2014-09-07T12:02:00+00:00

Last updated on: September 7, 2014 at 12:02 pm   By

Lingayen, Philippines, Sep 7, 2014 / 06:02 am (CNA/EWTN News).- The Filipino bishops' annual conference on social media, being held this month, will aim at promoting authentic encounters and at preparing for Pope Francis' upcoming trip to the nation. The Catholic Social Media Summit 2014 will be held in Lingayen at the Pangasinan Training and Development Center with the theme “The Encounter”, from Sept. 13-14. Archbishop Socrates Villegas of Lingayen-Dagupan has exhorted the Filipino faithful to participate in the convention, saying in a video message, “let us allow social media to become an instrument to promote peace, to promote harmony, and to make friends with everyone in our global village.” He noted that social media has become the “new plaza” which lets people meet others, exchange opinions, listen and be listened to. “It has become a place of encounter among friends and even among enemies,” Archbishop Villegas said. The archbishop added that “social media must make an encounter with God always possible” and encouraged Catholics “to take time imagining and reflecting on what Jesus would make of the social media if he were physically present today.” “What would Jesus do? If Jesus were using the social media in 2014, how would he do it? What would he do? What would he say?” the bishop encouraged users to ask themselves. On Aug. 30, Bishop Mylo Vergara of Pasig commented that “we can encounter the risen Lord in every nook and corner of social media.” “Every face and network account that comes across our own can become the very face of Jesus, who longs to love us and whom we can love in return.” Nirva’ana Ella Delacruz, chief coordinator of the media summit, told CNA Sept. 4 that “we will be expecting to draw more than 1,000 'cyber citizens' from all over the country, in an effort to respond to Pope Francis' call for 'authentic encounter'.” Pope Francis' message for the 48th World Day of Communications included the exhortation, “it is not enough to be passersby on the digital highways, simply 'connected'; connections need to grow into true encounters.” Delacruz, who is secretary at Youth Pinoy, the group managing the conference, explained that the organization is a Catholic community of Filipino youth as “online missionaries with an objective of evangelization through digital media as the conduit to reintroduce Christ’s love, as well as to forge intellectual and spiritual exchange with the online community.” Workshops at the conference will discuss such topics as human trafficking; reaching out to members of the LBGT community; consecration to Mary; the social costs of being an overseas Filipino worker; voting; pornography; and justice. “Social media workshops will be a great setting for young professionals, students, catechists, educators, and priests themselves to use social media as a platform to propagate the Catholic faith,” Delacruz said. Youth Pinoy is mobilizing various diocesan social communication ministries, students, parish youth ministries, and social media groups from all over the country to participate in the two-day symposium. The workshop registration fee is PHP 800, or about $18, which includes a conference kit, badges, and lunches. A registration fee of PHP 1,200 ($28) includes accommodation as well. Social media in the Philippines has played an active role in garnering assistance during natural disasters, and also connects Filipino emigrants with their families. It is estimated that Philippines has more than 37 million internet users, and this population is among the fastest growing in the world.   Read more

