -- Last year wasn't just the Earth's hottest year on record - it left a century of high temperature marks in the dust....
CHARSADDA, Pakistan (AP) -- Once again, Islamic militants stormed a school in northeastern Pakistan in a deadly attack that lasted for hours. And once again, the blood of students and teachers stained classrooms and hallways, raising questions about whether security forces are able to protect the country's educational institutions from extremists....
NEW YORK (AP) -- U.S. stocks recovered much of an early plunge, but the price of oil suffered its worst one-day drop since September....
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) Pope Francis on Wednesday received a delegation of Muslims who presented him with an invitation to visit the Mosque of Rome.The delegation included the imam Yahya Pallavicini from COREIS (The Islamic Community of Italy) and Abdellah Redouane, the director of the Islamic Cultural Centre of Italy.After the meeting, the Director of the Holy See Press Office, Father Federico Lombardi, SJ, said Pope Francis “study the invitation, and come to a decision,” but said he “would be cautious about a date.”He added any dates being publicized in the press are “without foundation.”Pope Francis made his first visit to Rome’s synagogue on Sunday.
(Vatican Radio) Pope Francis on Wednesday received a delegation of Muslims who presented him with an invitation to visit the Mosque of Rome.
The delegation included the imam Yahya Pallavicini from COREIS (The Islamic Community of Italy) and Abdellah Redouane, the director of the Islamic Cultural Centre of Italy.
After the meeting, the Director of the Holy See Press Office, Father Federico Lombardi, SJ, said Pope Francis “study the invitation, and come to a decision,” but said he “would be cautious about a date.”
He added any dates being publicized in the press are “without foundation.”
Pope Francis made his first visit to Rome’s synagogue on Sunday.
(Vatican Radio) Pope Francis met with the bishops of Sudan and South Sudan on Wednesday, shortly before his weekly general audience. The bishops are in Rome for a meeting organized by the Vatican’s Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples.During the encounter, the bishops invited the Holy Father to visit South Sudan.“He said: I am ready. I want to. I want to. I want to. But we have to leave everything in the hands of the Lord,” said Archbishop Paulino Lukudu Loro, of the Archdiocese of Juba.Archbishop Loro told Vatican Radio’s 105Live the “issue of peace” is still a priority in both countries, especially South Sudan, “because we are at war.”South Sudan achieved independence from Sudan in 2011, after decades of a civil war which killed over two million people.Despite initial hopes of a peaceful future after independence was achieved, a civil conflict broke out in 2013 between factions in South Sudan. The new civil war has killed...
(Vatican Radio) Pope Francis met with the bishops of Sudan and South Sudan on Wednesday, shortly before his weekly general audience. The bishops are in Rome for a meeting organized by the Vatican’s Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples.
During the encounter, the bishops invited the Holy Father to visit South Sudan.
“He said: I am ready. I want to. I want to. I want to. But we have to leave everything in the hands of the Lord,” said Archbishop Paulino Lukudu Loro, of the Archdiocese of Juba.
Archbishop Loro told Vatican Radio’s 105Live the “issue of peace” is still a priority in both countries, especially South Sudan, “because we are at war.”
South Sudan achieved independence from Sudan in 2011, after decades of a civil war which killed over two million people.
Despite initial hopes of a peaceful future after independence was achieved, a civil conflict broke out in 2013 between factions in South Sudan. The new civil war has killed thousands of people and displaced over one million others.
“Without peace, religion has difficulties,” Archbishop Loro said.
He added the Church must also address the issue of vacant dioceses, as well as providing support for the local clergy.
“We must discuss with our superiors in the Congregation [for the Evangelization of People] about how to proceed and accomplish our goals,” the Archbishop said. “There are many questions from us on how to proceed.”
The Catholic Church in South Sudan has one archdiocese, and six suffragan dioceses. The bishops are members of the Sudan Catholic Bishops’ Conference, which includes the bishops from Sudan.
