CATHOLIC NEWS WORLD: WED. DEC. 1, 2010: HEADLINES
VATICAN: POPE: SPEAKS ABOUT CHINA AND OTHER NEWS
EUROPE: ENGLAND: NATIVITY TRAIL: CHRISTMAS BY ARTISTS
AMERICA: USA: BISHOPS LAUNCH WEBSITE FOR BOOK ON BENEDICT XVI
ASIA: INDIA: ST. VINCENT'S HOME CARES FOR AIDS PATIENTS
AUSTRALIA: CATH. COMMUNITY SERVICES CARE FOR AGED
AMERICA: USA: BISHOPS LAUNCH WEBSITE FOR BOOK ON BENEDICT XVI
ASIA: INDIA: ST. VINCENT'S HOME CARES FOR AIDS PATIENTS
AFRICA: CENTRAL AFRICA: COMMUNICATIONS DIFFICULT
TODAY'S SAINT: DEC. 1: ST. NAHUM THE PROPHET
TODAY'S SAINT: DEC. 1: ST. EDMUND CAMPION
VATICAN: POPE: SPEAKS ABOUT CHINA AND OTHER NEWS
JULIAN OF NORWICH: PRIMACY OF DIVINE LOVE
VATICAN CITY, 1 DEC 2010 (VIS) - During today's general audience Benedict XVI spoke about Julian of Norwich, a great English mystic who lived approximately between 1342 and 1430, "difficult years", the Holy Father remarked, "both for the Church, lacerated by the schism that followed the Pope's return from Avignon to Rome, and for people's everyday lives which were suffering the consequences of a long war between the kingdoms of England and France".In 1373, during a period of serious illness, Julian received sixteen revelations on the love of God. "Inspired by divine love, Julian made a radical choice. Like an ancient anchoress, she chose to live in a cell located near the church of St. Julian in the city of Norwich".
"Anchoresses, or 'recluses', dedicated themselves to prayer, meditation and study within their cells. In this way they came to acquire a very delicate human and religious sensibility which led to their being venerated by the people; and men and women of all ages and conditions, in need of counsel and comfort, devotedly sought them out".
Benedict XVI went on: "Women and men who chose to withdraw and live in the company of God acquire, precisely because of this choice, a great sense of compassion for the suffering and weakness of others. Friends of God, they enjoy a wisdom which the world they have left does not possess, and they willingly share this with those who knock at their door. Thus I think with admiration and gratitude of the monasteries of cloistered women and men which, today more than ever, are oases of peace and hope, a precious treasure for the entire Church, especially inasmuch as they recall the primacy of God and the importance that intense and constant prayer has for the journey of faith".
Julian's book "Revelations of Divine Love", contains "an optimistic message based on the certainty that we are loved by God and protected by His Providence". She "compares divine love with maternal love. This is one of the most characteristic messages of her mystical theology. The tenderness, solicitude and sweetness of God's goodness towards us are so great that to us, pilgrims on the earth, they seem as the love of a mother for her children".
"Julian of Norwich understood the central message of spiritual life: that God is love. Only when we open ourselves totally to this love, only when we allow it to become the one guide to our existence, does everything become transfigured and do we find true peace and joy which we can pass on to others".
"The Catechism of the Catholic Church", the Holy Father explained, "contains words of Julian of Norwich, expounding the point of view of the Catholic faith on a subject that never ceases to arouse the concern of believers. If God is supremely good and wise, why does evil exist, why do the innocent suffer? ... Yet in the mysterious designs of Providence, even from evil God can draw a greater good. As Julian of Norwich wrote: 'I was taught by the grace of God that I should steadfastly keep me in the faith, and that at the same time I should ... earnestly believe that all manner of thing shall be well'".
"God's promises are always greater that our expectations. If we commend the purest and deepest desires of our heart to God and to His immense love, we will never be disappointed, and 'all manner of thing shall be well'. This is the final message", the Pope concluded, "which Julian of Norwich transmits to us and which I too propose to you today".
