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Photo: Pope Francis and Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I embrace.
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BAGHDAD, Iraq, MAY 24, 2007 (Zenit.org).- The Iraqi government reportedly has expressed its solidarity with the Christians suffering persecuting by Islamic extremists and has pledged to protect them.
A government spokesman made an official statement Wednesday, reported www.asianews.it. The news bulletin said that the Iraqi Cabinet has "addressed the issue of threats and expulsions of Christian families in Baghdad by terrorist groups."
"The Cabinet expressed its full support to provide all necessary assistance needed to protect them, and provide any assistance to face this threat that is rejected by our orthodox Islamic religion and the forgiving Iraqi society, between all of its components -- especially the relationship with our Christians brothers," the statement continued.
Shiite cleric Sheikh Hussein Sadr has also recently spoken about the issue. In an interview with a Christian satellite channel, Sadr expressed his solidarity with his Christian brothers and all of Iraq's minorities.
Code: ZE07052415
Date: 2007-05-24
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BEIJING, MAY 24, 2007 (Zenit.org).- Dozens of people in China have been arrested on charges of instigating protests against birth-control measures, a news agency said.
In seven towns in Bobai County, in the Guangxi region, angry protests broke out because of excessive fines and alleged violence against those not in conformity with China's one-child policy, reported www.AsiaNews.it. Twenty-eight people have been arrested, it said.
The Xinhua news agency reported those arrested are charged with "networking, persuading and being involved in damaging properties," saying that they would be punished for the "obvious violation of the law."
In March, local government leaders in Bobai demanded family-planning officials enforce the one-child policy on penalty of jeopardizing their careers.
Officials agree that part of their enforcement included excessive fines that may have triggered the protests, but denied allegations of any forced abortions and violence.
Eyewitnesses maintain that police ransacked homes in order to force people to pay the fines and that forced abortions took place.
Code: ZE07052417
Date: 2007-05-24
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MOSCOW, MAY 24, 2007 (Zenit.org).- The Catholic archbishop of Moscow has applauded the reunification of the Russian Orthodox Church after an 80-year schism.
Interfax reported that Archbishop Tadeusz Kondrusiewicz, of the Archdiocese of the Mother of God in Moscow, said in a letter to Patriarch Alexy II of Moscow and All Russia: "The bridging of divisions between Christians always means triumph of a love that overcomes everything.
"It is an instance of direct obedience to the commandment of Christ, 'That they may all be one'; it is a good example for all people who are divided, an example not only for Christians, and not only for believers."
Archbishop Kondrusiewicz added: "The healing of the schism and the Eucharistic reunification of Orthodox Christians will have a deep peacemaking effect on the entire Russian society, on the hearts and minds of our compatriots living both in Russia and outside of it."
The archbishop also said that the agreement, reuniting the Moscow-based Russian Orthodox Church and the New York-based Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia, is a sign of hope for further dialogue between the Russian Orthodox and Catholic Church.
Code: ZE07052416
Date: 2007-05-24
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VATICAN CITY, MAY 24, 2007 (Zenit.org).- Benedict XVI has named Carl Anderson, Supreme Knight of the Knights of Columbus, and his wife, Dorian Loundsbury Anderson, as members of the Pontifical Council for the Family.
Carl Anderson also serves as a member of the Pontifical Council for the Laity, a consultor to the Pontifical Councils for the Family; for Justice and Peace; and for Social Communications.
He is also vice president of the John Paul II Institute for Studies on Marriage and Family in Washington, D.C.
In 1998, Pope John Paul II appointed him a member of the Pontifical Academy for Life. He is also the only Catholic layman from North America to serve as an auditor to two recent World Synods of Bishops, in October 2001 and October 2005.
Anderson holds degrees in philosophy from Seattle University and in law from the University of Denver.
Code: ZE07052401
Date: 2007-05-24
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VATICAN CITY, MAY 24, 2007 (Zenit.org).- Benedict XVI has named Archbishop Edwin O'Brien, of the U.S. Archdiocese for the Military Services, a member of the Congregation for Catholic Education.
The Holy See announced the appointment today.
The Pope also named several cardinals as members to the Congregation for Catholic Education. They are: Cardinal William Levada, prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith; Cardinal Cláudio Hummes, prefect of the Congregation for Clergy; Cardinal Marc Ouellet, archbishop of Quebec; and Cardinal Franc Rodé, prefect of the Congregation for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life.
Also named were Bishop Gil António Moreira, of Jundiai, Brazil, and Bishop Diego Coletti, of Como, Italy.
The prefect of the congregation is Cardinal Zenon Grocholewski.
This dicastery has authority in three diverse sectors, including most seminaries and houses of formation of religious and secular institutes.
Code: ZE07052403
Date: 2007-05-24
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New Translations of "Jesus of Nazareth" Continue to Be Released
VATICAN CITY, MAY 24, 2007 (Zenit.org).- Just over a month since its publication, Benedict XVI's latest book has sold more than 1.5 million copies.
News about "Jesus of Nazareth" was announced by the Rizzoli publishing house, the publishers of the book in Italy. Rizzoli also controls the worldwide rights for the Vatican's publishing house, Libreria Editrice Vaticana.
The figures refer to the sales of the Italian, Slovenian, Greek, Polish and various English editions. Some of these editions, such as those in English, were just released last week.
According to Father Claudio Rossini, director of Libreria Editrice Vaticana, "The diffusion of this book, before being a cultural and commercial matter, is above all an ecclesial and ecumenical event."
The Greek edition of the book was released today. It contains a postscript by the ecumenical patriarch of Constantinople, Bartholomew I.
Included in the postscript, the Orthodox patriarch wrote that he hopes the Pope's book will increase theological dialogue between the Churches in "the hope of overcoming, definitively, the centuries-long division" and that "the two Churches and their faithful may be united, not only in charity, but also in the faith and in the sacraments."
There are 42 editors worldwide who have agreements to publish "Jesus of Nazareth," and 30 translations are in the works.
Code: ZE07052404
Date: 2007-05-24