Washington D.C., Oct 8, 2016 / 02:21 pm (CNA/EWTN News).- The Catholic political advocacy group CatholicVote.org has joined calls for Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump to step down following his lewd comments about women in a leaked audio ... Read more
Rome, Italy, Oct 8, 2016 / 10:49 am (CNA/EWTN News).- During a special Jubilee weekend dedicated to Mary, Pope Francis said Mary was not only Christ’s mother, but also his obedient disciple and a model of concrete service to others. “Throughout her life, Mary did everything that the Church is asked to do in perennial memory of Christ,” the Pope said Oct. 8. With her faith, “we learn to open our hearts to obey God; in her self-denial, we see the importance of tending to the needs of others; in her tears, we find the strength to console those experiencing pain.” In each of these moments, Mary “expresses the wealth of divine mercy that reaches out to all in their daily need.” Pope Francis spoke to thousands of pilgrims gathered in St. Peter’s Square to celebrate a special Oct. 7-9 Marian Jubilee, which is part of the Pope’s larger Jubilee of Mercy. The Marian Jubilee opened Oct. 7 with Mass in the Roman Basilica of Saint Mary Major. The Mass was followed by the recitation of the rosary in Saint Peter’s Square and the Prayer to the Queen of the Holy Rosary of Pompeii. Adoration and confessions were then available until midnight in the parishes of Santa Maria in Valicella, also called "Chiesa Nuova," and San Salvatore in Lauro. Jubilee activities continued Saturday morning with a pilgrimage to the Holy Doors of the four Major Basilicas in Rome: St. Mary Major, St. Paul Outside the Wall, St. John Lateran and St. Peter's. Groups of various Marian delegations from national communities and shrines then participated in a special procession to St. Peter's Square, where Pope Francis led pilgrims in praying the Glorious Mysteries of the Rosary before delivering his address. In his speech, the Pope noted how from the earliest centuries of the Church Mary has been invoked as the “Mother of Mercy,” explaining that the prayer of the rosary in many ways is a “synthesis of the history of God's mercy, which becomes a history of salvation for all who let themselves be shaped by grace.” By reflecting on the important moments in Jesus’ life, we see how his mercy is shown to everyone from all walks and stages of life, he said, adding that Mary always accompanies us on this journey, pointing us in the direction of her Son, “who radiates the very mercy of the Father.” Mary guides us toward the path we are called to take “in order to be true disciples of Jesus,” he said, adding that in praying the rosary, we feel her closeness in each mystery and contemplate her role as “the first disciple of her Son, for she does the Father’s will. Francis stressed that Mary can help teach us what it means to be a disciple of Christ, because while she was “eternally chosen to be his Mother,” she also learned how to be his disciple. “Her first act was to listen to God,” he said, noting how she then obeyed the angel’s message and followed Jesus closely, “listening to every word that issued from his lips” and keeping them in her heart. However, the Pope stressed, “it’s not enough simply to listen.” While this is the first step, it must be followed by concrete action. “The disciple truly puts his life at the service of the Gospel,” he said, and, recalling Mary’s own actions, pointed to how after the Annunciation, Mary immediately went to her cousin Elizabeth to help her during her pregnancy. Not only did she then give birth to the Son of God, but she also showed her concern for the young spouses in Cana by interceding for them. When Jesus was crucified on Golgotha, Mary “did not flee pain but stood beneath the cross of Jesus and, by his will, became the Mother of the Church.” After Jesus rose from the dead, she then “encouraged the apostles assembled in the upper room as they awaited the Holy Spirit, who would make them fearless heralds of the Gospel,” Pope Francis said. Francis closed his homily invoking Mary’s intercession, praying that she would be “a protection, help and blessing for us all the days of our life.” “We fly to your protection, holy Mother of God. Scorn not our petitions in the hour of need. O glorious and blessed Virgin, deliver us always from every peril. Celebrations for the Marian Jubilee will conclude Sunday with a special Mass celebrated by Pope Francis in St. Peter's Square. Read more
Washington D.C., Oct 8, 2016 / 06:01 am (CNA/EWTN News).- China’s “utterly disgraceful” human rights record is not just bad, it’s getting worse every year, a new Congressional report has warned. “The Chinese government&rs... Read more
New York City, N.Y., Oct 7, 2016 / 04:29 pm (CNA/EWTN News).- The United Nations Security Council has selected committed Catholic and human rights advocate as the nominee for Secretary General of the international organization. “I have two words to describe what I'm feeling now – gratitude and humility,” António Guterres said. “Humility about the huge challenges ahead of us, the terrible complexity of the modern world. But it is also humility that is required to serve the most vulnerable, victims of conflicts, of terrorism, rights violations, poverty and injustices of this world.” Should Guterres' nomination be approved by the 193-member UN General Assembly, he will begin his tenure as UN Secretary General Jan. 1, 2017. Guterres will replace outgoing secretary general Ban Ki-moon, who has served two five-year terms. From 2005 to the end of 2015, Guterres ran the UN refugee agency, where he has oversaw aid and assistance for more than 60 million refugees and displaced persons around the world. As high commissioner, Guterres reformed the