Catholic News 2
WASHINGTON (AP) -- President Donald Trump's son-in-law and daughter are holding onto scores of real estate investments - part of a portfolio of at least $240 million in assets - while they serve in White House jobs, according to financial disclosures released publicly late Friday....
WASHINGTON (AP) -- A lawyer for former national security adviser Michael Flynn says he's in talks with congressional committees to testify before them in exchange for immunity from prosecution. Those committees are investigating Russian influence in the 2016 presidential election and potential ties between Russia and associates of President Donald Trump....
HOUSTON (AP) -- The driver of a pickup truck that collided with a church minibus in rural Texas, killing 13 people, apologized after the crash and acknowledged he had been texting while driving, a witness said Friday....
WASHINGTON (AP) -- President Donald Trump urged his former national security adviser to strike an immunity deal Friday, even as congressional investigators rebuffed Michael Flynn's offer of cooperation in exchange for protection from prosecution....
WASHINGTON (AP) -- The White House's handling of intelligence reports on the Russia investigation has been labeled unorthodox and, to the Democrats, suspicious. But when it comes to Donald Trump's relationship with his spy agencies, that's par for the course....
The Ethiopian Catholic Secretariat (ECS) has marked its Golden Jubilee this week under the theme “50 Years of Witnessing the Gospel.”Speaking at the annual Church Partners’ Coordination meeting held to coincide with the Golden Jubilee, Cardinal Berhaneyesus Souraphiel C.M., the Metropolitan Archbishop of Addis Ababa and President of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Ethiopia (CBCE) praised the ESC. He said the Catholic Church through the Secretariat and diocesan offices responds to the needs of the people while reading the signs of the time through the light of Christ.“The fundamental mission of the Church is to serve the poor. The Church does not remain silent in an ever changing world but responds through its different interventions of pastoral and social development in order to address the pressing needs of the time,” said the Cardinal.He lauded the Secretariat for having been actively involved in works of mercy and compassion in orde...
The Ethiopian Catholic Secretariat (ECS) has marked its Golden Jubilee this week under the theme “50 Years of Witnessing the Gospel.”
Speaking at the annual Church Partners’ Coordination meeting held to coincide with the Golden Jubilee, Cardinal Berhaneyesus Souraphiel C.M., the Metropolitan Archbishop of Addis Ababa and President of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Ethiopia (CBCE) praised the ESC. He said the Catholic Church through the Secretariat and diocesan offices responds to the needs of the people while reading the signs of the time through the light of Christ.
“The fundamental mission of the Church is to serve the poor. The Church does not remain silent in an ever changing world but responds through its different interventions of pastoral and social development in order to address the pressing needs of the time,” said the Cardinal.
He lauded the Secretariat for having been actively involved in works of mercy and compassion in order to respond to the spiritual and humanitarian needs of a drought-stricken society, the poor and the vulnerable throughout its 50 years of existence. Cardinal Berhaneyesus said that the Secretariat has been able to achieve all these successes being celebrated at the Golden Jubilee event through the effective collaboration made with the government and all partners and as well as with society.
The Cardinal Berhaneyesus added, “when we commemorate the Golden Jubilee of the ECS witnessing the Gospel in words and in deeds, it is the time to renew our commitment to the people we serve and to strengthen our partnership with all partners and stand with our government to ensure the sustainability of the development of our people and peace in the country.”
Secretary General at Ethiopian Catholic Secretariat, Fr. Hagos Hayish, C.M., expressed gratitude to the founding fathers of ECS and all who served as Secretary Generals in the past; the clergy; religious men and women; laity and all partners. He also noted that the annual Partners’ Coordination meeting would further strengthen the partnership between all pastoral and development agents in the Catholic Church.
“These coordination meetings have greatly contributed to the knowledge of who is doing what, best practices, mutual expectations and innovative initiatives,” Fr. Hayish said.
The Partners’ Coordination discussed different themes that are of current concern in Ethiopia and needs the attention of the Church. Some of these topics were peace and development, Mass Migration in the context of Eastern Africa, pastoral and evangelization strategies and their sustainability.
Present at the event that took place at the Catholic Bishops’ Conference Centre were the Apostolic Nuncio to Ethiopia, Archbishop Luigi Bianco, Bishops, AMECEA Secretary General Fr. Ferdinand Lugonzo, Secretary General of the Inter-religious Council of Ethiopia, representatives of Caritas Internationalis and other Caritas organisations, partners from different parts of the world, clergy, religious men and women working in Ethiopia. Over 150 people participated in the event.
The Ethiopian Catholic Secretariat is the executing arm of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Ethiopia. The secretariat marked its Golden Jubilee from 27 to 28 March.