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POPE MAKES AN APPEAL FOR THE CHURCH IN CHINA
VATICAN CITY, 1 DEC 2010 (VIS) - Following his catechesis in today's general audience, Benedict XVI made some remarks concerning the situation of the Church in China.
"To your prayers", he told the faithful gathered in the Paul VI Hall, "and to those of Catholics all over the world, I entrust the Church in China which, as you know, is experiencing particularly difficult moments. Let us ask the Blessed Virgin Mary, Help of Christians, to support all Chinese bishops, who are so dear to me, that they may bear courageous witness to their faith, placing all their hope in the Saviour Whom we await. Let us also entrust to the Virgin all the Catholics of that beloved country so that, through her intercession, they may live a truly Christian existence in communion with the universal Church, thus also contributing to the harmony and common good of their noble people".
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CARDINAL BERTONE ADDRESSES OSCE SUMMIT IN KAZAKHSTAN
VATICAN CITY, 1 DEC 2010 (VIS) - Made public today was the address delivered by Cardinal Secretary of State Tarcisio Bertone S.D.B. before the summit meeting of heads of State and government of the fifty-six members of the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE), being held in Astana, Kazakhstan, on 1 and 2 December.
Cardinal Bertone affirmed that the Holy See "does not cease to reiterate that the aim of States should be to protect and respect that human dignity which unites the entire human family. This unity is rooted in four fundamental principles: the centrality of the human person, of solidarity, of subsidiarity and of the common good. These principles harmonise well with the overall concept of security, which is the foundation of our organisation, and are a constant reminder which the political community must bear in mind".
"The CSCE and the OSCE have always had the promotion and protection of human rights in their respective agendas", said Cardinal Bertone. "These fundamental freedoms include the right to religious freedom. ... Developments of recent years and the progress made in drafting the various texts adopted by the OSCE show, with increasingly clarity, that religious freedom can exist in different social systems".
"Closely related to the denial of religious freedom is religiously-motivated intolerance and discrimination, especially against Christians. It is well documented that Christians are the most discriminated and persecuted religious group. Over 200 million of them, belonging to different denominations, live in difficult conditions because of legal and cultural structures".
Referring then to the subject of human trafficking, the cardinal secretary of State pointed out that "the Holy See has always been aware of the seriousness of this crime, a modern form of slavery. ... To prevent trafficking in human beings today, use is often made of stricter immigration policies, increased border controls and combating organised crime. However as long as its victims, once repatriated, find themselves in the same conditions from which they sought to escape, the traffic will not be easy to stop. Thus, anti-trafficking initiatives must also aim to develop and offer effective opportunities to break the cycle of poverty-abuse-exploitation".
Finally the cardinal underlined the ongoing validity of the "ten principles" of the Helsinki Conference, stressing that "the commitments agreed by the OSCE are strong and noble. They are supported by a robust mandate and by the principle of consent. The Holy See reaffirms these commitments and encourages the organisation to stand firm on them".
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HOLY SEE STATEMENT ON PONTIFICAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES
VATICAN CITY, 1 DEC 2010 (VIS) - Given below is the English-language text of a declaration made by Holy See Press Office Director Fr. Federico Lombardi S.J. in response to questions about the final declaration of a study week sponsored by the Pontifical Academy of Sciences on the subject: "Transgenic Plants for Food Security in the Context of Development":
"The study week took place at the headquarters of the Pontifical Academy of Sciences from 15 to 19 May 2009, with the participation of forty scholars, seven of whom are Pontifical Academicians (out of a total of eighty), including the late president, Professor Nicola Cabibbo. The other participants were outside experts.
"The final statement, now published by Elsevier in the Acts of the Study Week, was signed by the participants and thus has the value of their academic authority.
"However, the statement must not be considered as a statement of the Pontifical Academy of Sciences, which has eighty members, because the academy, as such, has never been consulted about it nor is such a consultation planned.
"Furthermore, the statement cannot be considered as an official position of the Holy See or of the Magisterium of the Church on the topic".