internal administration of the UN Refugee Agency and coordinated and expanded the response to the Syrian refugee crisis and refugee crises in Iraq, the Central African Republic, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo, among other locations. While at the UN, Guterres also received a reputation for being a skilled diplomat, as well as for challenging wealthier and more powerful nations to do more to help the vulnerable and those facing human rights crises. Previous to his work at the UN, Guterres also helped to found Portugal’s Socialist party and served as head of the party and then Prime Minister of the country from 1995-2002. Wile prime minister, he helped overturn attempts to legalize abortion in Portugal. Guterres was also involved in combating Portugal’s heroin addiction problem through decriminalization accompanied by the promotion of therapy, family support, and social reintegration. In the 15 years since the implementation of the program, drug use and health problems related to addiction have dropped precipitously. Guterres was selected as the nominee for UN Secretary General by representatives of the 15-member Security Council, which includes the United States, United Kingom, France, Russia and China, along with 10 temporary members from around the world. Also running for the position were 13 other candidates, including a record seven women. The United Nations has not been led by a woman in its 71-year history. While Guterres has been the front runner due to his strong record with refugees and human rights, his selection did not come without conflict. His nomination has been criticized by those who hoped a woman would lead the international organization. Guterres has also been opposed by abortion-supporting organizations and advocates of same-sex marriage, who decry his for his defense of life as well as statements he has made in the past against same-sex marriage and concerns he has raised regarding the LGBT movement. To address the issue of gender equality within the United Nations, Guterres has vowed gender parity in making appointments to high-level UN positions. Read more
New York City, N.Y., Oct 7, 2016 / 04:29 pm (CNA/EWTN News).- The United Nations Security Council has selected committed Catholic and human rights advocate as the nominee for Secretary General of the international organization. “I have two words to describe what I'm feeling now – gratitude and humility,” António Guterres said. “Humility about the huge challenges ahead of us, the terrible complexity of the modern world. But it is also humility that is required to serve the most vulnerable, victims of conflicts, of terrorism, rights violations, poverty and injustices of this world.” Should Guterres' nomination be approved by the 193-member UN General Assembly, he will begin his tenure as UN Secretary General Jan. 1, 2017. Guterres will replace outgoing secretary general Ban Ki-moon, who has served two five-year terms. From 2005 to the end of 2015, Guterres ran the UN refugee agency, where he has oversaw aid and assistance for more than 60 million refugees and displaced persons around the world. As high commissioner, Guterres reformed the internal administration of the UN Refugee Agency and coordinated and expanded the response to the Syrian refugee crisis and refugee crises in Iraq, the Central African Republic, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo, among other locations. While at the UN, Guterres also received a reputation for being a skilled diplomat, as well as for challenging wealthier and more powerful nations to do more to help the vulnerable and those facing human rights crises. Previous to his work at the UN, Guterres also helped to found Portugal’s Socialist party and served as head of the party and then Prime Minister of the country from 1995-2002. Wile prime minister, he helped overturn attempts to legalize abortion in Portugal. Guterres was also involved in combating Portugal’s heroin addiction problem through decriminalization accompanied by the promotion of therapy, family support, and social reintegration. In the 15 years since the implementation of the program, drug use and health problems related to addiction have dropped precipitously. Guterres was selected as the nominee for UN Secretary General by representatives of the 15-member Security Council, which includes the United States, United Kingom, France, Russia and China, along with 10 temporary members from around the world. Also running for the position were 13 other candidates, including a record seven women. The United Nations has not been led by a woman in its 71-year history. While Guterres has been the front runner due to his strong record with refugees and human rights, his selection did not come without conflict. His nomination has been criticized by those who hoped a woman would lead the international organization. Guterres has also been opposed by abortion-supporting organizations and advocates of same-sex marriage, who decry his for his defense of life as well as statements he has made in the past against same-sex marriage and concerns he has raised regarding the LGBT movement. To address the issue of gender equality within the United Nations, Guterres has vowed gender parity in making appointments to high-level UN positions. Read more
Oslo, Norway, Oct 7, 2016 / 04:19 pm (CNA/EWTN News).- Colombia’s President Juan Manuel Santos has won the Nobel Peace Prize for his efforts to secure peace with the FARC rebel group, despite the rejection of a proposed peace deal in a national r... Read more
Oslo, Norway, Oct 7, 2016 / 04:19 pm (CNA/EWTN News).- Colombia’s President Juan Manuel Santos has won the Nobel Peace Prize for his efforts to secure peace with the FARC rebel group, despite the rejection of a proposed peace deal in a national r... Read more
