http://www.indcatholicnews.com/news.php?NewsSectionId=16 Bondare 3.0 RSSBuilder 2013-05-19T21:17:27Z Josephine Siedlecka info@indcatholicnews.com http://www.indcatholicnews.com The copyright in all content provided in this syndicated feed is held by Independent Catholic News. Any unauthorized use of material contained in this RSS may violate copyright laws, trademark laws, the laws of privacy and publicity & communications regs http://www.indcatholicnews.com/news.php?viewStory=22576 2013-05-19T18:06:44Z 2013-05-19T18:06:44Z "The Pontifical Missionary Works are entirely relevant and even more necessary today because there are so many peoples who have still not known and met Christ and it is urgent to find new ways that God's grace might touch the heart of each man and each woman and bring them to him." With these words, Pope Francis greeted the national directors of the PMW for the first time on Friday, thanking them because they help him "keep evangelization, the paradigm of every act of the Church alive." http://www.indcatholicnews.com/news.php?viewStory=22575 2013-05-19T17:47:25Z 2013-05-19T17:47:25Z The Southern African Catholic Bishops' Conference has protested after a wealthy family with government connections used an airforce base and dozens of policemen and security forces to escort a private party to a wedding. "The government owes South Africans a thorough, and quick, explanation for the apparent misuse of state property and personnel by those associated with the Gupta family wedding," says a note from the SACBC. The Gupta family are entrepreneurs who have extensive interests in South Africa in the mining, aviation, http://www.indcatholicnews.com/news.php?viewStory=22573 2013-05-19T16:07:31Z 2013-05-19T16:07:31Z Christians must overcome the temptation to "interfere in the lives of others," was the advice of Pope Francis at the Saturday morning Mass in the chapel of the the Casa Santa Marta. He also stressed that talk and envy do so much harm to the Christian community. "What is it to you?" Pope Francis begin his homily, referring to a question Jesus posed to Peter when he had meddled in the life of the disciple John. Peter, the Pope pointed out, had "a dialogue of love" with the Lord, but then the dialogue "is diverted to another track," http://www.indcatholicnews.com/news.php?viewStory=22571 2013-05-19T15:28:11Z 2013-05-19T15:28:11Z An alliance of religious groups in the Philippines has expressed disappointment and frustration over the three-year-old Aquino government, particularly for its handling of ecology issues and agrarian reform, and its failure to resolve cases of human rights violations. Borrowing heavily from the 1988 environment statement of the Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines, the religious said that, “the attack on the natural resources of the country, which benefit very few Filipinos, is rapidly whittling away at the very base of our natural world, Ellen Teague http://www.indcatholicnews.com/news.php?viewStory=22567 2013-05-17T18:40:39Z 2013-05-17T18:40:39Z When Pope Francis met with Caritas leaders and staff from around the world yesterday, he told them “a Church without charity does not exist.” He said Caritas is “an essential part of the Church” and that it “institutionalizes love in the Church”. Pope Francis said Caritas has two dimensions: action and a divine dimension “situated in the heart of the Church"... “Caritas is not just for emergency situations as a first aid agency. In the situation of war or during a crisis, there is a need to look after the wounded, to help the sick… http://www.indcatholicnews.com/news.php?viewStory=22566 2013-05-17T17:50:34Z 2013-05-17T17:50:34Z A Syrian Archbishop said yesterday that that rebel groups have begun demanding high road tolls in Damascus and Aleppo to fund their military activities. Archbishop Jacques Behnan Hindo,from the Syrian Catholic archeparchy in Hassaké-Nisibis, said: "The militias of the Free Syrian Army and jahidist groups make all vehicles coming from the areas of Damascus and Aleppo carrying goods pay heavy tolls. They say that the money is used to buy weapons, they are like 'bribes for the revolution'. This is why now the prices of food in our cities and villages are almost tenfold." http://www.indcatholicnews.com/news.php?viewStory=22565 2013-05-17T17:16:46Z 2013-05-17T17:16:46Z Churches and mission stations are being looted, destroyed and pillaged by militia soldiers directly under the Central African Republic's new government. Sources in the country told Aid to the Church in Need that a number of Christians have been killed or wounded in attacks by Islamist rebel group Séléka which seized control of the country in March. Attacks include the pillaging of the Holy Ghost Fathers' motherhouse by armed gunmen on the night of 25 March and the abduction of Fr Dieu-Béni Banga, Chancellor of the Archdiocese of Bangui, and Fr Francis John Newton http://www.indcatholicnews.com/news.php?viewStory=22560 2013-05-16T16:31:51Z 2013-05-16T16:31:51Z “Our human family is presently experiencing something of a turning point in its own history, if we consider the advances made in various areas. We can only praise the positive achievements which contribute to the authentic welfare of mankind, in fields such as those of health, education and communications. "At the same time, we must also acknowledge that the majority of the men and women of our time continue to live daily in situations of insecurity, with dire consequences. http://www.indcatholicnews.com/news.php?viewStory=22558 2013-05-16T12:37:19Z 2013-05-16T12:37:19Z Tropical Storm Mahasen is beginning to hit southern Bangladesh, CAFOD partners in the region report. Heavy rain and winds of up to 100 km/h are expected, and people are bracing themselves for flash flooding and widespread damage to buildings and farmland. CAFOD'S longstanding local partner Caritas Bangladesh has put more than 5,000 trained volunteers on standby, and ensured that stocks of emergency aid will be available if and when they are needed. http://www.indcatholicnews.com/news.php?viewStory=22553 2013-05-15T17:05:08Z 2013-05-15T17:05:08Z Cardinal Keith O'Brien is to leave Scotland for several months, the Vatican has confirmed. The Press Office of the Holy See released the following statement concerning Scottish Cardinal Keith O’Brien today (Wednesday): His Eminence Cardinal Keith Patrick O’Brien, Archbishop Emeritus of St Andrews and Edinburgh, for the same reasons he decided not to participate in the last Conclave, and in agreement with the Holy Father, will be leaving Scotland for several months for the purpose of spiritual renewal, prayer and penance.