Catholics make up over a third of the population in South Sudan. In Sudan, Catholics make up just over 3% of the population, while the vast majority of the people are Muslims.
(Vatican Radio) The Office of Papal Charities has offered hospitality for one year, on behalf of Pope Francis, to a homeless Romanian woman who gave birth to a child overnight on the street located in front of St. Peter’s Basilica. The incident happened in the Piazza Pio XII, located in Italian territory.The woman and her child were admitted to the nearby Santo Spirito hospital immediately after the birth, and are doing well.Archbishop Konrad Krajewski, the Papal Almoner, had known the woman previously, since she is among the homeless who live in the neighborhood around St. Peter’s Basilica, and had made use of the facilities provided to the homeless by Pope Francis.Archbishop Krajewski had also asked her during her pregnancy to make use of the facility for mothers with children run by Blessed Mother Teresa’s Missionaries of Charity.The Archbishop made the new offer of hospitality when he visited the woman in the hospital. The Office of Charities has also g...
(Vatican Radio) The Office of Papal Charities has offered hospitality for one year, on behalf of Pope Francis, to a homeless Romanian woman who gave birth to a child overnight on the street located in front of St. Peter’s Basilica. The incident happened in the Piazza Pio XII, located in Italian territory.
The woman and her child were admitted to the nearby Santo Spirito hospital immediately after the birth, and are doing well.
Archbishop Konrad Krajewski, the Papal Almoner, had known the woman previously, since she is among the homeless who live in the neighborhood around St. Peter’s Basilica, and had made use of the facilities provided to the homeless by Pope Francis.
Archbishop Krajewski had also asked her during her pregnancy to make use of the facility for mothers with children run by Blessed Mother Teresa’s Missionaries of Charity.
The Archbishop made the new offer of hospitality when he visited the woman in the hospital. The Office of Charities has also given special assistance to the woman’s partner, who is also Romanian.
(Vatican Radio) Pope Francis has appealed to the economic leaders of the world not to forget the poor.The Pope’s cry for justice and integral development came in a message to the participants of the annual World Economic Forum taking place in Davos, Switzerland. Present among the over 2,500 participants for the 3-day event are over 1,000 chief executives or company chairs and more than 40 world leaders. The refugee crisis, climate change and rising interest rates are foreseen to be among the main themes. Listen to Linda Bordoni's report on the Pope’s message: Your primary challenge – the Pope said to the movers and shakers of global economy today - is to “seek to help those poorer than yourselves to attain dignified living conditions, particularly through the development of their human, cultural, economic and social potential.”Emphasizing the fact that “we must never allow the culture of prosperity to deaden...
(Vatican Radio) Pope Francis has appealed to the economic leaders of the world not to forget the poor.
The Pope’s cry for justice and integral development came in a message to the participants of the annual World Economic Forum taking place in Davos, Switzerland.
Present among the over 2,500 participants for the 3-day event are over 1,000 chief executives or company chairs and more than 40 world leaders.
The refugee crisis, climate change and rising interest rates are foreseen to be among the main themes.
Listen to Linda Bordoni's report on the Pope’s message:
Your primary challenge – the Pope said to the movers and shakers of global economy today - is to “seek to help those poorer than yourselves to attain dignified living conditions, particularly through the development of their human, cultural, economic and social potential.”
Emphasizing the fact that “we must never allow the culture of prosperity to deaden us, make us incapable of “feeling compassion at the outcry of the poor”, he pointed out that “weeping for other people’s pain does not only mean sharing in their sufferings, but also and above all realizing that our own actions are a cause of injustice and inequality”.
In no uncertain terms Pope Francis tells business leaders to open their eyes, see the misery of the world, the wounds of our brothers and sisters who are denied their dignity, and recognize that we are compelled to heed their cry for help!”
And quoting from the Bull of Indiction of the Jubilee Year of Mercy he said: “May their cry become our own and together may we break down the barriers of indifference that too often reign supreme and mask our hypocrisy and egoism!”
