Slovenia’s top Catholic Church dignitaries have resigned in the wake of financial problems involving one of the dioceses in the country. …read more
Source: FULL ARTICLE at Fox World News
Tag Archives: Catholic Church
Media Criticized for Misrepresenting What Pope Francis Said About Gays
After Pope Francis reiterated what the Catholic Church teaches about how gays should be treated, some in the media reported that his words suggested a more liberal direction for the Church. …read more
Source: The Christian Post
Pope Francis calls for inclusion of gays in society
By avandagriff
Pope Francis on Monday continued to recast the Catholic Church’s image by focusing on its inviting, merciful aspects, this time shocking a planeload of reporters by saying of homosexuality: “Who am I to judge?” Read More: Pope Francis calls for inclusion of gays in society, saying he has no right to ‘judge’ – The Washington […]
The post Pope Francis calls for inclusion of gays in society appeared first on Endtime Ministries | End Of The Age | Irvin Baxter.
Source: Endtime Ministries
Catholic Church Wielding Growing Influence in Cuba, Says Country's Catholic Representative
A representative of the Cuban Catholic Church explained at an event Monday that presently the Catholic Church is exerting a growing influence in the country. …read more
Source: The Christian Post
Muslims demand Vatican envoy leave Malaysia
Several Islamic groups on Friday demanded the recall of the Vatican’s first envoy to Malaysia, describing him as an “enemy of the state” after he supported the use of the word “Allah” by non-Muslims.
Dozens of protesters gathered outside the Vatican’s mission in Kuala Lumpur, the capital of Muslim-majority Malaysia, after prayers on Friday, urging the government to expel Archbishop Joseph Marino.
Marino, who arrived in Kuala Lumpur less than six months ago, recently elicited a rebuke from the government after he waded into a religious row over the right to translate “God” to “Allah” in Malay-language Bibles and other literature.
He had described arguments supporting the move put forward by the Catholic Church in an ongoing court battle with the government over the issue, as “logical and acceptable”.
He was on Tuesday summoned to the foreign ministry over his remarks, and has since apologised.
It was not enough for some Muslim organisations in the country, however.
“Joseph Marino is an enemy of the state. His actions have strained race relations in the country,” said Ibrahim Ali, president of right-wing group Perkasa.
Ibrahim has previously drawn controversy by calling for the burning of the Bible.
“Marino must leave Malaysia,” said Hasan Ali, the head of Islamic group JATI, who urged the government to close the mission and not to accept any envoy from the Vatican.
The government has argued that the word “Allah” should only be used by Muslims, as it fears using the word in Malay-language Bibles is an attempt to confuse and proselytise.
On Thursday, a Malaysian couple known for publishing a sexually explicit blog were charged with sedition and denied bail after they caused outrage with a prank Ramadan greeting on Facebook that showed them eating pork — which is forbidden in Islam.
Malaysia has more than 2.5 million Christians in a population of 28 million, of which about 60 percent are Muslim.
Source: FULL ARTICLE at Fox World News
Vatican envoy apologises to Malaysia over 'Allah' row
The Vatican’s first-ever envoy to Malaysia has apologised for supporting the use of the word “Allah” by non-Muslims after he was summoned by the foreign minister.
Archbishop Joseph Marino issued a statement late Tuesday, after meeting with Foreign Minister Anifah Aman, saying his comments were “never intended as an attempt to intrude into the internal affairs of the country”.
Marino, who arrived in Kuala Lumpur less than six months ago, had last Thursday waded into a religious row in Muslim-majority Malaysia over the use of the word “Allah”.
He described arguments put forward by the Catholic Church in an ongoing court battle for the right to translate “God” as “Allah” in Malay-language Bibles and other literature as “logical and acceptable”.
Soon after, hardline Muslim groups began calling for him to be sent home. Several cabinet ministers also accused him of “interference”.
“In that context, he asked him (Anifah) to convey apologies for any misunderstandings and inconveniences that it may have caused,” the statement said.
