Catholic News 2
WASHINGTON (AP) -- The Supreme Court struck down two congressional districts in North Carolina Monday because race played too large a role in their creation, a decision voting rights advocates said would boost challenges in other states....
WASHINGTON (AP) -- President Donald Trump is proposing to balance the federal budget within a decade by making sharp cuts to social safety-net programs like food stamps and Medicaid and offering optimistic estimates of economic growth and tax revenues to fulfill the promise of a government back in the black....
AUSTIN, Texas (AP) -- Each morning, Joanna Smith's 7-year-old son pulls on a T-shirt and shorts, boasts how fast he can tie his sneakers and heads to school. An honor-roll student who loves science and spelling, he often stays after class to run on the playground with his large group of friends....
DEARBORN, Michigan (AP) -- Ford is replacing CEO Mark Fields as it struggles to keep its traditional auto-manufacturing business running smoothly while remaking itself as a nimble, high-tech provider of new mobility services....
PITTSBURGH (AP) -- One-third of the potential jurors questioned in Bill Cosby's sex assault case Monday said they've formed opinions about his guilt or innocence while the majority said it would be difficult to spend several weeks sequestered across the state....
JERUSALEM (AP) -- President Donald Trump on Monday defended himself against allegations he divulged classified information in a recent meeting with Russian diplomats, saying alongside Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu that he never identified Israel in his Oval Office conversation....
WASHINGTON (AP) -- President Donald Trump's former national security adviser, Michael Flynn, invoked his constitutional right against self-incrimination on Monday and declined to hand over documents sought under subpoena by a Senate panel investigating Russia's meddling in the 2016 election....
(Vatican Radio) Pope Francis on Monday morning received in audience the President of Ireland, His Excellency Michael D. Higgins. The President also met with Cardinal Secretary of State Pietro Parolin, accompanied by His Excellency Archbishop Paul Richard Gallagher, Secretary for Relations with States.A communique released by the Holy See Press Office said that "the cordial discussions began by evoking the constructive relations that unite the Holy See and Ireland, and their collaboration."It went on to say that "the parties then focused on several themes of mutual interest, such as the protection of the rights of humanity and its dignity in every stage and condition of life, the issue of migration and the welcome of refugees, safeguarding the environment, and sustainable development." During the meeting special attention was paid to the young and families. The importance of ethical criteria in facing the challenges of globalization, especially ...
(Vatican Radio) Pope Francis on Monday morning received in audience the President of Ireland, His Excellency Michael D. Higgins. The President also met with Cardinal Secretary of State Pietro Parolin, accompanied by His Excellency Archbishop Paul Richard Gallagher, Secretary for Relations with States.
A communique released by the Holy See Press Office said that "the cordial discussions began by evoking the constructive relations that unite the Holy See and Ireland, and their collaboration."
It went on to say that "the parties then focused on several themes of mutual interest, such as the protection of the rights of humanity and its dignity in every stage and condition of life, the issue of migration and the welcome of refugees, safeguarding the environment, and sustainable development."
During the meeting special attention was paid to the young and families. The importance of ethical criteria in facing the challenges of globalization, especially at economic level, was then highlighted. Finally, there was an exchange of views on the future prospects of the European project.
(Vatican Radio) Pope Francis on Monday greeted the Disciples of the Divine Master (PDDM) and encouraged them to go forward in their mission to bring the Gospel to the men and women of today with joy in unity, giving voice to plurality and respecting each other’s differences.The Pope words came as he addressed the Sisters who are holding their 9th General Chapter in Rome (10 April-28 May) on the theme “New wine in new wineskins.”Listen to the report by Linda Bordoni: First of all, Pope Francis said to the Sisters, always be open the Holy Spirit, Master of diversity, Master of unity within differences.“Walk together in communion, he said, respecting plurality and tirelessly weaving your legitimate differences into unity, taking into account you are present in different Countries and cultures”.Basing his discourse on the many fruits yielded by communion, the Pope encouraged the Sisters to allow each other to express themselves freely, to be acc...
(Vatican Radio) Pope Francis on Monday greeted the Disciples of the Divine Master (PDDM) and encouraged them to go forward in their mission to bring the Gospel to the men and women of today with joy in unity, giving voice to plurality and respecting each other’s differences.
The Pope words came as he addressed the Sisters who are holding their 9th General Chapter in Rome (10 April-28 May) on the theme “New wine in new wineskins.”
Listen to the report by Linda Bordoni:
First of all, Pope Francis said to the Sisters, always be open the Holy Spirit, Master of diversity, Master of unity within differences.
“Walk together in communion, he said, respecting plurality and tirelessly weaving your legitimate differences into unity, taking into account you are present in different Countries and cultures”.
Basing his discourse on the many fruits yielded by communion, the Pope encouraged the Sisters to allow each other to express themselves freely, to be accepted with their own special gifts, and to become fully co-responsible.
He urged them to cultivate mutual attention and practice sisterly correction and respect the weakest members.
“Grow in the spirit of living together, banish divisions, envy, and gossip from your communities, speak frankly and with charity” he said.
The Pope noted that the Disciples of the Divine Master share Fr. Giacomo Alberione as father and founder with the Pauline family, as well as the mission to bring the Gospel to the men and women of our time.
