November 21, 2007
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** DAILY READINGS:
First Reading:
2 Macc 7:1, 20-31
http://www.catholicnewsagency.com/reading.php?n=2465
Psalm:
Ps 17:1bcd, 5-6, 8b and 15
http://www.catholicnewsagency.com/reading.php?n=2466
Gospel:
Lk 19:11-28
http://www.catholicnewsagency.com/reading.php?n=2467
** SAINT OF THE DAY:
Feast of the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary
http://www.catholicnewsagency.com/saint.php?n=60
** TOP STORIES:
- Following Christ requires humility first, teaches Pope Benedict
** MORE HEADLINES
- African and European bishops denounce "new slaveries" that plague Africa
- Nuncio joins in condemnation of attacks on Cathedral in Mexico City
- Filipino bishop resigns before retirement age
- Indian adoption rights expanded to non-Hindu parents
- India: 190 attacks on Christians so far in 2007
- Stem cell breakthrough praised by bishops
- Three new Chinese bishops to be ordained with papal approval
- Archbishop at UN calls for "steady commitment" to disaster relief
- Pope appeals for peaceful solution to crisis in Somalia
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TOP STORIES
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Following Christ requires humility first, teaches Pope Benedict
(http://www.catholicnewsagency.com/new.php?n=11038)
VATICAN CITY, November 21 (CNA) - Imitate Aphraates "the Sage", who believed that "Christian life is focused on the imitation of Christ" and grounded in humility, Pope Benedict XVI told the crowd of pilgrims gathered in St. Peter's Square for his general audience.
Aphraates, known as "the Sage," an important Christian figure from 4th century Syria came from a Christian community that was "essentially part of the Semitic world from which the Bible itself emerged," the Pope explained.
This early form of Christianity was one where "theological formulations that had not yet come into contact with different cultural trends but lived off its own forms of thought. In these churches, "…asceticism, under various forms of hermitic life, ... played an important role."
The Holy Father also pointed out the strong influence of Judaism saying, "Aphraates was from an ecclesial community located on the frontier between Judaism and Christianity" that was "strongly linked to the Mother Church of Jerusalem and ... sought to remain faithful to the Judeo-Christian tradition of which it felt itself to be a product."
"The Sage" founded his life on the belief that, "Christian life is focused on the imitation of Christ," Pope Benedict told his listeners. He also considered "humility to be one of the most appropriate virtues for the disciple of Christ" because "man's nature is humble and it is God who exalts it with His own glory. ... By remaining humble, even in their earthly surroundings, Christians may establish a relationship with the Lord."
The Holy Father noted the significance of the fact that "Aphraates defined himself as a 'disciple of Sacred Scripture,' ... which he considered to be his only source of inspiration." In his works "he often presents the salvation achieved by Christ as healing and, hence, Christ Himself as doctor. Sin on the other hand is seen as a wound which only penance can heal."
"His vision of human beings and their corporeal reality", said the Pope, "is very positive: the human body ... is called to beauty, to joy and to light." And it is faith that "enables sincere charity, expressed in love for God and for others."
Another key concept in Aphraates' thought is that of fasting, which the Syrian "Sage" understood "in its widest sense: ... abstention from food as a practice necessary in order to be charitable, ... abstention from vain or abhorrent words, abstention from anger and from the ownership of goods."
Benedict XVI concluded by turning to Aphraates' teaching on prayer. "Christ," he taught, "is the master of prayer"…and "[p]rayer is achieved when Christ dwells in the heart of Christians, inviting them to a coherent commitment of charity towards their fellows."
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MORE HEADLINES
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African and European bishops denounce "new slaveries" that plague Africa
(http://www.catholicnewsagency.com/new.php?n=11051)
ROME, November 21 (CNA) - In a press release issued Tuesday, the bishops of Africa and Europe have called for more attention to be paid "to the new forms of slavery that are sometimes worse than the old treatment of slaves."
After a seminar entitled "I know the suffering of my people: slavery and new slaveries" in Cape Coast, Ghana, the bishops of the Council of Episcopal Conferences of Europe, Africa and Madagascar, said, "The new forms of slavery (human trafficking, forced labor, child soldiers, etc.) are due to the enormous economic differences between rich and poor countries, between the rich and the poor in each society."