Anifah also said that “Archbishop Marino was advised to be mindful of the religious sensitivities of the host country and that the issue he commented on is still under the Court of Appeal”.
Controversy over the use of the word “Allah” came to a head three years ago, when the High Court ruled that non-Muslims are allowed to use the word to refer to God in their Malay-language literature.
The court case arose after Malaysia’s Catholic Church sued the government for banning the use of the word in its weekly newspaper, The Herald.
Muslims had denounced the verdict, claiming “Allah” is exclusive to Islam. The government decided to appeal the ruling after several places of worship were fire-bombed.
Malaysia has more than 2.5 million Christians in a population of 28 million, of which about 60 percent are Muslim.
Source: FULL ARTICLE at Fox World News
Australia arrests priest on pedophilia charges
Australian police have arrested a Roman Catholic priest on pedophilia charges, following months of negotiations to have him returned from the Vatican.
A police statement said the 67-year-old priest presented himself at Victoria state police headquarters in Melbourne on Monday. His name has not been made public.
The priest was charged with 10 counts of child abuse allegedly committed in Melbourne’s outskirts between 1976 and 1985.
Police said they had been negotiating with the Catholic Church since July 2012 to have him returned to australia.
Police said he was released on bail and will appear before a magistrate on Friday.
From: http://feeds.foxnews.com/~r/foxnews/world/~3/BF_5ILAzmLs/
Remarks by the President at Presentation of the Medal of Honor to Chaplain Emil J. Kapaun, U.S. Army
East Room
2:22 P.M. EDT
THE PRESIDENT: Good afternoon, everybody. Please have a seat. On behalf of Michelle and myself, welcome to the White House. Thank you, Chaplain.
This year, we mark the 60th anniversary of the end of the Korean War — a time when thousands of our prisoners of war finally came home after years of starvation and hardship and, in some cases, torture. And among the homecomings, one stood out.
A group of our POWs emerged carrying a large wooden crucifix, nearly four feet tall. They had spent months on it, secretly collecting firewood, carving it — the cross and the body — using radio wire for a crown of thorns. It was a tribute to their friend, their chaplain, their fellow prisoner who had touched their souls and saved their lives — Father Emil Kapaun.
This is an amazing story. Father Kapaun has been called a shepherd in combat boots. His fellow soldiers who felt his grace and his mercy called him a saint, a blessing from God. Today, we bestow another title on him — recipient of our nation’s highest military decoration, the Medal of Honor. After more than six decades of working to make this Medal a reality, I know one of Father Kapaun’s comrades spoke for a lot of folks here when he said, “it’s about time.”
Father, as they called him, was just 35 years old when he died in that hellish prison camp. His parents and his only sibling, his brother, are no longer with us. But we are extremely proud to welcome members of the Kapaun family — his nephews, his niece, their children — two of whom currently serve in this country's National Guard. And we are very proud of them.
We're also joined by members of the Kansas congressional delegation, leaders from across our armed forces, and representatives from the Catholic Church, which recognizes Father Kapaun as a “Servant of God.” And we are truly humbled to be joined by men who served alongside him — veterans and former POWs from the Korean War. (Applause.)
Now, I obviously never met Father Kapaun. But I have a sense of the man he was, because in his story I see reflections of my own grandparents and their values, the people who helped to raise me. Emil and my grandfather were both born in Kansas about the same time, both were raised in small towns outside of Wichita. They were part of that Greatest Generation — surviving the Depression, joining the Army, serving in World War II. And they embodied those heartland values of honesty and hard work, decency and humility — quiet heroes determined to do their part.
