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A senior Iranian religious scholar has written to Pope Francis, thanking him for his recent remarks that Islam is not equal to terrorism. In his letter, posted on his official website on Sunday, Grand Ayatollah Makarem Shirazi of Qom also stressed that it is necessary for religious leaders to adopt clear stances when it comes to accusing religions of violence. “I am really delighted to have heard your comments during your last trip to Poland in which you stated “Islam is not equal to terrorism” and further dismissed the association of violence and harshness with any and all divinely-sent religions,” Ayatollah Shirazi wrote. “Your wise and logical stance regarding Islam in disassociating the religion from the inhumane actions and atrocities of the Takfiri groups such as Daesh is truly admirable,” he said. Travelling back to Rome on July 31 from a pastoral visit to Poland, Pope Francis had made the comment at an in-flight pr...
Philippine senators opened an inquiry Monday into the killings of more than 1,700 suspected drug dealers and users amid a crackdown spearheaded by President Rodrigo Duterte, with witnesses accusing some policemen of gunning down suspects or being involved in illegal drugs. Sen. Leila de Lima, who heads the Senate justice committee leading the investigation, said that she was worried about the widespread killings, and that law enforcers and vigilantes may be using the crackdown ``to commit murder with impunity.''At least 1,779 drug suspects have been killed, including 712 who were gunned down in clashes with police, with the rest being slain in still-unclear circumstances, possibly by anti-vigilantes, national police chief Director-General Ronald dela Rosa told the senators, adding that he did not condone extrajudicial killings. Another senator, Antonio Trillanes IV, asked dela Rosa why the police have failed to stop the spate of killings perpetrated by suspecte...
Vatican City, Aug 22, 2016 / 04:10 am (CNA/EWTN News).- On Monday Pope Francis appointed U.S. Archbishop Michael W. Banach as Apostolic Nuncio to Guinea Bissau, marking the latest in a string of American nuncio appointments so far this year.The announcement that Archbishop Banach, previously nuncio to several other countries, will now be overseeing the Holy See’s relations with Guinea Bissau came in an Aug. 22 communique from the Vatican.Designated Titular Archbishop of Memphis in 2013, Archbishop Banach was named nuncio to Senegal and apostolic delegate to Mauritania March 19, and as nuncio to Cape Verde July 9. He will continue to hold these positions in addition to his new appointment as nuncio to Guinea Bissau, all of which sit along the Northwest coast of Africa.Born in Worcester, Mass. and ordained a priest for the diocese in July 1988, Archbishop Banach, 53, was originally made a Vatican ambassador in 2013 when he was named apostolic nuncio to Papua New Guinea and the S...
By Junno Arocho EstevesVATICAN CITY (CNS) -- The "narrowgate" to salvation described by Jesus isn't narrow because God is oppressive,but because pride bloats Christians and prevents them from entering God'smerciful embrace, Pope Francis said.Christians "must seizethe opportunities of salvation" and not waste time on trivial thingsbefore the gate is closed, the pope said before reciting the Angelus prayer Aug.22."If Godis good and loves us, why does he close the gate at some point?" the popeasked visitors gathered in St. Peter's Square. The reason, he said, is because "ourlife is not a video game or a soap opera; our life is serious and the goal to achieveis important: eternal salvation."In the day's Gospel reading,Jesus calls on his followers to "strive toenter through the narrow gate, for many,I tell you, will attempt to enter butwill not be strong enough."By using theimagery of the narrow gate, Jesus tells his listeners that the question of howmany will be saved is not as importa...
Ryan Lochte lost his first major sponsor when Speedo USA announced it is dropping the swimmer over a drunken incident during the Rio Olympics that he initially described as an armed robbery....
LAS VEGAS (AP) -- Popular Frank Sinatra tunes in Las Vegas hotel lobbies have been replaced by the likes of Sia and Rihanna. The final tower of the famed Riviera Hotel and Casino has fallen, and the Sands Hotel and Casino is long gone. A tribute show to the Rat Pack draws mainly retirees....
QUINCY, Mass. (AP) -- Police say a Massachusetts woman robbed a nun at knifepoint and got away with her rosary beads....
WARSAW, Poland (AP) -- Anette Mattsson had bid 200,000 euros ($226,500) for a prized gray Arabian mare but soon stopped. With the price rising rapidly and no sign of other bidders, she sensed that something strange was going on at the annual Pride of Poland sale on Aug. 14....
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) -- In some parts of the U.S., the thrill rides that hurl kids upside down, whirl them around or send them shooting down slides are checked out by state inspectors before customers climb on. But in other places, they are not required to get the once-over....
AUSTIN, Texas (AP) -- A federal judge in Texas is blocking for now the Obama administration's directive to U.S. public schools that transgender students must be allowed to use the bathrooms and locker rooms consistent with their chosen gender identity....
