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News Briefs
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NEWS BRIEFS Mar-13-2008
By Catholic News Service
U.S.
Bishops hope to work with new governor for 'common good' of New York
ALBANY, N.Y. (CNS) -- The head of the New York State Catholic Conference in Albany, on behalf of the conference and the state's Catholic bishops, assured New York's new governor of prayers as he "assumes his awesome responsibilities under extraordinarily difficult circumstances." "I look forward to working closely with Gov. (David) Paterson and the Legislature on behalf of the common good" of the state, said Richard E. Barnes, the conference's executive director, in a March 12 statement. Paterson, the state's lieutenant governor, was to be sworn in as governor March 17 to succeed Gov. Eliot Spitzer, who announced his resignation March 12 in the wake of a prostitution-ring scandal. Barnes described Paterson as "highly intelligent, well versed on the issues and extremely affable." He noted that they have not always agreed, but said that Paterson has been respectful of the state's Catholic conference "in our role as advocates for the most vulnerable members of society." The Catholic conference represents New York state's bishops in matters of public policy.
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Iona College faculty, students discuss torture, terrorism and warfare
NEW ROCHELLE, N.Y. (CNS) -- A fast-paced, provocative faculty discussion on torture, terrorism and warfare drew more than 125 students to a tiny second-floor theater on the campus of Iona College in New Rochelle March 11. The participants heard an impassioned defense of international conventions barring torture of prisoners and were asked to consider if there are ever circumstances under which torture is justified. The event, timed to coincide roughly with the fifth anniversary of the beginning of the war in Iraq, was the third of seven sessions of an election-year symposium based on the U.S. Catholic bishops' November 2007 statement, "Forming Consciences for Faithful Citizenship: A Call to Political Responsibility." The statement is part of a series of documents the bishops have issued before every presidential election for more than 30 years. It is not a voter guide but is aimed at helping form consciences for political involvement. Christian Brother James Ligouri, Iona College president, introduced the topic, saying, "Citizenship that is blind or ignorant is not good citizenship. Citizenship that goes against our values is not faithful."
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Chaldean bishop says U.S. accountable for death of Iraqi archbishop
DETROIT (CNS) -- A Chaldean Catholic bishop said the United States must be held accountable for the death of Chaldean Archbishop Paulos Faraj Rahho of Mosul, Iraq. Bishop Ibrahim N. Ibrahim of the Eparchy of St. Thomas the Apostle, based in Southfield, Mich., said that particularly the administration of U.S. President George W. Bush is responsible for the terrorism and killing of Christians in Iraq. He said the administration is ignoring the problem. "No one is defending us," he said March 13, the day the archbishop's body was recovered after kidnappers said where they had buried him. "They are killing Christians because they are Christians." Bishop Ibrahim said the Feb. 29 kidnapping and subsequent death of the archbishop threw into question the destiny of Christians in Iraq. Three of the archbishop's companions were killed in the kidnapping.
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WORLD
Pope calls death of Iraqi archbishop 'act of inhuman violence'
VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- Pope Benedict XVI called the kidnapping and death of an Iraqi archbishop "an act of inhuman violence that offends the dignity of the human being and seriously harms the ... coexistence among the beloved Iraqi people." Chaldean Catholic Archbishop Paulos Faraj Rahho of Mosul, 65, was kidnapped Feb. 29 in an attack that left his driver and two bodyguards dead. The pope had made several public appeals for his release. Catholic leaders in Iraq said March 13 that they had recovered the archbishop's body after the kidnappers told them where they had buried him. In a March 13 telegram to Cardinal Emmanuel-Karim Delly of Baghdad, patriarch of the Chaldean Catholic Church, Pope Benedict said that after being informed of "the tragic death" of the archbishop, whom he called a "zealous pastor," he wanted to let Chaldean Catholics and all Christians in Iraq know that he is close to them.