For Father Kapaun, this meant becoming an Army chaplain — serving God and country. After the Communist invasion of South Korea, he was among the first American troops that hit the beaches and pushed their
Tostadas: Vegetarian Salvation
By Regina Schrambling Melissa McCart, whom I’ve “known” forever on the Internets but finally met on a trip to Pittsburgh last fall, had a good piece up at the Post-Gazette the other day that led with how she couldn’t get through even a week without eating meat/poultry/seafood. I might be able to manage if tostadas were involved. And if I could cheat with crab. Back in the dark ages when the Catholic Church banned meat once a week, I had tostadas on many happy Friday nights. My mom would fry corn tortillas to a crisp and we’d spread Rosarita’s refried beans over them, sprinkle them with grated Colby Longhorn cheese and top them with shredded iceberg lettuce. Salsa was not in our vocabulary, but hot sauce or pickled jalapeños must have been involved somehow, although AZ-Mex is even milder than the Texan translation. It was a cheap supper, and certainly more satisfying than the canned sardines on saltines to which we kids were also subjected. Tostadas were always one of the elements of a combination plate in Arizona, along with enchiladas, tamales and tacos, but I don’t notice them often on menus in New York. In the last week, though, I came across two that were so great burritos may be endangered as our lunchtime standby. The first was the cheater’s tostada, at Gran Electrica in Brooklyn: a crisp but still cuttable corn tortilla topped with peekytoe crab mixed with lime juice, citrus, avocado, cilantro and habanero. My consort, who still doesn’t get why burritos get beans and tacos don’t, was as smitten as I was. Then, just a few days later, he ordered the pozole at Toloache 82 and was almost more taken with the bonus of the outstanding black bean tostada above. The Epicurious database has recipes for tostadas, but you really don’t need one. It’s just: Fry, smear, sprinkle, top. Leave off the cheese if you’re vegan. Otherwise, any combination of ingredients will do. Although I have never bought into meat.
Source: Epicurious
The Military’s Assault On Christianity
The U.S. Army listed Evangelical Christianity and Catholicism as examples of religious extremism along with Al Qaeda and Hamas during a briefing with an Army Reserve unit based in Pennsylvania, Fox News has learned.
“We find this offensive to have Evangelical Christians and the Catholic Church to be listed among known terrorist groups,” said Ron Crews, executive director of the Chaplain Alliance for Religious Liberty. “It is dishonorable for any U.S. military entity to allow this type of wrongheaded characterization.”
The incident occurred during an Army Reserve Equal Opportunity training brief on extremism. Topping the list is Evangelical Christianity. Other organizations listed included Catholicism, Al Qaeda, Hamas, the Ku Klux Klan, Sunni Muslims, and Nation of Islam.
The military also listed “Islamophobia” as a form of religious extremism.
Army spokesman George Wright told Fox News that the briefing happened last year and is just now coming to light.
Read more at Townhall. By Todd Starnes.
Obama’s HHS Mandate Disrespects Catholics Everywhere
The HHS initiative is anti Catholic in its inception and its implementation. The Obama administration has demonstrated its disdain for Catholics and religious freedom in general. The initiative is a disgrace for what it intends to do.
Anyone who looks at the situation through an objective lens can see that this administration is trying to impose its will on Christians and especially Catholics. The government exists at the will of the people, and yet this administration constantly tries to pull the wool over our eyes as if we were children who cannot see through their obvious attempt to usurp our right to practice our religion as it has been prescribed for more than 2000 years.
The Obama government actually thinks it can change thousands of years of tradition and beliefs. Secretary Sebelius and the Department of Health and Human Services should be ashamed of exploiting young women the way they are doing. They are encouraging women to go out and have sex with anyone and not worry because any mistake can be corrected within 72 hours, and all of this should be funded by their employer. It doesn’t matter whether or not their employer happens to be the Catholic Church, whose teachings specifically forbid the very action the government is championing.
In spite of the Constitution and the First Amendment (freedom of religion), the Catholic Church is being forced to fund contraception and short-term abortion. Of course, if the pill doesn’t work, the women can still “correct their mistakes” as the president so eloquently put it. He proved this was his view when he was a State Senator in Illinois. He voted to allow out-of-uterus abortion regardless of the term. This borders on infanticide and should be treated that way. Illinois’ morals are a question for another time. Now if all the precautions and pills fail, the women can still go to Planned Parenthood and have it taken care of right up to the day the baby is born.
