05/25/2013VATICAN Pope: the economic crisis has ethical roots, we need a global rethink of system We can not put "the idols of power, profit, money, over and above the value of the human person." Unemployment "is spreading like wildfire in large areas of the West and boundaries of poverty are spreading at an alarming rate. And there is no worse material poverty, I am compelled to emphasize, than that which does not allow people to earn their daily bread and deprives them of the dignity of work. " Vatican City (AsiaNews) -
"Rethinking solidarity", "returning to the centrality of man, to
a more ethical vision of human activities and relationships" for "a
global rethinking of the system" is a requirement made more pressing by the
current crisis, with "the...
05/25/2013VATICAN Pope: those seeking the Church must never find doors closed by "faith inspectors" During the Mass, Francis recalls the episode of Jesus who says "let the children come to me" to invite the acceptance of "people." "The faith of the People of God is a simple faith, a faith that is perhaps without too much theology, but an interior theology that makes no mistake, because infused by Spirit."
05/25/2013UZBEKISTAN Uzbek Christian convicted of possessing Bibles and religious material Sentenced to 18 months "corrective" work and part of his salary paid to the State as a fine. The fear is that he will be sent to cotton fields for harvest, exhausting work. In the capital, a group of believers punished with "heavy fines" for having met in a home to read "Christian material."
05/25/2013CHINA Marking World Day, Chinese pray for "unity" and "communion" with Universal Church by Bodi Jiao From Shanghai to Beijing, marking the day dedicated to Our Lady of Sheshan and the Church in China, the faithful gather to pray, attend Mass, Eucharistic adoration and make pilgrimages. Feast day focuses on the theme internal unity and communion with Catholics around the world. Six years after the Letter, heartfelt gratitude of the faithful to Benedict XVI still growing.
05/25/2013HOLY LAND Khalid, the young Muslim who reveals story of mosaics in Jerusalem’s Christian churches Originally from Bethlehem, Khalid Hamdan has a degree in art history and now explains the mosaics of the nations Basilica to schoolchildren in Jerusalem. Most of the students are Muslims and have never been in a church. Helping Muslim children to know where they live and especially the Christian story creates a bridge between cultures. The hope is that Khalid’s initiative will stimulate reconciliation and the desire to get to know each of the three peoples of the Holy Land: Christians, Muslims and Jews.
05/25/2013BANGLADESH Bangladesh, Hindus and Muslims help build Catholic church by Sumon Corraya In Mathbari, a small town near Dhaka, Hindus and Muslims take part in a fundraiser launched by the Catholic community to finance the construction of a church. The pastor: "I am very happy, it is evidence of a good relationship of coexistence."
05/25/2013INDONESIA Indonesian Catholic Foundation forms future leaders in ethics by Mathias Hariyadi For 25 years, the Bhimiksara Foundation works - in Muslim majority context- for the creation of a better ruling class for the country. Among its priorities, the fight against corruption in the public and private sectors. And the support of the Church in the work of education and proclamation of the Word of God
05/24/2013NEPAL - CHINA China's rising transportation costs block trade with Nepal by Kalpit Parajuli Price hikes by Chinese companies cause Nepali traders to halt movement of goods on the road from Khasa to Tatopani. They refuse to pay more.
05/24/2013PIME - GUINEA BISSAU I, PIME priest, whipped by the devil in the land of mission by Piero Gheddo
On his blog, Father Gheddo talks about the experience of Fr Dionisio Ferraro, a native of Vicenza (Italy) and a missionary in Guinea Bissau. As the latter worked on a book dealing with faith, he was whipped by the devil one night to the point of drawing blood, causing deep wounds to the body. In Africa, the presence of Satan "is no surprise to anyone"; he is also present in Italy, but very "little is said about him."
05/24/2013VATICAN Pope: governments should seek incisive initiatives and new approaches to protect the dignity of refugees In his meeting with members the Pontifical Council for the Pastoral Care of Migrants and Itinerant People, Francis spoke about human trafficking, including that of children. "It is despicable, a disgrace to societies that claim to be civilised! Pimps and clients at every level ought to seriously examine their conscience before themselves and before God." As well as welcoming them, the Church should "give a voice to those who cannot cry out their pain and oppression."
05/24/2013CHINA Bishop Ma Daqin and Chinese Catholics pray for the unity of the Church in China by Jian Mei Placed under house arrest, the auxiliary bishop of Shanghai interacts with the faithful through the social network Weibo and his blog. Across the country, Catholics organize charitable activities and prayer vigils.
05/24/2013VATICAN Pope: May the Lord bless and Our Lady watch over the noble Chinese people Marking the feast of Mary Help of Christians, Day of Prayer for China, Francis speaks of the ”grace” to “bear and overcome external and internal oppression with patience and love. "Praying for your enemies, for those who make us suffer" is not easy. "But we are" defeated Christians "if we do not forgive our enemies and if we do not pray for them.
05/24/2013SYRIA Assad "maybe" open to dialogue. In Aleppo young Christians offer their lives for the poor The President will participate in "principle" at peace conference in Geneva on June 10, proposed by Russia and the United States. So far, the opposition has not responded. The Syrian National Coalition increasingly divided between diplomacy and armed struggle. Bishop Audo, the Chaldean bishop speaks of the silent work of the Church of Aleppo. The faith of the young and their selfless help to the poor and displaced people are the real hope for the reconstruction of Syria.
05/24/2013MYANMAR Rakhine: Chinese-style family planning to contain Rohingya Muslims The members of the minority cannot have "more than two children," a rule designed to stop its "rapid population growth" in accordance with central government recommendations, state spokesman says. Activists complain that under the pretext of opposition to polygamy, a campaign of "ethnic cleansing" is underway.
_0524_-_Mosaici_(600_x_301).jpg)
.jpg)
_0524_-_Giornata_di_preghiera_per_la_Chiesa_in_Cina.jpg)
_0524_-_Caritas.jpg)
