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Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle of Manila has called on Filipino Catholics not to be quick in condemning anybody but instead ‘find gifts’ in people often discredited by society. In his homily during the closing Mass of the 3rd Philippine Conference on New Evangelization on Sunday, he said that there many people who are being treated like worthless and no one cares for them. “Let us be careful. The person we want to discredit might be a gift of God. You don’t throw away gifts. Gifts are treasured,” Card. Tagle told the crowd gathered at the UST Quadricentennial Pavilion in Manila. The cardinal asked the people to be merciful like Jesus who sees a gift even in “wounded sheep”. “Jesus sees a gift even in Judas,” he said. “There’s hope even in someone who had betrayed Jesus.”Reflecting on the Gospel of John, the Archbishop of Manila said God does not want to condemn anybody, but rather seeks sa...
Caritas Sri Lanka organized an event last week to respond to what they say is an urgent need to reconcile individuals and communities who experienced three decades of ethnic-related civil war. Over 100 Sinhalese and Tamils from Jaffna, Mannar, Kandy and Anuradhapura dioceses gathered at Our Lady of Madhu Shrine's Retreat House on July 15 - 16 to "bring hearts and minds together for national reconciliation." "On the first day they had some fear but that vanished and they became good friends," said Father M. Jeyabalan, who works for reconciliation between the two ethnic groups. "The program helped people understand the importance of reconciliation," he said. "Such programs take place at the community level and pave the way to create sustainable peace," the priest said. "We want to promote inter-ethnic and inter-cultural harmony and create a sustainable peace in the country."The program commenced with a short walk with...
A Bangladeshi court has indicted 41 people for murder in the 2013 deaths of more than 1,100 people in the collapse of a building that housed five garment factories outside the capital. District Judge S.M. Kuddus Zaman announced Monday that the trial in the Rana Plaza collapse will begin Sept. 18. Masud Rana, who owned the building outside Dhaka, and 33 other people pleaded not guilty when the charges against them were read out in court. Another seven are accused of absconding. If convicted, the defendants could face up to death penalty. A police report submitted to the court called the deaths a ``mass killing.''Regarded as one of the world’s worst industrial disasters, the Rana Plaza tragedy highlighted appalling safety problems and factory workers’ rights in the country's US$25-billion garment industry, the world's second-largest after China's, that supplies garments to international companie...
Pope Francis has telephoned leaders of the terror-stricken French city of Nice, asking what he could do to help in the wake of last week’s attack which left 84 people dead and scores wounded.Pope Francis made his call out of the blue on Sunday evening to Paolo Celi, head of "Amitié France-Italie", a national association for Italians living in France, and to Christian Estrosi, mayor of Nice.Celi told Vatican Radio that the Pope called at about 7pm Sunday evening “apologizing because he doesn’t speak French very well”.“The first thing he said to me was, ‘What can I do for you?'” Celi said, recalling the conversation before he connected Francis to Estrosi.Celi said the Pope promised to meet “as soon as possible” with the families of the victims.But, he specified, the date is yet to be set.Speaking to Vatican Radio Estrosi said the Holy Father’s gesture has restored in him the energy he needs to go forwar...
For the first time in the history of Pakistan, Pakistani authorities have recognised two members of religious minorities, a Sikh and a Christian, as tribal leaders in the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA). This will allow members of the two minority groups, about 30,000 people, to press for their social, educational, and health rights.Wilson Wazir Masih, a Christian and Gormeet Singh, a Sikh, both are now ‘malik, a Pashto term that means ‘tribal elder’. This entitles them to a government salary, but above it allows them to participate in the jirga (local councils) to settle disputes or hear petition brought to the authorities. Local and federal government officials are required to consult them. This is the first time that such a privilege is granted to members of the Christian and Sikh minorities.FATA is located in north-western Pakistan, on the border with Afghanistan. Most of its 10 million residents are ethnic Pashtun. Fo...
(Vatican Radio) International Nelson Mandela Day is celebrated on 18th July, inspired by a call made my Nelson Mandela for the next generation to take on the burden of leadership in addressing the world’s social injustices.Since his death, Mandela Day is an opportunity to recognize the legacy of South Africa’s most prominent leader, and the struggles he endured to ensure social justice for all.Established by the UN and the Republic of South Africa, Mandela Day encourages everyone to dedicate 67 minutes of their life to others, as a way of commemorating the 67 years Mandela spent devoting his life to ensure equality and a better South Africa.Vatican Radio’s Georgia Gogarty spoke to Fr. Patrick Rakeketsi, the Associate Secretary of the Catholic Bishops Conference of Southern Africa, to talk about the significance of Mandela Day and what must be done to ensure that his vision is carried out.Listen: Fr. Rakeketsi expressed the importance of Mandela Day, p...
By Junno Arocho EstevesVATICAN CITY (CNS)-- Remembering the victims of the tragic terrorist attack in Nice, France, PopeFrancis prayed that God may give comfort to grieving families and foil the plans ofthose who wish to harm others. "May God, thegood father, receive all the victims in his peace, support the wounded andcomfort the families; may he dispel every plan of terror and death so that noman dares to spill his brother's blood ever again," the pope said July 17 after reciting theAngelus prayer with visitors gathered in St.Peter's Square.Thepope spoke following the July 14 attack during Bastille Day celebrations alongNice's seaside promenade that killed 84 people. The French government declaredthree days of mourning beginning July 16.Ina message following the attack signed by Cardinal Pietro Parolin, Vaticansecretary of state, the pope condemned the Bastille Day attack as an "actof blind violence" and expressed his "deep sorrow" and"spiritual closeness" with the French people....
NEW YORK (AP) -- It's Taylor vs. Kanye, part 242, with a dash of Kim Kardashian....
First, you were supposed to die at 85. Then 90. Now 95 and even 100 are common defaults when financial planners tell people how much to save for retirement....
MSAKEN, Tunisia (AP) -- The uncle of the truck driver who killed 84 people on the French Riviera says his nephew was indoctrinated about two weeks ago by an Algerian member of the Islamic State group in Nice, as anti-terrorism authorities question potential accomplices in the devastating attack....
