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OUAGADOUGOU, Burkina Faso (AP) -- Al-Qaida militants struck an upscale hotel and nearby cafe late Friday that are popular with Westerners in Burkina Faso's capital, taking an unknown number of hostages and forcing others to hide for their lives as gunfire and explosions rang out. Commandos used explosives to storm the building five hours later as other security forces tried to remove casualties....
WASHINGTON-From Mayan communities in Guatemala breaking language barriers that bring them closer to the Catholic faith, to at-risk youth and young adults in poverty stricken communities in Colombia and Peru becoming faith leaders in their neighborhoods, these outcomes are possible because of the faithful in the United States who contribute to the Collection for the Church in Latin America (CLA). The next collection will be taken in most parishes the weekend of January 23-24.In 2015, the Collection allocated over $6.8 million through more than 425 grants distributed to 25 countries in Latin America and the Caribbean. The Collection supports a broad range of pastoral programs throughout the region aimed at deepening the faith. Programs include evangelization, family ministry, formation of laity, prison ministry, youth ministry, and catechesis. Pope Francis recently commended the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops' Collection for the Church in Latin America for its work throughout th...
WASHINGTON-From Mayan communities in Guatemala breaking language barriers that bring them closer to the Catholic faith, to at-risk youth and young adults in poverty stricken communities in Colombia and Peru becoming faith leaders in their neighborhoods, these outcomes are possible because of the faithful in the United States who contribute to the Collection for the Church in Latin America (CLA). The next collection will be taken in most parishes the weekend of January 23-24.
In 2015, the Collection allocated over $6.8 million through more than 425 grants distributed to 25 countries in Latin America and the Caribbean. The Collection supports a broad range of pastoral programs throughout the region aimed at deepening the faith. Programs include evangelization, family ministry, formation of laity, prison ministry, youth ministry, and catechesis.
Pope Francis recently commended the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops' Collection for the Church in Latin America for its work throughout the Americas and the Caribbean.
Shareable resources can be found at: www.usccb.org/catholic-giving/opportunities-for-giving/latin-america/collection/index.cfm. A blog post on the work of the collection is available at: www.usccb.org/media/blogs-and-columns/entre-amigos/english/collection-for-the-church-in-latin-america-2016.cfm.
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Keywords: Latin America, youth, clergy, Collection for the Church in Latin America, U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, USCCB, catechesis, family ministry, lay leadership training, prison ministry, grants, Pope Francis
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MEDIA CONTACT:
Norma Montenegro Flynn
O: 202-541-3202
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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MEDIA CONTACT
Don Clemmer
O: 202-541-3206
(Vatican Radio) In our collective imagination we often connect King Solomon to wisdom. But why is this and anyway who exactly was this son of King David who lived off the land his father had won?Scripture scholar. Archbishop of Brisbane, Mark Benedict Coleridge shares with us some thoughts about this character from our family tree of faith who all those centruies ago had the great Temple in Jerusalem built.Listen to Scripture Scholar Archbishop Mark Benedict Coleridge in a programme produced by Veronica Scarisbrick for the series 'Blood,Sweat and Tears in the Bible':
(Vatican Radio) In our collective imagination we often connect King Solomon to wisdom. But why is this and anyway who exactly was this son of King David who lived off the land his father had won?
Scripture scholar. Archbishop of Brisbane, Mark Benedict Coleridge shares with us some thoughts about this character from our family tree of faith who all those centruies ago had the great Temple in Jerusalem built.
Listen to Scripture Scholar Archbishop Mark Benedict Coleridge in a programme produced by Veronica Scarisbrick for the series 'Blood,Sweat and Tears in the Bible':
(Vatican Radio) In a surprise move on Friday afternoon Pope Francis continued with his program of putting mercy into practice during this Jubilee Year by visiting two homes for elderly and disabled people on the outskirts of Rome.A statement from the press office said there was great surprise and joy among the 33 residents of the Bruno Buozzi home for the elderly as the Pope spent talking to each one of them. He was accompanied by Archbishop Rino Fisichella, head of the Vatican’s Council for New Evangelisation and one of the principle organisers of activities during this Jubilee Year of Mercy.Pope Francis has repeatedly emphasized the great value of the elderly and particularly the important role of grandparents in the Church and in society.Before returning to the Vatican, Pope Francis also visited the nearby Casa Iride where six severely disabled patients in a vegetative state are cared for by their families and by a team of medical staff.Today’s visits were part of t...
(Vatican Radio) In a surprise move on Friday afternoon Pope Francis continued with his program of putting mercy into practice during this Jubilee Year by visiting two homes for elderly and disabled people on the outskirts of Rome.
