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Photo: Pope Francis and Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I embrace.
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Couples It With Self-Defense as Response to Terrorism
VATICAN CITY, APRIL 24, 2007 (Zenit.org).- Forgiveness and self-defense are the two elements that make up the response to terrorism, says the secretary of the Pontifical Council for Migrants and Travelers.
Archbishop Agostino Marchetto said that on Monday during the introduction of the International Seminar for Catholic Civil Aviation Chaplains and Chaplaincy Members, being sponsored by his dicastery this week.
"We hold that it is our duty as the faithful to respond to terrorism with forgiveness, permitting justice to follow its course," the archbishop said.
"At the same time," he added, "we are aware of the duty to defend ourselves and all innocent people around us, especially in airports where we carry out our mission, without forgetting that human rights must be rigorously respected."
According to Archbishop Marchetto, the "measures taken that are repressive or punitive are not sufficient in themselves to stop terrorism. It is necessary to work together to be effective."
The prelate concluded by saying the world's great religions should "work together to respond to terrorism, in particular by emphasizing the dignity of the human person and by working toward a clearer understanding of the uniqueness of the family of peoples."
Code: ZE07042402
Date: 2007-04-24
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Secretary of Doctrinal Congregation Speaks on Modern Evils
VATICAN CITY, APRIL 24, 2007 (Zenit.org).- Abortion and euthanasia are examples of "terrorism with a human face," and, together with suicide bombers, are the scourge of contemporary society, says a Vatican official.
Archbishop Angelo Amato, secretary of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, made this statement on Monday during a talk on "The Problem of Evil: Philosophical and Theological Reflections."
His address formed part of the International Seminar for Catholic Civil Aviation Chaplains and Chaplaincy Members, taking place in Rome and sponsored by the Pontifical Council for Migrants and Travelers.
"Reading the daily papers -- or using Internet, TV or radio -- every day we see a perverse film about evil, which is 'filmed' in every part of the world with scenery and backdrops ever more cruel, as we see in the thousands of provocations of international terrorism," explained Archbishop Amato.
He continued: "Besides the abominable terrorism of suicide bombers, which is ever-present in the media, there is the so-called terrorism with a human face, which is also a daily occurrence and just as repugnant, which continues to be propagated by the media, manipulating traditional language with expressions that hide the tragic reality of the facts."
Word choice
As an example, the 68-year-old prelate mentioned that abortion is referred to as "the voluntary interruption of pregnancy" instead of "the killing of a defenseless human being." Euthanasia is defined merely as "death with dignity," he observed.
Archbishop Amato also mentioned the decisions of national legislatures that promote "laws contrary to the human being."
Evil today "is not only the action of single individuals or identifiable groups, but comes from dark centers, the laboratories of false opinions, from anonymous powers that hammer away at our minds with false messages, judging behavior in tune with the Gospels as ridiculous and out of date," he lamented.
"We cannot close the libraries of evil nor can we destroy its collection of videos that are reproduced like lethal viruses," noted Archbishop Amato. He explained that Christians can build themselves up "through the formation of a right conscience that searches for and loves the true and the good and avoids evil."
Code: ZE07042401
Date: 2007-04-24
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VATICAN CITY, APRIL 24, 2007 (Zenit.org).- Benedict XVI and the president of the Palestinian Authority discussed difficulties which Catholics face in the latter's territories and the commitment to relaunch the peace process with Israelis.
The Pope and President Mahmoud Abbas met briefly today in the Vatican and spoke in English, without interpreters.
The Vatican report of the meeting said: "In the course of the cordial discussions, attention turned to the situation in the Middle East.
"Particular appreciation was expressed for the commitment -- thanks also to the help of the international community -- to relaunch the peace process between Israelis and Palestinians.
"Talks also dwelt upon the internal Palestinian situation with reference, among other things, to the difficulties faced by Catholics, and the value of their contribution to that society."
After Abbas' meeting with the Holy Father, he met with Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone, Vatican secretary of state, and Archbishop Dominique Mamberti, secretary for relations with states.
This was Abbas' second visit to Benedict XVI. The first one was in the Vatican on Dec. 3, 2005, during which the president invited the Pope to visit the Holy Land.
Code: ZE07042404
Date: 2007-04-24
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Baghdad, Apr. 24, 2007 (CWNews.com) - American troops have occupied Babel College, a Chaldean Catholic theological faculty in Baghdad, raising concerns that the college could become the target of attacks.
Because of repeated attacks on Christians in Baghdad, and threats against the faculty of Babel College, Chaldean Church officials chose to move teachers and students to a relatively safe location in Ankawa, in northern Iraq, early this year. US troops set up a base in the empty facility.
Babel College is the only Catholic theological faculty in Iraq, and the college library is one of the oldest in the country, boasting a rich religious collection and some rare ancient manuscripts. Chaldean Church officials are worried about the safety of the collection.
Bishop Shlemon Warduni, an auxiliary of the Chaldean patriarchate in Baghdad, has opened talks with US military officials about the future of Babel College, the Italian SIR news agency reports. American officers have reportedly said that the army will vacate the facility soon.
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Moscow, Apr. 24, 2007 (CWNews.com) - Former Russian President Boris Yeltsin, who died on April 23 at the age of 76, was the first Russian leader since the fall of the Tsars to be a practicing member of the Russian Orthodox Church.
Yeltsin, who came to power with the fall of the Soviet regime, often visited the largest church in Russia, Christ the Savior in Moscow, as well as the churches of St. Michael the Archangel in Tropariew and Sts. Boris and Gleb in Rublowce, located hear his country residence.
In 2000, Yeltsin was an honorary guest (along with other heads of state from Orthodox countries) at Orthodox Holy Year celebrations in Bethlehem.
While he maintained close contact with Patriarch Alexei II and was generally supported by the Russian Orthodox Church, in 1996 Yeltsin vetoed legislation that the Moscow patriarchate supported, because he feared it would curb religious freedom.
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04/24/2007 14:27 The latest attacks in the North, until now the safest area in the country, sound the alarm. Msgr Rabban Al Qas "begs" the Vatican: “Intervene, Christians are now in ranger everywhere”. The death toll from a suicide bombing of Tell-el-skop: 10 dead, among the 140 wounded two Dominican nuns. In Baghdad the ongoing” massacre” of Christians and Shiites in the Dora quarter.
Erbil (AsiaNews via CWNews.com) – There are numerous children and Dominican nuns among the wounded from yesterday’s suicide bombing of the Christian village of Tell-el-skop, north east of Mosul. Suicide attacks targeting the North of the country have sounded the alarm for religious leaders, who now ask the Holy See for help. “Find a way, a means to save us, the Church in all of Iraq is in great danger, we beg the Vatican to help us bring our voice to the world”. It almost seems like an ultimatum, these words expressed by Msgr. Rabban al Qas, Chaldean bishop of Amadiyah and Erbil, in his reiteration of the Iraqi Catholic Churches appeal launched yesterday through AsiaNews l’appello, following the increasingly ferocious nature of attacks carried out against Christians in the country.
To read the entire story at AsiaNews.it click here.