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VATICAN CITY, 1 DEC 2010 (VIS) - The Holy Father:
- Accepted the resignation from the pastoral carte of the archdiocese of Lubumbashi, Democratic Republic of Congo, presented by Archbishop Floribert Songasonga Mwitwa, in accordance with canon 401 para. 2 of the Code of Canon Law. He is succeeded by Coadjutor Archbishop Jean-Pierre Tafunga Mbayo S.D.B.
- Accepted the resignation from the pastoral care of the diocese of Trenton, U.S.A., presented by Bishop John Mortimer Smith, upon having reached the age limit. He is succeeded by Coadjutor Bishop David M. O'Connell C.M.
- Accepted the resignation from the office of auxiliary of the archdiocese of Saint Louis, U.S.A., presented by Bishop Robert J. Hermann, upon having reached the age limit.
- Appointed Msgr. Edward M. Rice of the clergy of the archdiocese of Saint Louis, U.S.A., director of vocations to the priesthood, as auxiliary of the same archdiocese (area 15,451, population 2,211,707, Catholics 572,000, priests 716, permanent deacons 262, religious 1,983). The bishop-elect was born in Saint Louis in 1960 and ordained a priest in 1987.
RE:NEA/
VATICAN CITY, 1 DEC 2010 (VIS) - The Holy Father today received in audience Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo, president of Equatorial Guinea.
EUROPE: ENGLAND: NATIVITY TRAIL: CHRISTMAS BY ARTISTS
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The Nativity Trail, the traditional story of Christmas as depicted by artists over 500 years, was warmly commended during the official launch by the Most Reverend Bernard Longley, Archbishop of Birmingham, on Tuesday 30 November.
Speaking less than eleven weeks since the visit of Pope Benedict XVI to Birmingham, Archbishop Bernard Longley said: "As my second Christmas in Birmingham approaches I am delighted that the Birmingham Museum & Art Gallery have once again devised a Nativity Trail. This year it includes the beautiful mosaic image of the Madonna and Child which was Pope Benedict's gift to St Mary's College at Oscott."
The Archbishop of Birmingham added: "The Nativity Trail helps people to follow the story of Christ's birth and also unfolds its deeper meaning in our own lives. The mosaic reminds us of the contribution that people of all faiths are making to the well-being of the City of Birmingham."
Among the civic dignitaries present were the Lord Mayor of Birmingham, Councillor, Len Gregory and the Lady Mayoress, Mrs Gill Gregory, Councillor Alan Rudge, who coordinated the Papal Visit to Cofton Park on behalf of Birmingham City Council, together with Canon Catherine Ogle, Dean of St Philip's Anglican Cathedral, and Father Richard Duffield, Provost of the Birmingham Oratory and Postulator of the Newman Cause.
A number of Primary School choirs from around Birmingham, including Christ the King, Kingstanding, entertained the visitors with a selection of popular carols.
The Nativity Trail includes the following masterpieces depicting the Christmas story: The Star of Bethlehem (1887-1891), by Edward Burne-Jones (Gallery 14); The Annunciation (1858), by Arthur Hughes (Gallery 18); The Adoration of the Shepherds (c1520-40), by Bonifazio de’Pitati, called Veronese (Gallery 26); The Rest on the Flight into Egypt, (1615-20), by Orazio Gentileschi. (Gallery 25).
Visitors to Birmingham Museum & Art Gallery will also have the opportunity to see a superb display of photographs documenting the visit of Pope Benedict XVI to Birmingham on Sunday 19 September 2010 for the beatification of Blessed John Henry Newman at Cofton Park. Also on show (Gallery 28) is the specially reupholstered chair used by Pope Benedict during his visit to St Mary's College Oscott, the diocesan seminary.
Following his recent appointment as Dean of the Metropolitan Cathedral and Basilica of St Chad, Birmingham, Father Gerry Breen, said: "How encouraging that so many religious and civic leaders gathered together for this initiative focusing on the true meaning of the Season, the Birth of Christ. In keeping with the City of Birmingham motto, I look 'Forward', to working with both the Civic and Religious Leaders for the benefit of all the people of our proud City."