2014-09-06T22:01:00+00:00

Last updated on: September 6, 2014 at 10:01 pm   By

Vatican City, Sep 6, 2014 / 04:01 pm (CNA/EWTN News).- Facing mixed signals coming from the government on the Chinese mainland regarding dealings with the Vatican, Pope Francis hopes to warm their relationship and someday establish a diplomatic representative in Beijing. A thaw has seemingly flourished between the People's Republic of China and the Holy See, following the nearly simultaneous accessions of Pope Francis and Xi Jinping, president of China – March 13 and March 14, 2013, respectively. Free from any bond with past policies, Xi has re-opened the frozen channel with the Vatican by responding in written form to the well-wishes Pope Francis sent him after his election – a first for a Chinese president. After that, for the first time China allowed a papal flight to utilize Chinese air space, for Bergoglio's visit to South Korea last month. Not by chance, one the eve of the papal voyage, Cardinal Pietro Parolin, Vatican Secretary of State, underscored in an interview that “the Church in China is lively and active,” and that “the Holy See is open to dialogue and only requests to be able to exercise its ministry with freedom.” Cardinal Parolin's request that the Church be able to freely exercise its ministry was an allusion to the illicit ordinations that take place in the Chinese People’s Republic. The Church in China is often described as divided, between an 'official' Church linked to the government, the Patriotic Association, and an 'underground' Church, persecuted and whose episcopal appointments are frequently not acknowledged by Chinese authorities. In his in-flight press conference held on the return from Korea, Pope Francis mentioned his desire to visit China, affirming he would go there “even tomorrow morning,” and mentioning Benedict XVI's 2007 letter to Catholics in China, calling it a “milestone.” The Pope’s mention was not by chance. The letter showed Benedict's affection for Catholics in China, and opened a way to dialogue with the authorities, while also maintaining resolve on the principles of the Church’s autonomy. After the publication of the letter, there had been signs of thaw between the Holy See and Beijing, though relations have fluctuated. Between 2007 and 2008, the Archbishop of Beijing had been appointed with the twofold approval of Rome and Beijing. Then, relations cooled again in 2008 and 2009. From 2009 to 2011, a series of new episcopal appointments with the twofold approval followed Benedict’s invitation to then-Chinese president Hu Jintao for a meeting to be held in the Vatican in 2009. The meeting with the Pope could not be held, but the invitation was appreciated. From 2011 on, there was an interchange of appointments with twofold approval, and appointments by the Chinese government, and the freeze in relationship culminated last year with a case in the Shanghai diocese, one of the biggest and most important in China. Fr. Taddeo Ma Daqin, a member of the Patriotic Association and at the same time faithful to Rome, had been appointed as auxiliary bishop. On the day of his episcopal consecration, July 7, 2013, Bishop Ma Daqin announced he did not want any longer be part of the Patriotic Association, since this would be in contrast with his episcopal ministry, thus following the guidelines provided in Benedict's 2007 letter. Bishop Ma Daqin was then confined by Chinese authorities to the shrine of Sheshan, and he was forbidden to celebrate the funeral of the late bishop of Shanghai. Pope Francis hopes to overcome this stalemate, with a series of steps that was initiated even before the big trouble in Shanghai. Cardinal Fernando Filoni, prefect of the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples, wrote an article in 2012 marking the fifth anniversary of Benedict's letter which looked for a response to the issues the Pope had raised. The cardinal clarified points of departure between the two camps, and emphasized the need for a constructive dialogue. Pope Francis' policy is likely to follow two paths, both diplomatic and pastoral. The diplomatic model would be that of Vietnam, which has lacked a delegate from the Holy See since 1975, when the communist North overran South Vietnam. But subsequent talks with Vietnam led to the establishment of a non-residential pontifical representatives, and now the Holy See is hoping for a permanent representative, in order to have full diplomatic ties in the future. A hurdle for Chinese, however, authorities is that the Holy See has a pontifical representative in the Republic of China, known as Taiwan. His pastoral strategy could focus on the cause of beautification of Fr. Matteo Ricci, a Jesuit who evangelized China. The cause advanced to the Congregation for the Causes of Saints last year. Pope Francis' focus on martyrs and saints is meant to underscore that the Church does not approach Asia as a conqueror, but as a witness to Christ. Read more

2014-09-06T13:32:00+00:00

Last updated on: September 6, 2014 at 1:32 pm   By

Baton Rouge, La., Sep 6, 2014 / 07:32 am (CNA/EWTN News).- The Diocese of Baton Rouge, Louisiana, is appealing to the U.S. Supreme Court to review a ruling that a diocesan priest may be forced to break the Seal of Confession. “This case concer... Read more