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Pope's next encyclical to cover globalization, digital divide
VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- Pope Benedict XVI's upcoming encyclical is titled "Charity in Truth" and covers a wide range of issues related to globalization and social justice, said an Italian report. The text is still under revision and has yet to be translated, according to church sources. A leading Vatican official said he doesn't expect the encyclical to be published before summer. The Italian news agency ANSA reported March 12 that the encyclical, whose Latin title is "Caritas in Veritate," is divided into four chapters. The lengthy text begins with a reflection on the 1967 encyclical, "Populorum Progressio" ("The Progress of Peoples"), and the social changes that have occurred since then, it said. Among the topics examined by the pope are the relationship of economic and social development with human dignity, and the gap between the rich and poor, it said. It said the text touches on issues of war and peace, international cooperation and economic globalization, environmental and energy issues, the "digital divide" and disarmament.
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Pope urges Vatican commission on China to work in favor of Catholics
VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- Pope Benedict XVI urged members of a recently established Vatican commission "to continue their commitment in favor of the Catholic community in China." After meeting March 12 with participants of the closed-door sessions in the Vatican, the pope also highlighted the upcoming May 24 Universal Day of Prayer for the Church in China that he established last year. The commission, created by the pope to study key questions concerning the life of the church in China, held its first meeting March 10-12 at the Vatican. According to a Vatican statement distributed to journalists March 13, the pope listened to a summarized report of the commission's work over the past three days. The meeting used Pope Benedict's June 2007 letter to Chinese Catholics as its theme for discussions, the Vatican statement said.
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Vatican official calls for protection of unborn, seriously ill
GENEVA (CNS) -- A Vatican official urged government delegates to help protect the lives of the unborn and those suffering from serious and deadly illnesses. Archbishop Silvano Tomasi, Vatican representative to U.N. agencies in Geneva, said "no compromise can be made with a person's right to life itself, from conception to natural death, nor with that person's ability to enjoy the dignity which flows from that right." He made the remarks March 11 during a session on the protection of human rights by the U.N. Human Rights Council in Geneva. His comments focused on the U.N. council's Jan. 31 report on the right of all people to "the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health." He said people "who require special protection" should never be overlooked or denied the right to life. "Particular cases in point are children in the womb and those suffering from grave and life-threatening illnesses," he added.
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Pope appeals to world community to increase support for Haiti
VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- Pope Benedict XVI appealed to the world community to "continue and increase its support of the Haitian people" and help them be able to build a better future for themselves. He also asked that leaders of the Caribbean island-nation be given "the courage to promote change and reconciliation" so that citizens can live in more "dignified conditions" and benefit from "the riches of the earth." The pope made his remarks during a March 13 audience with bishops from Haiti who were in Rome on their "ad limina" visit to report on the status of their dioceses. Haiti is the poorest country in the Western Hemisphere, with an estimated 80 percent of its population living below the poverty line, and a per-capita annual income of about $440. An estimated 70 percent of the workforce is unemployed. During his meeting with Haitian bishops, Pope Benedict recalled that so many Haitians have been forced to emigrate in order to fulfill basic human needs. He said he hoped there would be a show of even greater solidarity for Haiti.
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PEOPLE
Pope hears confessions, tells youths reconciliation brings peace
VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- By confessing our sins, we open our hearts to God and prepare to receive the gifts of the Holy Spirit, Pope Benedict XVI told thousands of young people from Rome before hearing individual confessions. "Through the action of the Holy Spirit and the ministry of the church," the pope said, the sacrament of reconciliation brings "pardon and peace." Pope Benedict's penance service with the young people in St. Peter's Basilica March 13 was held in preparation for the Palm Sunday diocesan celebration of World Youth Day and looking ahead to the July 15-20 international celebration of World Youth Day in Sydney, Australia. The World Youth Day 2008 theme is "You will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you will be my witnesses." In his homily, the pope said the Holy Spirit cannot be seen and the degree of the Spirit's presence in a person cannot be measured, but the Holy Spirit "changes and renews" one's whole life.
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Copyright (c) 2008 Catholic News Service/USCCB. All rights reserved.
This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or otherwise distributed.
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