(Makeda Yohannes at the Ethiopian Catholic Secretariat in Addis Ababa)
Email: engafrica@vatiradio.va
New President of the Conference of Major Superiors of Africa and Madagascar (JESAM), Fr. Agbonkhianmeghe Orobator has said since the African continent endures a complexity of crises such as poverty, drought, governance issues, migration and displacement, these present opportunities to the Society of Jesus to evangelise. The JESAM President made the remarks in an interview with Jesuit Communications in Harare, Zimbabwe.“Africa itself is a frontier, as a continent, it is faced with many challenges, but also it presents a lot of opportunities. It is a very youthful continent blessed with talented young people who may not always have the opportunities they deserve to put this talent at the service of the continent, and that’s a huge frontier for the Jesuits.” Fr Orobator added, “All these are all frontiers that Jesuits strive to respond to.” Following Fr Orobator’s appointment as JESAM President by the Superior General of the Jesuits, in Februa...
New President of the Conference of Major Superiors of Africa and Madagascar (JESAM), Fr. Agbonkhianmeghe Orobator has said since the African continent endures a complexity of crises such as poverty, drought, governance issues, migration and displacement, these present opportunities to the Society of Jesus to evangelise. The JESAM President made the remarks in an interview with Jesuit Communications in Harare, Zimbabwe.
“Africa itself is a frontier, as a continent, it is faced with many challenges, but also it presents a lot of opportunities. It is a very youthful continent blessed with talented young people who may not always have the opportunities they deserve to put this talent at the service of the continent, and that’s a huge frontier for the Jesuits.” Fr Orobator added, “All these are all frontiers that Jesuits strive to respond to.”
Following Fr Orobator’s appointment as JESAM President by the Superior General of the Jesuits, in February, the Nigerian Jesuit said he looks forward to connecting with Jesuits on the continent of Africa and Madagascar, and make himself totally and completely available for the service of the mission of the Society of Jesus.
“I want to create more effective links and networks amongst the Jesuits of the continent of Africa and the rest of the universal society. I look forward to doing this in collaboration with thousands of women and men who serve in our apostolic works on the continent,” Fr Orobator said.
Recently, Society of Jesus Superior General Fr Arturo Sosa emphasised the need and importance of collaboration between women and men. The Superior General of the Jesuits made these remarks when he gave the opening address at a “Voices of Faith” event in the Vatican.
“We must consolidate our presence where we already are because there is no shortage of frontiers and we could be even there in a more consolidated fashion. We need to strengthen our presence,” emphasised Fr Orobator.
The JESAM President further said institutions of Formation such as the Arrupe College in Harare and other Formation centres are vital and constitute for Jesuits ‘an absolute priority.’
“They are responsible for building the future capacity of the Society of Jesus because they form Jesuits who are competent and adequately trained to the needs of Africa and Madagascar.” Fr Orobator continued, “Our goal is to for a well-rounded person who knows what it takes, what it means to be human and how to relate to society. Men who are able to appreciate and believe in the inherent dignity of the human person.”
The Jesuit African Assistancy (Conference) consists of 7 Jesuit provinces and regions in Africa. The Conference of Major Superiors of Africa and Madagascar (JESAM) comprises the major superiors of these provinces and regions.
(Kudakwashe Matambo, Zimbabwe-Mozambique Jesuit Communications)
Email: engafrica@vatiradio.va
Vatican City, Mar 31, 2017 / 01:20 pm (CNA/EWTN News).- Thursday Vatican official Cardinal Peter Turkson said he hopes President Trump will reconsider some of the decisions he is making in office, particularly his recent executive order curtailing environmental protections – but that he is glad U.S. bishops are offering a “different voice.”Diverse members of the U.S. Bishops' Conference have already voiced opposition to some of President Trump's actions, including on immigration, Cardinal Turkson told journalists Thursday morning.“This, for us, is a sign that little by little, other positions and political voices will emerge. We hope that Trump himself will rethink some of his decisions,” he said.Head of the Dicastery for Integral Human Development, Turkson spoke to journalists at a breakfast meeting March 30 on a conference the department will hold at the Vatican April 3 and 4.Cardinal Turkson expressed his gratefulness for the U.S. bishops who...
Vatican City, Mar 31, 2017 / 01:20 pm (CNA/EWTN News).- Thursday Vatican official Cardinal Peter Turkson said he hopes President Trump will reconsider some of the decisions he is making in office, particularly his recent executive order curtailing environmental protections – but that he is glad U.S. bishops are offering a “different voice.”