Together with representatives of the Holy See and delegates of Catholic humanitarian agencies, the bishops affirmed that "in order to reduce these differences," there is a need to "achieve a new international economic order that guarantees a more equitable distribution of the world's resources," but above all that "an end be put to the desire to dominate others and to the culture of slavery and servitude." According to the SIR news agency, "The seminar touched upon the issue of immigration and the possibility of promoting a culture of life and the family. They also discussed some issues that impede development in Africa."
Among the challenges that exist, the bishops pointed to "the unjust system of commerce between Africa and the rest of the world, debt and the need for it to be cancelled by the industrialized world, human trafficking, sexual exploitation, forced labor, forced prostitution, child soldiers and children on the streets."
Faced with these challenges, the bishops encouraged a "culture of respect for human rights," underscoring the roll of the Catholic Church in the "pastoral care of immigrants" and in "their duty to defend the human person."
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Nuncio joins in condemnation of attacks on Cathedral in Mexico City
(http://www.catholicnewsagency.com/new.php?n=11050)
MEXICO CITY, November 21 (CNA) - The Apostolic Nuncio in Mexico, Archbishop Christophe Pierre, has joined in condemning the attack on the Cathedral of Mexico City led by sympathizers of the Democratic Revolution Party (PRD), saying that all churches and people should be respected.
"All churches must be respected and also people, priests, bishops and the cardinal, and I think it is something fundamental, because we cannot fall into this kind of attitude," he said during a visit to Nezahualcóyotl, where he reaffirmed that "violence in any circumstance must be condemned." Speaking to local reporters, Archbishop Pierre said "many Mexicans" reject these kinds of acts. Likewise, he called for "tolerance and civil harmony," since "we do not need this violence because we have to live together and respect each other."
Act of vandalism
The president of the Bishops' Conference of Mexico, Bishop Carlos Aguilar Retes, recalled that "acts of vandalism are never the correct way of expressing a difference of ideas or opinions."
Speaking to Notimex, Bishop Retes pointed out that "the opinion of a bishop on a particular matter and freedom of expression is one thing; hatred against representatives of the Catholic Church is another."
The acts of vandalism by PRD sympathizers against the clergy, the faithful and the Cathedral, have led the Archdiocese of Mexico City to close the Cathedral until authorities can guarantee security. Such acts have not taken place since the time of the Cristeros persecution at the beginning of the 20th century.
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Filipino bishop resigns before retirement age
(http://www.catholicnewsagency.com/new.php?n=11047)
MANILA, November 21 (CNA) - A second bishop in the Philippines has resigned this year before the retirement age of 75.
Pope Benedict XVI accepted the resignation of Bishop Nestor Carino of Legazpi on November 7.
The apostolic nuncio to the Philippines, Archbishop Edward Joseph Adams, said the resignation of Bishop Carino, 69, was made under the canon law that states that a bishop who becomes unsuited for official duties due to illness or other grave reason is "earnestly requested" to tender his resignation to the Pope.
In July, the Pope also accepted the resignation of Bishop Jesus Cabrera of Alaminos under the same section of canon law. Bishop Cabrera is 66.
Auxiliary Bishop Lucilo Quiambao of Legazpi, a former secretary of the Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines, will serve as apostolic administrator of the diocese of Legazpi, which contains more than one million Catholics.
There are four Philippine bishops older than 75 whose resignations have not yet been accepted by the Pope. There are now 98 active bishops among approximately 130 members of the Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines. Seven bishops have been appointed this year.
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Indian adoption rights expanded to non-Hindu parents
(http://www.catholicnewsagency.com/new.php?n=11048)
NEW DEHLI, November 21 (CNA) - Indian law has now been changed to allow non-Hindus to adopt children, the Times of India reports.
Under the previous law, only Hindu couples who adopted children could claim to be parents. Non-Hindus were classified as guardians. Adopted children of non-Hindus lacked rights to inherit property, and administrative difficulties burdened their parents in areas like school admissions.
It is not clear whether the law applies to Muslims, who are governed by their own community's laws.
The new law also makes adoption by inter-faith couples easier, while cutting red tape in adoption procedures and recognizing more adoption agencies.
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India: 190 attacks on Christians so far in 2007
(http://www.catholicnewsagency.com/new.php?n=11045)
ROME, November 21 (CNA) - The All India Catholic Union published a report recently denouncing the 190 attacks that have taken place against Christians in India during 2007.
