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Bangladesh’s largest religion is Islam, with Muslims constituting over 88% of the nation’s over 156 million population. Hindus and Buddhists are the most significant minorities of the country, while Christians, Sikhs, animists and atheists form the minuscule remainders. Catholicism came to the region in the 16th century with the arrival of Portuguese sailors. Today, the country’s Catholic population of over 350 thousand accounts for just 0.2 percent of the population. Among several foreign missionary congregations working in Bangladesh are the Xaverian Missionaries, who are identified by the initials SX after their name. And today, we have with us Fr. Marcello Storgato, a 73-year old Rome-born Xaverian missionary, who worked in Bangladesh for 21 years from 1972 until 1994 when he was called to serve in the Xaverian media in Brescia, Italy. In an interview with him, we came to know a lot about the Xaverian miss...
(Vatican Radio) Philippine Catholic bishops have joined several dissenting voices denouncing a Supreme court decision allowing a hero's burial for the late dictator Ferdinand Marcos."It mocks our fight to restore democracy. I am puzzled and hurt, and in great grief," said Archbishop Socrates Villegas of Lingayen-Dagupan, president of the Philippine bishops' conference.The prelate, a protege of the late Cardinal Jaime Sin of Manila who helped oust Marcos through the so-called "People Power Revolution" of 1986, said he was "very sad" with the court decision.The highest court in the Philippines ruled on Tuesday, that former president Ferdinand Marcos will be granted a “hero’s burial”, ending a nearly three-decade fight by those who regard him as a human rights abuser and kleptocrat. The supreme court said it had cleared all legal obstacles and petitions filed against moving his remains to the Libingan ng mga Bayani, or Hero...
Vatican City, Nov 10, 2016 / 08:25 am (CNA/EWTN News).- On Thursday, Pope Francis spoke about Christian unity and ecumenism, specifically what they are not. Namely, they aren’t about uniformity or the total absorption of one religion by another, but instead consist of a common communion in Christ.“Ecumenism is true when Christians are able to shift the focus from themselves, from their arguments and formulations, to the Word of God who demands to be heard, accepted and witnessed in the world,” the Pope said Nov. 10.“Because of this, the various Christian communities are called not to ‘compete,’ but to cooperate.”Pope Francis addressed members of the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity gathered in Rome for their plenary assembly at the Vatican.Throughout his pontificate Francis has placed a strong emphasis on ecumenism and interreligious dialogue. The last few months alone have included several ecumenical meetings, such as in Lun...
IMAGE: CNS/ReutersBy Chaz MuthLOUISVILLE,Ky. (CNS) -- On a seasonably warm, drizzly Nov. 3 evening, Archbishop Joseph E.Kurtz drove his white Toyota Avalon up a driveway that leads to the statelyLouisville home of Steve and Kathy Ford.Thecouple graciously agreed to hold a fundraising event for Catholic Extension, anational organization that supports programs for mission dioceses across theU.S. and one the 70-year-old archbishop strongly backs.Hewas visibly moved when he heard one of the speakers talk about a prisonministry made possible by Catholic Extension, an outreach Archbishop Kurtz seesas essential in Catholic social teaching.Eventslike this one -- conducted in the Archdiocese of Louisville, which he hasshepherded for the past decade -- bolstered his positive outlook for the futureof the Catholic Church.Italso offered him an opportunity to reflect on the remaining days of histhree-year term as president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, whichwill conclude at the end...
ONEONTA, N.Y. (AP) -- This year's Rockefeller Center Christmas tree is beginning its journey from upstate New York to Manhattan....
NEW YORK (AP) -- Even for the best home chefs, Thanksgiving is a lot of work....
WASHINGTON (AP) -- The Latest on the U.S. presidential transition (all times EST):...
WASHINGTON (AP) -- President-elect Donald Trump joined President Barack Obama for their first meeting at the White House Thursday, a symbolic start to the transition of power to the nation's 45th president....
Pope Francis on Thursday, appointed Bp. John Baptist Jung Shin-chul, Auxiliary Bishop of the Diocese of Incheon (Korea) with the titular see of Cuicul, as the Bishop of Incheon Diocese. The See was vacant after the death of Bishop Boniface Choi Ki-san, on May 30, 2016.Fr. John Baptist Jung Shin-chul was born October 22, 1964 in Incheon-si, Songrim-dong, the parish of Game Bong-dong, in the Diocese of Incheon. He studied at the Catholic University of Incheon (major seminary) from 1983 to 1991, and thereafter at Suwon Catholic University, from 1991 to 1993 (for a Master's Degree). He was ordained January 29, 1993, for the Diocese of Incheon. After ordination, he held the following positions: 1993-1994: Parish Vicar, Samjung-dong, 1994-2002: Studies for a Ph.D. in Catechesis, Catholic University of Paris, 2002-2003: Parish Vicar, Yeokgok 2 Dong, 2003-2010: Professor and later Chancellor of the Catholic University (seminary) of Incheon, 2009-2010: Diocesan Vocations Director...
(Vatican Radio) Pope Francis revealed on Thursday that the search for Christian unity is one of his principle concerns, one that he prays may be shared by every baptized person. The Pope’s words came as he met in the Vatican with participants at a plenary session of the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity. The meeting, from November 8th to 11th is exploring the theme “What model of full communion?”Listen to Philippa Hitchen's report: In his words to the group of ecumenical experts from across the globe, the Pope recalled the many important encounters he has had this year with leaders of other Christian communities. In particular he recalled his recent visit to Lund in Sweden to jointly preside at a Lutheran-Catholic commemoration of the start of the Protestant Reformation. That visit, he said, reminded him of the so called ‘Lund Principle’, formulated by the World Council of Churches back in 1952, which states ‘churches sh...
