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 Radio) Cardinal Pietro Parolin has expressed his support for the work of a Foundation dedicated to the construction of a world economic system at the service of an integral development.

The Vatican Secretary of State was speaking on Monday at a round table-meeting organized by the Global Foundation on the theme “Rejecting the globalisation of indifference – towards a more inclusive and sustainable global economy”.

The meeting took place on 17 and 18 January in Rome.

Please find below the full text of Cardinal Pietro Parolin’s speech:

Ambassador McCarthy,
Mr Howard,
[Your Eminences,]
Excellencies,
Distinguished Authorities,
Ladies and Gentlemen,

I am delighted to be able to attend, even if only briefly, this round-table meeting organised by the Global Foundation.  In keeping with the title of this gathering: “Rejecting the globalisation of indifference – towards a more inclusive and sustainable global economy”, your purpose is to seek a “more inclusive and sustainable global economy”, which might stand in contrast to the “globalisation of indifference”.  This is one of the initiatives which expresses the Global Foundation’s commitment to being a privileged place of dialogue between major economic and political players, as well as a catalyst for ideas for the construction of an economic system at the service of integral economic development.  I thank you sincerely for the kind invitation and I bring you the good wishes of the Holy Father, Pope Francis, and share with you his hope that this round-table might open up areas of reflection and offer meaningful paths of action on the topic in hand.

From the beginning of his Pontificate, faced with the many difficulties which afflict the world, the Pope has not failed to make clear, with real emphasis, the grave consequences of indifference and of the lack of responsibility.  Today’s meeting is thus in tune with the teaching of the Pope, who constantly calls for all people to commit themselves, freely and responsibly, to correcting an economy which causes exclusion and inequality.  He invites the rich and the poor, the powerful and simple folk, politicians and entrepreneurs to put the creative power of human intelligence at the service of the common good, with a spirit of solidarity and – I would add – mercy.

Without forgetting how much has been done in these first years of the third millennium to help people escape from extreme poverty, Pope Francis continues to underscore his conviction that much more still needs to be done, and that in times of crisis and economic hardship a spirit of global solidarity must not be lost.  It goes without saying – the Holy Father points out – that part of this great effort is the creation and distribution of wealth. Since the right use of natural resources, the proper application of technology and the harnessing of the spirit of enterprise are essential elements of an economy which seeks to be modern, inclusive and sustainable.  That will be possible, having in mind the definition of justice of the Roman jurist Ulpian and of St Augustine of Hippo – “Iustitia est constans et perpetua voluntas ius suum cuique tribuendi” (Justice is the constant and perpetual will to render to every man his due), which the Pope quoted in his address to the United Nations on 25th September 2015, with reference to the “2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development”, in order to say to those responsible for global affairs that our world demands of all government leaders a will which is effective, practical and constant, concrete steps and immediate measures for preserving and improving the natural environment and thus putting an end as quickly as possible to the phenomenon of social and economic exclusion .

Even if the aim of this round-table is not so much to provide definitive solutions, which are more the fruit of shared political action, I am convinced that this gathering will be an important space for encouraging an increase in global awareness of the serious problems of environmental degradation and exclusion.  It will thus provide a stimulus to strengthen the action which has already begun, and is starting to show positive and enduring results.

With these brief considerations, I reiterate the wish that these days might bring forth worthwhile contributions to encourage an economy which is increasingly at the service of our common home, which is the world as a whole.  Thank you.

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(Vatican Radio) A precious treasure from the Rome Church of San Gregorio al Celio was brought back home on Monday after spending a week on loan to Canterbury Cathedral for a meeting of worldwide Anglican leaders there.

The head of a crozier, or pastoral staff, associated with St Gregory the Great, has been on display in the crypt of Canterbury Cathedral, alongside a rare 6th century book of the Gospels given by Pope Gregory to St Augustine as he set off on his mission to take the Christian faith to England. The manuscript is the oldest surviving Latin illustrated Gospel book and one of the most ancient European books in existence.

Appropriately, the relic of St Augustine was returned to Rome at the start of the annual week of prayer for Christian Unity. Accompanying it on its journey to England was Australian missionary Fr Robert McCulloch, who currently serves as Procurator General of the Society of St Columban. He talked to Philippa Hitchen about the significance of the Roman relic on display alongside the precious Augustine Gospel…

Listen: 

Fr Robert says it's important to note the relic associated with St Gregory is returning from Canterbury to Rome on the day that we mark the beginning of the week of prayer for Christian unity. Through this object, he says, we can "recapture the missionary link" in common faith, history and heritage between Catholics and Anglicans.

Fr Robert notes that this year also marks the 50th anniversary of the establishment of the Anglican Centre in Rome, following the first official meeting of an Archbishop of Canterbury, Michael Ramsey, to Pope Paul VI. He talks about the important ministry over the past 50 years of linking the Roman Catholic Church with the Anglican Church, of "maintaining a fraternal, ecumenical and deeply spiritual presence" of the Anglican Church in Rome. 

