(Vatican Radio) The Permanent Observer of the Holy See to the United Nations in New York, Archbishop Bernardito Auza, delivered an address to the 9th review conference of the Nuclear non-Proliferation Treaty earlier this month. In his prepared remarks, Archbishop Auza told his fellow delegates the very credibility of the Treaty is at stake. “If …
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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.
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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