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LOS ANGELES (AP) -- The San Bernardino attack that left 14 people dead represented a type of extremist plot law enforcement authorities consider exceedingly difficult to detect: a conspiracy between close family members....
WASHINGTON (AP) -- For Congress, 2015 was a year of ideological clashes, showdown votes and harsh words. And that was just among Republicans....
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (AP) -- In Alabama, a Presbyterian church wanted to be able to hire its own police for protection. Mosque leaders around the country are meeting with law enforcement officials as an anti-Muslim furor fuels arson attacks and vandalism. And the Federal Emergency Management Agency has been holding specialized training for congregations for "all hazards, including active shooter incidents."...
 WASHINGTON- The United States has a moral obligation to protect unaccompanied children and families from persecution in Central America, said Bishop Mark J. Seitz of El Paso, Texas, in testimony before the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, October 21. Bishop Seitz is an advisor to the USCCB Committee on Migration and a member of the board of the Catholic Legal Immigration Network (CLINIC).The humanitarian outflow, driven by organized crime in the northern triangle countries of Guatemala, El Salvador, and Honduras, continues, with nearly 40,000 unaccompanied children and an equal number of mothers with children having arrived in the United States in Fiscal Year 2015."If we do not respond justly and humanely to this challenge in our own backyard, then we will relinquish our moral leadership and moral influence globally," Bishop Seitz said.Bishop Seitz pointed to the human consequences of U.S. policies which are designed to deter migration from the region, i...
 WASHINGTON- The United States has a moral obligation to protect unaccompanied children and families from persecution in Central America, said Bishop Mark J. Seitz of El Paso, Texas, in testimony before the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, October 21. Bishop Seitz is an advisor to the USCCB Committee on Migration and a member of the board of the Catholic Legal Immigration Network (CLINIC).
The humanitarian outflow, driven by organized crime in the northern triangle countries of Guatemala, El Salvador, and Honduras, continues, with nearly 40,000 unaccompanied children and an equal number of mothers with children having arrived in the United States in Fiscal Year 2015.
"If we do not respond justly and humanely to this challenge in our own backyard, then we will relinquish our moral leadership and moral influence globally," Bishop Seitz said.
Bishop Seitz pointed to the human consequences of U.S. policies which are designed to deter migration from the region, including U.S. support for Mexican interdiction efforts which are intercepting children and families in Mexico and sending them back to danger, in violation of international law.
Bishop Seitz recommended an end to these interdictions and the introduction of a regional system which would screen children and families for asylum in Mexico and other parts of the region. He also called for Congress to approve and increase a $1 billion aid package proposed by the Administration.
"If we export enforcement," Bishop Seitz said, "we also must export protection."
Bishop Seitz recalled the words of Pope Francis before Congress in September, when he invoked the golden rule in guiding our nation's actions toward those seeking safety in our land.
Quoting the Holy Father, Bishop Seitz repeated to the committee, "'The yardstick we use for others will be the yardstick which time will use for us.'"
"Mr. Chairman, I pray that time, and history, will conclude that we honored this rule in meeting this humanitarian challenge," Bishop Seitz concluded.
Bishop Seitz' testimony can be found at http://www.usccb.org//about/migration-policy/congressional-testimony/upload/seitz-ongoing-migration.pdf
Keywords: Bishop Mark J. Seitz, U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, USCCB, Congress, Senate, Committee on Migration, migration, unaccompanied children, violence, Pope Francis
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(Vatican Radio) Ukraine says it will not repay some $3 billion in loans that were due to Russia this weekend, despite threats of a court case and possible tensions with the International Monetary Fund. Friday's move came amid an ongoing conflict between Ukrainian government forces and Russian-backed separatists.Listen to Stefan Bos' report: Speaking at a televised government session, Ukrainian Prime Minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk made clear that Russia would not receive repayment for the multi-billion dollar debt Eurobond as planned because Moscow refused to agree to terms already accepted by other international creditors. "After Russia refused to accept our offer despite our attempts to reach a restructuring deal, the government is now imposing a moratorium on the repayment of the $3 billion debt to Russia," he added.Prime Minister Yatsenyuk said the Ukrainian government also imposes "a moratorium on the payment of $507 million" that two Ukrainian co...
(Vatican Radio) Ukraine says it will not repay some $3 billion in loans that were due to Russia this weekend, despite threats of a court case and possible tensions with the International Monetary Fund. Friday's move came amid an ongoing conflict between Ukrainian government forces and Russian-backed separatists.
Listen to Stefan Bos' report:
Speaking at a televised government session, Ukrainian Prime Minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk made clear that Russia would not receive repayment for the multi-billion dollar debt Eurobond as planned because Moscow refused to agree to terms already accepted by other international creditors. "After Russia refused to accept our offer despite our attempts to reach a restructuring deal, the government is now imposing a moratorium on the repayment of the $3 billion debt to Russia," he added.
Prime Minister Yatsenyuk said the Ukrainian government also imposes "a moratorium on the payment of $507 million" that two Ukrainian companies Pivdennyi Bank and Ukravtodor have to pay to Russian banks. He confirmed that the payment of more than 3.5 billion dollars "has been suspended" until Ukraine "makes restructuring proposals or a relevant court decision is made". And he warned: "We are ready for court proceedings with Russia."
Russian President Vladimir Putin has already made clear that Russia will launch a court case against Ukraine after he was informed about the situation by his Finance minister. "The deadline for the payment of the 3 billion [Dollar] loan is due soon. We know about everything related to it," Putin said. "Why can’t these risks be shared to four years? I can’t understand that. Well, alright then sue them," he told Finance Minister Anton Siluanov.
