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RICHMOND, Va. (AP) -- Virginia State Police say two troopers responding to a shooting at a Richmond bus station and a civilian have been taken to a hospital....
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MADISON, Wis. (AP) -- Next Tuesday's Wisconsin presidential primary is emerging as a crucial lifeline for Republicans desperate to stop Donald Trump's march to their party's nomination. One of his worst weeks of the 2016 campaign is colliding with a state already skeptical of his brash brand of politics....
When the terrible anti-Christian violence took place in eastern India’s Odisha state during Christmas of 2007, and again in August 2008, Archbishop John Barwa was the coadjutor bishop of Rourkela, a diocese in Odisha. When his predecessor Alphonse Bilung retired in 2009, he succeeded as bishop of Rourkela. In February 2011, Pope Benedict XVI appointed him the Archbishop of Cuttack-Bhubaneshwar, based in the state capital Bhubaneshwar. Under his jurisdiction comes the District of Kandhamal, which was the epicentre of the 2008 brutal violence against Christians that erupted with untold ferocity following the Aug. 23 assassination of Hindu leader Swami Lakshmanananda, which Hindu extremists falsely blamed on Christians despite Maoist rebels claiming the murder. Nearly 8 years after the violence, Christians are indeed shining examples of faith, forgiveness and reconciliation as they still await justice, compensation and tr...
When the terrible anti-Christian violence took place in eastern India’s Odisha state during Christmas of 2007, and again in August 2008, Archbishop John Barwa was the coadjutor bishop of Rourkela, a diocese in Odisha. When his predecessor Alphonse Bilung retired in 2009, he succeeded as bishop of Rourkela. In February 2011, Pope Benedict XVI appointed him the Archbishop of Cuttack-Bhubaneshwar, based in the state capital Bhubaneshwar. Under his jurisdiction comes the District of Kandhamal, which was the epicentre of the 2008 brutal violence against Christians that erupted with untold ferocity following the Aug. 23 assassination of Hindu leader Swami Lakshmanananda, which Hindu extremists falsely blamed on Christians despite Maoist rebels claiming the murder.
Nearly 8 years after the violence, Christians are indeed shining examples of faith, forgiveness and reconciliation as they still await justice, compensation and truth, says Archbishop Barwa in an Easter message to Vatican Radio. Talking to us on his mobile phone from Odisha, he speaks about the martyrdom of his Christians against the backdrop of the powerful, the rich and the extremists, who want to lord it over others, especially the unfortunate, in stark contrast to Christ and his message of humble service and love. Here’s the Easter message of Archbishop John Barwa of Cuttack-Bhubaneshwar:
Listen:
(Vatican Radio) Pope Francis’s highly-anticipated post-synodal Apostolic Exhortation, “Amoris Laetitia” (The Joy of Love) on love in the family will be released on Friday 8th April. The Vatican said the Exhortation will be presented to journalists at the Holy See’s Press Office on Friday 8th April at 11.30. The text of the Apostolic Exhortation in Italian, French, English, German, Spanish and Portuguese (in paper and/or digital format) will be available to accredited journalists from 8.00 a.m. (Rome time) on Friday 8th April. However, the document will remain under embargo until 12 noon that day. The panel of speakers at the press conference will include: Cardinal Lorenzo Baldisseri, general secretary of the Synod of Bishops; Cardinal Christoph Schönborn, O.P., archbishop of Vienna, and an Italian married couple: Professor Francesco Miano, lecturer in moral philosophy at Rome’s University of Tor Vergata, and his wife, Professor Gi...
(Vatican Radio) Pope Francis’s highly-anticipated post-synodal Apostolic Exhortation, “Amoris Laetitia” (The Joy of Love) on love in the family will be released on Friday 8th April. The Vatican said the Exhortation will be presented to journalists at the Holy See’s Press Office on Friday 8th April at 11.30.
The text of the Apostolic Exhortation in Italian, French, English, German, Spanish and Portuguese (in paper and/or digital format) will be available to accredited journalists from 8.00 a.m. (Rome time) on Friday 8th April. However, the document will remain under embargo until 12 noon that day.
The panel of speakers at the press conference will include: Cardinal Lorenzo Baldisseri, general secretary of the Synod of Bishops; Cardinal Christoph Schönborn, O.P., archbishop of Vienna, and an Italian married couple: Professor Francesco Miano, lecturer in moral philosophy at Rome’s University of Tor Vergata, and his wife, Professor Giuseppina De Simone in Miano, lecturer in philosophy at the Theological Faculty of Southern Italy in Naples.