The Centre, he says, also organises courses which allow participants to experience Rome and the Catholic Church in a deeper way. He gives the example of the Anglican bishop of Hyderabad in Pakistan who attended one such course last auturmn and told Fr Robert he was able to see Rome "not just with his eyes, but with his heart".

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(Vatican Radio) Cardinal George Pell, the Prefect of the Secretariat for the Econony, announced on Sunday the Holy See is taking steps to “slave-proof” the Vatican supply chain.

The Cardinal was speaking in Rome during a meeting of The Global Foundation, an Australian organization which brings together business and government leaders.

“I am pleased to confirm that the Vatican itself will commit to slavery-proofing its own supply chains and I hope that today's announcement will serve as encouragement for others to follow suit," Cardinal Pell told the gathering.

At the same meeting, the Consumer Goods Forum – a consortium of major companies including Carrefour, Barilla, and Nestle – announced it had passed a resolution to “eradicate” forced labour from their supply chains.

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(Vatican Radio) Father Miguel Angel Ayuso Guixot, the Secretary of the Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue, on Sunday said “to counter extremism we have to commit ourselves to a sincere dialogue.”

He was speaking at the First Arab Thinkers Forum at the Emirates Center for Strategic Studies and Research in Abu Dhabi.

“Pope Francis believes that the motivation for interreligious dialogue must rest in the mutual commitment to peace and justice, thus making them the basic principles for all exchanges,” Father Ayuso said. “Dialogue creates a school of humanity and becomes instrument of unity, helping to build a better society founded on mutual respect and friendship.”

The full text of Father Ayuso’s speech is below

The Emirates Center for Strategic Studies and Research

FIRST ARAB THINKERS FORUM

Abu Dhabi, January 17-18, 2016

“Interreligious Dialogue and Extremism: Reasons and Remedies”

Rev. Fr. MIGUEL ANGEL AYUSO GUIXOT

Secretary

Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue

Vatican

Excellencies,

Distinguished Guests,

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Introduction

Let me express my deep gratitude to His Excellency Doctor Jamal Sanad Al Suwaidi, Director General of The Emirates Center for Strategic Studies and Research (ECSSR) for his invitation to participate in this First Arab Thinkers Forum, gathering here in Abu Dhabi intellectuals, scholars and religious leaders from around the world to brainstorm ideas with one another on the importance of promoting interreligious dialogue today to build together a more peaceful and fraternal world, so needed in this moment in which extremism prevails in many parts of the world underlining the urgency to promote counter remedies.

I will not pursue considerations on the manifold economic, political, social and cultural reasons for extremism, these are already known to us, and surely will be discussed in this Forum, Rather, I would prefer as a Christian, to recall Pope Francis’ recommendations to the International Community on how to construct peace which can serve to counter extremism.

1. Extremism

Just a few days ago, on Monday 11 January 2016, Pope Francis, speaking to the Diplomatic Corps accredited to the Holy See, argued that “Extremism and fundamentalism find fertile soil not only in the exploitation of religion for purposes of power, but also in the vacuum of ideals and the loss of identity - including religious identity - which dramatically marks the so-called West. This vacuum gives rise to the fear which leads to seeing the other as a threat and an enemy, to closed-mindedness and intransigence in defending preconceived notions”. Yet the greatest challenge we face is that of overcoming indifference in order to work together for peace, a good which must constantly be sought, by the promotion of a “culture of encounter”.

2. Culture of Encounter

The promotion of a “culture of encounter”, one that is “open and fruitful” with the other, “demands that we be ready to listen”.[1] Aware that today we live amongst a “wounded humanity”, Pope Francis believes that the motivation for interreligious dialogue must rest in the mutual commitment to peace and justice, thus making them the basic principles for all exchanges. In fact, interreligious dialogue is a necessary condition for peace in the world, and thus a duty for all of us.[2] Dialogue creates a school of humanity and becomes instrument of unity, helping to build a better society founded on mutual respect and friendship. “It is always worth remembering, however, that for dialogue to be authentic and effective, it presupposes a solid identity: without an established identity, dialogue is of no use or even harmful”.[3] For this, dialogue must be “friendly and sincere”.[4]

3. The Key Role of Religious Leaders

Extremist tendencies, irrespective of their origin, are actually among the most dangerous threats to world peace and security. Extremist movements introduce fundamental and sudden changes by imposing uncompromising and violent policies. They create an environment where mutual acceptance and understanding cannot co-exist. This gives way to various kinds of animosity toward people of different ideologies, race and beliefs.

