Authorities in Indonesia denied three Catholic men the right to attend Mass on the day before their execution, which was carried out on just after midnight on September 22, the AsiaNews service reports.
Fabianus Tibo, Marinus Riwu and Domingus da Silva were scheduled to face a firing squad on early in the morning of September 21, but their execution was postponed for a day, without any official explanation. Prison officials refused to allow a priest to hear the men's confessions and celebrate Mass for them one last time on Thursday.
The officials' decision-- along with an accompanying decision that the bodies of the three men cannot lie in state in the Paul cathedral-- appears to violate Indonesian law, which stipulates that a prisoner's last wishes should be granted before execution.
On Thursday, human-rights groups were continuing their last-minute efforts to obtain clemency for the three men, who were convicted of organizing a massacre of Muslims during the religious fighting in the Sulawesi province in 2000. Their conviction came after a trial marked by many irregularities, with Islamic militants putting heavy pressure on the court. No Muslim has ever been convicted in connection with the religious warfare in Sulawesi.
[For a more detailed story see the AsiaNews web site.]
Friday, September 22, 2006
Thursday, September 21, 2006
Maltz Meseum of Jewish Heritage: Cradle of Christianity Exhibition
Maltz Meseum of Jewish Heritage: Cradle of Christianity ExhibitionMike Aquilla has visit this exhibition
"It’s an overwhelming experience. In one large room, we saw the casket of Caiaphas, the only surviving inscription of Pontius Pilate, a very early Christian altar and baptismal font, plus reliquaries, chalices, crosses — and a very large portion of the Temple Scroll from Qumran. The exhibit closes soon. If you can drive there, please do. You don’t want to miss this rare opportunity to stand so close to the material remains of Christianity’s origins. "
Caiaphas' casket
"I hope Sister Leonella will be the last of the martyrs for Somalia,"
from Open Book Archbishop Bertin said in his address.
"Her life shows that a new earth is possible, that a new Somalia is possible," Bertin said, adding it was probably no coincidence a Somali bodyguard died with her.
"The death of an Italian with a Somali, a European with an African, a white with someone almost black, a Christian with a Muslim, a woman with a man, tells us that it is possible to live together as we die together," he added.
Sgorbati, 65, had worked for the Consolation order since 1963, spending three decades in Kenya before transferring to Somalia where she taught nursing at the SOS children's hospital.
Often warned of the threat, the nuns had in the past also suffered a kidnapping and bomb. "I hope Sister Leonella will be the last of the martyrs for Somalia,"
"The death of an Italian with a Somali, a European with an African, a white with someone almost black, a Christian with a Muslim, a woman with a man, tells us that it is possible to live together as we die together," he added.
Sgorbati, 65, had worked for the Consolation order since 1963, spending three decades in Kenya before transferring to Somalia where she taught nursing at the SOS children's hospital.
Often warned of the threat, the nuns had in the past also suffered a kidnapping and bomb. "I hope Sister Leonella will be the last of the martyrs for Somalia,"
Pope: Bishop Bootcamp
This morning in the Apostolic Palace at Castelgandolfo, in a traditional encounter for this time of year, the Pope received a group of recently-appointed bishops who are participating in a meeting in Rome.
"Following Christ's example," the Pope told them, "each of you, in the daily nurture of your flock, must become 'all things to all men,' presenting the truth of faith, celebrating the sacraments of our sanctification and bearing witness to the Lord's charity. Welcome with an open heart those who knock at your door, advise them, console them and support them on the way of God."
"Demonstrate this care, in the first place, towards priests. Always act towards them as fathers and elder brothers who know how to listen, accept, comfort and, when necessary, also correct."
Benedict XVI then went on to remind the bishops that, by virtue of their power to govern, they are called "to judge and discipline the life of the people of God entrusted to their pastoral care, with laws, indications and suggestions, in accordance with what is laid down by the universal discipline of the Church. This right and duty of bishops is absolutely vital in order that the diocesan community may be internally united and progress in profound union of faith, of love and of discipline with the Bishop of Rome and with the entire Church. ... Building ecclesial communion," he said, "must be your daily duty."
"Serenity in relationships, delicacy in dealings with others and simplicity of life are gifts that without doubt enrich the human personality of a bishop. ... The total giving of self, which the care of the Lord's flock requires, needs the support of an intense spiritual life nourished by assiduous individual and community prayer."