Vatican City, Oct 7, 2016 / 03:00 pm (CNA/EWTN News).- For the second year in a row the Sistine Chapel Choir has recorded an album inside the chapel of its namesake, this year selecting pieces by Palestrina that focus on mercy in honor of the Jubilee. Created in partnership with the classical music label Deutsche Grammophon, the second album was released Oct. 7 and is titled “Palestrina: Missa Papae Marcelli/Motets.” Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina, who lived from 1525-1594, is an Italian Renaissance sacred music composer, and is perhaps one of the most well-known composers of sacred polyphony. His most famous piece and the only one of his compositions dedicated to a Pope is his “Missa Papae Marcelli,” which takes up the first five of the 14-track CD. It contains the music of the original printed edition of the Mass in 1567, as well as two previously unpublished motets, “Veritas mea et misericordia mea” and “Iubilate Deo.” The CD was presented Oct. 7 inside the Vatican's Press Office by the Prefect of the Pontifical Household Archbishop Georg Ganswein, as well as Clemens Trautmann, president of Deutsche Grammophon. In his speech for the event, Archbishop Ganswein said the CD and accompanying booklet make one immediately aware of “the spiritual reasons for a music so refined and sublime.” With this Mass Palestrina, “the prince of Roman polyphony” both tried and succeeded “to respond to what the Council of Trent asked of liturgical music, that is, the intelligibility of the text united to the quality of the music,” he said. Though Pope Marcellus II would never live to hear the Mass composed in his name, having died after only 22 days as Pope in the middle of the Council of Trent, his hope that music would be both “a vehicle of beauty and a help in the elevation of the soul in liturgical prayer without falling into self-reference,” would be accomplished by Palestrina, the archbishop continued. This challenge, he said, “remains relevant even today” in the effort to compose music that both incorporates and respects the ancient roots of sacred music, yet also experiments with “new ways of updating” encouraged by the liturgical reform of the Second Vatican Council. “So the purpose of this, which is presented and is a cultural undertaking,” contributes in the communication of “the essence of the mission of the Catholic Church, which is to evangelize, to announce the Good News,” Archbishop Ganswein said, noting that this is also done “through beauty.” “All of this seeks to express that Church which goes out, of which Pope Francis speaks to us, a Church that isn't afraid to speak the language of man and of his needs, of which music is a high and universal expression.” Also present at the presentation of the CD was Massimo Palombella, director of the Sistine Chapel Choir. Formed of 20 adults and 30 young boys, the Sistine Chapel Choir is the oldest choir in the world. Palombella told journalists that the choir, having released their first CD “Cantate Domino” last year, will record one annually, always from inside the Sistine Chapel itself. Proceeds from the CDs sold will, as last year, be given to the papal charities. Read more
New York City, N.Y., Oct 7, 2016 / 01:06 pm (CNA/EWTN News).- Cardinal Timothy Dolan announced Thursday that the New York archdiocese is establishing an independent compensation program for victims of sexual abuse committed by clergy of the local Church. “This program will, please God, continue to help bring a measure of peace to those who have suffered abuse by a member of the clergy of the archdiocese,” the Archbishop of New York wrote in an Oct. 6 letter to the faithful. “While the Church … has made great strides in dealing vigorously with clergy accused of abuse, and in preventing acts of abuse through our Safe Environment programs, we continue to hear from victim-survivors that more needs to be done to reach out to those who have been harmed in the past.” He added, “As this Year of Mercy nears its conclusion, it is fitting and proper that we take this opportunity to ask forgiveness for mistakes that have been made by those – only a tiny percentage of our priests – representing the Church, and seek reconciliation with those who have been hurt and feel alienated from the Church.” The Independent Reconciliation and Compensation Program will be headed by Kenneth Feinberg, an attorney and mediator who led the Sept. 11 victims' fund, and who will be assisted by Camille Biros. They will determine issuance and amount of compensation to be given to victims. The Archdiocese of New York has said the compensation “will be just and fair, based on the experience and judgment of Mr. Feinberg and Ms. Biros,” and that it will “fully cover compensation awarded by the IRCP at whatever amount that is determined to be.” Those who accept financial compensation waive their right to sue the archdiocese for more money over the abuse. “Beginning immediately, they will work with those individuals who have previously notified the archdiocese that they suffered abuse,” Cardinal Dolan wrote. “We are contacting these individuals to invite them to participate in the program.” Having completed that work, Feinberg and Biros are to begin reviewing new allegations against archdiocesan clergy in a process that will include the district attorney as well as independent investigators and a lay review board. Those who have already brought forward sex abuse allegations to the archdiocese and who have not yet been otherwise compensated – about 170 persons – must apply for compensation under the program by Jan. 31, 2017. Those who have not already reached out to the archdiocese over sex abuse allegations are not bound by the Jan. 31 deadline. Feinberg