US Franciscans call on government to reverse refugee policy
http://www.myspiritfm.com/apps/articles/default.asp?blogid=0&view=post&articleid=152380&link=1&fldKeywords=&fldAuthor=&fldTopic=0
(Vatican Radio) Franciscans in the United States have expressed their dismay for the government’s announcement to ‘pause’ Refugee Resettlement.In response to President Trump’s plan, over 1,000 Franciscans signed a statement resisting a proposed Muslim registry and in support of refugees.The statement was released by the Franciscan Action Network (FAN), a collective Franciscan voice seeking to transform United States public policy related to peace making, care for creation, poverty and human rights.Please find below the FAN press release: Washington, D.C. - The announcement by the Trump Administration to "pause" refugee resettlement for 120 days, effectively halting the resettlement process is deeply disturbing to Franciscans all over the country. The United States must not turn our backs on refugees from around the world at the very time when they are most in need of safety from war and persecution.By effectively stopping the resettleme...
(Vatican Radio) Franciscans in the United States have expressed their dismay for the government’s announcement to ‘pause’ Refugee Resettlement.
In response to President Trump’s plan, over 1,000 Franciscans signed a statement resisting a proposed Muslim registry and in support of refugees.
The statement was released by the Franciscan Action Network (FAN), a collective Franciscan voice seeking to transform United States public policy related to peace making, care for creation, poverty and human rights.
Please find below the FAN press release:
Washington, D.C. - The announcement by the Trump Administration to "pause" refugee resettlement for 120 days, effectively halting the resettlement process is deeply disturbing to Franciscans all over the country. The United States must not turn our backs on refugees from around the world at the very time when they are most in need of safety from war and persecution.
By effectively stopping the resettlement of Syrian refugees and narrowly preferencing religious minorities, this announcement is tantamount to the Muslim ban that was threatened during the Presidential campaign. This is a clear case of religious discrimination and must be decried as such which is why the Franciscan Action Network established Franciscan Commitment for Resistance of Muslim registry, which currently has over 1,000 individual signers and one religious community with over 1,000 members.
We stand with our refugee brothers and sisters and all those who are seeking protection. Providing protection to people seeking safety is one of our nation's proudest and longest standing traditions which we are morally obligated to uphold. This action goes back on America's promise to refugees and abdicates America's leadership role on human rights.
"The Gospels call us to welcome the stranger, so as people of faith, we advocate and support the rights and dignity of all people, especially immigrants and refugees. The United States was built by immigrants and we must continue to protect our immigrant and refugee sisters and brothers and keep families together." said Patrick Carolan, Executive Director Franciscan Action Network.
Regardless of a refugee's country of origin, everyone is equally deserving of dignity, welcome, and protection from harm. We call on the administration to do everything in their power to reverse this announcement.
Full Article
http://www.myspiritfm.com/apps/articles/default.asp?blogid=0&url=10&view=post&articleid=275452&link=1&fldKeywords=&fldAuthor=&fldTopic=0
Facade of the Plurinational Legislative Assembly of Bolivia. / Credit: Wikimedia Commons / EEJCCACI Prensa Staff, Apr 27, 2024 / 08:00 am (CNA).One year after the Spanish newspaper El País published the report "Diary of a Pedophile Priest," which recounted the sexual abuse of minors committed in Bolivia by the deceased Jesuit priest Alfonso Pedrajas, journalists from ACI Prensa, CNA's Spanish-language news partner, went to the South American country to look into the political implications of the case, how the scandal has affected the Church's image in Bolivia, and the response of the civil justice system.Pedrajas, better known as "Padre Pica," arrived in South America in the early 1960s as part of his formation process with the Jesuits. For 10 years he lived in Peru and Ecuador, where he allegedly committed his first abuses while still a seminarian, and in 1971 he settled permanently in Bolivia.There the Society of Jesus appointed him assistant principal of the John XXIII Insti...
http://www.myspiritfm.com/apps/articles/default.asp?blogid=0&url=10&view=post&articleid=275451&link=1&fldKeywords=&fldAuthor=&fldTopic=0
The members of the general board of directors of the Regnum Christi Federation, before its first general convention from April 29 to May 4, 2024, in Rome. / Credit: Regnum ChristiACI Prensa Staff, Apr 27, 2024 / 09:00 am (CNA).The Regnum Christi Federation will hold its first general convention in Rome from April 29 to May 4, the first such assembly since its statutes were approved in 2019 after a long process of listening, purification, and a hopeful look toward its future.The ecclesial movement was shaken to the core by the revelation of numerous cases of sexual abuse and abuses of power primarily involving Father Marcial Maciel, the deceased founder of the Legionaries of Christ and the Regnum Christi movement.The Regnum Christi Federation is comprised of four vocations: the Legionaries of Christ (priests), Consecrated Women of Regnum Christi, Lay Consecrated Men of Regnum Christi, and lay members.Regnum Christi is now defined as an apostolic body and spiritual family led by ...
http://www.myspiritfm.com/apps/articles/default.asp?blogid=0&url=10&view=post&articleid=275450&link=1&fldKeywords=&fldAuthor=&fldTopic=0
Gia Chacón (right), founder of March for the Martyrs, said the plight of the tens of thousands of Christian Armenians pushed out of their homes in the disputed Artsakh or Nagorno-Karabakh region hash been "completely overlooked by the mainstream media." / Credit: EWTN News Nightly / ScreenshotCNA Staff, Apr 27, 2024 / 09:20 am (CNA).Marchers are setting out in the nation's capital on Saturday to call attention to the plight of persecuted Christians throughout the world.Gia Chacón, founder of For the Martyrs and the March for the Martyrs, said the event aims to highlight often "overlooked" victims of persecution. This year's march will focus on the persecution suffered by Armenian Christians as well as those in Nigeria and Iran.In an interview with "EWTN News Nightly" anchor Tracy Sabol, Chacón said she started the initiative to both increase awareness and provide aid for persecuted Christian communities throughout the world.Chacón explained that the decades-long conflict ...