Diverse members of the U.S. Bishops' Conference have already voiced opposition to some of President Trump's actions, including on immigration, Cardinal Turkson told journalists Thursday morning.
“This, for us, is a sign that little by little, other positions and political voices will emerge. We hope that Trump himself will rethink some of his decisions,” he said.
Head of the Dicastery for Integral Human Development, Turkson spoke to journalists at a breakfast meeting March 30 on a conference the department will hold at the Vatican April 3 and 4.
Cardinal Turkson expressed his gratefulness for the U.S. bishops who are addressing President Trump's policies, saying things are “a bit worrying,” although Trump is, in fact, just fulfilling the “promises made during the campaign.”
But “we are hopeful that things will change,” he said, especially when Trump begins to see “the dissonance between the reality of things” and promises made during his election campaign.
Otherwise, other world powers, like China, are ready to step in and fill the “space,” he said, noting that China is already making some efforts on climate control, especially given the large amount of smog and air pollution the country faces.
Pope Francis has been very vocal on the importance of protecting the environment throughout his papacy, publishing the first papal encyclical dedicated to the topic, Laudato Si, in 2015.
Shortly after its release he instituted the World Day of Prayer for the Care of Creation to take place every year on Sept. 1.
In his message for the 2016 day of prayer, Francis said that care of creation should also contribute “to shaping the culture and society in which we live,” adding that economics, politics, society and culture “cannot be dominated by thinking only of the short-term and immediate financial or electoral gains.”
“Instead, they urgently need to be redirected to the common good, which includes sustainability and care for creation.”
The dicastery’s upcoming conference, being held in honor of the 50th anniversary of the publication of Pope Paul VI’s encyclical Populorum Progressio (On the Development of People), aims to discuss the question: “who is man?” the cardinal said.
The two-day conference includes sessions with presentations on the themes of the body and soul, man and woman, the individual and society, as well as testimonies on serving vulnerable populations.
The first day will include a presentation by Cardinal Turkson on the origins and perspective of the dicastery and another by Cardinal Gerhard Muller, prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, on “the Christian anthropological vision, the foundational concept of integral human development.”
The conference will also include time for dialogue and an audience with Pope Francis on April 4.
In other comments to journalists, Cardinal Turkson said that “immigration is like water flowing from the tap,” you can’t just try to dry up the water, you have to turn off the faucet.
This can only be done through long-term plans that promote projects in the countries migrants are fleeing and “prevent the need of people to emigrate,” he said.
IMAGE: CNS photo/L'Osservatore RomanoBy Cindy WoodenVATICAN CITY (CNS) -- Pope Francis returned to a practice hedeveloped during the Year of Mercy: making a Friday-afternoon visit to peoplein need of or deserving special care.For the visit March 31, he chose the Sant' Alessio-Margheritadi Savoia Regional Center for the Blind in Rome. The center is home to 37adults and senior citizens who are blind or severely visually impaired, but thestructure also offers specialized classes for 50 children with the samechallenges."With this visit, the pope wants to continue theso-called Mercy Friday visits carried out during the Jubilee of Mercy,"the Vatican said in a statement. The visits were designed to reflect thespiritual and corporal works of mercy with "those who live in situationsof physical and social exclusion."The pope's visit was scheduled to last about two hours.The center was founded in 1868 by lay Catholics with thesupport of Pope Pius IX and specialized in giving a general educati...
IMAGE: CNS photo/L'Osservatore Romano
By Cindy Wooden
VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- Pope Francis returned to a practice he developed during the Year of Mercy: making a Friday-afternoon visit to people in need of or deserving special care.
For the visit March 31, he chose the Sant' Alessio-Margherita di Savoia Regional Center for the Blind in Rome. The center is home to 37 adults and senior citizens who are blind or severely visually impaired, but the structure also offers specialized classes for 50 children with the same challenges.
"With this visit, the pope wants to continue the so-called Mercy Friday visits carried out during the Jubilee of Mercy," the Vatican said in a statement. The visits were designed to reflect the spiritual and corporal works of mercy with "those who live in situations of physical and social exclusion."
The pope's visit was scheduled to last about two hours.
The center was founded in 1868 by lay Catholics with the support of Pope Pius IX and specialized in giving a general education to children who were blind, teaching them to read Braille. It also teamed up with Rome's Santa Cecilia Conservatory, offering many of the young students a musical education.