He spoke of the fruits of communion born from collaboration with other charisms saying it is the time for synergy between all consecrated persons who are called to welcome the riches of other charisms and put them all in the service of evangelization, remaining faithful to their identity.
“No one, he said, builds the future by isolating themselves or on their own strength alone” and he invited them to cultivate dialogue and communion with other charisms, and to combat self-referentialism in every way.
The Pope also mentioned the importance of the fruits produced by communion with the men and women of our time: “Our God is the God of history and our faith is a faith that works in history. In the questions and expectations of today's men and women, there are important indications for our pursuit of Christ”.
Pope Francis said the Chapter is a time to listen to the Lord who speaks to us through the signs of the times.
He said it is also a time for peaceful and unbiased confrontation which requires the opening of mind and heart, and he urged those present never to tire of the practice of listening and sharing with the men and women of today.
“In this time of great challenges, which require devoted creative fidelity and passionate research, listening and sharing are more than ever necessary if we want our lives to be fully meaningful to ourselves and to the people we meet” he said.
Pope Francis then told the Sisters that to this end it is necessary to maintain a climate of discernment, to recognize what belongs to the Spirit and what is contrary to it.
He said that a world of possibilities is open before us and that “the culture in which we are immersed presents them all as valid and good, but if we do not want to fall victim to the culture of zapping and sometimes to a culture of death”, we must always be discerning and never tire of asking the Lord “What do you want me to do?”
The Chapter, the Pope said, is also a time in which to renew our docility towards the Spirit that animates prophecy. This, he said, is an indispensable value for consecrated life which itself is a special form of participation in the prophetic mission of Christ.
“As consecrated women, you live the prophecy of joy, that joy that comes from your encounter with Christ through a life of personal and communal prayer” he said, as well as in a joyful life of fraternity within the community and in your embrace of Christ’s flesh when you minister to the poor.
Joy, the Pope said, is a beautiful reality in the lives of many consecrated persons, but it is also a great challenge for all of us because joy must be of the authentic kind, never self-referential or self-satisfied.
“This joy, Francis continued, which fills your hearts and shows on your faces will lead you to go out to the peripheries and participate in the joy of the Church that is evangelization, convinced that Jesus is the Good News and is joy for all. This joy distances you from the cancer of resignation, the fruit of sloth that withers the soul”.
Pope Francis concluded his address encouraging the Sisters to be prophets of hope with eyes turned to the future, and to let themselves be guided by the Spirit in order to continue to do great things.
Trusting in Christian hope and in the strength it gives you, he said: “fortify your vocation of morning sentinels in order to announce the coming of the dawn: Wake up the world, light up the future”.
An angry crowd of villagers on Sunday vandalized a newly blessed Catholic church belonging to the Archdiocese of Hyderabad in southern India’s Telengana state. The 21 May incident took place in the Church of Our Lady of Fatima at Godamakunta, in the village of Keesara. The village head led a group of assailants and destroyed the crucifix, the statue of the Virgin of Fatima and other things. The church dedicated to Our Lady of Fatima was consecrated by Archbishop Thumma Bala just a week ago on May 13, the day when the Catholic Church worldwide celebrated the centenary of the apparitions of the Virgin Mary at Fatima, Portugal. "This act of desecration, vandalism and the destruction of statues deeply wounds the religious feelings of the Catholic community. We are very upset," Archbishop Bala lamented Archbishop Bala in comments to AsiaNews. He said Catholics will lead a "reparation service after the police hav...
An angry crowd of villagers on Sunday vandalized a newly blessed Catholic church belonging to the Archdiocese of Hyderabad in southern India’s Telengana state. The 21 May incident took place in the Church of Our Lady of Fatima at Godamakunta, in the village of Keesara. The village head led a group of assailants and destroyed the crucifix, the statue of the Virgin of Fatima and other things. The church dedicated to Our Lady of Fatima was consecrated by Archbishop Thumma Bala just a week ago on May 13, the day when the Catholic Church worldwide celebrated the centenary of the apparitions of the Virgin Mary at Fatima, Portugal.
"This act of desecration, vandalism and the destruction of statues deeply wounds the religious feelings of the Catholic community. We are very upset," Archbishop Bala lamented Archbishop Bala in comments to AsiaNews. He said Catholics will lead a "reparation service after the police have completed the investigation." Then he regretfully adds that the religious building had been blessed and inaugurated just a week ago.
According to the police, a land dispute was behind the assault. M. Surender, village police inspector, reported that the landowner, a man named George Reddy, asked the district administration permission to build a church on a plot of about 900 sqm, but approval had not arrived as yet. Sub-inspector Anantha Chary, sub-inspector, argued that church hurt the sentiments of the villagers. After gathering at the residence of the village headman they went to raid the church. "The furious residents claimed that the landlord built the church illegally. We have denounced them for revolt, " Chary said.
Sajan K George, president of the Global Council of Indian Christians (GCIC), denounced the incident saying, “The church has been vandalized and destroyed by anti-social elements, most likely belonging to groups of nationalist extremists." "The GCIC is outraged by the sacrilegious destruction of about 100 people who tore down the interior of the church and all the decorations." A case has been filed against violence, damage, voluntary injuries, criminal intimidation and other charges. (Source: AsiaNews)