A statement from the press office said there was great surprise and joy among the 33 residents of the Bruno Buozzi home for the elderly as the Pope spent talking to each one of them. He was accompanied by Archbishop Rino Fisichella, head of the Vatican’s Council for New Evangelisation and one of the principle organisers of activities during this Jubilee Year of Mercy.
Pope Francis has repeatedly emphasized the great value of the elderly and particularly the important role of grandparents in the Church and in society.
Before returning to the Vatican, Pope Francis also visited the nearby Casa Iride where six severely disabled patients in a vegetative state are cared for by their families and by a team of medical staff.
Today’s visits were part of the Pope’s decision to make some practical gestures of charity on one Friday of each month throughout this Year of Mercy.
Vatican City, Jan 15, 2016 / 01:05 pm (CNA/EWTN News).- True to form, the pope of the surprise papal visit dropped by two different nursing homes in Rome unannounced on Friday. The visits kicked off the Pope’s monthly works of mercy, which he plans to do on Fridays during the Jubilee Year of Mercy.The Pope’s first visit on Friday, Jan. 15 was to the Bruno Buozzi Retirement Home on Via di Torre Spaccata, on the outskirts of Rome, which houses 33 elderly people.Pope Francis was able to speak briefly with each person during his visit. He was accompanied by Archbishop Rino Fisichella, President of the Pontifical Council for the Promotion of the New Evangelization.Before returning to the Vatican, the pope made a second surprise stop at the “Casa Irde,” a home where six persons in a vegetative state live with their families and are provided assistance.According to a Vatican statement, with these visits, Pope Francis wanted to emphasize the great importance of elder...
Vatican City, Jan 15, 2016 / 01:05 pm (CNA/EWTN News).- True to form, the pope of the surprise papal visit dropped by two different nursing homes in Rome unannounced on Friday. The visits kicked off the Pope’s monthly works of mercy, which he plans to do on Fridays during the Jubilee Year of Mercy.
The Pope’s first visit on Friday, Jan. 15 was to the Bruno Buozzi Retirement Home on Via di Torre Spaccata, on the outskirts of Rome, which houses 33 elderly people.
Pope Francis was able to speak briefly with each person during his visit. He was accompanied by Archbishop Rino Fisichella, President of the Pontifical Council for the Promotion of the New Evangelization.
Before returning to the Vatican, the pope made a second surprise stop at the “Casa Irde,” a home where six persons in a vegetative state live with their families and are provided assistance.
According to a Vatican statement, with these visits, Pope Francis wanted to emphasize the great importance of elderly persons, of grandparents, and the value and dignity of life in every situation.
In December, Pope Francis said in an interview with the official website for the Jubilee of Mercy that he would be making “different gestures” of mercy once a month on Fridays during the Holy Year.
“The revolution of tenderness is that which, today, we must cultivate as a fruit of this year of mercy: the tenderness of God toward each one of us,” the Pope told the official Jubilee publication ‘Credere’.
That the first of his Friday visits were a surprise should not be, well, surprising, to anyone who’s been following Francis’ pontificate.
From early on in his pontificate, Francis has been surprising the people of Rome by showing up in unexpected places – to pay his hotel bill, to get some new glasses – to the delight of many.
In July 2014, the Pope showed up unannounced at a Vatican cafeteria to lunch with some blue-collar
employees of the Holy See.
In February of last year, Francis surprised residents of the Arcobaleno shantytown with a visit before making his way to say Mass at the Roman Parish of San Michele Arcangelo.
In Oct. 2015, Pope Francis paid an inaugural – and, yes, surprise – visit to the “Gift of Mercy” house, a newly built Vatican shelter for homeless men.
The Jubilee of Mercy is an Extraordinary Holy Year that began December 8 – the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception – and will close Nov. 20, 2016 with the Solemnity of Christ the King.
IMAGE: CNS photo/Toby Melville, ReutersBy Simon CaldwellMANCHESTER,England (CNS) -- Because of the U.S. Episcopal Church's moves to unilaterallychange canon law to allow same-sex marriage, Anglican leaders voted to suspendEpiscopalians from positions representing the Anglican Communion and fromparticipating in some Anglican bodies.Primatesmeeting in Canterbury, England, said that for three years, members of theEpiscopal Church will be barred sitting on Anglican bodies making decisions ondoctrine and polity and from representing the Communion on ecumenical andinterfaith bodies.Themove comes in response to a policy allowing gay marriages, adopted last year bythe General Convention, or governing body, of the Episcopal Church, theAnglican Church in the United States.Thechange in canon law in the U.S. has been strongly opposed by many of thetheologically conservative African churches, some of whose leaders hadthreatened to walk out of the five-day primate meeting if the Episcopal Churchw...