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IMAGE: CNS photo/Carlos Barria, ReutersBy WASHINGTON (CNS) -- Now that lawmakers have withdrawn theAmerican Health Care Act, Congress must "seize this moment to create a newspirit of bipartisanship" and make "necessary reforms" inexisting health care law to address access, affordability, life and conscience,said three U.S. bishops' committee chairmen.The GOPbill was removed from consideration by the House at the eleventh hour March 24because its passage looked unlikely, as a number of lawmakers disagreed withseveral of its provisions as well as the process that led to the drafting ofthe bill.Themeasure "contained serious deficiencies, particularly in its changes toMedicaid, that would have impacted the poor and others most in need inunacceptable ways," the bishops said in a joint letter to Congress datedMarch 30 and released March 31 by the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops.But thecommittee chairmen also said that withdrawal of the bill "must not end ournation's efforts to improve...
IMAGE: CNS photo/Carlos Barria, Reuters
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WASHINGTON (CNS) -- Now that lawmakers have withdrawn the American Health Care Act, Congress must "seize this moment to create a new spirit of bipartisanship" and make "necessary reforms" in existing health care law to address access, affordability, life and conscience, said three U.S. bishops' committee chairmen.
The GOP bill was removed from consideration by the House at the eleventh hour March 24 because its passage looked unlikely, as a number of lawmakers disagreed with several of its provisions as well as the process that led to the drafting of the bill.
The measure "contained serious deficiencies, particularly in its changes to Medicaid, that would have impacted the poor and others most in need in unacceptable ways," the bishops said in a joint letter to Congress dated March 30 and released March 31 by the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops.
But the committee chairmen also said that withdrawal of the bill "must not end our nation's efforts to improve health care."
The letter was signed by Cardinal Timothy M. Dolan of New York, chairman of the Committee on Pro-Life Activities, Archbishop William E. Lori of Baltimore, chairman of the Ad Hoc Committee for Religious Liberty; and Bishop Frank J. Dewane of Venice, Florida, chairman of the Committee on Domestic Justice and Human Development.
The bishops stressed that a positive aspect to the proposed legislation was its "critical life protections for the unborn."
"By restricting federal funding for abortion, its providers and the purchase of plans that cover it, the bill would have finally resolved a grave moral failing rooted within the very structure of the Affordable Care Act," they said.
The letter also pointed out issues that still need to be addressed, such as conscience protections for those who participate in the delivery or coverage of health care services, problems of rising costs and premiums and the obstacles to immigrant access to health care.
"Lawmakers still have a duty to confront these significant challenges. While a comprehensive approach is preferable, some of the problems can be fixed with more narrow reforms, and in a bipartisan way," the bishops said, suggesting that Congress pass the Conscience Protection Act, extend full Hyde Amendment protections to the Affordable Care Act, and enact other targeted laws to remove current and impending barriers to obtaining health care.
The 41-year-old Hyde Amendment, which has to be approved each year as part of the budget for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, prohibits tax dollars from paying for abortion except in cases of rape, incest or threat to the woman's life. The Conscience Protection Act would provide legal protection to doctors, nurses, hospitals and all health care providers who choose not to provide abortions as part of their health care practice.
Sister Carol Keehan, a Daughter of Charity, who is president and CEO of the Catholic Health Association, said her organization is "pleased that the hastily crafted American Health Care Act did not garner enough support from congressional members for it to be approved in the House of Representatives."
In a statement to be published in the April 15 issue of Catholic Health World, a CHA publication, Sister Keehan said the association remains "concerned about the continued affordability and stability of the individual health insurance market under the ACA." She said she hopes Congress will work in a bipartisan way going forward to address those challenges, adding that it has "a perfect opportunity to do that now."
Sister Keehan, who heads an organization of more than 600 hospitals and 1,400 long-term care and other health facilities in the United States, said "maintaining health care coverage is not a problem either party can solve alone at this point, but it is solvable with bipartisan efforts."
"CHA is anxious to cooperate with President Donald Trump and Congress in working toward a solution that is better for everyone. We need to craft a solution that seeks the common good for all Americans," she said.
In a March 17 letter to House members about the American Health Care Act, Bishop Dewane said the bill's inclusion of "critical life protections" was laudable, but other provisions, including those related to Medicaid and tax credits, were troubling.
"The ACA is, by no means, a perfect law," Bishop Dewane said. "The Catholic bishops of the United States registered serious objections at the time of its passage. However, in attempting to improve the deficiencies of the ACA, health care policy ought not create other unacceptable problems, particularly for those who struggle on the margins of our society."
Main provisions of the shelved legislation included: eliminating the mandate that most individuals have health insurance and putting in its place a new system of tax credits; expanding Health Savings Accounts; repealing Medicaid expansion and transitioning to a "per capita allotment"; and prohibiting health insurers from denying coverage or charging more money to patients based on pre-existing conditions.
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Copyright © 2017 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.