Consequently, we must increase our awareness that extremism, with its violent tendencies, is incompatible with true religious ethics and thus must be defeated through a serious and widespread formation to dialogue. It needs genuine effort by religious leaders and opinion makers to identify those persons who portray false beliefs and behaviors as part of their religious ideology. At the same time, political leaders must support this campaign of awareness in order to prevent extremism in society and to lay the groundwork for moderation. “As religious leaders, we are obliged to denounce all violations against human dignity and human rights. Human life, a gift of God the Creator, possesses a sacred character. As such, any violence that seeks religious justification warrants the strongest condemnation because the Omnipotent is the God of life and peace. The world expects those who claim to adore God to be men and women of peace who are capable of living as brothers and sisters, regardless of ethnic, religious, cultural or ideological differences [...]. We, Muslims and Christians, are the bearers of spiritual treasures of inestimable worth [...] Recognizing and developing our common spiritual heritage - through interreligious dialogue - helps us to promote and to uphold moral values, peace and freedom in society”.[5]

4. Dialogue Must Be Sincere

Peace is not just a gift of God, it is also a personal and social duty that demands commitment and concerns everyone: “This means that all those forms which present a distorted use of religion, must be firmly refuted as false since they are unworthy of God or humanity. Authentic religion is a source of peace and not of violence! No one must use the name of God to commit violence! To kill in the name of God is a grave sacrilege. To discriminate in the name of God is inhuman [...]. What unites us is the path of life, is starting from our own identity for the good of our brothers and sisters. To do good! And so, we walk together as brothers and sisters. Every one of us offers the witness of our identity to others and engages in dialogue with others. Then dialogue can move onto theological questions. But even more important and beautiful is to walk together without betraying our own identity, without disguising it, without hypocrisy”.[6]

Dialogue, in fact, is a necessity, not a choice. To counter extremism we have to commit ourselves to a sincere dialogue: there can be no peace in the world without dialogue, especially among believers, who are by far the majority of humanity today. In all religions, there is a treasury of values that can contribute towards building a world of justice, peace, fraternity and prosperity.[7]

For this, interreligious dialogue poses today three challenges to us: “The first is the political challenge: to combine identity and openness, overcoming prejudice and fear. It is well to recognize each other's traditions that have their own value. Second, the intellectual challenge, which concerns the theological heritage and the encounter with modernity. We must help each other to practice discernment and not to neglect the new currents of theological and spiritual thought. Finally, the spiritual challenge: in today's world, more sensitive to witnesses than to teachers, we must recognize the message of peace to all religions. Calling for fraternity, they can look to the future with less confusion and fear”.[8]

5. The Importance of Prayer

“The world, looking to us believers, exhorts us to cooperate amongst ourselves and with men and women of goodwill who though professing no religion, ask us for effective responses regarding numerous issues: peace, hunger, the poverty that afflicts millions of people, the environmental crisis, violence, especially that committed in the name of religion, corruption, moral decay, the crisis of the family, of the economy, of finance, and especially the lack of hope. We believers have no recipe for these problems, but we have one great resource: prayer. As believers we pray. We must pray. Prayer is our treasure, which we draw from according to our respective traditions, to request the gifts for which humanity longs”.[9]

I thank you for your kind attention.

[1] Pope Francis, Message for World Communications Day 2014, 24 January 2014.

[2] Cf. Pope Francis, Evangelii Gaudium, n. 250.

[3] Pope Francis, Ecumenical and Interreligious Meeting, Franciscan International Study Centre, Sarajevo, 6 June 2015.

[4] Cf. Pope Francis, Message to the Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue, 28 November 2013.

[5] Pope Francis, Visit to the President of the Diyanet at the Department for Religious Affairs, Ankara, 28 November 2014.

[6] Pope Francis, Meeting with the Leaders of Other Religions and Other Christian Denominations, Tirana 21 September 2014. Coptic Patriarch Tawadros II has also said in an interview, on the occasion of the Coptic Christmas (7 January 2016), that “terrorism does not make any distinction between Christians and Muslims, and even when it is fueled by religious ideology, it indiscriminately affects all believers in God, fomenting sectarian strife where people kill each other for "human stupidity" for "money" or to assert "their interests", http://www.fides.org/en/news/39142#.VpYsDcQmyG4

“AFRICA/EGYPT - Coptic Patriarch Tawadros: terrorism does not make any distinction between Christians and Muslims”

[7] Millions of other persons too, though they declare no belief in any religion, are at the same time bearers and promoters of these same values, not on a religious basis, but on the basis of human dignity. These too are people of good will, many of them with an acute sense of honesty, to whom we are called to extend our hands in fraternity and friendship, seeking collaboration for the common good, for a better world, as Pope Francis indicates: “The majority of people living on our planet profess to be believers. This should spur religions to dialogue among themselves for the sake of protecting nature, defending the poor, and building networks of respect and fraternity”, see Pope Francis, Laudato Si', n. 201.