At a recent Congressional hearing on abortion, Planned Parenthood was asked what should be done for a baby who is born and and still fighting for its life. Their answer was that the decision is up to the patient and the doctor. Of course, they were referring to the mother as the patient. They had to be reminded that since the baby was now a living person, he/she becomes the patient. Once confronted with the reality, having been caught off guard, the Planned Parenthood spokesperson could not answer the question. And Planned Parenthood receives government funding. Do you see where this is going?
This is all part of a secular conspiracy to blunt the influence of the 1.2 billion members of the Catholic Church. This feeling of entitlement is instilled to keep the women dependent on the federal government for their every need. One thing the women should remember is: what the government gives to you, the government can take away. When that time comes, it is too late because you are so dependent you don’t …read more
Francis marks anniversary of John Paul II death
Pope Francis has prayed before the tomb of Pope John Paul II on the eighth anniversary of the much-beloved pontiff’s death.
In his three weeks as pope, Francis has jolted the Catholic Church with several gestures that broke with tradition, including renouncing certain liturgical vestments and washing the feet of a Muslim woman during a Holy Thursday ritual re-enacting Jesus Christ‘s washing of his apostles’ feet.
But the Vatican said his visit Tuesday evening to St. Peter’s Basilica to pray before John Paul‘s tomb and those of Popes John XXIII and Pius X was evidence of his “profound spiritual continuity” with popes past.
On Monday, Francis visited the necropolis underneath the basilica where, according to tradition, St. Peter is buried.
Francis was elected pope March 13.
The Ultimate Aim Of The Gay “marriage” Plot
The gay marriage plot is not hard to see. It goes as follows: First, legalize gay “marriage.” Next, use tax law to force churches to commit to gay “marriages” with an either/or choice. Finally, close those that refuse to commit to gay “marriages.”
The forced choice will be: gay “marriage,” or lose tax exempt status.
The real target of all of this is the Catholic Church. For all of her faults, the Catholic Church has steadfastly refused to change her position against same-gender marriage. The elevation of Pope Francis has done nothing to make anyone think this position will be changed.
The Left knows that a Supreme Court victory will never give gays what they really want, which is a totally unfettered lifestyle and “freedom” to live not only as they wish, but to be accepted as equals in everyday life. With the Catholic Church standing in the way, that is a door gays will never be able to open.
Defeating a Church as strongly opposed to gay “marriage” as the Catholic Church is her gay enemy’s goal. Nevertheless, those who believe the approximately 28 million Catholics – actual Catholics who actually attend Mass each week – will roll over and accept gay “marriage” in their churches are terribly wrong.
The media can poll people who once walked past St. Patrick’s Cathedral and count them as Catholics to show “Catholics” voted for Barack Obama and love gay “marriage”; but real Catholics know the truth.
The plan will be carried out in an insidious and low-keyed manner. A pastor of a small unaffiliated white Protestant church will have a gay couple ask him to marry them, knowing he will say no. Since the pastor is unaffiliated with a larger structure, he will be faced with a lawsuit putting him in an “either/or” trap: Commit gay “marriages,” violate Scripture, and stay open; or refuse and be taxed out of existence. At first, many will resist; but eventually, some, then more and more, will be forced to cave in.
When the first legal case is won by gay “marriage” supporters, a legal precedent will be established. Larger churches such as Evangelical Assembly’s will be next – mosques and Orthodox Jewish synagogues will NOT be approached as it would not be worth the distraction.
Eventually, a prominent gay Catholic will demand to “marry” a gay partner in St. Patrick’s Cathedral. When that day comes, the gay enemies of Catholicism will see their long-held dream of putting the Catholic Church in an “either/or” trap become reality.