2014-09-06T03:04:00+00:00

Last updated on: September 6, 2014 at 3:04 am   By

Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea, Sep 5, 2014 / 09:04 pm (CNA/EWTN News).- A religious sister from Texas who has been serving the people of Papua New Guinea since 1986 will soon complete a website to raise awareness about the Church's apostolates to children in the Melanesian nation. “The Catholic bishops of Papua New Guinea and Solomon Islands, at their annual general meeting in Madang, approved and created the Catholic Children's Ministry PNG in April, 2013,” Fr. Giorgio Licini, P.I.M.E., head of the bishops' conference's social communications, told CNA Sept. 1. It was at that meeting that the Papua New Guinean bishops asked Sister Mary Claude Gadd, of the Sacred Heart of Jesus congregation, to further develop children's ministry in the country, securing the vision of a child-safe country. She has a background in both education and hospital ministry. “Thus far I have identified close to twenty (20) special Programs being carried out across PNG by Catholic individuals or organizations on behalf of disadvantaged and needy children,” Sr. Mary Claude said in an interview with the media office of the bishops' conference. “The plan is to allocate, on the website, a page or more to each of these activities and organizations.” She added that “the website will also have a small space with contact information related to that particular organization or activity. People out there might be interested and wish to contact those concerned and even donate to support that activity.” “On the other hand, the primary purpose of the website will not be fundraising as such, but awareness. I have written to those in charge of the various projects asking for information: how did it start, the purpose, goal, vision/mission… plus as many photos as possible.” The website, http://www.catholicchildren'sministrypng.org.pg/, which is not yet online but should be operational by late October, will be updated regularly, “with opportunities for everyone to send in new stories and photos of recent activities.” “Once this website is up and running all of us can make reference to it, where people can see what we are doing to help build a child-safe Papua New Guinea,” Sr. Mary Claude said. “And by the way, we also hope to eventually link the website with Facebook and Twitter so many more can see what God is doing in PNG!” She explained that she chose to build a website when commissioned to develop children's ministry by the bishops because “if we want to evangelize the world, then we have to go where it is and most of it is on the internet!” “I think it was Pope Francis who said we must go where the sheep are and we know that many sheep spend a lot of time on the internet.” The website, she said, will “showcase to the world Catholic activities being carried out in PNG on behalf of our most vulnerable children … we hope to create something interesting, inspiring and hopefully beautiful as well for the world to view.” Papua New Guinea is a Pacific island nation, consisting of the eastern half of the island of New Guinea, as well as numerous other, smaller, islands; it is located north of Australia and east of Indonesia. A poorer nation, in 2013 its adjusted per capita GDP was estimated at $ 2,800. Children's ministry there is thus focused on such things as “helping children in need, feeding them, and sheltering them in a place of safety.” Apostolates to children are well distributed across the country of more than 7 million, Sr. Mary Claude said, adding that “they're mostly present in the bigger cities though I am confident we will eventually find some meaningful programs in many smaller places as well.” She cited in particular programs in Port Moresby, Lae, Mt. Hagen, and Kundiawa, all of which are cathedral cities. Among the programs are a “hospital school” in Kundiawa run by Dr. Fr. Jan Jaworski, MD, where “the ambulatory young patients attend classes every day” and “the bedridden one have the teachers come to their bedside.” Across Papua New Guinea there are apostolates to the disabled; a program to prevent HIV/AIDS transmission from mother to child, and to care for children with the virus, run by the Missionary Sisters Servants of the Holy Spirit; catechesis by the Missionaries of Charity; and education about HIV/AIDS for secondary school students. Sr. Mary Claude noted that 15 of the Papua New Guinean dioceses have multiple Diocesan Child Protection Officers, and that more than 600 volunteers will soon be trained to assist them. And “on the drawing board for the Archdiocese of Mt Hagen is a new family home for abandoned and neglected children.” “What emerges from all this is a portrait of the 'integrated human development' of the most vulnerable members of our society.” The website, Sr. Mary Claude said, “will try to mirror to the world a bit of the good work being done in our Catholic Church for the children.” She concluded that while much is being done already, “there is a lot more to be done yet.” She cited an “alarmingly high number of abandoned babies in our hospitals,” as well as displaced victims of sorcery and children with disabilities who need skilled caregivers. “Finally,” she said, it is important to develop a strategy on “how to salvage from further harm the young children already engaged in the sex industry of Night Clubs in Port Moresby.” While challenges for Papua New Guinean children persist, the website is meant to draw attention and awareness to the good being done by the Church to meet these challenges. Read more

2014-09-05T23:14:00+00:00

Last updated on: September 5, 2014 at 11:14 pm   By

Peoria, Ill., Sep 5, 2014 / 05:14 pm (CNA/EWTN News).- Following the halt of Archbishop Fulton Sheen’s canonization cause, both the Diocese of Peoria and the Archdiocese of New York have expressed a desire to move forward, as the Vatican calls fo... Read more

