Washington – The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops has denounced through a recently published report that the system of detention centers for immigrants in the US has become an “inhuman industry”, and has called for urgent reforms. From 1994 to 2013, the average daily detained population rose from 6,785 to 34,260. The number of persons detained annually increased from roughly 85,000 persons in 1995 to 440,557 in 2013. “It is time for our nation to reform this inhuman system, which detains people unnecessarily, particularly vulnerable people who are not a threat”, said the Auxiliary Bishop of Seattle, His Exc. Mgr. Eusebio Elizondo, who is president of the Episcopal Commission for Migration. The USCCB study shows that the growth of detention centers has provoked a system that creates “mismatches, broken families, human rights violations, abandoned legal petitions and less national prestige”. “In many respects, immigrant detainees are not treated in the same way as other criminal defendants”, concludes the report entitled “Unlocking Human Dignity: A Plan to Transform the US Immigrant Detention System”. According to the rules of the Department of Homeland Security , immigrant detainees are not released even when there is the opportunity to put them under close surveillance, the report said. Link correlati : The full report of the USCCB:…
(Vatican Radio) Pope Francis met a group of some 7 thousand children on Monday, in the Paul VI Hall at the Vatican. The focus of the special audience was peace: how to build it, and how to keep it. Sponsored by the Fabbrica della pace – or, “Peace Factory” – an interdisciplinary, non-governmental organization that promotes an integration, multiethnic and cross-cultural understanding through education, starting in the years of primary school.
Click below to hear our report
During the course of the gathering, Pope Francis fielded questions from his young guests on a range of subjects, from how he got along with his siblings growing up, to why the powerful so often fail to care for the needs of the poor and suffering – especially as far as education is concerned – to what to do when one of our fellows refuses to make peace with us, despite our efforts.
The Holy Father concluded his session with the children with a call for conversion, which he placed as a request that each and every one of those present – young and old, himself included – make some small change for the better in attitude or behavior. “Whenever we do something together,” said Pope Francis, “something good, something beautiful, everyone changes – all of us change in some way – and this does us good,” he said. “All of us today should leave this encounter changed in some small way: but for the worse, or for the better?” he asked.
“For the better! For the better!” they cried, and Pope Francis agreed. He thanked them and blessed them, and sent them on their way.
(from Vatican Radio)…
(Vatican Radio) Pope Francis met a group of some 7 thousand children on Monday, in the Paul VI Hall at the Vatican. The focus of the special audience was peace: how to build it, and how to keep it. Sponsored by the Fabbrica della pace – or, “Peace Factory” – an interdisciplinary, non-governmental organization that promotes…
Read more
(Vatican Radio) Pope Francis met a group of some 7 thousand children on Monday, in the Paul VI Hall at the Vatican. The focus of the special audience was peace: how to build it, and how to keep it. Sponsored by the Fabbrica della pace – or, “Peace Factory” – an interdisciplinary, non-governmental organization that promotes…
Read more
(Vatican Radio) Pope Francis has told the bishops of Togo to preserve the “positive aspects” of family life in Africa and that these should be shared at the Synod on the family in October. It is important that these experiences be shared and heard, the Pope said in a discourse written in French and distributed Monday to the bishops who are in the Vatican on their ad limina visit.
The African family’s openness to life and the respect with which people care for the aged in particular, deserve to be maintained and should serve as encouragement to others to do the same, the Pope said.
Marriage, too, the Pope affirmed, is a positive “pastoral reality” despite cultural and legal obstacles. The Holy Father encouraged the bishops to continue supporting families in difficulty, especially in the areas of education and social work, and to prepare couples well for the sacrament of Christian marriage.
Religious life irreplaceable
Religious, the Pope said, have an “irreplaceable” role in the announcement and transmission of the faith in the West African nation and their institutions and apostolate are widely appreciated.
Vocations are numerous in Togo and seminarians receive good training, he added, but care must be exercised so that future priests will remain true and faithful servants of Christ. They must fight against “ambition, careerism, jealousy, worldliness, the seduction of money and worldly things” and seek a life of “sincere celibacy,” the Pope said.
The Church working in cooperation for the common good
Pope Francis applauded the “notable” political and social progress made by Togo in recent years, to which the Catholic Church, he observed, has contributed in the areas of evangelization, human advancement, and in its engagement in justice and reconciliation. In particular, he encouraged the Togolese Church to contribute to the building of society in collaboration with government authorities and public and private institutions working for the common good.
Interfaith Dialogue
Speaking of interfaith dialogue, Pope Francis observed the peaceful coexistence between Christians and Muslims in Togo but said the culture of dialogue and encounter can be further developed given the current tensions in western Africa.
“Interreligious dialogue is a necessary condition for peace in the world, and consequently, a duty for Christians as for other religious communities,” the Pope added, saying young priests must also be given solid training in interfaith dialogue.
(from Vatican Radio)…