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PARIS (AP) -- Looking to land - but not receive - a knockout blow, French presidential candidates Emmanuel Macron and Marine Le Pen faced off Wednesday night in a high-stakes, high-pressure, and immediately heated head-to-head debate on live primetime TV....
WASHINGTON (AP) -- Despite bleak prospects for success, President Donald Trump promised on Wednesday "to do whatever is necessary" to forge an Israeli-Palestinian peace deal....
CHARLESTON, S.C. (AP) -- It's now up to a judge to decide the fate of a fired white officer who pleaded guilty to violating the civil rights of a black motorist whose killing was recorded on a bystander's cellphone. Michael Slager could get life in prison or as little as probation....
WASHINGTON (AP) -- Their health care bill teetering on the brink, House Republican leaders and President Donald Trump intensified their already-fierce lobbying Wednesday to save the long-promised legislation, agreeing to changes that brought two pivotal Republicans back on board....
(Vatican Radio) Pope Francis reflected on last weekend’s Apostolic Voyage to Egypt during his weekly General Audience, recalling the various stages of his trip.The Holy Father thanked the people of Egypt for their warm welcome, and noted the “extraordinary commitment” of the Egyptian authorities to ensure his visit went off without a hitch.He spoke of his visit to the Al-Azhar University, which was focused on both “dialogue between Christians and Muslims” and “the promotion of peace” in the world. Pope Francis summarized his address at the International Conference for peace, emphasizing Egypt’s history as a “land of civility” and a “land of covenant.” Egypt, he said, echoing the speech of the Grand Imam, “reminds us that peace is built through education, formation in wisdom, a humanism that includes the religious dimension, the relationship with God, as an integral part.” He continued, saying peace...
(Vatican Radio) Pope Francis reflected on last weekend’s Apostolic Voyage to Egypt during his weekly General Audience, recalling the various stages of his trip.
The Holy Father thanked the people of Egypt for their warm welcome, and noted the “extraordinary commitment” of the Egyptian authorities to ensure his visit went off without a hitch.
He spoke of his visit to the Al-Azhar University, which was focused on both “dialogue between Christians and Muslims” and “the promotion of peace” in the world. Pope Francis summarized his address at the International Conference for peace, emphasizing Egypt’s history as a “land of civility” and a “land of covenant.” Egypt, he said, echoing the speech of the Grand Imam, “reminds us that peace is built through education, formation in wisdom, a humanism that includes the religious dimension, the relationship with God, as an integral part.” He continued, saying peace is built on the relationship between God and men, and on the alliance between all men. This, the pope said, is the foundation for a civil and social order in which all are called to participate.
Pope Francis also spoke about the role of Christians, who are called to be a “leaven of fraternity, in Egypt and elsewhere. He said his meeting with his “dear brother” Pope Tawadros II – the Coptic Orthodox Patriarch – and their “Common Statement” were signs of the commitment of Christians to that fraternity. The Pope recalled the prayers for the martyrs of the Coptic Orthodox Church, the victims of very recent violence, whose sacrifice and common witness lent a particular fruitfulness to the work of ecumenism.
The second day of the Pope’s voyage was dedicated to the Catholic faithful. The Mass celebrated by Pope Francis was, he said, a feast of faith and fraternity. He recalled his homily, in which he encouraged Egyptian Catholics to relive the experience of the disciples at Emmaus, when they “encountered the Lord.”
The Holy Father also reflected on the final event of his Voyage, the meeting with priests, religious, and seminarians. He noted in particular the many seminarians in Egypt, which he called a “consolation.”
Concluding his remarks, Pope Francis said Christians in the region, guided by their pastors, should be “salt and light” for the Middle East. He called his voyage to Egypt a sign of hope, refuge, and help.” His voyage, he said, “signifies walking together along the path of hope,” and called Egypt a “sign of hope” for fraternity, not just in the past, but also in the present day.
(Vatican Radio) The Archdiocese of Bombay is very concerned about the demolition of the cross in Bandra, said the archdiocesan spokesman Fr. Nigel Barrett expressing the Catholic community’s sentiments follwoing the demolition of a century-old cross on Saturday in the Western Indian city of Mumbai. “In fact, the Archbishop of Bombay, Cardinal Oswald Gracias described the destruction of this historic roadside cross ‘deeply disturbing’”, Fr. Barrett told Vatican Radio. “Officials of the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), the civic body that governs Mumbai, the capital city of Maharashtra state, pulled down a cross near Bazar Road in Bandra on April 29, on directives from Bombay High Court. Not long after, local Catholics put up a makeshift cross amid the rubble to “reassure” the community. The removal of the cross was part of the directive of Bombay High Court asking BMC to demolish all &lrm...
