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WASHINGTON (AP) -- The Latest on the U.S. presidential campaign (all times EDT):...
(Vatican Radio) Pope Francis addressed the participants in a major international gathering of the European Society of Cardiology on Wednesday. The 5-day World Congress of the European Society of Cardiology has been meeting in Rome at the city's New Fairgrounds since August 27th to explore the role of teamwork in researching, diagnosing and treating cardiovascular illness. Pope Francis spoke to the participants on the final day of their convention.In his remarks, the Holy Father reaffirmed the Church’s constant support for and recognition of the importance of scientific research and care for the scientists who carry it out. “Nature, in all its complexity, and the human mind, are created by God; their richness must be studied by skilled men and women, in the knowledge that the advancement of the philosophical and empirical sciences, as well as professional care in favour of the weakest and most infirm, is a service that is part of God’s plan,” he said.Cli...
(Vatican Radio) The Jubilee of the Americas, or the "Celebration of Mercy in the American Continent", brought together various components of the church in the Americas to experience the merciful face of the Father.Cardinals, Bishops, Priests, Religious, and lay people from Canada to the "Patagonia" were among the participants of the 27-30 August event in Bogotà, Colombia, which was organised by the Pontifical Commission for Latin America and the Latin American Bishop's Conference (CELAM).Several of the participants spoke to Vatican Radio to share their experience of the Jubilee of the Americas, including Cardinal Marc Ouellet, President of the Pontifical Commission for Latin America; Cardinal Chibly Langlois of Ley Cayes, Haiti; Archbishop Terrence Prendergast of Ottawa; and Vicki Thorn, foundress of Project Rachel.Listen to the full interviews: Cardinal Marc OuelletReflecting on the Jubilee Year of M...
(Vatican Radio) Pope Francis has expressed appreciation for the opening of the 20th Renovabis Congress taking place in Freising, Germany.The event, from 31 August to 2 September focusses on the theme “Witnessing to the Gospel – Shaping the World. The Role of Religious Orders in Central and Eastern Europe”.A message from the Cardinal Secretary of State, Pietro Parolin, on behalf of Pope Francis highlights his profound belief that the Lord’s call to bring peace and mercy to mankind continues to be an urgent and significant one in today’s world.This – the message continues – is especially true for missionaries who leave the safety of their homelands to bring the light of the Gospel and the solidarity of the Church to the ends of the earth. To respond to the Lord’s call in this way, the message says, is a constant witness of God’s love for each creature.The message of good wishes to the participants of the congres...
The United Nations Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination has urged that Pakistan should revoke the draconian blasphemy law. The commission based in Geneva, in its periodic report on Pakistan released on August 26, stated that misuse of blasphemy laws is surging in the heavily Islamic country.The Commission based in Geneva “takes note of the state’s efforts to prevent the abuse of blasphemy laws”, but also expresses concern about “efforts for the broad and vague definition of crimes against religion under articles of the law”, which consists of some articles of the penal Code of Pakistan, and notes “the disproportionate use of those laws against individuals belonging to ethnic and religious minorities”.The UN Committee in its report, expressed concerns relating “the high number of blasphemy cases based on false accusations with no related investigations and prosecutions, the judges who judge cases of blasphemy face int...
Vatican City, Aug 30, 2016 / 10:14 am (CNA/EWTN News).- In honor of all “workers and volunteers of mercy,” the Vatican is encouraging those who volunteer in different service opportunities to share their testimony on social media with the hashtag #BeMercy.Launched by the Pontifical Council for the Promotion of the New Evangelization, the #BeMercy initiative is meant to coincide with the special Sept. 2-4 Jubilee for Workers and Volunteers of Mercy, and is part of Pope Francis’ wider Holy Year of Mercy.“Charity, love and mercy are different words to express the same reality: God’s love,” Archbishop Rino Fisichella, president of the Council for the New Evangelization, told CNA in an interview.“God is close to you and God is always helping you,” he said, noting that love, charity and mercy aren’t limited to just helping people, but “become a great witness for us in the moment we are able to forgive people.”“That wi...
Washington D.C., Aug 31, 2016 / 06:32 am (CNA/EWTN News).- The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has given $1.25 million in aid to Catholic refugee relief efforts.“Together, as people of faith, we know that refugees desperately need our help – and this generosity allows us to serve many more,” said Bishop Eusebio Elizondo, auxiliary bishop of Seattle and chairman of the U.S. bishops’ Committee on Migration.The LDS Church, whose members are colloquially known as Mormons, gave cash and donated goods to aid newly arrived refugees. The refugees are helped through Catholic dioceses’ resettlement offices under the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops’ Migration and Refugee Services. The donation will help welcome refugees and help them build new lives, the U.S. bishops’ conference reported.Bishop W. Christopher Waddell, second counselor in the Presiding Bishopric of the LDS Church, spoke about the aid.“We are grateful for the ongoin...
Vatican City, Aug 31, 2016 / 07:46 am (CNA/EWTN News).- On Wednesday Pope Francis stressed the importance of having the courage to recognize our sins and ask God for forgiveness, moving forward rather than getting stuck in feelings of shame and rejection.“How many times do we feel rejected internally because of our sins!” the Pope said Aug. 31, noting that what the Lord tells us in these moments is “have courage, come. For me you are not discarded, have courage.”In the face of our sins Jesus calls us sons and daughters, he said, adding that “this is the moment of grace, of forgiveness, a moment of inclusion in the life of Jesus, in the life of the Church. It's the moment of mercy.”To hear someone say “you are no longer discarded, I forgive you, I embrace you,” is truly “the mercy of God,” he said, adding that “we must have courage to go to him and ask forgiveness for our sins, and then move forward with courage.&r...
Denver, Colo., Aug 31, 2016 / 09:02 am (CNA/EWTN News).- Voters in Colorado will decide whether to legalize assisted suicide in their state in November, after a campaign gathered enough signatures to put the proposal on the ballot.If passed, the measure known as the Colorado End-of-Life Options Act would allow for someone with a terminal illness to request a lethal prescription from their physician. The person must be at least 18 years old, deemed mentally competent, and have a diagnosis from two physicians of six months or fewer to live. The measure also requires that they self-administer the drug, called secobarbital, which is also used for lethal injections in some states.But these safeguards are not enough to keep Coloradans safe from coercion and error, argues Carri Ann Lucas, an attorney and board member for Not Dead Yet, a disability rights group that advocates against assisted suicide measures.“Nobody wants themselves or their family members to suffer, but they haven&r...
By Carol GlatzVATICANCITY (CNS) -- Do not turn to superstition or blame God in the aftermath of adeadly tragedy, the bishop of Rieti told people mourning the deaths of thosekilled by the devastating earthquake that struck central Italy.Godis humanity's salvation and he "cannot be used as a scapegoat,"Bishop Domenico Pompili said in his homily Aug. 30 at a funeral Mass in thevillage of Amatrice, which was nearly razed to the ground. The 6.2 quakerumbled across the central Italian regions of Lazio, Mache and Umbria Aug. 24,leaving at least 292 people dead and more than 400 people injured. TheMass, attended by residents left homeless as well as top government officials,was held under a large tent canopy. Awooden statue of the crucified Christ, salvaged from the wreckage, wassuspended from a rope behind the altar. It hung against a backdrop of concreteand twisted steel from a building that buckled under the weight of its roof;solar panels lay in a jumble on top, like playing cards hast...
