PRIESTS ESCAPE IN PETROL BOMB ATTACK
Two Catholic priests escaped injury in a petrol bomb attack on their house at Newcastle, Co. Down, Northern Ireland early this morning
(Friday, 19 July 2002).
Police say four petrol bombs and some gas lighter fuel tins were thrown through a downstairs window.
one of the priest was alerted by the attack and both managed to escape.
The inside of the building was damaged by smoke.
(Published Fri 19 July 2002)
World Challenges
The Holy Father, in a hard-hitting speech in reference to the mid-December
summit at Laeken, Belgium, attended by Mr Bertie Ahern, the Irish Taoiseach,
which excluded any mention of religion, listed the eight most important
challenges facing the world at present:
1. the defence of the sacredness of human life in all circumstances;
2. the promotion of the family, the basic unit of society;
3. the elimination of poverty, through efforts to promote development, the
reduction of debt, and the opening up of international trade;
4. respect for human rights in all situations, with special concern for the
most vulnerable: children, women and refugees;
5. disarmament, the reduction of arms sales to poor countries, and the
consolidation of peace after the end of conflicts;
6. the fight against the major diseases, and access by the poor to basic
care and medicines;
7. the protection of the environment and the prevention of natural disasters;
8. the rigorous application of international law and conventions.
(Published Sun 3 Feb 2002)
Canadian Politicans Warned
Politicans in Canada have been warned by the Head of the Anglican Church
there that attempts by politicans to eliminate all mention of religion from
public life was dangerous. Such attempts are "folly of the worse sort for
society," he said.
Dr Michael Peers was responding to the Canadian government's ceremony after
the attacks on New York, which excluded all mention of religion, in the
name of pluralism.
He warned that the suppression of religion under communism often proved to
be a bloody failure. He noted that Secularism, was increasingly being defined
as the elimination of all religious references in public life, out of fear
that religion would cause divisions. He believes that attempts to define Canada
in terms of "secularism, pluralism and democracy," should be rejected.
(Published Sun. 3 Feb 2002).
66 Executions Too Many
Despite several appeals from the Holy See, 66 people were executed in the
US in 2001. As far as the Church is concerned, that appears to be 66 too
many, even if the numbers were a drop from the 85 executions the previous
year.
Oklahoma topped the list with 18 executions, Texas followed with 17 and
Missouri with 7. Are there any Christians in these states? What are they
doing to have the death penalty abolished in their state?
It is good to note that several states have at least ended the execution of
mentally retarded people and that almost all the 38 states that allow capital
punishment took measures to protect those who might be wrongfully convicted.
99 Condemned people in the US have escaped capital punishment since 1973,
when further evidence showed they were innocent. Five people were found to be
innocent and removed from death row. It makes the blood runs cold to think
that these people were nearly put to death by the state.
(Published Saturday, 2 Feb 2002)
Holy Father Appeals
Pope John Paul 11 has appealed, not for the first time, for an end to
"the unjust suffering inflicted on the innocent people" especially the
children, many of whom are dying as a result of the UN embargo on Iraq.
He made his appeal during a meeting with Chaldean-rite bishops from Iraq,
Iran, Egypt, Syria, Turkey and the US, at the end of their "ad limina" visit
to the Vatican.
"I pray to the Lord to enlighten the minds and hearts of the leaders of
nations so that they will act for the re-establishment of a just and
lasting peace in that region of the world," the Holy Father declared.
(Published Friday, 1 Feb 2002)
Watch This Man
Will Edmond Stoiber, Prime Minister of Baveria, be the next German
chancellor? It seems that alarm bells are ringing loudly in the European
Union at the prospect.
If he is elected as German chancellor, he would seek to end German backing
for a European superstate, the principal aim of the Nice Treaty. He would
also seek to have the issue of EU enlargement put to the German people in
a referendum.
The 60-year-old Edmond Stoiber was chosen as the opposition candidate for
the German September election. His nine year period in office in Bavaria has
been so successful that he is now highly tipped by polls and commentators as
next German chancellor. He is greatly worried about Germany's low birth rate.
He believes that his country is badly in need of more children.
Die Welt, the centre-right newspaper wrote:"The excitement is great. His name
is on everyone's lips. He dominates the headlines."
It is fair to add that if Edmond Stoiber becomes German chancellor, his name
will soon be seen in the headlines in Europe.
(Published Friday,1 Feb 2002>
Russia Returning to Faith
Russia is returning to the Christian faith, according to the Orthodox Patriach
of Moscow. He believed, from his pastoral visits last year, that "more and more
people are returning to the faith of their forefathers."
The Patriarch, Alexy II expressed concern about the sufferings of the people,
including "poverty, social insecurity, the threat of terrorism, crime,the
spread of immortality, alcoholism, drug addiction and other dreadful vices."
He added that it was "impossible to change society for the better without
faith, hope and charity." (Published Wed. 30 Jan 2002)
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Last Updated: 23 Eanáir 2004
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