IMAGE: CNS photo/Toby Melville, Reuters
By Simon Caldwell
MANCHESTER, England (CNS) -- Because of the U.S. Episcopal Church's moves to unilaterally change canon law to allow same-sex marriage, Anglican leaders voted to suspend Episcopalians from positions representing the Anglican Communion and from participating in some Anglican bodies.
Primates meeting in Canterbury, England, said that for three years, members of the Episcopal Church will be barred sitting on Anglican bodies making decisions on doctrine and polity and from representing the Communion on ecumenical and interfaith bodies.
The move comes in response to a policy allowing gay marriages, adopted last year by the General Convention, or governing body, of the Episcopal Church, the Anglican Church in the United States.
The change in canon law in the U.S. has been strongly opposed by many of the theologically conservative African churches, some of whose leaders had threatened to walk out of the five-day primate meeting if the Episcopal Church was not penalized for its actions.
The suspension was announced in a statement issued by the primates Jan. 14, a day earlier than planned because of leaks to the media.
It said the changes in teaching on marriage in the Episcopal Church represent a "fundamental departure from the faith and teaching held by the majority of our provinces on the doctrine of marriage," which it defined as a lifelong union between a man and a woman.
The change had caused "deep pain," impaired the Anglican Communion by placing "huge strains" on its unity, and created "deeper mistrust between us," the statement said.
The policy set a precedent that could be copied by other provinces, such as Canada, where Anglicans will vote on same-sex marriage in July, and this "could further exacerbate this situation," the statement said.
It added that the primates had expressed a "unanimous commitment to walk together" and had asked Archbishop Justin Welby of Canterbury, spiritual leader of the worldwide Anglican Communion, to appoint a "task group" to work toward dialogue, trust and healing among the provinces.
The Jan. 11-15 meeting brought together 39 Anglican primates to reflect on the challenges posed to the unity of their communion.
At a Jan. 15 news conference, Archbishop Welby repeatedly insisted that the measures taken against the Episcopal Church were not "sanctions" but were consequences of "going off on your own."
Episcopal Church Presiding Bishop Michael B. Curry addressed his fellow bishops before they voted for suspension, telling them that Episcopalians were committed to creating "an inclusive church."
"This decision will bring real pain," he said in comments he later released to the Episcopal News Service. "For fellow disciples of Jesus in our church who are gay or lesbian, this will bring more pain.
"For many who have felt and been rejected by the church because of who they are, for many who have felt and been rejected by families and communities, our church opening itself in love was a sign of hope," he continued. "And this will add pain on top of pain."
Archbishop Welby told reporters that persecution of people for their sexuality was a "source of deep sadness." He said he wanted to apologize "for the hurt and pain, in the past and present, the church has caused."
In a final statement from the meeting, the primates also condemned "homophobic prejudice and violence" as well as "criminal sanctions against same-sex attracted people" and said they were "resolved to work together to offer pastoral care and loving service irrespective of sexual orientation."
The Global Anglican Future Conference, a coalition of conservative Anglican leaders from around the world, welcomed the suspension, adding that "this action must not be seen as an end, but as a beginning." The suspension infuriated gay rights activists, however, with some traveling to Canterbury Jan. 15 to demonstrate at a "vigil" outside the meeting.
Paulist Father Ron Roberson, associate director of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops' Secretariat for Ecumenical and Interreligious Affairs, said he doubted the suspension would have an impact on ARCUSA, the 50-year-old dialogue between the Episcopal Church and the USCCB Committee on Ecumenism and Interreligious Affairs.
He told Catholic News Service Jan. 14 that while "the statement of the primates could be open to different interpretations," in the bilateral dialogue, "the Episcopal Church never claimed to represent the other Anglican provinces."
Each province of the Anglican Communion is independent and runs its own affairs; even the Archbishop of Canterbury has no authority over an individual province like the Episcopal Church or the Anglican Church of Canada.
Cardinal Kurt Koch, president of the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity, told Vatican Radio Jan. 15 that he hopes the next three years "will be used to find deeper unity within the Anglican Communion."
The cardinal noted that the official Anglican-Roman Catholic International Commission, the official body for Catholic-Anglican theological dialogue, is discussing on a general level what the Anglican primates were dealing with at their meeting.