In a document published on November 17, the AICU pointed out that these attacks include homicides, armed assaults, sexual harassment and lynchings. According to Missionary Service News (OMPRESS), the president of the AICU, John Dayal, said the data has been gathered by various Christian groups in India. He said cases of violence for other reasons besides faith were not taken into consideration. "The cases that were presented and certified fall into the category of persecution," Dayal said. "We have not taken into consideration the situation of social marginalization of our many brethren in the faith in many Indian States, because it would be impossible to count them".
The president of the Global Council of Indian Christians, Sajan K George, said the number of attacks is greatest in the states of Karnataka and Madhya Pradesh.
"Many of these attacks have occurred inside homes in the places of worship of Christians, as people were worshipping within the privacy of their homes and churches". "Often the Administration and Police have refused to either file or pursue the matter with seriousness. Unfortunately in our 60th year of Indian Independence, the government as yet has done little to bring these hate crimes under control," George said.
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Stem cell breakthrough praised by bishops
(http://www.catholicnewsagency.com/new.php?n=11049)
WASHINGTON DC, November 21 (CNA) - Prelates across the United States are lauding the Japanese research team of Dr. Shinya Yamanaka and the University of Wisconsin-Madison team of Dr. James Thomson for their efforts in advancing stem-cell research.
In a press release yesterday, Philadelphia Cardinal, Justin Rigali commended the scientific advances:
"Studies published this week in the journals Cell and Science offer new hope for advancing stem cell research and therapies while fully respecting the dignity of human life.
"Scientists in Japan and Wisconsin used four genes to 'reprogram' ordinary adult human cells, creating 'induced pluripotent stem cells' (iPS cells). James Thomson, head of the Wisconsin team and the founder of human embryonic stem cell research, says these cells 'meet the defining criteria' for pluripotent human embryonic stem cells, 'with the significant exception that the iPS cells are not derived from embryos.'
"Thus the goal sought for years through failed attempts at human cloning – the production of 'pluripotent' stem cells that are an exact genetic match to a patient – has been brought within reach by an ethical procedure. This technology avoids the many ethical landmines associated with embryonic stem cell research: it does not clone or destroy human embryos, does not harm or exploit women for their eggs, and does not blur the line between human beings and other species through desperate efforts to make human embryos using animal eggs. Ian Wilmut, head of the team that cloned 'Dolly' the sheep, now says he is abandoning efforts at human 'therapeutic cloning' to pursue this adult cell reprogramming avenue instead, because it is technically superior as well as 'easier to accept socially.'
"I am grateful today for scientists who took up the challenge of finding morally acceptable ways to pursue stem cell research, and for government leaders who have encouraged and funded such avenues. This advance reminds us once again that medical progress and respect for human life are not in conflict; they can and should support and enrich one another for the good of all."
In a press release the bishop of Madison, Wisconsin Robert C. Morlino also offered his praise for the research team.
"Catholic voices in the bio-medical community have consistently claimed that ethical alternatives could be found to make the destruction of human life through embryonic stem cell research unnecessary. I continue to support the successful work being done by so many researchers using adult stem cells and I thank and congratulate those researchers and scientists who have now found a seemingly ethical way to replicate 'embryonic' or pluripotent stem cells without destroying human lives.
"Now that this breakthrough has been made and research with pluripotent stem cells can move forward in a seemingly ethical way, I reiterate my insistence that there is never a reason to sacrifice human lives for the sake of hoped-for but heretofore unrealized scientific advances.
"This breakthrough is certainly among the many gifts of God for which all of us should be grateful this Thanksgiving."
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Three new Chinese bishops to be ordained with papal approval
(http://www.catholicnewsagency.com/new.php?n=11043)
HONG KONG, November 21 (CNA) - China is preparing to ordain three priests for the state-recognized church but with the approval of Pope Benedict XVI.
The new bishops are for the dioceses of Guangzhou, Ningxia and Yichang.
The Church in China is divided among open members of government-approved churches and "underground" Catholics who reject Chinese government administration.
Father Francis Lu Shouwang, 41, is scheduled to be ordained Bishop of Yichang, a city in east-central China. Bishop-elect Lu told UCA News that he now has a clearer vision of his responsibility and mission to serve the diocese with all his energy, with the cooperation of his priests.
