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WASHINGTON (AP) -- The Senate confirmation hearing of Sen. Jeff Sessions, President-elect Donald Trump's pick for Attorney General, is likely to rehash racially charged allegations that derailed his efforts to become a federal judge and made him a symbol of black-voter intimidation under the Reagan Administration....
Pakistan’s Islamic parties are preventing the revision of school curricula and are spreading hatred and stereotypes against religious minorities, particularly in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, this according to a study carried out by the National Commission for Justice and Peace (NCJP) of the Catholic Bishops' Conference of Pakistan.The research, which covers the last five years, found that Islamic religious parties have become a pressure group strong enough to prevent education authorities from revising school programmes for fear of retaliation and protests.The study notes that Urdu-language history, social studies and Islamic studies are full of biased ideas about minorities.In the province of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, hateful content is ten per cent higher than in other provinces. The responsibility for this lies mostly with the Ministry of Education, which is led by a member of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf.Although the party portrays itself as liberal, it has failed to set prior...
Vatican Weekend for November 19, 2016 features a segment on the consistory November 19th and some of the men whom Pope Francis raises to the rank of cardinal: among them, men from "the ends of the earth" and countries in conflict. The Jubilee Year of Mercy comes to an end with the closing of the Holy Door of St. Peter’s basilica by Pope Francis. We bring you a special report on the artists who crafted the door's bronze panels and a reflection for the occasion from American Mgr. William Millea.Listen to the programme produced and presented by Tracey McClure:
(Vatican Radio) As the Year of Mercy draws to a close, a group of Australian artists on Thursday came together in Rome to perform a work dedicated to the theme of this Jubilee Year.‘The Faces of Mercy’ combines music by composer George Palmer, poetry by author Keven Brophy and artwork by Sydney born artist Niké Arrighi Borghese. It also draws on the writings, preaching and speeches of Pope Francis reflecting on the theme of God’s mercy for all of humanity.Listen to Philippa Hitchen's report: The idea for this project originated with the former Australian ambassador to the Holy See John McCarthy. Over the centuries, he noted, Jubilee Years "have inspired sacred works" by many great artists and writers. In a similar way, 'The Faces of Mercy' offers a reflection on this year proclaimed by Pope Francis, through some of the best music, poetry and art that Australia has to offer.Supported by the archdiocese of Sydney, Australian Catho...
Vatican Weekend for November 20, 2016 features our weekly reflection on the Sunday Gospel reading, “There’s More in the Sunday Gospel than Meets the Eye” and EWTN’s Rome bureau chief, Joan Lewis looks back at recent events in the Vatican.Listen to the programme produced and presented by Tracey McClure:
(Vatican Radio) Despite public opposition, Ferdinand Marcos, the late president of the Philippines, has been buried in a heroes' cemetery in the capital on Friday, in a ceremony shrouded in secrecy. The move has once again triggered protests across the country.He is accused to have cheated his way to power and of torturing, abducting and killing thousands of opponents, as well as looting billions of dollars from the country.Auxiliary Bishop Broderick Pabillo of Manila described the late dictator's burial in the Philippines' cemetery for heroes as "dishonorable." Fr Jerome Secillano, of the public affairs office of the bishops' conference, said it "desecrated the meaning of honor, nobility, and heroism."Marcos was president of the Philippines from 1965 to 1986, when he was overthrown by a revolt - dubbed the People Power revolution - and forced to flee into exile to Hawaii, where he died in 1989. His body was returned to the Philippines in 1993 a...
Nairobi, Kenya, Nov 18, 2016 / 06:02 am (CNA/EWTN News).- Ahead of Kenya’s 2017 elections, the country’s Catholic bishops warned about the potential for inflammatory language and politician-driven ethnic tensions to add to violence and endanger the country.“The well-being and prosperity of our country depends on all of us,” the bishops said in a Nov. 11 statement. “This is the only Kenya we have and we must guard our liberties jealously so that those who come after us will find a country where there is peace and harmony. We should never allow few individuals to spoil the peace in Kenya and interfere with our inheritance.”“Together we can build a country that is just and free from corruption, a country that is orderly and respects the rule of law and a country where the dignity of every person is respected and valued,” they added.The statement, titled “For Love of our country, work for peace and unity,” was signed by Bishop ...
Vatican City, Nov 18, 2016 / 06:08 am (CNA/EWTN News).- In a lengthy new interview, Pope Francis opened up about his thoughts on the Jubilee of Mercy as well as progress made in the field of ecumenism, both of which he said have roots in the Second Vatican Council.Asked what the Year of Mercy has meant to him, the Pope said that he hopes “many people have discovered themselves to be very loved by Jesus and have allowed themselves to be embraced by him.”“His mercy always leads him to forgive, to forget our sins,” he said. “I like to think that the Omnipotent has a bad memory. Once he forgives you, he forgets. Because he is happy to forgive. For me this is enough. All of Christianity is here.”The Pope’s interview with Italian paper Avvenire, the official publication of the Italian Bishops Conference, was published Nov. 18 and took place just days before the Extraordinary Jubilee of Mercy is set come to a close. Pope Francis will close the Holy...
IMAGE: CNS/Paul HaringBy Cindy WoodenVATICAN CITY (CNS) -- Catholics will forgive their priestsfor almost any weakness, but not for an exaggerated attachment to money or formistreating parishioners, Pope Francis told 160 priests who work in Vaticannunciatures around the world."The people of God have a great nose" for sniffingout priests who serve the god of money more than God the father, he told thepriests Nov. 18.Celebrating Mass with them in the chapel of the DomusSanctae Marthae, Pope Francis focused on the day's Gospel reading, which wasSt. Luke's account of Jesus throwing the money-changers out of the temple.In the reading, Jesus accuses the merchants of turning theLord's house into a "den of thieves.""The Lord helps us understand what is the seed of theAntichrist, the seed of the enemy, the seed that ruins his kingdom" -- an attachment tomoney, the pope said."A heart attached to money is an idolatrousheart," he said.A church, like the temple, is supposed to be a house ofpray...
IMAGE: CNS/Paul HaringBy Carol GlatzVATICAN CITY (CNS) -- Thechurch is not a prop for one's ego, a soapbox for ideas or a suit ofarmor protecting a sad life, Pope Francissaid."Thechurch exists only as an instrument for communicating God's mercifulplan to the people," he said in aninterview published in the Nov. 18 edition of Avvenire, an ItalianCatholic newspaper. God doesn't ask for grandgestures, just for the trustful abandon of a child in a father's armsand for sharing that divine love and mercy with others, he said."Those who discoverthey are loved very much begin to emerge from terrible solitude, fromthe separation that leads to hating others and oneself," headded.Whilemost of the lengthy interview's questions touched on ecumenism andthe meaning of the Year of Mercy, the pope's responses revealed hisvision of the church and the "bad spirit" or psychologicaldefects that foster division.Forexample, he said, some reactions to his apostolic exhortation,"Amoris Laetitia," continue ...
