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GENEVA (AP) -- Working on a tip from the CIA, Geneva police were hunting for at least four suspects allegedly linked to the radical Islamic State group and believed to be plotting a "specific" attack in the city, Swiss officials said Thursday....
LE BOURGET, France (AP) -- They barely break the surface of the ocean but in the U.N. talks on how to stop rising seas and other hazards of a warming planet, small island nations have the moral high ground....
WASHINGTON (AP) -- Members of the U.S. special operations forces say that allowing women to serve in Navy SEAL, Army Delta or other commando units could hurt their effectiveness, lower the standards and drive men away from the jobs....
RIVERSIDE, Calif. (AP) -- The gunman who killed his co-workers in San Bernardino, California, and the friend who bought the assault rifles used in the shooting were related through marriage and may have plotted an attack together three years ago....
NEW YORK (AP) -- The gas produced by hog manure at farms across the U.S. punches holes in the ozone layer, overheats the planet, and angers neighbors with its peculiar odor, a mix of rotten egg and ammonia....
 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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Bishop Joseph Alessandro, the Coadjutor Bishop of Garissa has now been appointed as substantive Bishop of the diocese. This follows the resignation of Bishop Paul Darmanin who has attained 75 years which is the canonical age for retirement.In a letter written to the Catholic Bishops of Kenya, the Apostolic Nuncio to Kenya, Archbishop Charles Balvo informed Kenyan Bishops that Pope Francis had accepted the resignation of Bishop Paul Damanin.“In accord with the norms of the Code of Canon Law, Rt. Rev. Joseph Alessandro automatically succeeded Bishop Darmanin on Tuesday 8 November 2015 at 2 p.m. local time,” the letter read.Speaking at the Kenya Catholic Secretariat, Waumini house, during the celebration in honour of the consecrated women employees, the Archbishop of Nairobi, John Cardinal Njue called on the staff of the secretariat to support and pray for Bishop Alessandro as he assumes his duty as the shepherd of the Diocese of Garissa.Bishop Alessandro was born on 30 N...
Bishop Joseph Alessandro, the Coadjutor Bishop of Garissa has now been appointed as substantive Bishop of the diocese. This follows the resignation of Bishop Paul Darmanin who has attained 75 years which is the canonical age for retirement.
In a letter written to the Catholic Bishops of Kenya, the Apostolic Nuncio to Kenya, Archbishop Charles Balvo informed Kenyan Bishops that Pope Francis had accepted the resignation of Bishop Paul Damanin.
“In accord with the norms of the Code of Canon Law, Rt. Rev. Joseph Alessandro automatically succeeded Bishop Darmanin on Tuesday 8 November 2015 at 2 p.m. local time,” the letter read.
Speaking at the Kenya Catholic Secretariat, Waumini house, during the celebration in honour of the consecrated women employees, the Archbishop of Nairobi, John Cardinal Njue called on the staff of the secretariat to support and pray for Bishop Alessandro as he assumes his duty as the shepherd of the Diocese of Garissa.
Bishop Alessandro was born on 30 November 1944 in Paola Malta. At the age of 17, he was professed as a member of Order of Friars Minor Capuchin and in 1966 made his perpetual vows to the same order.
He was ordained priest on 5 April 1970. He came to Kenya in 1989.
On Holy Thursday, this year 2 April 2015, Al Shabaab militants, the terrorist Somali-based group attacked Kenya’s Garissa University College campus, killing 148 persons comprising mostly Christian students and 6 members of the security services.