Currently Yichang diocese has about 30,000 Catholics served by 20 young priests, one elderly priest, and 12 nuns.
Father Joseph Li Jing, 40, will be ordained coadjutor bishop by Bishop John Liu Jingshan of Ningxia.
"I hope he could lead the diocese to better development and unite the priests, but we could never sever our ties with the pope," Bishop Liu said. He noted that the two co-ordaining bishops have not been confirmed yet, but said they "must be bishops recognized by the pope." The 95 year-old Bishop Liu said that Ningxia, in central-north China, is a small diocese of 10,000 Catholics and 11 priests.
A third bishop-elect, Father Joseph Gan Junqiu, may be ordained in early December as bishop of Guangzhou, a city in southern China.
Six elderly bishops from the "open" church in China have died this year, while four bishops from the underground church have died.
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Archbishop at UN calls for "steady commitment" to disaster relief
(http://www.catholicnewsagency.com/new.php?n=11044)
NEW YORK, November 21 (CNA) - In a Monday speech to the United Nations, Archbishop Celestino Migliore, the head of the Holy See's mission to the United Nations, addressed the General Assembly on the topic of responding to disasters. Notable among his proposals were enrolling the help of faith-based organizations and his mention of the need for long-term aid.
He noted at the outset his sincere condolences to the people and the government of Bangladesh in the wake of the recent cyclone that killed thousands and displaced millions.
The relief workers who risked their lives in responding to such disaster areas merited special assistance, he said.
"It is for the safety of these humanitarian workers and for the welfare of the suffering people they assist that we must work for a truly effective, coordinated, and humane disaster response system," he stated.
Disaster relief does not include only natural disasters, the archbishop said, but also includes the man-made disasters of armed conflicts.
"Armed conflicts have devastated societies in many places, taken lives, ruined economies, set back development and frustrated efforts to restore peace," the archbishop said. He insisted that all parties involved in armed conflicts must fully comply with the rules and principles of international law in the protection of humanitarian personnel. He repeated the obligation of all parties in a conflict to allow aid workers full access to those in need of assistance and to guarantee civilians and all victims of armed conflicts safe and unhampered access to humanitarian aid.
He saw the United Nations' position as key in guaranteeing international law and humanitarian response in disasters. The United Nations, he thought, could enhance collaboration among humanitarian organizations to more effectively respond to crises.
Archbishop Migliore noted UN member states' increased focus on disaster prevention and risk reduction. The best way to respond to disasters is through knowledgeable and effective local agents to respond to emergency situations and reduce their long-term costs and consequences, he explained. In particular he endorsed local civic and faith-based organizations as highly effective in disaster response, and called on all governments to engage, support, and protect such groups.
While grateful for the outpourings of goodwill and international solidarity that news coverage of disasters provides, Archbishop Migliore insisted that long-term recovery requires the continued interest and support of the international community. Disaster relief is very problematic when international attention weakens, and resources are directed to other priorities.
He said this weakened attention was very costly, "especially in post-conflict situations in which the probability of a relapse to violence is very high, or in places where a truly catastrophic natural disaster wiped out the economic base of entire communities."
"A steady commitment is necessary if sustainable and long-term recovery system of peoples and regions affected is to be achieved," he declared.
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Pope appeals for peaceful solution to crisis in Somalia
(http://www.catholicnewsagency.com/new.php?n=11040)
VATICAN CITY, November 21 (CNA) - "Distressing news is reaching us concerning the precarious humanitarian situation in Somalia," Pope Benedict said today following his general audience in St. Peter's Square.
The Holy Father expressed his concern that "especially in Mogadishu, ever more profoundly afflicted by social insecurity and poverty," the situation is continuing to worsen.
"I am following the development of events with concern and appeal to all those with political responsibility, at both local and international level, to find peaceful solutions and bring relief to that dear people," he said.
The pontiff continued, "I also encourage the efforts of those who, though facing insecurity and discomfort, remain in the region to bring aid and comfort to the inhabitants."
Increasing hostility between the Somalian government and insurgents has been rising in Mogadishu since late 2006 when Ethiopian troops arrived. Their goal was to help the Transitional Federal Government drive out the Union of Islamic Courts, which had taken control of the south area of the country but fighting continues to escalate.
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