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WASHINGTON (AP) -- Republicans jammed two of President Donald Trump's top Cabinet picks through the Senate Finance Committee with no Democrats in the room Wednesday after suspending a rule that would have otherwise barred them from taking the vote. The tactic seemed a warning shot that they might deploy brute political muscle in the upcoming fight over the Supreme Court vacancy....
(Vatican Radio) Expressing solidarity with the Muslim community, U.S. Bishops have expressed deep concern over religious freedom issues raised by President Trump’s Executive Order on refugees.Listen to the report by Linda Bordoni: In a statement published Tuesday, January 31, on the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) website and signed by Bishops Mitchell Rozanski, William Lori and Oscar Cantù, the Bishops respond to the Order and join other faith leaders to stand in solidarity with those affected by it.Please find below the full USCCB statement:WASHINGTON—On January 27, 2017, President Donald J. Trump issued an executive order that, among other things: suspends issuance of visas and other immigration benefits to nationals of seven predominantly Muslim countries for 90 days; indefinitely suspends resettlement of refugees from Syria, which is also predominantly Muslim, subject to a possible exception for those who are "religious minorities&...
(Vatican Radio) The exploitation and enslavement of children is the focus of a week of activities leading up to the February 8th world day of prayer for an end to human trafficking.Three years ago, Pope Francis asked women and men religious to organize a day, on the feast of the Sudanese saint Josephine Bakhita, to raise awareness of the plight of millions of victims of human trafficking.At a press conference on Wednesday sisters from the International Union of Superiors General (UISG) held a press conference to announce initiatives taking place in countries around the world, focused this year on the theme of children in slavery.Here in Rome, activities include a seminar at the Gregorian University, a film evening, a prayer vigil at the Rome parish of Ognissanti on the Via Appia and participation in the Pope’s general audience.To find out more about the focus for this year’s event, Philippa Hitchen spoke to the president of the UISG, Sr Carmen Sammut…..Listen:&n...
The Southern African Catholic Bishops' Conference (SACBC) who have been meeting at St John Vianney Seminary in Pretoria, on Monday released a Pastoral letter on marriage and family as their response and follow-up to the two Synods of Bishops on the Family that were held in the Vatican in 2014 and 2015. In the wake of the Synods, Pope Francis, in April 2016, released his Apostolic Exhortation, 'Amoris Laetitia' - On the Joy of Love in the family.The Pastoral letter signed by the Archbishop of Cape Town and President of the SACBC, Stephen Brislin, says the Bishops are preparing resources to equip and help priests, deacons and pastoral workers assist the faithful in heartbreaking and difficult situations that arise in many marriages.The Bishops call on the faithful to read and reflect on Pope Francis’ Apostolic Exhortation, Amoris Laetitia“We encourage everyone to reflect upon the exhortation of the Pope, whether in its full version or with the use of th...
The 29th Plenary Assembly of Conference of Catholic Bishops of India (CCBI) commenced with solemn Eucharistic celebration in the Assumption Church, Asha Niketan Campus Bhopal, India on Tuesday.The Theme of this assembly is “Promoting the Joy of Love in Our Families”. The Bishops will chalk out detailed programmes and action plans to revitalize the family apostolate at the diocesan and parish levels.More than 130 Bishops of the 182 Latin rite bishops in the country are participating in the 8 day deliberations on the issues concerning Families in Asia with a special focus on India.Cardinal Oswald Gracias, the main celebrant in his opening address, called for revitalizing the families in view of the call given by Pope Francis. A grand inaugural function was held in St. Joseph Co-ed School auditorium. On this occasion all the newly appointed Bishops were honoured with floral greetings.The second day of the assembly began with serious reflections on parental resp...
(Vatican Radio) The Vatican supermarket is supporting those affected by the earthquakes in central Italy by offering goods for sale made by local farmers in the region, especially the small town of Amatrice, which was hit hardest by the quake on 24 August 2016.The Vatican supermarket can be used by employees, retirees, and others affiliated with the Vatican who are provided with a special card providing them access.Immediately after the earthquake, Pope Francis sent members of the Vatican fire department to aid in rescue efforts, and medical personnel working at the Vatican also volunteered to help.Nearly 300 people died in the August quake, and dozens of others have died in subsequent tremors.
Vatican City, Feb 1, 2017 / 06:47 am (CNA/EWTN News).- On Wednesday Pope Francis said the Christian belief in the Resurrection of Christ and in our own resurrection at the end of time is more than just wishful thinking, but rather implies confidence in something certain.“This is the Christian hope. Christian hope is the expectation of something that has already been accomplished and that certainly will be realized for each of us,” the Pope said Feb. 1.Speaking to pilgrims in the Vatican’s Paul VI hall, he said that we need “to return to the root and foundation of our faith, so as to become aware of what God has done for us in Christ Jesus and what our death means.”Continuing his catechesis on the theme of hope, Francis’ lesson for the audience centered on the Letter of St. Paul to the Thessalonians. The community of Thessalonica had only been around for a few years when Paul wrote, which was shortly after Christ’s Resurrection, he said.At th...
IMAGE: CNS photo/Paul JeffreyBy Paul JeffreyMOSUL, Iraq (CNS) -- As some residents ofthe city of Mosul celebrate their new freedom from the Islamic State group, anIraqi Christian leader who visited the war-torn city said Christian residentsare unlikely to return."I don't see a future for Christians inMosul," said Father Emanuel Youkhana, a priest, or archimandrite, of the AssyrianChurch of the East.Father Youkhana, who runs Christian Aid Program Northern Iraq, aChristian program for displaced Iraqis around the city of Dohuk, entered Mosulin a military convoy Jan. 27, the day Iraqi officials raised the national flagover the eastern part of the city. Islamic State seized the city in 2014,causing Christians and other minorities to flee. Once inside Mosul, Father Youkhana movedabout freely, talking to residents and soldiers. He visited two churches, bothheavily damaged."The churches were used as warehousesby Daesh," he said, referring to the terrorist group by its common Arabic name."Th...
IMAGE: CNS/Paul HaringBy Carol GlatzVATICAN CITY (CNS) -- Christian hope isn't aboutbelieving in something that may or may not come true, like hoping tomorrow'sweather will be pleasant, Pope Francis said."Christian hope is the expectation of something thatalready has been fulfilled and that certainly will be attained for each one ofus," that is, knowing Christ died and is truly risen so that all ofhumanity may gain salvation and live together with God, the pope said Feb. 1during his weekly general audience.Continuing a series of talks on Christian hope, the popelooked at St. Paul's First Letter to the Thessalonians (5:4-11) and what itteaches about the Christian belief in life after death.The early Christian community at Thessaloniki was firm inits belief in Christ's resurrection, but trusting in one's own resurrection andthe resurrection of loved ones was a bit harder to grasp, the pope said.Such doubts and uncertainty still exist today as "weall are a little afraid of dying," he ...
NEW YORK (AP) -- Hillary Clinton has a lot of plans for 2017, including some reflections on her stunning loss last fall to Donald Trump....