commented: “We hope the program will be successful and that any victims of abuse come forward in a timely fashion to seek compensation through this independent program.” The progress of the compensation program will be tracked by an independent oversight committee, “although the decisions reached by Mr. Feinberg and Ms. Biros regarding compensation to victim-survivors are final and cannot be appealed or overturned by the archdiocese or the Independent Oversight Committee,” the cardinal said. The oversight committee will be composed of Raymond Kelly, a former New York City police commissioner; Loretta Preska, a federal district judge; and Dr. Jeanette Cueva, associate clinical professor of psychiatry at Columbia University. Kelly commended Cardinal Dolan for “his proactive leadership in redressing the wrongs committed in the past by some clergy in the New York Archdiocese” and added, “I'm honored to support the IRCP as it seeks to provide justice and restitution to victims of abuse.” Cardinal Dolan continued in his letter that “I hear from you, my people, that, while still bruised and angry about this past crisis, you do appreciate very much the reform and progress that has been made. But, you also tell me that more outreach needs to be done to the victim-survivors. I hope this helps.” He noted that the compensatory funds will be borrowed in a long-term loan “to be paid back gradually by scraping to find income from sources not designated for specific Church or charitable use.” They will come from neither money given to parishes and schools nor the archdiocese's capital campaign or stewardship appeal. Joseph Zwilling, communications director of the New York archdiocese, told the Wall Street Journal that the loan would be repaid with other assets, such as investments. New York state has recently considered changing its law regarding the statute of limitations on child sex abuse cases to make it less restrictive on lawsuits. The New York Catholic Conference has lobbied against the effort, saying that while they support increasing the statute of limitations, the proposed legislation was too broad, because it allowed for a limitless window, even over allegations from more than half a century ago, in which the alleged perpetrators were no longer living. “This extraordinary provision would force institutions to defend alleged conduct decades ago about which they have no knowledge, and in which they had no role, potentially involving employees long retired, dead or infirm, based on information long lost, if it ever existed,” the conference said. Cardinal Dolan concluded his letter announcing the program, saying, “May I ask your prayers that this outreach might accomplish its goal of helping bring peace and reconciliation to those victim-survivors who have not only experienced the horror of abuse, but have also felt as if they were abandoned by the Church.” Read more
Vatican City, Oct 7, 2016 / 07:59 am (CNA/EWTN News).- After electing their new General Superior, the Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate had a meeting with Pope Francis, who told them that in the midst of a rapidly changing world, humanity needs missionaries filled love and zeal for the Gospel. “Today, every land is 'mission territory,' every dimension of the human being is mission territory, awaiting the announcement of the Gospel,” he said Oct. 6. “The field of the mission today seems to expand every day” with men and women in desperate situations, he said. “Therefore there is need of you, of your missionary courage, your willingness to take to all the Good News that liberates and consoles.” Pope Francis met with the Missionary Oblates exactly one week after they held elections for their next Superior General in Rome, as well as in honor of the 200th Jubilee of their founding, which is being celebrated throughout 2016. On Sept. 30th, the 36th Chapter of the Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate reelected Fr. Louis Lougen as Superior General. Born in Buffalo, New York in 1952, he was first named to the position of Superior General in 2010. Reminding them to smile, Pope Francis told the priests and brothers that they must be joyful witnesses of the Gospel. Following the example of their founder, French priest St. Eugene de Mazenod, charity must be the “first rule of life, the premise of all apostolic actions,” he said. In this way, “zeal for the salvation of souls is a natural consequence of this fraternal charity.” Francis said both the Church and the world today are experiencing “an era of great change,” and that the world “needs men who carry in their hearts the same love for Jesus Christ that lived in the heart” of their founder. “It is important to work for a Church that is for everyone, ready to welcome and accompany!” he said. The Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate, founded Jan. 25, 1816, have institutes in the Americas, Australia, the Philippines and China. As of January, the number of Missionary Oblates is 3,776 worldwide, including 46 bishops and archbishops, 2,843 priests and 316 brothers. Pointing to the “happy and providential coincidence” that their Jubilee happens to fall during the Church's Jubilee of Mercy, Pope Francis reminded the Oblates to renew their love for the poor and for spreading the faith. “It is necessary to seek appropriate, evangelical and courageous responses to the questions of the men and women of our time,” he said. “For this you need to look at the past with gratitude, live the present with enthusiasm and embrace the future with hope, not letting yourselves be discouraged by the difficulties you encounter in the mission, but with strong fidelity to your religious and missionary vocation.” Read more
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