[8] H. Em. Cardinal Jean-Louis Tauran, “Tre sfide”, L’Osservatore Romano, 6 January 2015, p. 7.

[9] Pope Francis, Interreligious General Audience, St. Peter’s Square, 28 October 2015.

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(Vatican Radio) Pope Francis says God looks beyond appearances and into the heart. He was speaking on Tuesday morning during Mass at Casa Santa Marta.

Drawing inspiration from the First Reading of the day that tells of the choice of the young David as king of Israel, the Pope pointed out that even in the lives of the saints there are temptations and sins, as demonstrated by the life of David.

The Lord – he said - rejected Saul "because his heart was closed", he had not obeyed Him, and He decided to choose another king. 

The Pope pointed out that the choice He made was far from human standards since David was the youngest son of Jesse, he was only a boy.

But – he continued – the Lord made it clear to the prophet Samuel that he looks beyond appearances: “the Lord looks into the heart”:

"We are often the slaves of appearances and allow ourselves to pursue appearances: ‘But God knows the truth’. And that is so in this story... Jesse’s seven sons are presented and the Lord does not choose any of them, he lets them pass by. Samuel is in a bit of difficulty and says to Jesse: ‘The Lord has not chosen any of them, are these all the sons you have? And Jesse replied that there was still the youngest, who is tending the sheep’. To the eyes of man this boy did not count”.

He did not matter to men, but the Lord chose him and ordered Samuel to anoint him and “the Spirit of the Lord rushed upon David” and from that day on “the whole of David's life was the life of a man anointed by the Lord, chosen by the Lord” the Pope said.

So – Pope Francis asked – “Did the Lord make him a saint?” No, is the answer – he said: “King David is saint King David, this is true, but he became a saint after living a long life” a life during which he sinned:

"A saint and a sinner. A man who managed to unite the Kingdom, he was able to lead the people of Israel. But he fell into temptation ... he committed sins: he was also a murderer. To cover up his lust, the sin of adultery… he commissioned a murder. He did! Did saint King David commit murder? When God sent the prophet Nathan to point this reality out to him, because he was not aware of the barbarity he had ordered, he acknowledged his sin and asked for forgiveness.”

Thus – Pope Francis continued – “his life went on. He suffered personally following the betrayal of his son, but he never he never used God for his own purpose”.  And he recalled that when David was forced to flee from Jerusalem he sent back the ark and declared that he would not use the Lord in his defense. And when he was insulted – the Pope said – David would say to himself: “It’s what I deserve”.

And then, Francis noted, “he was magnanimous”: he could have killed Saul “but he did not do so.” Saint King David, a great sinner, but a repentant one. “The life of this man moves me” – the Pope said - it makes us think of our own lives.

“We have all been chosen by the Lord to be Baptized, to be part of His people, to be saints; we have been consecrated by the Lord on the path towards sainthood. Reading about this life, the life of a child – no… not a child, he was a boy – from boyhood to old age, during which he did many good things and others that were not so good. It makes me think that during the Christian journey, the journey the Lord has invited us to undertake, there is no saint without a past and no sinner without a future”.

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Mexico City, Mexico, Jan 19, 2016 / 04:38 am (CNA/EWTN News).- Following the rise of fraudulent papal ticket “sales” online, the Mexican Conference of Catholic Bishops has reminded the faithful that tickets to attend events during Pope Francis’ trip are free.  

Pope Francis will visit Mexico in a highly anticipated trip Feb. 12-18. In the weeks leading up to his trip, various scams have arisen, including several efforts on Facebook to encourage people to “buy” tickets to the papal events for several hundred dollars. 

Countering these efforts, the Mexican bishops released a press statement reminding the faithful that tickets for all events with the Pope have already been designed and “besides being stamped FREE,  have certain security features and information about when and where to enter the event  and what items cannot be brought in.”

The tickets are already being printed and will be delivered in late January to the bishops of the 93 dioceses of Mexico “so that each bishop can distribute them in his respective diocese as he deems appropriate, also trying to include those who do not participate in the Church,” the bishops said.

The allocation of tickets takes into account “the number of inhabitants in each diocese, the number of Catholics, religious men and women, seminarians, deacons and priests, as well as the geographic proximity to where the Mass or event will be held.”

“It is important to reiterate that the tickets are absolutely FREE,” the Mexican prelates emphasized. 

The bishops renewed their call to young people who want to participate in this trip as volunteers and encouraged them to sign up on the website for the visit: www.papafranciscoenmexico.org

They explained that a very significant moment during the visit “will be the pope’s meeting with Mexican young people on February 16 at 4 p.m., at the José María Morelos y Pavón Stadium in Morelia. Young people who are not close to the Church or part of it will also be able to participate.”
 

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