In his message dotted with quotations from encylicals and other church teachings, Pope Francis also mentions the profound and epochal changes we are challenged to face today and he urged leaders to make sure the coming “fourth industrial revolution” which - he said - is “the result of robotics and scientific and technological innovations, does not lead to the destruction of the human person – to be replaced by a soulless machine – or to the transformation of our planet into an empty garden for the enjoyment of a chosen few”.
“On the contrary, he said, the present moment offers a precious opportunity to guide and govern the processes now under way, and to build inclusive societies based on respect for human dignity, tolerance, compassion and mercy”.
The Pope concluded with the appeal to pursue a sustainable and integral development that safeguards the planet and to use the tools of business to help overcome the complex crisis of society and the environment, and to fight poverty.
Please find below the full text of Pope Francis’ message to the 2016 World Economic Forum Annual Meeting in Davos:
To Professor Klaus Schwab
Executive President of the World Economic Forum
Before all else, I would like to thank you for your gracious invitation to address the annual gathering of the World Economic Forum in Davos-Klosters at the end of January on the theme: “Mastering the Fourth Industrial Revolution”. I offer you my cordial good wishes for the fruitfulness of this meeting, which seeks to encourage continuing social and environmental responsibility through a constructive dialogue on the part of government, business and civic leaders, as well as distinguished representatives of the political, financial and cultural sectors.
The dawn of the so-called “fourth industrial revolution” has been accompanied by a growing sense of the inevitability of a drastic reduction in the number of jobs. The latest studies conducted by the International Labour Organization indicate that unemployment presently affects hundreds of millions of people. The financialization and technologization of national and global economies have produced far-reaching changes in the field of labour. Diminished opportunities for useful and dignified employment, combined with a reduction in social security, are causing a disturbing rise in inequality and poverty in different countries. Clearly there is a need to create new models of doing business which, while promoting the development of advanced technologies, are also capable of using them to create dignified work for all, to uphold and consolidate social rights, and to protect the environment. Man must guide technological development, without letting himself be dominated by it!
To all of you I appeal once more: “Do not forget the poor!” This is the primary challenge before you as leaders in the business world. “Those who have the means to enjoy a decent life, rather than being concerned with privileges, must seek to help those poorer than themselves to attain dignified living conditions, particularly through the development of their human, cultural, economic and social potential” (Address to Civic and Business Leaders and the Diplomatic Corps, Bangui, 29 November 2015).
We must never allow the culture of prosperity to deaden us, to make us incapable of “feeling compassion at the outcry of the poor, weeping for other people’s pain, and sensing the need to help them, as though all this were someone else’s responsibility and not our own” (Evangelii Gaudium, 54).
Weeping for other people’s pain does not only mean sharing in their sufferings, but also and above all realizing that our own actions are a cause of injustice and inequality. “Let us open our eyes, then, and see the misery of the world, the wounds of our brothers and sisters who are denied their dignity, and let us recognize that we are compelled to heed their cry for help! May we reach out to them and support them so they can feel the warmth of our presence, our friendship, and our fraternity! May their cry become our own, and together may we break down the barriers of indifference that too often reign supreme and mask our hypocrisy and egoism!” (Bull of Indiction of the Extraordinary Jubilee of Mercy, Misericordiae Vultus, 15).
Once we realize this, we become more fully human, since responsibility for our brothers and sisters is an essential part of our common humanity. Do not be afraid to open your minds and hearts to the poor. In this way, you will give free rein to your economic and technical talents, and discover the happiness of a full life, which consumerism of itself cannot provide.
In the face of profound and epochal changes, world leaders are challenged to ensure that the coming “fourth industrial revolution”, the result of robotics and scientific and technological innovations, does not lead to the destruction of the human person – to be replaced by a soulless machine – or to the transformation of our planet into an empty garden for the enjoyment of a chosen few.