The Holy Father called on the bishops to ensure that their days be characterized by "a constant contact with God," and explained how "living in intimate union with Christ will help you to strike that vital balance between inner meditation and the exertions required for the multiple occupations of life, avoiding the danger of excessive activism."
"Following Christ, the Pastor and Bishop of your souls," he concluded, "you will be encouraged to tend tirelessly towards sanctity, which is the fundamental aim of the life of all Christians."
"Following Christ's example," the Pope told them, "each of you, in the daily nurture of your flock, must become 'all things to all men,' presenting the truth of faith, celebrating the sacraments of our sanctification and bearing witness to the Lord's charity. Welcome with an open heart those who knock at your door, advise them, console them and support them on the way of God."
"Demonstrate this care, in the first place, towards priests. Always act towards them as fathers and elder brothers who know how to listen, accept, comfort and, when necessary, also correct."
Benedict XVI then went on to remind the bishops that, by virtue of their power to govern, they are called "to judge and discipline the life of the people of God entrusted to their pastoral care, with laws, indications and suggestions, in accordance with what is laid down by the universal discipline of the Church. This right and duty of bishops is absolutely vital in order that the diocesan community may be internally united and progress in profound union of faith, of love and of discipline with the Bishop of Rome and with the entire Church. ... Building ecclesial communion," he said, "must be your daily duty."
"Serenity in relationships, delicacy in dealings with others and simplicity of life are gifts that without doubt enrich the human personality of a bishop. ... The total giving of self, which the care of the Lord's flock requires, needs the support of an intense spiritual life nourished by assiduous individual and community prayer."
The Holy Father called on the bishops to ensure that their days be characterized by "a constant contact with God," and explained how "living in intimate union with Christ will help you to strike that vital balance between inner meditation and the exertions required for the multiple occupations of life, avoiding the danger of excessive activism."
"Following Christ, the Pastor and Bishop of your souls," he concluded, "you will be encouraged to tend tirelessly towards sanctity, which is the fundamental aim of the life of all Christians."
Catholic archbishop of England and Wales questions whether Turkey should join European Union
New York Herald Tribune - LONDON
The Catholic archbishop of England and Wales on Thursday questioned whether Turkey, a predominantly Muslim country, should join the European Union.
Cardinal Cormac Murphy O'Connor, the archbishop of Westminster, took issue with Prime Minister Tony Blair's strong advocacy of Turkish membership.
"There may be another view that the mixture of cultures is not a good idea," Murphy O'Connor said in an interview with British Broadcasting Corp. radio.
Murphy O'Connor questioned whether "a continent that, fundamentally, is Christian" would benefit from admitting a large predominantly Muslim country to the union.
"I speak also in a sense for the people of this country," 70 percent of whom say they are Christian, he said.
George Carey, the former archbishop of Canterbury, also expressed reservations about Turkey's joining the EU.
"I think the jury is still out on Turkey at the moment. I look at its record on freedom of speech and so on, what it is doing to writers in Turkey who want to speak out, and some of them are in jail," the Anglican leader said.
"And so I think we are on a journey together. So I don't write them out of the action but I think there are questions to be pushed."
The Catholic archbishop of England and Wales on Thursday questioned whether Turkey, a predominantly Muslim country, should join the European Union.
Cardinal Cormac Murphy O'Connor, the archbishop of Westminster, took issue with Prime Minister Tony Blair's strong advocacy of Turkish membership.
"There may be another view that the mixture of cultures is not a good idea," Murphy O'Connor said in an interview with British Broadcasting Corp. radio.
Murphy O'Connor questioned whether "a continent that, fundamentally, is Christian" would benefit from admitting a large predominantly Muslim country to the union.
"I speak also in a sense for the people of this country," 70 percent of whom say they are Christian, he said.
George Carey, the former archbishop of Canterbury, also expressed reservations about Turkey's joining the EU.
"I think the jury is still out on Turkey at the moment. I look at its record on freedom of speech and so on, what it is doing to writers in Turkey who want to speak out, and some of them are in jail," the Anglican leader said.
"And so I think we are on a journey together. So I don't write them out of the action but I think there are questions to be pushed."
listen to the interview in full on http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio4/today/listenagain/
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