"On the one hand, there is the relationship between the local church and the universal church," while on the other hand there is a need "to find greater unity" in dealing with ethical questions. "These are the principal themes of our dialogue and have become visible now in the Anglican Communion. It would be beautiful if our dialogue was able to be of help to the Anglican Communion so that it would find its unity again."
The Episcopal Church, which has about 2 million members, is among the most liberal of Anglican provinces in the world and has continuously divided opinion among Anglicans with its policies.
Tensions came to the fore in 2003 when Canon Gene Robinson, who was openly gay, was elected an Episcopal bishop. Soon afterward, then-Archbishop Rowan Williams of Canterbury asked the Episcopal Church and the Anglican Church of Canada to halt any future such ordinations and to withdraw from the Anglican Consultative Council.
After Mary Douglas Glasspool, a lesbian, was ordained as suffragan bishop of Los Angeles in 2010, Archbishop Williams barred members of the Episcopal Church from representing the Anglican Communion on international ecumenical dialogue commissions.
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Contributing to this story were Barb Fraze in Washington and Cindy Wooden at the Vatican.
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Copyright © 2016 Catholic News Service/U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops. www.catholicnews.com. All rights reserved. Republishing or redistributing of CNS content, including by framing or similar means without prior permission, is prohibited. You may link to stories on our public site. This copy is for your personal, non-commercial use only. To request permission for republishing or redistributing of CNS content, please contact permissions at cns@catholicnews.com.
By Cindy WoodenROME (CNS) -- As part of his personal observance of the Yearof Mercy, Pope Francis made an unannounced, "private" visit to aretirement home and to a group home for people in a persistent vegetativestate, the Vatican said.The visits to the 33 residents of the Bruno BuozziRetirement Home and the six residents of Casa Iride Jan. 15 were announced withthe hashtag #MercyFriday by the pontifical commission organizing the Year ofMercy.The Vatican previously announced that one Friday each monthduring the Holy Year, Pope Francis would personally and privately perform a workof mercy. The series ended up beginning very publicly Dec. 18 when he visitedand celebrated Mass at a shelter run by the Rome diocesan Caritas.For the January visit, journalists were not invited or eveninformed. Even the residents of the two facilities were not told in advance,said a statement issued by the Vatican press office once the pope had returnedto the Vatican.Pope Francis was accompanied by Archbis...
By Cindy Wooden
ROME (CNS) -- As part of his personal observance of the Year of Mercy, Pope Francis made an unannounced, "private" visit to a retirement home and to a group home for people in a persistent vegetative state, the Vatican said.
The visits to the 33 residents of the Bruno Buozzi Retirement Home and the six residents of Casa Iride Jan. 15 were announced with the hashtag #MercyFriday by the pontifical commission organizing the Year of Mercy.
The Vatican previously announced that one Friday each month during the Holy Year, Pope Francis would personally and privately perform a work of mercy. The series ended up beginning very publicly Dec. 18 when he visited and celebrated Mass at a shelter run by the Rome diocesan Caritas.
For the January visit, journalists were not invited or even informed. Even the residents of the two facilities were not told in advance, said a statement issued by the Vatican press office once the pope had returned to the Vatican.
Pope Francis was accompanied by Archbishop Rino Fisichella, who is in charge of the jubilee organizing committee; the archbishop's office tweeted several photos of the pope's visit.
The Vatican described the atmosphere at the retirement home as one of "great surprise and joy" as the pope greeted each resident and stopped to speak to them, one by one.
Both the retirement home and the Casa Iride are located in one of the poorer neighborhoods on the outskirts of Rome. The Vatican said Casa Iride is not a hospital or clinic, but is a family-style structure where residents can be cared for by their own family members with the support of the staff.
In choosing the two homes, the Vatican statement said, "Pope Francis wanted to highlight -- in opposition to the 'throwaway culture' -- the great importance and preciousness of the elderly and grandparents as well as the value and dignity of life in every situation."
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Follow Wooden on Twitter: @cindy_wooden.
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Copyright © 2016 Catholic News Service/U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops. www.catholicnews.com. All rights reserved. Republishing or redistributing of CNS content, including by framing or similar means without prior permission, is prohibited. You may link to stories on our public site. This copy is for your personal, non-commercial use only. To request permission for republishing or redistributing of CNS content, please contact permissions at cns@catholicnews.com.
U.S. stocks plunged again, completing the worst two-week start to a year ever....
HALEIWA, Hawaii (AP) -- Two Marine Corps helicopters carrying six crew members each collided and went down off the Hawaiian island of Oahu while on a nighttime training mission, and rescuers searched choppy waters Friday where debris had been sighted, military officials said....