2014-09-05T22:17:00+00:00

Last updated on: September 5, 2014 at 10:17 pm   By

Boston, Mass., Sep 5, 2014 / 04:17 pm (CNA).- A new website launched by the Boston Globe seeks to have a wide appeal in covering “all things Catholic,” focusing on reporting about the Church rather than evangelizing or aiming solely at a Catholic readership. “Those of us who are Catholic have our own reasons for consuming Church news,” said John L. Allen Jr., Vatican analyst and associate editor of the new project, “but you don't have to be Catholic, or even religious, to recognize that with 1.2 billion followers all around the world, with a rich tradition of social teaching and activism, and as the only world religion with its own diplomatic corps, the Catholic Church matters and needs to be taken seriously by mainstream news outlets.” Crux, the new site, follows a trend of websites branching off from more traditional new sources. Still, while the site caters to a specific interest group, the Globe is hoping Crux will appeal to “a broad swath of people.” According to the Globe's announcement, the website hopes to serve as a place of conversation for “active Catholics who regularly follow religious news, 'casual' Catholics who may not be regular Mass attendees, those who are simply interested in the dynamic and popular Pope Francis, and readers of all faiths who are eager to explore spirituality in general.” The website has its own staff of six editors and reporters, with contributions from leading Catholic and religious voices as well as essays submitted by readers on weekly topics. “The reporters at Crux will approach coverage from a journalistic point of view, rather than one of advocacy or evangelism. Readers can expect to see contentious topics discussed, including abortion, gay marriage and the role of women in the church,” the announcement said. Crux's staff includes Allen, a top Vatican reporter and senior Vatican analyst for CNN who recently left the National Catholic Reporter after 16 years. In comments to CNA, Allen said Crux was the brainchild of Globe owner and Red Sox owner John Henry, who views a newspaper as a place of conversation for people with varied special interests. While some news outlets raised an eyebrow at the launch of such a specified religious website, Allen said it proves Catholicism is still relevant in today's world. Boston also seems like a good place to start with such a project. As Emma Green points out in The Atlantic, as of 2012, nearly half of the population of the Boston metro area is Catholic. Pope Francis has also proven a popular source of news this year, leading to the term “The Francis Effect” for the fascination and influence the pontiff has garnered during his short time as shepherd of the worldwide fold. But despite the popularity of the current Pope, some see the launch of Crux as a risky move. The Wall Street Journal said that niche websites founded by traditional news organizations are a new way of “revitalize their ailing brands,” but they also run the risk of “diluting the paper's core readership when many newspapers have been moving to erect paywalls and encourage online subscriptions.” Crux is currently free, and might draw away customers who would otherwise pay for a Globe subscription. The Atlantic called it a “radical move”, given that the site caters to one denomination, along with the decline in numbers of people who identify as religious, especially in the millennial generation. “(I)t would be like The New York Times starting a news site just for Jews,” Green wrote in The Atlantic, referencing comments from Diane Winston, a professor of religion and journalism at USC. But the Crux staff believes the site has a place in the news world of today. “A quick internet search will show you that Catholicism is a key player in many levels, and if a secular newspaper covers every one of them, it’ll eventually run out of place for other things,” Ines San Martin told CNA. Martin, a journalist from Buenos Aires, Argentina, serves as Crux's on-the-ground reporter in Rome covering the news and events of the Vatican. Along with covering the hard-hitting news of Catholicism, the Crux also has a place for “lighter fare”, including quizzes, recipes, and the “OMG” column which serves as a sort of “Dear Abbey” for moral and ethical dilemmas on which readers can weigh in. This week's dilemma concerns the ethics of taking office supplies from work in response to unpaid overtime hours. Allen also emphasized that the goal of the Crux is not to serve merely as an outlet of Church criticism, saying “the perception that the Globe is hostile to the Church was dated even before I got there. If you ask Cardinal Sean O'Malley, he'll tell you that relations had become much better in recent years, and that my hire was just another point along that trajectory.” “Will Crux feature critical voices? Sure, because they're part of the conversation,” Allen said. “But I guarantee you, I did not get involved in this to carry water for some particular camp or faction. I got into this to make Crux the town square of the Catholic Church, where everybody, no matter their opinion or concern, feels at home.”   Read more

2014-09-05T17:48:00+00:00

Last updated on: September 5, 2014 at 5:48 pm   By

New York City, N.Y., Sep 5, 2014 / 11:48 am (CNA).- A spokesman for the New York City St. Patrick’s Day Parade said the inclusion of an LGBT activist group in the traditionally Catholic parade was a “gesture of goodwill,” though conce... Read more