Photo credit: Dave Schumaker (Creative Commons)
Pope Francis Holds First Easter Vigil Service In St. Peter’s Basilica
By The Huffington Post News Editors
VATICAN CITY — Pope Francis celebrated a trimmed back Easter Vigil service Saturday after having reached out to Muslims and women during a Holy Week in which he began to put his mark on the Catholic Church.
Francis processed into a darkened and silent St. Peter’s Basilica at the start of the service, in which the faithful recall the period between Christ’s crucifixion on Good Friday and resurrection on Easter Sunday.
Read More…
More on Pope Francis
Pope presides over Easter Vigil service
Pope Francis is celebrating a trimmed back Easter Vigil service after having reached out to Muslims and women during a Holy Week in which he has begun to put his mark on the Catholic Church.
Francis processed into a darkened and silent St. Peter’s Basilica at the start of the Saturday service, which recalls the period between Christ’s crucifixion on Good Friday and resurrection on Easter Sunday. One of the most dramatic moments of the Easter Vigil service — when the pope would share the light of his candle with others until the entire basilica twinkled — was shortened this year as were some of the Old Testament readings.
The Vatican has said these provisions are in keeping with Francis’ aim to not have his Masses go on too long.
Pope presides over trimmed Easter Vigil service
Pope Francis is celebrating a trimmed back Easter Vigil service after having reached out to Muslims and women during a Holy Week in which he has begun to put his mark on the Catholic Church.
Francis processed into a darkened and silent St. Peter’s Basilica at the start of the Saturday service, which recalls the period between Christ’s crucifixion on Good Friday and resurrection on Easter Sunday. One of the most dramatic moments of the Easter Vigil service — when the pope would share the light of his candle with others until the entire basilica twinkled — was shortened this year as were some of the Old Testament readings.
The Vatican has said these provisions are in keeping with Francis’ aim to not have his Masses go on too long.
Pope's foot-washing final blow for traditionalists
Pope Francis has won over many hearts and minds with his simple style and focus on serving the world’s poorest, but he has devastated traditionalist Catholics who adored his predecessor, Benedict XVI, for restoring much of the traditional pomp to the papacy.
Francis’ decision to disregard church law and wash the feet of two girls — a Serbian Muslim and an Italian Catholic — during a Holy Thursday ritual has become something of the final straw, evidence that Francis has little or no interest in one of the key priorities of Benedict’s papacy: reviving the pre-Vatican II traditions of the Catholic Church.
One of the most-read traditionalist blogs, “Rorate Caeli,” reacted to the foot-washing ceremony by declaring the death of Benedict’s eight-year project to correct what he considered the botched interpretations of the Second Vatican Council‘s modernizing reforms.
“The official end of the reform of the reform — by example,” ”Rorate Caeli” lamented in its report on Francis’ Holy Thursday ritual.
A like-minded commentator in Francis’ native Argentina, Marcelo Gonzalez at International Catholic Panorama, reacted to Francis’ election with this phrase: “The Horror.”
Gonzalez’s beef? While serving as Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio, Francis’ efforts to revive the old Latin Mass so dear to Benedict and traditionalists were “non-existent.”
As a result, no one should have been surprised when Francis emerged from the loggia of St. Peter’s Basilica on the night of March 13 without the ermine-rimmed red velvet cape, or mozzetta, used by popes past for official duties, wearing instead the simple white cassock of the papacy.
Nor should they have blinked when he received the cardinals’ pledges of obedience after his election not from a chair on a pedestal as popes normally do but rather standing, on their same level. Or when he called for “intensified” dialogue with Islam — gestures that rankled some traditionalists to the core since they view interfaith dialogue as a sign of religious relativism.
Francis also raised traditional eyebrows when he refused the golden pectoral cross offered to him right after his election by Monsignor Guido Marini, the Vatican’s liturgy guru who under Benedict became the symbol of Benedict’s effort to restore the Gregorian chant and heavy silk brocaded vestments of the pre-Vatican II liturgy to papal Masses.