(Vatican Radio) The Archdiocese of Bombay is very concerned about the demolition of the cross in Bandra, said the archdiocesan spokesman Fr. Nigel Barrett expressing the Catholic community’s sentiments follwoing the demolition of a century-old cross on Saturday in the Western Indian city of Mumbai. “In fact, the Archbishop of Bombay, Cardinal Oswald Gracias described the destruction of this historic roadside cross ‘deeply disturbing’”, Fr. Barrett told Vatican Radio. “Officials of the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), the civic body that governs Mumbai, the capital city of Maharashtra state, pulled down a cross near Bazar Road in Bandra on April 29, on directives from Bombay High Court. Not long after, local Catholics put up a makeshift cross amid the rubble to “reassure” the community.
The removal of the cross was part of the directive of Bombay High Court asking BMC to demolish all illegal religious structures that have come up after September 29, 2009. As many as 32 temples and 6 crosses from H west ward were deemed against the Development Plan of the city. However, Catholic Church officials, local Catholics as well Bombay Catholic Sabha, the lay Catholic association contend the cross was erected around 1895 on private property, and the BMC action amounts to insulting the religion.
Well over 1,500 people protested on Wednesday in Mumbai, demanding the BMC re-build the cross, Fr. Barrett said. He said the Catholic community feesl the BMC "misinterpreted the High Court order" in tearing down the cross. Everything asked for by the BMC was presented by the Catholic community. Despite all this, the bombay archdiocesan spokesman said, the Assistant Municipal Commissioner went ahead witht he demolition. This "shows a highhandedness in the individual's part," Fr. Barrett said.
Here is an excerpt of what Fr. Nigel Barrett told Vatican Radio on Wednesday:
Listen:
(Vatican Radio) Kenyan bishops are “very worried” that widespread violence will flare up in the country as tensions mount before this summer’s general elections.In a wide ranging statement, the Kenyan Bishops Conference attacked political parties for being unable to conduct “clean and transparent” primaries to nominate their candidates ahead of the August 8 election.Chairman of the Conference, Bishop Philip Anyolo: “The fear of widespread violence erupting cannot be ignored.“We are already witnessing that communities are beginning to be suspicious of one another, investors are wary of investing in Kenya, foreign tourists and other visitors are cancelling their visits to the country due to security uncertainties, lenders employ a wait and see attitude, and the general economy of our country has stalled.“Many Kenyans seem to have lost confidence in the capacity of institutions, bodies, individuals and even their own leaders.“Let ...
(Vatican Radio) Kenyan bishops are “very worried” that widespread violence will flare up in the country as tensions mount before this summer’s general elections.
In a wide ranging statement, the Kenyan Bishops Conference attacked political parties for being unable to conduct “clean and transparent” primaries to nominate their candidates ahead of the August 8 election.
Chairman of the Conference, Bishop Philip Anyolo: “The fear of widespread violence erupting cannot be ignored.
“We are already witnessing that communities are beginning to be suspicious of one another, investors are wary of investing in Kenya, foreign tourists and other visitors are cancelling their visits to the country due to security uncertainties, lenders employ a wait and see attitude, and the general economy of our country has stalled.
“Many Kenyans seem to have lost confidence in the capacity of institutions, bodies, individuals and even their own leaders.
“Let us bring to an end this circus of election violence and chaos that engulfs the nation before and after every election.”
This year’s poll comes nearly a decade after disputed elections in 2007, when up to 1,400 people were killed and 600,000 lost their homes.
The bishops’ statement, coming at the end of their recent plenary assembly, attacked the evil of politicians bribing citizens to vote for them and urged voters not to let corrupt people be their leaders.
Bishop Anyolo said: “We want to state clearly that the greed that we are seeing, the lust for power and the uncaring attitude and arrogance that is displayed by those who have access and control our patrimony, be it at the national or country level, will be our undoing as Kenyans.
“Consequently, let us not touch their money when they come to bribe us to vote for them.”
The bishops said they were “deeply disturbed” by civil unrest in several regions of Kenya where conservationists and herders have clashed. They particularly highlighted the situation in parts of Laikipia, where “acts of banditry and a state of anarchy” are taking root.
Expressing concern about a prolonged drought in the country, the statement criticised political leaders who misuse the little available resources.
“This culture of greed and self-centeredness is worsening an already bad situation. Suffering Kenyans are being pushed to the brink of despair,” Bishop Anyolo added. The statement urged county and national governments to work together to ensure food security.
The bishops provided a list of qualities that voters should look for election candidates, such as being “God-fearing”, morally upright and committed to the common good. Another list told people not to vote for bad leaders who “promote war like activities” and “whip up negative ethnic emotions.”
Bishop Anyolo asked Kenyans to pray “that our elections will be peaceful and that God will give us the wisdom to elect good leaders – men and women of integrity.”