Father Breen added: "The launch of the Nativity Trail at Birmingham Museum & Art Gallery provided a good opportunity to meet with Catherine Ogle, newly appointed as Dean to Saint Philip's Anglican Cathedral."
The Nativity Trail is open at Birmingham Museum & Art Galley from 1 December 2010 until 6 January 2011. Admission free.
AMERICA: USA: BISHOPS LAUNCH WEBSITE FOR BOOK ON BENEDICT XVI
The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops will launch an extensive new website dedicated to the new bookBenedict XVI: Essays and Reflections on His Papacy, which was published this fall by the USCCB in conjunction with Sheed & Ward, an imprint of Rowman & Littlefield Publishers. The site,www.popebenedictbook.com, goes live Wednesday, December 1.
The new website, designed by Mach 1 Media, offers a full-color tour of the new book, with a photo gallery, excerpts from the essays and a selection of the personal reflections featured in the book, and Q&As with several of the contributors. Video clips of Cardinal Sean O'Malley of Boston, Cardinal Francis George of Chicago, and Archbishop Timothy Dolan of New York add lively reflections from three of the book's contributors. Visitors to the site can click to purchase the book from a variety of retailers.
The website gives a sense of the unprecedented look into the first five years of Benedict’s reign that one finds inBenedict XVI. The book, edited by Sister Mary Ann Walsh, RSM, features forewords by King Abdullah II of Jordan and President Shimon Peres of Israel, and includes introductory material from Vatican Secretary of State Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone, Cardinal Francis George, OMI, and John Thavis, Rome bureau chief for Catholic News Service. “With brief essays on various themes of this papacy, the book serves as ‘Cliff Notes’ for understanding Pope Benedict XVI,” says Sister Walsh.
The book has been praised by reviewers, including Michael Sean Winters of National Catholic Reporter Online, who called it “a splendid book...brings the human face of our faith, in the person of the Pope, closer to us.”Library Journal called the book
“ beautifully illustrated and skillfully edited work.”
Elegantly designed and produced, the book includes more than 100 full-color photographs. Images range from formal public appearances and meetings with leaders and lay Catholics around the globe, to quiet moments of personal study or contemplation.
ASIA: INDIA: ST. VINCENT'S HOME CARES FOR AIDS PATIENTS
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For the past 14 years, the Daughters of Charity (DC) have been bringing hope and serving the victims of HIV/AIDS. St. Vincent’s Home started in 1996 with 25 patients; now it has 73 (men, women and children). “We are happy to be with them and serve them because we see the face of Christ in them,” said Sister Teresa Pegado, a Daughter of Christ nun at the St. Vincent’s Home.
The nuns take care of AIDS patients and prepare them for a peaceful death. More than 832 AIDS patients have died between 1996 and 2003. Treatment for the patients started in 2003. “We started regular checkups and increased their immunity. Therefore, the death rate began declining to one or two per month.
Some of the children were brought to the rehabilitation home from hospitals just after their birth. “We have the means for all the children to be educated. Our main concerns for them are: medication, rehabilitation and occupation,” Sister Pegado added.
The nuns teach them to make Rosaries. The inmates have daily common prayers, worship and attend Holy Mass. “We also give them classes on faith and morals. They are happy and united as one family. We also arrange for them some entertainment programmes such as movies or taking them for outings,” Sister Pegado said.
The nuns along with other staff who take care of AIDS patients are available to them for all their needs. They help them accept their situation, provide them with counselling and prepare them for a good death.
“At the beginning people were afraid of AIDS patients. The biggest problem that we faced was their burial. We were not allowed to bury them in the common cemetery. Once we had to bring back a dead body because the person who died from AIDS came from a different state,” said Sister Mary Manjooran, DC, another staff member at St. Vincent’s Home.
The second problem was treatment in hospital. As soon as the nuns said that one was an AIDS patient, doctors were so afraid and were not willing to treat them in hospital.
“Once we had to face a lot of problem for a delivery case; we had to shuttle between Trissure to Trivandrum in Kerala State, and then to Kottaym Medical College. At last, the patient was accepted in Kottayam with much difficulty. It was all just because the lady happened to be an AIDS patient,” Sister Manjooran said.
