Catholics In the Know
Wednesday, December 29, 2004
New York, December 29, 2004 (Catholic League)
Catholic League President William Donohue released the following remarks today:
“Anti-Catholicism in the US is the predominant focus of the Catholic League. But we are not oblivious to what has been happening to Catholics in other parts of the world. Specifically, the rise of anti-Catholicism in Europe and the Arab nations is very disturbing. Moreover, it is not for nothing that these two regions continue to display an abiding hatred of Jews.
“Through the noble efforts of people like A.M. Rosenthal, Americans have learned of Christian persecution in Arab lands, such as torture, child slavery and the bombing of Christian villages in Sudan. Upwards of 40,000 Christians have been driven out of post-invasion Iraq by Islamic extremists conducting coordinated bombings and systematic persecution.
“In Northern Serbia and France, vandals desecrated graves at Catholic cemeteries. Emblematic of this growing hostility toward Catholics in Europe is the recent behavior of the European Union. Not only did it refuse to make any reference to Europe’s Christian heritage in the EU constitution, but it viciously rejected the distinguished Italian philosopher Rocco Buttiglione as nominee for EU Justice Minister—simply because he shares the Pope’s views on marriage and the family. Indeed, Buttiglione personally told me that EU governmental elites explicitly called the Catholic Church Europe’s greatest threat.
“As for anti-Semitism, just this week Sri Lanka refused to accept a team of Israeli medical personnel to help the country’s tsunami victims. (Apparently, the government prefers children to die rather than be treated by Jewish doctors.) The Anti-Defamation League has documented rampant anti-Semitic incidents in Europe. Holocaust memorials have been desecrated in Vienna; a hundred Jewish gravestones were desecrated near Strasbourg in October; sixty Jewish gravestones were destroyed in Birmingham, England in August.
“That anti-Catholicism and anti-Semitism track each other in Europe and the Arab countries is no coincidence: state-sponsored secularism in Europe and a radical interpretation of Islam in the Muslim world both regard Catholics and Jews as the enemy.”
Thomas McArdle
Director of Communications
Catholic League for Religious and Civil Rights
450 Seventh Ave
New York, NY 10123
(212) 371-3191
(212) 371-3394 (Fax)
www.catholicleague.org
Catholic League President William Donohue released the following remarks today:
“Anti-Catholicism in the US is the predominant focus of the Catholic League. But we are not oblivious to what has been happening to Catholics in other parts of the world. Specifically, the rise of anti-Catholicism in Europe and the Arab nations is very disturbing. Moreover, it is not for nothing that these two regions continue to display an abiding hatred of Jews.
“Through the noble efforts of people like A.M. Rosenthal, Americans have learned of Christian persecution in Arab lands, such as torture, child slavery and the bombing of Christian villages in Sudan. Upwards of 40,000 Christians have been driven out of post-invasion Iraq by Islamic extremists conducting coordinated bombings and systematic persecution.
“In Northern Serbia and France, vandals desecrated graves at Catholic cemeteries. Emblematic of this growing hostility toward Catholics in Europe is the recent behavior of the European Union. Not only did it refuse to make any reference to Europe’s Christian heritage in the EU constitution, but it viciously rejected the distinguished Italian philosopher Rocco Buttiglione as nominee for EU Justice Minister—simply because he shares the Pope’s views on marriage and the family. Indeed, Buttiglione personally told me that EU governmental elites explicitly called the Catholic Church Europe’s greatest threat.
“As for anti-Semitism, just this week Sri Lanka refused to accept a team of Israeli medical personnel to help the country’s tsunami victims. (Apparently, the government prefers children to die rather than be treated by Jewish doctors.) The Anti-Defamation League has documented rampant anti-Semitic incidents in Europe. Holocaust memorials have been desecrated in Vienna; a hundred Jewish gravestones were desecrated near Strasbourg in October; sixty Jewish gravestones were destroyed in Birmingham, England in August.