A simultaneous translation service will be available in Italian, English and Spanish. The Press Conference can be seen via live streaming (audio-video) on the site:
http://player.rv.va (Vatican Player, Vatican Radio) where it will subsequently remain available on demand.
The Apostolic Exhortation is the conclusion of a two-year synod process discussing both the beauty and challenges of family life today.
In 2014 the Vatican hosted an Extraordinary Synod which was in preparation for the October 2015 Ordinary Synod. An estimated 190 bishops from around the world participated in each gathering.
The 2015 Synod’s theme was “the vocation and mission of the family in the Church and the modern world.”
(Vatican Radio) Cardinal Christoph Schonborn, Archbishop of Vienna, says mercy is always here and now and is to be directed to all those who are suffering. His remarks came during a speech opening the 4-day European Apostolic Congress on Mercy in Rome. On Saturday (April 2nd), participants at the Congress will take part with Pope Francis in a Prayer Vigil in St Peter's Square for those who are devoted to the spirituality of Divine Mercy. The following day, the participants will also attend the Divine Mercy Sunday Mass in the Square celebrated by the Pope. The gatherings are some of the highlights of the ongoing Jubilee Year of Mercy. In his address at the Congress, Cardinal Schonborn reflected on the difference between human and divine mercy and how so many people have hearts of stone or else show false mercy when they wish to get rid of a problem. By contrast, God’s mercy and compassion are inexhaustible, he declared.
(Vatican Radio) Cardinal Christoph Schonborn, Archbishop of Vienna, says mercy is always here and now and is to be directed to all those who are suffering. His remarks came during a speech opening the 4-day European Apostolic Congress on Mercy in Rome. On Saturday (April 2nd), participants at the Congress will take part with Pope Francis in a Prayer Vigil in St Peter's Square for those who are devoted to the spirituality of Divine Mercy. The following day, the participants will also attend the Divine Mercy Sunday Mass in the Square celebrated by the Pope. The gatherings are some of the highlights of the ongoing Jubilee Year of Mercy.
In his address at the Congress, Cardinal Schonborn reflected on the difference between human and divine mercy and how so many people have hearts of stone or else show false mercy when they wish to get rid of a problem. By contrast, God’s mercy and compassion are inexhaustible, he declared.
New York City, N.Y., Mar 31, 2016 / 12:02 am (CNA/EWTN News).- The Holy See paid homage to all women and girls who have selflessly served others in education, healthcare, and forming the youth and upheld the four Missionaries of Charity murdered in Yemen as an example of women with unwavering dedication to peace.“My delegation feels duty-bound at this moment to remember with gratitude and sorrow the four Missionary Sisters of the Charity Sister Anselm from India, Sister Marguerite and Sister Reginette from Rwanda, and Sister Judit from Kenya, who were massacred by cowardly fundamentalists on March 4 in Aden, Yemen,” a Vatican spokesperson told the United Nations Security Council March 28.“There is no greater sacrifice for peace and reconciliation than to lay down one’s life for it,” he said. “May their blood these be seeds for a peaceful and reconciled Yemen!” Apostolic Nuncio and Permanent Observer of the Holy See to the United Nations, Arc...
New York City, N.Y., Mar 31, 2016 / 12:02 am (CNA/EWTN News).- The Holy See paid homage to all women and girls who have selflessly served others in education, healthcare, and forming the youth and upheld the four Missionaries of Charity murdered in Yemen as an example of women with unwavering dedication to peace.
“My delegation feels duty-bound at this moment to remember with gratitude and sorrow the four Missionary Sisters of the Charity Sister Anselm from India, Sister Marguerite and Sister Reginette from Rwanda, and Sister Judit from Kenya, who were massacred by cowardly fundamentalists on March 4 in Aden, Yemen,” a Vatican spokesperson told the United Nations Security Council March 28.
“There is no greater sacrifice for peace and reconciliation than to lay down one’s life for it,” he said. “May their blood these be seeds for a peaceful and reconciled Yemen!” Apostolic Nuncio and Permanent Observer of the Holy See to the United Nations, Archbishop Bernardito Auza said.
His address was part of the U.N. Security Council Open Debate entitled, “Women, peace and security: The role of women in conflict prevention and resolution in Africa.”
The archbishop explained that women are “beyond crucial” to conflict resolution and peace-building efforts, as is their “special gift” of showing others “to be more receptive and sensitive to the needs of others.”