Now things have changed. Many are coming forward to help the nuns of St. Vincent’s Home. Many good people come and show their generosity by serving them. One congregation used to send their seminarians to serve these patients. The situation at the hospitals also has changed.
However, in too many cases, people with HIV/AIDS have been sent away by their families and communities. Some have been denied necessary medical treatment. In some cases, they were even deprived of the last rites before death.
India has a population of about a billion people, around half of whom are adults in the sexually active age group. Its first AIDS case was detected in 1986. Since then, cases of HIV infection have been reported in all states and union territories. However, the spread of HIV in the country has been uneven. HIV is more severe in the southern half of the country and the far northeast. The highest HIV rates are found in Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu and Karnataka in the south as well as Manipur and Nagaland in the northeast.
The vast majority of patients are heterosexual (80 per cent).
“We are happy to serve AIDS patients without looking at their differences of caste, creed or language. For us, they are as suffering members of Christ,” Sister Manjooran said.
AUSTRALIA: CATH. COMMUNITY SERVICES CARE FOR AGED
Tina Magennis, service innovation and development manager of the NSW Catholic Community Services, said the organisation recently received funding from the Department of Health and Ageing to operate 23 Consumer Directed Care (CDC) packages.
"CDC aims to provide consumers with more choice and control. The Commonwealth's pilot of CDC focuses on offering consumers choice and control over the types of services they receive. The next stage of CDC could be to allow consumers choice of service provider. Older people in UK and US already have the right to choose their service provider.
"Programs that have provided consumer choice have led to significant changes. Overseas experience shows that some service providers thrive, while lack of demand has resulted in others shrinking and some even closing."The ability to consistently meet consumer expectations is a key success factor when consumers can freely move between service providers."
The report also examines in detail the benefits and challenges of consumer participation strategies, and some ways to overcome the hurdles.
"The consumer participation program has provided CCS with valuable feedback about existing services and a convenient way to test new service ideas.
"Our clients tell us that participating ensures services are geared to their needs. In recent discussions, our clients also told us that the program is empowering. Providing meaningful ways to make a valued contribution, rather than just passively receiving services, contributes to quality of life."
AFRICA: CENTRAL AFRICA: COMMUNICATIONS DIFFICULT
“In recent days the army blocked all major roads leading to Birao. Then the city was bombed. The rebels suffered losses and several of the CPJP men were taken prisoner by the army. The rest of the rebel group fled. Many of the inhabitants of Birao are still in the forest, where they had fled to escape the bombing and fighting.” A spokesman for the CPJP confirmed that the rebels have fled the city.
According to press reports, the majority of military action against the CPJP rebels was conducted by the army of neighbouring Chad, formally intervening in Central African territory to chase a group of Chadian rebels. Chadian planes would have attacked the position of the CPJP in Birao.
Unlike some Central African rebel groups, the CPJP did not sign peace agreements with the government in Bangui. The leader of the CPJP, Charles Massi, a former Central African Minister, died in January 2010 under unclear circumstances while he was detained in a Central African Prison. Massi was arrested in Chad and then transferred to Central Africa. The rebels claim that they will not lay down their arms until light has been shed on the death of their leader. The area operated by the CPJP is located in the north-east of Central Africa, between Birao and Ndélé.
On 23 January 2011 the Central African presidential elections will be held. The candidates are the current President Francois Bozizé; his predecessor, Ange-Félix Patassé; the head of the People's Army for the Restoration of Democracy; Jean-Jacques Demafouth, President of the Central African Congress for the Renaissance; Justin Innocent Wilité; the economist Emile Gros Raymond Nakombo; and the President of the Movement for the Liberation of the Central African People, Martin Ziguelé.http://www.fides.org/aree/news/newsdet.php?idnews=27918&lan=eng
TODAY'S SAINT: DEC. 1: ST. NAHUM THE PROPHET
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TODAY'S SAINT: DEC. 1: ST. EDMUND CAMPION
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