(Rose Achiego, Waumini Communications in Nairobi)
Email: engafrica@vatiradio.va
(Vatican Radio) Pope Francis has sent his support and prayers to those affected by Cumbrian & North Lancashire Floods.A letter written by the Apostolic Nuncio Archbishop Antonio Mennini on behalf of the Holy Father and addressed to the Bishop of Lancaster, Michael Campbell, Pope Francis expresses his personal sympathy at this difficult time."Having learnt - the letter reads - of the devastating effects caused in the North of England and in Cumbria in particular by Storm Desmond in these last days, I should like to convey to you and your people, along with the civic authorities and support services, the closeness iof the Holy Father, Pope Francis, and my personal sympathy at this difficult time".The letter goes on to assure the flood-struck communities of prayers for those who have tragically lost their homes or been injured, as well as for their relatives and friends."May the Lord grant them comfort and strenght in facing the future".Meanwhile in news...
(Vatican Radio) Pope Francis has sent his support and prayers to those affected by Cumbrian & North Lancashire Floods.
A letter written by the Apostolic Nuncio Archbishop Antonio Mennini on behalf of the Holy Father and addressed to the Bishop of Lancaster, Michael Campbell, Pope Francis expresses his personal sympathy at this difficult time.
"Having learnt - the letter reads - of the devastating effects caused in the North of England and in Cumbria in particular by Storm Desmond in these last days, I should like to convey to you and your people, along with the civic authorities and support services, the closeness iof the Holy Father, Pope Francis, and my personal sympathy at this difficult time".
The letter goes on to assure the flood-struck communities of prayers for those who have tragically lost their homes or been injured, as well as for their relatives and friends.
"May the Lord grant them comfort and strenght in facing the future".
Meanwhile in news today. heavy rain has brought more flooding and misery to the Cumbrian village of Glenridding, just four days after it was devastated by Storm Desmond.
Police, fire crews and mountain rescue teams spent the night there after Glenridding Beck overspilled its banks.
Diggers were deployed throughout the night to try to stem the swollen waters.
Cumbria Police has advised villagers to remain in their properties, even as the flood water begins to recede.
Catholic churches in the southern Indian state of Tamil Nadu are cancelling Christmas in order to divert funds to help victims of flooding in Chennai - the worst in more than a century that are being blamed on climate change.Dozens were killed and thousands were left homeless as Chennai - the fifth most populous city in India - suffered the worst November for rainfall in more than 20 years and the wettest December day in over a century when more than 12 inches fell on 1 December.India's Environment Minister Prakash Javadekar linked the disaster to climate change saying that it was an indirect result of 150 years of intense industrialization by Western countries."What is happening in Chennai is the result of what has happened for 150 years in the developed world. That is what has caused 0.8 degrees Celsius temperature rise. And therefore they must now take action more vigorously," Mr Javadekar told The Hindu newspaper.The Catholic church in India has called countrywid...
Catholic churches in the southern Indian state of Tamil Nadu are cancelling Christmas in order to divert funds to help victims of flooding in Chennai - the worst in more than a century that are being blamed on climate change.
Dozens were killed and thousands were left homeless as Chennai - the fifth most populous city in India - suffered the worst November for rainfall in more than 20 years and the wettest December day in over a century when more than 12 inches fell on 1 December.
India's Environment Minister Prakash Javadekar linked the disaster to climate change saying that it was an indirect result of 150 years of intense industrialization by Western countries.
"What is happening in Chennai is the result of what has happened for 150 years in the developed world. That is what has caused 0.8 degrees Celsius temperature rise. And therefore they must now take action more vigorously," Mr Javadekar told The Hindu newspaper.
The Catholic church in India has called countrywide support for its relief work and the church in Chennai has pledged to forgo Christmas festivities.
“The need of the hour calls us to express solidarity with the flood affected suffering families and communities and to contribute our mite for their relief and rehabilitation,” Cardinal Baselios mar Cleemis, president of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of India (CBCI) said in an appeal on 7 December.
Across Tamil Nadu state more than 270 people lost their lives in the floods and the flood waters reached so high that the region was cut off from the outside world when the runways at Chennai airport were submerged in five feet of water.