On the contrary, the present moment offers a precious opportunity to guide and govern the processes now under way, and to build inclusive societies based on respect for human dignity, tolerance, compassion and mercy. I urge you, then, to take up anew your conversation on how to build the future of the planet, “our common home”, and I ask you to make a united effort to pursue a sustainable and integral development.
As I have often said, and now willingly reiterate, business is “a noble vocation, directed to producing wealth and improving our world”, especially “if it sees the creation of jobs as an essential part of its service to the common good” (Laudato Si’, 129). As such, it has a responsibility to help overcome the complex crisis of society and the environment, and to fight poverty. This will make it possible to improve the precarious living conditions of millions of people and bridge the social gap which gives rise to numerous injustices and erodes fundamental values of society, including equality, justice and solidarity.
In this way, through the preferred means of dialogue, the World Economic Forum can become a platform for the defence and protection of creation and for the achievement of a progress which is “healthier, more human, more social, more integral” (Laudato Si’, 112), with due regard also for environmental goals and the need to maximize efforts to eradicate poverty as set forth in the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and in the Paris Agreement under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change.
Mr President, with renewed good wishes for the success of the forthcoming meeting in Davos, I invoke upon you and upon all taking part in the Forum, together with your families, God’s abundant blessings.
IMAGE: CNS/Paul HaringBy Junno Arocho EstevesVATICAN CITY (CNS) -- Catholic, Orthodox and ProtestantChristians are called to work together in order to be a visible sign that God'smercy excludes no one, Pope Francis said during his general audience Jan. 20. The pope reflected on the theme of the annual Week of Prayerfor Christian Unity which wastaken from the first letter of St. Peter and was selected by an ecumenical group from Latvia. TheLutheran cathedral of Riga, Latvia,he noted, contains a 12th-centurybaptismal font that serves as a sign of the common baptism that unitesCatholics, Protestant and Orthodox Christians. "St. Peter's first letter is addressed to the firstgeneration of Christians to make them aware of the gift received throughBaptism and the requirements it entails," the pope said. "We too, inthis week of prayer, are invited to rediscover this and do this together, goingbeyond our divisions."The pope said that although divisions are often caused byselfishness, the co...
IMAGE: CNS/Paul Haring
By Junno Arocho Esteves
VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- Catholic, Orthodox and Protestant Christians are called to work together in order to be a visible sign that God's mercy excludes no one, Pope Francis said during his general audience Jan. 20.
The pope reflected on the theme of the annual Week of Prayer for Christian Unity which was taken from the first letter of St. Peter and was selected by an ecumenical group from Latvia. The Lutheran cathedral of Riga, Latvia, he noted, contains a 12th-century baptismal font that serves as a sign of the common baptism that unites Catholics, Protestant and Orthodox Christians.
"St. Peter's first letter is addressed to the first generation of Christians to make them aware of the gift received through Baptism and the requirements it entails," the pope said. "We too, in this week of prayer, are invited to rediscover this and do this together, going beyond our divisions."
The pope said that although divisions are often caused by selfishness, the common baptism shared by Christians is an experience of being "called from the merciless and alienating darkness" to an encounter with God who is "full of mercy."
"To start once again from baptism means to rediscover the source of mercy, the source of hope for all, so that no one is excluded from God's mercy," he said. "No one is excluded from the mercy of God."
The grace of God's mercy, he added, is stronger than what divides Christians and in the measure one receives that grace, one becomes "capable of preaching to all his merciful deeds," especially through a witness of Christian unity.
"We Christians can announce to all the power of the Gospel by committing ourselves to share the corporal and spiritual works of mercy," he said. "This is a concrete witness of unity among us Christians: Protestants, Orthodox and Catholics."
Pope Francis emphasized that the week of prayer serves as a reminder that Christians share a common mission in passing on to others the mercy they have received, especially with "the poor and the abandoned."
"During this week of prayer, let us pray so that all of us, disciples of Christ, may find a way to work together to bring the mercy of the father to every part of the earth," the pope said.
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