Therefore, it is essential that the work of women in these initiatives is highlighted and supported by the U.N. Security Council and all participating governments, especially in the area of education, he said.
He lauded all the women who, “even in the most difficult circumstances,” have found a way to “distinguish themselves for their bravery, constancy and dedication” in the development of their nations through work in “education, healthcare and values formation.”
He thanked the Council for its work in raising awareness about “the vital role of women in preventive diplomacy, mediation, peacekeeping missions and peace-building processes,” but said that this recognition “must be fully translated into action.”
The archbishop highlighted the work of the Catholic Church in supporting the “inspiring work of African women” on their path to foster human dignity in their countries by standing up for the weak, preventing violence in their communities, and caring for victims of conflict.
However, the Church must continue its work in support African women in political power and diplomatic influence by to provide education to future generations of leaders.
“I am proud to say that the Catholic Church in Africa is the leading provider of quality education for all, ensuring to the best of its possibilities that no woman or girl would be left unschooled, preparing them to become dignified agents of their own personal flourishing and active protagonists in building strong families and peaceful societies.”
Women in leadership positions are especially helpful to those who have been victims of rape or violence, he said. Some find it easier to trust organizations run by women, many of whom are religious sisters or nuns, than men.
Still, it is difficult for many women to “emancipate themselves” from abuse and exclusion, especially in areas of conflict where rape is used as a weapon of war, or where women are coerced into marriage, conversion or abortions.
“Instead of being eradicated, some of these acts of violence have re-emerged in even crueler forms, constituting some of the most horrendous violations of human rights,” he said.
The U.N. Security Council and all governments have a particular obligation to “put an end to these barbaric acts.”
Photo credit: www.shutterstock.com.
By Cindy WoodenVATICAN CITY (CNS) -- The Vatican has set April 8 for therelease of "Amoris Laetitia" ("The Joy of Love"), PopeFrancis' reflection on the family and family life.The document, subtitled "On Love in the Family,"will be released at a Vatican news conference with Cardinal Lorenzo Baldisseri,general secretary of the Synod of Bishops, Austrian Cardinal Christoph Schonbornof Vienna and Giuseppina and Francesco Miano, a married couple who participatedin both the 2014 and 2015 synods of bishops on the family."Amoris Laetitia" is what is known as a"postsynodal apostolic exhortation," a document addressed to thewhole church reflecting on themes of church life and faith that have beendiscussed at a gathering of the Synod of Bishops.According to a variety of reports, the document will be long-- perhaps as many as 200 pages.Speaking to reporters flying with him from Mexico to Rome inlate February, Pope Francis said the document "will summarize all that thesynod said," including ab...
By Cindy Wooden
VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- The Vatican has set April 8 for the release of "Amoris Laetitia" ("The Joy of Love"), Pope Francis' reflection on the family and family life.
The document, subtitled "On Love in the Family," will be released at a Vatican news conference with Cardinal Lorenzo Baldisseri, general secretary of the Synod of Bishops, Austrian Cardinal Christoph Schonborn of Vienna and Giuseppina and Francesco Miano, a married couple who participated in both the 2014 and 2015 synods of bishops on the family.
"Amoris Laetitia" is what is known as a "postsynodal apostolic exhortation," a document addressed to the whole church reflecting on themes of church life and faith that have been discussed at a gathering of the Synod of Bishops.
According to a variety of reports, the document will be long -- perhaps as many as 200 pages.
Speaking to reporters flying with him from Mexico to Rome in late February, Pope Francis said the document "will summarize all that the synod said," including about broken families, the importance of serious marriage preparation programs, raising and educating children, and "integrating" divorced and civilly remarried Catholics into active parish life even if they cannot receive Communion.
"The key word that the synod used -- and I will refer back to it -- is to 'integrate' wounded families, families with remarried spouses, and all this, into the life of the church," the pope said on the plane Feb. 17.
However, he said, "being integrated into the church does not mean 'taking Communion.' I know remarried Catholics who go to church once or twice a year" and say, "'I want to receive Communion,' as if Communion were a prize."
"It is a matter of integration ... the doors are all open. But one cannot just say: From now on 'they can take Communion.' This would also wound the spouses, the couple, because it won't help them on the path to integration," the pope said. Receiving Communion eventually could be possible, he indicated, but integration is "a journey, it is a path."
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Follow Wooden on Twitter: @Cindy_Wooden.
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Five female players from the World Cup-winning U.S. national team have accused the U.S. Soccer Federation of wage discrimination in an action filed with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission....