“Many of our churches are also under (water)," Father S J Antonysamy, vicar general of Madras (Chennai) Mylapore archdiocese told The Tablet while accompanying Archbishop George Antonysamy for the distribution of relief to 300 people at the flooded St Antony's parish at Park Town, in Chennai.
“Normally, this is the time for carols. But this year, all our parishes are busy with relief work. The suffering of the people is immense,” Fr Antonysamy said as thousands of houses and business in low laying areas continued to be under water even a week after the deluge.
(Source: the Tablet)
(Vatican Radio) What is the relationship between the Old and New Testaments? How does God’s promise to the People of Israel relate to the new covenant that Christ brought for all people through his death on the Cross? And what does the Catholic concept of evangelisation mean in relation to Jews today? Those questions are at the heart of a new document, published on Thursday by the Vatican’s Commission for Religious Relations with Jews.The document, entitled ‘The Gifts and Calling of God are Irrevocable’, marks the 50th anniversary of the ground-breaking Vatican II declaration ‘Nostra Aetate’. It was presented at a press conference in the Vatican by Cardinal Kurt Koch and Fr Norbert Hofmann of the Vatican Commission, together with two Jewish representatives, Rabbi David Rosen, International Director of Interreligious Affairs for the American Jewish Committee, and Dr Ed Kessler, founding director of the Cambridge Woolf Institute. Philippa Hit...
(Vatican Radio) What is the relationship between the Old and New Testaments? How does God’s promise to the People of Israel relate to the new covenant that Christ brought for all people through his death on the Cross? And what does the Catholic concept of evangelisation mean in relation to Jews today? Those questions are at the heart of a new document, published on Thursday by the Vatican’s Commission for Religious Relations with Jews.
The document, entitled ‘The Gifts and Calling of God are Irrevocable’, marks the 50th anniversary of the ground-breaking Vatican II declaration ‘Nostra Aetate’. It was presented at a press conference in the Vatican by Cardinal Kurt Koch and Fr Norbert Hofmann of the Vatican Commission, together with two Jewish representatives, Rabbi David Rosen, International Director of Interreligious Affairs for the American Jewish Committee, and Dr Ed Kessler, founding director of the Cambridge Woolf Institute. Philippa Hitchen takes a closer look….
Listen:
The document, published in a handy pocket-sized booklet, picks up where Nostra Aetate left off half a century ago and delves deeper into the thorny theological questions at the heart of the Jewish-Catholic dialogue. Published in English, but available in several other languages, the document is divided into seven sections, starting with a brief review of changing relationships between Catholics and Jews, moving – as Pope Francis recently put it – from “enemies and strangers to friends and brothers”.
It reiterates the fact that the Church’s dialogue with Judaism cannot be considered in the same light as other interfaith relations and that Christianity cannot be properly understood outside of the Jewish context and culture in which Jesus, his family and his first disciples were living.
Described as a study document, rather than official Church teaching, the text was drawn up painstakingly over several years with input from both Jewish colleagues and the Vatican’s Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith. At its core is the different way in which Jews and Christians understand the revealed Word of God – through the texts of the Torah for the former and through the person of Christ for the latter.
While Christians have in the past believed that the life of Christ in the New Testament substitutes or replaces the Old Testament stories of the chosen people of God, this document reaffirms that God’s original covenant with the Jews can never be revoked. Which leads to the hardest questions of all for Catholics about how the Jews can be saved if they don’t believe in Christ as the Messiah and Son of God. This document doesn’t claim to have any definitive answers but it does urge people of faith to continue to explore what it calls this “unfathomable divine mystery”.
The new text says clearly that the Church cannot support “any specific institutional mission” aimed at converting of the Jews, adding that Christians bearing witness to their faith in Christ should do so in a “humble and sensitive manner”, especially in view of the great tragedy of the Shoah. Finally the document spells out the goals of the ongoing dialogue, to deepen a shared interpretation of Scripture, to work together for justice, peace and the care of creation and to jointly combat all forms of anti-Semitism and racial discrimination.