Marini has …read more
Source: FULL ARTICLE at Fox World News
Shroud Of Turin Real? New Research Dates Relic To 1st Century, Time Of Jesus Christ
By The Huffington Post News Editors
After decades of speculation, new research suggests that the Shroud of Turin, one of the Catholic Church‘s holiest relics, may be the real deal.
Believed by some to have been Jesus’ burial cloth, the Shroud has been the subject of much research. The latest battery of experiments led experts to conclude the cloth may have come from the first century A.D., making it old enough to have been used to bury Jesus Christ
Giulio Fanti, a professor of mechanical and thermal measurement at the University of Padua, announced the findings in a book that hit shelves Wednesday in Italy, reports Vatican Insider. Fanti has written several papers about the shroud, including one in 2011 that hypothesized how radiation could have caused the image of a man’s bloody face and body to appear on the cloth.
Rome In A Day: The Best Walking Tour Of The Eternal City
Recently, all eyes have been on the city of Rome while the Papal Conclave convened to elect Pope Francis 1 the new leader of the Catholic Church. I would image there are many of you out there planning your summer holidays, perhaps with Rome now being on top of your list. Or perhaps your visit to the Eternal City will be a quick stopover on your way to another one of Europe‘s many historical cities. …read more
Source: FULL ARTICLE at Forbes Latest
Pope Francis tells Benedict: 'We're brothers'
The two men in white embraced and showed one another the deference owed a pope in ways that surely turned Vatican protocol upside down: A reigning pope telling a retired one, “We are brothers,” and insisting that they pray side-by-side during a date to discuss the future of the Catholic Church.
Pope Francis traveled Saturday from the Vatican to this hilltown south of Rome to have lunch with his predecessor, Benedict XVI, an historic and potentially problematic melding of the papacies that has never before confronted the church.
In a season of extraordinary moments, starting with Benedict’s resignation and climaxing with the election of the first Latin American pope, Saturday’s encounter provided perhaps the most enduring images of this papal transition as popes present and past embraced, prayed and broke bread together.
“It was a moment of great communion in the church,” said the Vatican spokesman, the Rev. Federico Lombardi. “The spiritual union of these two people is truly a great gift and a promise of serenity for the church.”
Benedict, 85, has been living at the papal retreat in Castel Gandolfo since he stepped down Feb. 28 and became the first pope to resign in 600 years. From the moment he was elected, Francis, 76, made clear he would go visit him, refusing in a way to let Benedict remain “hidden from the world” as he had intended.
Wearing a white quilted jacket over his white cassock to guard against the spring chill, Benedict greeted Francis on the helipad of the Castel Gandolfo gardens as soon as the papal helicopter landed. They embraced and clasped hands. And in a series of gestures that followed, Benedict made clear that he considered Francis to be pope while Francis made clear he considered his predecessor to be very much a revered brother and equal.
Traveling from the helipad to the palazzo, Benedict gave Francis the seat on the right-hand side of the car, the traditional place of the pope, while Benedict sat on the left. When they entered the chapel inside the palazzo to pray, Benedict tried to direct Francis to the papal kneeler in the front, but Francis refused.
Taking Benedict‘s hands and drawing him near, Francis said, “No, we are brothers,” Lombardi said. The two used a longer kneeler in the pews and prayed side-by-side, the papal kneeler facing the altar left vacant.
It was a gesture that, 10 days into Francis’ papacy, is becoming routine: a shunning of the trappings of the papacy in favor of a collegial and simple style that harks back to his Jesuit roots and ministry in the slums of Buenos Aires.
Francis also brought a gift for Benedict, an icon of the Madonna.
“They told me it’s the Madonna of Humility,” Francis told Benedict. “Let me say one thing: When they told me that, I immediately thought of you, at the many marvelous examples of humility and gentleness that you gave us during your pontificate.”
Benedict replied: “Grazie, grazie.”
Outside the villa, the main piazza of Castel Gandolfo was packed with well-wishers bearing photos of both …read more
Source: FULL ARTICLE at Fox World News