(Richard Paul Marsden)
Dr. Celcio Dias of World Apostolate of Fatima, India speaks about the preparations of the Centenary of Fatima apparitions, which will be celebrated by Pope Francis on May 13.Dr. Celcio Dias, a medical doctor by profession, is the International secretary and vice chairman of the Indian centre and Goa unit of the World Apostolate of Fatima (WAF). He spoke on length on WAF association, its purpose, the relevance of the message at Fatima and the elaborate programmes designed by the Indian Board for a fruitful celebration of the Fatima Centenary in the parishes, chapels, Institutions and houses. The National Ecclesiastical Adviser of WAF India is Bishop Peter Machado of Belgaum diocese who is appointed by the Conference of Catholic Bishops of India.Listen to the full interview with Dr. Celcio Dias For Online Fatima Formation Platform in India visit : www.WorldFatimaTv.org or whatsapp on 0091 9822981418 The World...
Dr. Celcio Dias of World Apostolate of Fatima, India speaks about the preparations of the Centenary of Fatima apparitions, which will be celebrated by Pope Francis on May 13.
Dr. Celcio Dias, a medical doctor by profession, is the International secretary and vice chairman of the Indian centre and Goa unit of the World Apostolate of Fatima (WAF). He spoke on length on WAF association, its purpose, the relevance of the message at Fatima and the elaborate programmes designed by the Indian Board for a fruitful celebration of the Fatima Centenary in the parishes, chapels, Institutions and houses. The National Ecclesiastical Adviser of WAF India is Bishop Peter Machado of Belgaum diocese who is appointed by the Conference of Catholic Bishops of India.
Listen to the full interview with Dr. Celcio Dias
For Online Fatima Formation Platform in India visit : www.WorldFatimaTv.org or whatsapp on 0091 9822981418
The World Apostolate of Fatima, which was formerly known as the Blue Army of Our Lady of Fatima is a public International Association of the faithful, approved by the Holy See, whose Decree of Erection was signed on October, 7, 2005, Feast of Our Lady of the Rosary.
On February, 3, 2006, the World Apostolate of Fatima held, in Rome, at the Pontifical Council for the Laity, an official ceremony for the consignment of the decree and the approval of its statutes.
The World Apostolate of Fatima has, as its general purpose, the promotion of the authentic teaching of the Catholic Church and the strict adherence to the tenets of the Gospel; the personal sanctification of adherents through faithful adherence to the message of the Blessed Virgin Mary at Fatima - Portugal, in 1917, to three little shepherds, Lucia, Francisco and Jacinta Marto and the promotion of the common good by the spreading of this same message.
The international association was created, as late as 1947, in the United States of America, by the hand of Father Harold Colgan and Mr. John Haffert. The name given to the movement was initially Blue Army but, as it spread quickly around the world, it became an international apostolate with millions of members and national centres in various countries, adopting the worldwide recognised name World Apostolate of Fatima.
The international headquarters of the World Apostolate of Fatima are in Fatima, Portugal, in the beautiful pilgrim guest’s house, Domus Pacis (“House of Peace”).
A Catholic village in northern Sri Lanka celebrated a thanksgiving Mass after the military promised to return church premises and some of the land and property wrested from them during the island nation's civil war. Villagers from Mullikulam in Mannar Diocese had been protesting ever since their homes, agricultural lands and a church were forcibly taken away by the Sri Lankan Navy in 2007 two years before the country's civil war ended in 2009. On April 30, after decades of protest, some of their properties were returned.Sri Lankan Navy Commander Vice Admiral Ravindra Wijegunaratne met the villagers, three priests and representatives from the Catholic lawyers association on April 29, over a month after their latest occupy-style protest began on March 23. Father Anton Thavaraja, parish priest of Our Lady of Assumption in Mullikulam, said the military official promised to release the church building and premises, 27 houses and some farmland. The navy officia...
A Catholic village in northern Sri Lanka celebrated a thanksgiving Mass after the military promised to return church premises and some of the land and property wrested from them during the island nation's civil war. Villagers from Mullikulam in Mannar Diocese had been protesting ever since their homes, agricultural lands and a church were forcibly taken away by the Sri Lankan Navy in 2007 two years before the country's civil war ended in 2009. On April 30, after decades of protest, some of their properties were returned.
Sri Lankan Navy Commander Vice Admiral Ravindra Wijegunaratne met the villagers, three priests and representatives from the Catholic lawyers association on April 29, over a month after their latest occupy-style protest began on March 23. Father Anton Thavaraja, parish priest of Our Lady of Assumption in Mullikulam, said the military official promised to release the church building and premises, 27 houses and some farmland. The navy official asked for six months to evacuate them Father Thavaraja told UCANEWS. "So, with that promise, our people decided to give up their 38-day protest, take their belongings and came to the Our Lady of Assumption church in Mullikulam," said Father Thavaraja. "However, a lot of paddy land and two ponds remain under navy control."