“That anti-Catholicism and anti-Semitism track each other in Europe and the Arab countries is no coincidence: state-sponsored secularism in Europe and a radical interpretation of Islam in the Muslim world both regard Catholics and Jews as the enemy.”
Thomas McArdle
Director of Communications
Catholic League for Religious and Civil Rights
450 Seventh Ave
New York, NY 10123
(212) 371-3191
(212) 371-3394 (Fax)
www.catholicleague.org
Sunday, December 26, 2004
Yesterday, after massive tsunamis, caused by the fourth largest earthquake in recorded history, inundated coastal areas in seven South Asian nations killing almost 12,000 or more people.; plus millions of survivors.
On a personal Note: For all that read this, please pray for the repose of the souls involved and peace and comfort for the families that remain.
On a personal Note: For all that read this, please pray for the repose of the souls involved and peace and comfort for the families that remain.
O God, the Creator and Redeemer of all the faithful, grant to the souls of Your servants departed full remission of all their sins, that through our devout prayers, they may obtain the pardon, which they have always desired. Who live and reign, world without end. Oh Lord, grant them eternal rest; let your perpetual light shine upon them, and may they rest in peace. Father, it is beyond man to know the state of the soul when it leaves the body to stand before you, have mercy on those who now stand in your presence. Amen.
Francis
Thursday, December 23, 2004
VATICAN CITY, DEC. 21, 2004 (Zenit.org).- Here is a translation of John Paul II's address at today's general audience, which he dedicated to comment the mystery of Christmas.
1. During these days of preparation for Christmas we pray continually in the liturgy, "Come, Lord Jesus." It is like a refrain that surges from the heart of believers from all corners of the Earth and resounds incessantly in the prayer of the Church.
We have also invoked the coming of Christ a few moments ago with today's "O antiphon." The Messiah is invoked using some of the most beautiful titles found in sacred Scripture: "King of the Gentiles," "Hope of all nations," "Cornerstone uniting all peoples."
2. On Christmas we contemplate the great mystery of God becoming man in the Virgin's womb. He is born in Bethlehem to share our fragile human condition! He comes among us and brings salvation to the whole world. His mission will be to reunite all human beings and peoples in the one family of the children of God.
We can say that in the mystery of Christmas, we contemplate the "leap forward" in the history of salvation. To the human being, who with sin has distanced himself from the creator, is offered in Christ the gift of a new and fuller communion with him. Hope springs up in our hearts, and the gates of heaven are opened for us.
3. Dear brothers and sisters! May the celebration of Christmas be a propitious occasion to truly live the value and meaning of the great event of Jesus' birth. This is the wish that I express to all of you in this general audience, to your families and to your communities.
1. During these days of preparation for Christmas we pray continually in the liturgy, "Come, Lord Jesus." It is like a refrain that surges from the heart of believers from all corners of the Earth and resounds incessantly in the prayer of the Church.
We have also invoked the coming of Christ a few moments ago with today's "O antiphon." The Messiah is invoked using some of the most beautiful titles found in sacred Scripture: "King of the Gentiles," "Hope of all nations," "Cornerstone uniting all peoples."
2. On Christmas we contemplate the great mystery of God becoming man in the Virgin's womb. He is born in Bethlehem to share our fragile human condition! He comes among us and brings salvation to the whole world. His mission will be to reunite all human beings and peoples in the one family of the children of God.
We can say that in the mystery of Christmas, we contemplate the "leap forward" in the history of salvation. To the human being, who with sin has distanced himself from the creator, is offered in Christ the gift of a new and fuller communion with him. Hope springs up in our hearts, and the gates of heaven are opened for us.
3. Dear brothers and sisters! May the celebration of Christmas be a propitious occasion to truly live the value and meaning of the great event of Jesus' birth. This is the wish that I express to all of you in this general audience, to your families and to your communities.