2014-09-05T13:03:00+00:00

Last updated on: September 5, 2014 at 1:03 pm   By

Vatican City, Sep 5, 2014 / 07:03 am (CNA/EWTN News).- In his daily homily on Friday Pope Francis discussed how the Pharisees condemned Jesus' apostles for not fasting, saying that Jesus renews the old law and brings a new Gospel of joy. “One cannot understand the mentality of these Doctors of the Law – for example – these Pharisaical 'teachers,'” the Pope told mass attendees gathered in the Vatican’s Saint Martha guesthouse Sept. 5. “The style of the Gospel is a different style, which brings the fullness of the Law, yes,  but in a new way: it is the new wine in new wineskins.” Beginning by recounting how Jesus was criticized for the fact that his disciples did not fast and offer prayers like the Pharisees did, the Pope drew attention to Jesus’ response in using the parable of the new wineskins to illustrate what his coming signified. “New wine, new wineskins: the ‘novelty’ of the Gospel – and what does the Gospel bring us? Joy and renewal,” the pontiff explained. The Pharisees and scribes were all bound by their rules and commandments, he noted, saying that when St. Paul speaks to them he tells us “that before faith came – that is, Jesus – we were all kept in custody, as prisoners under the Law.” Although this law was not a bad thing because the people were taken care of, the Bishop of Rome explained that there were still “prisoners, awaiting the advent of faith – that faith, which would be revealed in Christ, itself.” Pope Francis went on to observe how the people of that time had both the Mosaic Law as well as numerous customs and small legal requirements which the scribes had prescribed. The rules cared for the people as prisoners, he said,  but left them waiting for the “ultimate liberty that God would give to His people through His son.” “One of you might say to me: ‘But Father, don’t Christians have laws?’” the Pope asked,  saying  “Yes. Jesus said: ‘I do not come to (abolish the Law), but to fulfill it.’” He also pointed to the Beatitudes, which he described as “the law of love – total love” and the fullness of the law. “Jesus, when he reproves these Doctors of the Law, is taking them to task for not caring for the people with the Law, but making them slaves to so many little laws, so many little things that had to be done,” he continued. The pontiff went on to describe how all of these little things had to be done without the freedom offered by Jesus Christ, who brings us a new law sealed with his blood. “This,” he said, “is precisely the ransom that the people were awaiting.” Another important lesson we can learn from this passage is that the Lord doesn’t want us to be afraid to change things according to the law of the Gospel, the Pope observed. “St. Paul clearly distinguishes the children of the law from the children of faith: new wine in new wineskins – and this is why the Church asks all of us to change certain things,” he explained. “She asks us to let go of decadent structures – they are useless – and to take up new wineskins, those of the Gospel.” Pope Francis concluded his homily by reiterating that the Gospel brought by Jesus is something utterly new which brings joy, and can only be fully lived by a joyful and renewed heart. He also prayed that God give everyone the grace to keep this new commandment of love, as well as the joy of the freedom that the Good News brings. Read more

2014-09-05T11:42:00+00:00

Last updated on: September 5, 2014 at 11:42 am   By

Vatican City, Sep 5, 2014 / 05:42 am (CNA/EWTN News).- The Vatican has released the schedule of Pope Francis' main liturgical celebrations for the month of September, during which he will publicly perform the marriage of 20 couples. September brings a full slate of activities for the pontiff, including the commemoration of lives lost in WWI, an audience with elderly, a day trip to Albania and the celebration of the Sacrament of Marriage with couples in St. Peter’s Basilica. On Saturday, Sept. 13, Pope Francis will travel to the Northern Italian region of Friuli-Venezia- Giulia, where he will visit the famous World War I military cemetery in Redipuglia and pay homage to the 100 thousand soldiers who are buried there by celebrating a solemn Mass. The largest of its kind, the memorial is composed of a large stone staircase and is known for its vast size. It was inaugurated in 1938 following 3 years of construction. Sept. 14, the next day, Pope Francis will celebrate Mass in St. Peter’s basilica for the feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross, during which he will witness the Sacrament of Marriage of 20 couples. He will be the first pontiff to perform public weddings since St. John Paul II in 1994 in Mexico for the World Day of Families. The event is significant as popes don't usually celebrate weddings in public. Pope Francis has also decided to organize the event in direct collaboration with diocese of Rome rather than Pontifical Council for Families, as is usually done, and it is expected that he will perform more in the future.  On Sept. 21 the Bishop of Rome will make a one-day trip to Albania, during which he is slated to meet with the country’s president, civil authorities, interreligious leaders, priests, religious and lay movements of the diocese, as well as children from their the “Centro Betania,” or “Bethany Center” and representatives from other charitable institutions. Announced earlier this summer, the trip marks the second time a Roman Pontiff will visit the country, the first being Pope Saint John Paul II in 1993. The next week, on Sept. 28, the Pope will close the month by meeting with elderly and grandparents in St. Peter’s Square, celebrating a Mass for them. Entitled “The Blessing of a Long Life,” the event will begin when the square opens at 7:30 a.m., with the official celebration beginning at 9 a.m. The day will culminate with an audience and Mass at 10:30 presided over by Pope Francis. As the first-ever official papal audience of its kind, the event is being organized by the Pontifical Council for the Family, and is set to explore the vocation of the elderly in a society whose life span is extending. Read more

2014-09-05T10:19:00+00:00

Last updated on: September 5, 2014 at 10:19 am   By

Washington D.C., Sep 5, 2014 / 04:19 am (CNA/EWTN News).- Many U.S. immigration cases are effectively life-or-death trials, and the Justice Department should not be fast-tracking deportation hearings for child migrants, said federal judges at a talk in... Read more

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