All of Mullikulam villagers are Tamil Catholic parishioners of the Church of our Lady of Assumption, built in 1786. They began their protest on March 23 in front of their former village and continued through Good Friday and Easter Sunday. Mullikulam village and fishing area of 500 hectares, originally home to about 500 families, was entirely confiscated in 2007 to transform it into the headquarters of the Sri Lankan navy’s North-Western Command.
Sri Lanka’s civil war between the Sinhala-dominated Sri Lankan military and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) that began in 1983 ended with a crushing defeat for the rebels in 2009. Mullikulam village was hit hard by years of war as government and rebels snatched lands from each other. According to the United Nations over 40,000 civilians died during the last stages of the war. The Mullikulam villagers had the understanding that their land, which they have permanent title to, would be given back at the end of the war but they were disillusioned.
As part of the protests, Bishop Joseph Kingsley Swamipillai of Mannar along with 40 priests, 300 parishioners from St. Sebastian Church in Mannar marched to Mullikulam where he handed over a petition to regain the navy occupied village to the Government Agent of Mannar for the Sri Lankan president.
The villagers, who had been camped outside the entrance to their occupied village, packed up and stayed the night of April 29 in the church. The following day, Sunday, April 30, May 4, they celebrated their victory with relatives from neighboring villages and activists who supported their struggle with a thanksgiving Mass in their Church of our Lady of Assumption. A fellowship lunch followed the Mass. (Source: UCAN)
IMAGE: CNS/Paul HaringBy Junno Arocho EstevesVATICAN CITY (CNS) -- Just as it had been for centuries, Egypt can be a sign of hope forthose who long for peace,Pope Francis said. During hisweekly general audience May 3, the pope reflected on his recent visit to Egyptand said that because of its religious and cultural heritage as well as itsrole in the Middle East, Egypt has the task of promoting a lasting peace that"rests not on the law of force but on the force of law.""For us, Egypt has been a sign of hope, refuge andhelp. When that part of the world suffered famine, Jacob and his sons went there. Then whenJesus was persecuted, he went there," he said. " Egypt, for us, is that sign of hopeboth in history and for today, this brotherhood."The pope's April 28-29 visit to Cairo began with a gatheringorganized by Egypt's al-Azhar University, Sunni Islam's highest institute of learning. Thevisit to the university, he said, had the twofold purpose of promoting Christian-Muslimdialogue and...
IMAGE: CNS/Paul Haring
By Junno Arocho Esteves
VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- Just as it had been for centuries, Egypt can be a sign of hope for those who long for peace, Pope Francis said.
During his weekly general audience May 3, the pope reflected on his recent visit to Egypt and said that because of its religious and cultural heritage as well as its role in the Middle East, Egypt has the task of promoting a lasting peace that "rests not on the law of force but on the force of law."
"For us, Egypt has been a sign of hope, refuge and help. When that part of the world suffered famine, Jacob and his sons went there. Then when Jesus was persecuted, he went there," he said. " Egypt, for us, is that sign of hope both in history and for today, this brotherhood."
The pope's April 28-29 visit to Cairo began with a gathering organized by Egypt's al-Azhar University, Sunni Islam's highest institute of learning.
The visit to the university, he said, had the twofold purpose of promoting Christian-Muslim dialogue and promoting peace in the world.
Peace between Christians and Muslims in Egypt, he said, is a sign of the country's identity "as a land of civilization and a land of covenant."
"For all of humanity, Egypt is synonymous with ancient civilization, treasures of art and of knowledge, of a humanism that has, as an integral part, a religious dimension -- the relationship with God," he said.
Christians in Egypt, the pope continued, play a pivotal role in contributing to peace in the country and are "called to be a leaven of brotherhood," but that is possible only if Christians themselves are united in Christ.
The historic agreement signed by Pope Francis and Coptic Orthodox Pope Tawadros II ending a longtime disagreement between the churches over the sacrament of baptism "renews the commitment" to peace and is "a strong sign of communion," he said.
"Together we prayed for the martyrs of the recent attacks that tragically struck that venerable church," Pope Francis said. "Their blood made fruitful that ecumenical encounter, which included Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew of Constantinople, my dear brother."
Talking about his Mass with the country's Catholic community and his meeting with the country's priests and religious men and women, Pope Francis said he encounter a "community of men and women who have chosen to give their lives to Christ for the kingdom of God."
"I have seen the beauty of the church in Egypt," he said, "and I prayed for all Christians in the Middle East so that, guided by their pastors and accompanied by consecrated men and women, they may be salt and light in that land."
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Follow Arocho on Twitter: @arochoju.
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