IMF WARNING
Analysts say Ukraine's move could jeopardize crucial loans that Ukraine has been receiving from a $17.5 billion bailout deal with the International Monetary Fund. The IMF recently said it can continue to lend to countries behind debt payments only as long as the country is trying "in good faith" to reach a deal.
Relations between Ukraine and Russia soured after Moscow annexed the Crimean peninsula in March 2014 and threw its backing behind separatist rebels in eastern Ukraine. Ukrainian leaders have also accused Moscow of sending troops and weapons to the east, a claim the Kremlin has denied.
(Vatican Radio) Pope Francis has named Monsignor Paul Tighe as Adjunct Secretary for the Pontifical Council for Culture, at the same time elevating him to the titular episcopal See of Drivasto.Msgr Tighe has been serving as the Secretary for the Pontifical Council for Social Communications.
(Vatican Radio) Pope Francis has named Monsignor Paul Tighe as Adjunct Secretary for the Pontifical Council for Culture, at the same time elevating him to the titular episcopal See of Drivasto.
Msgr Tighe has been serving as the Secretary for the Pontifical Council for Social Communications.
(Vatican Radio) Pope Francis on Monday appointed a new bishop to the Diocese of Vijayawada in southern India’s Andhra Pradesh state. Fr. Joseph Raja Rao Thelegathoti, the Bangalore Provincial Superior of the Montfort Missionaries (SMM), is the new bishop of Vijayawada. The seat of the Vijaya wada Diocese has been vacant since 2012 after Pope Benedict transferred Bishop Prakash Mallavarapu to the Archdiocese of Visakhapatnam.Born on March 8, 1952, at Peddautapally, Fr. Thelegathoti entered the Minor Seminary of St. Ambrose at Nuzvid after obtaining a B.A. degree. As a Montfort novice he studied philosophy at St. Peter’s Papal Seminary di Bangalore, and theology at the Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome. Later, he obtained a licentiate in Biblical Theology from Dharmaram Vidya Kshetram, Bangalore, India, and a doctorate in Spiritual Theology from Rome’s Pontifical Gregorian University. After ...
(Vatican Radio) Pope Francis on Monday appointed a new bishop to the Diocese of Vijayawada in southern India’s Andhra Pradesh state. Fr. Joseph Raja Rao Thelegathoti, the Bangalore Provincial Superior of the Montfort Missionaries (SMM), is the new bishop of Vijayawada. The seat of the Vijaya wada Diocese has been vacant since 2012 after Pope Benedict transferred Bishop Prakash Mallavarapu to the Archdiocese of Visakhapatnam.
Born on March 8, 1952, at Peddautapally, Fr. Thelegathoti entered the Minor Seminary of St. Ambrose at Nuzvid after obtaining a B.A. degree. As a Montfort novice he studied philosophy at St. Peter’s Papal Seminary di Bangalore, and theology at the Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome. Later, he obtained a licentiate in Biblical Theology from Dharmaram Vidya Kshetram, Bangalore, India, and a doctorate in Spiritual Theology from Rome’s Pontifical Gregorian University. After taking his final vows as member of the Montfort Missionaries on Jan. 31, 1980, he was ordained a priest on June 7, 1980. After his ordination he held several posts, among them the rectorships of the Montfort minor seminary and the Montfort theologate in Bangalore, and in the province as well as in the general house in Rome.
(Vatican Radio) Pope Francis received managers, technical staff and personnel of the Italian State Railway on Saturday, in a special audience. Some 7 thousand employees of the Ferrovie dello stato packed the Paul VI audience Hall for the noon appointment.In remarks prepared for the occasion, Pope Francis praised the organization and its employees for their historical commitment to works of solidarity and compassion, including their support for the recently concluded renovations of the Caritas center near Rome’s central station, which the Holy Father visited earlier this week in connection with the Jubilee Year of Mercy.Click below to hear our report “May the Year of Mercy, which opened only a few days ago,” said Pope Francis, “impress upon our mind and our heart that mercy is the first and most real medicine for man, of which everyone has urgent need.”In his remarks, the Holy Father also praised the commitment of the Railway workers for the difficult ...
(Vatican Radio) Pope Francis received managers, technical staff and personnel of the Italian State Railway on Saturday, in a special audience. Some 7 thousand employees of the Ferrovie dello stato packed the Paul VI audience Hall for the noon appointment.
In remarks prepared for the occasion, Pope Francis praised the organization and its employees for their historical commitment to works of solidarity and compassion, including their support for the recently concluded renovations of the Caritas center near Rome’s central station, which the Holy Father visited earlier this week in connection with the Jubilee Year of Mercy.
Click below to hear our report
“May the Year of Mercy, which opened only a few days ago,” said Pope Francis, “impress upon our mind and our heart that mercy is the first and most real medicine for man, of which everyone has urgent need.”
In his remarks, the Holy Father also praised the commitment of the Railway workers for the difficult and often dangerous work they do in building and maintaining the network. “Not a few workers have also lost their lives in this labor,” he recalled. “We remember them all – and let us make it so that – so far as it is in our power – such things do not happen anymore.”
ABOARD THE USS KEARSARGE (AP) -- U.S. Defense Secretary Ash Carter says an American airstrike that may have killed a number of Iraqi soldiers seems to be "a mistake that involved both sides."...
WASHINGTON (AP) -- The Democratic presidential candidates are meeting for their third debate Saturday, with tensions suddenly boiling between Hillary Clinton and her chief rival, Bernie Sanders....
