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Orthodox Patriarch Bartholomew of Constantinople and representatives of other Orthodox and Anglican churches accompanied Pope Benedict in lighting a candle to launch the Year of St Paul.
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Volunteers refuse WYD powers
Rural Fire Service and State Emergency Service volunteers will not seek "authorised person" status while assisting with WYD in order to avoid "negative interactions with people".
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Vietnam up, US down on WYD numbers
A record number of Vietnamese pilgrims will attend World Youth Day this year but US numbers are down - and 50 Angola pilgrims are stranded in Sydney instead of Adelaide because tour organisers thought the SA capital was only an hour way.
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Celebrate the living spirit: Bishops urge
Australia's bishops have urged Catholics to "celebrate the Living Spirit" to mark Aboriginal and Torres Islander Sunday this weekend.
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Korean priests in Mass protest against US beef
Two hundred South Korean priests have celebrated a street Mass in Seoul to protest an unpopular government decision to resume beef imports from the US.
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Bees for Benedict
Italian scooter manufacturer Piaggio has presented Pope Benedict with two new specially made three wheeled vehicles.
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Feature - Walking away from what they do not know
"People who leave the Church are not leaving because they are rejecting the teachings of John Paul II or Pope Benedict. Most do so because they go to Catholic schools and they think that the kind of warm secular humanism with Christian gloss that they get in Catholic schools is in fact the Catholic faith and it hasn't captured their imagination, their love or their intellect so they are walking away from something that they do not know." - The Catholic Herald
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Featured Website - First Things
First Things is a monthly ecumenical journal concerned with the creation of a "religiously informed public philosophy for the ordering of society." It is published by The Institute on Religion and Public Life in the United States of America.
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Film Review - Kung Fu Panda
Kung Fu Panda is essentially a martial arts comedy and is a total action movie. It has striking effects and action sequences and a particularly impressive concluding fantasy sequence which brings DreamWorks to a new level of technological sophistication. There is a strong cultural feel about the movie and it heavily draws on Chinese culture to bring authenticity to its fantasy. - Peter Sheehan, Australian Catholic Office for Film and Broadcasting
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Opinion - God is without circumference
His challenge was to see the beauty in every face, even when the owner of that face had long given up on it. Surely, that is to love others as Jesus did—Jesus the One who never gives up on us. If we are to love as Jesus loved, we need to be forgiving people. Forgiving people are bridge-builders and reconcilers. - Fr Chris Gleeson, Madonna
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OPINION
Beyond knowledge to wisdomI believe this is one of the crisis points for contemporary Christianity. Put bluntly, its representatives do not seem wise. Yes, those representatives can give you any amount of information, some of them can even speak knowledgeably of Christian teachings. Wisdom is another thing altogether. - Fr Michael Whelan [More] - Aquinas Academy
FEATURE
Connected across bordersIt is time for leaders of nations to see their national interests as connected with the interests of people on the other side of the globe. We have reached the point where human existence is at stake and our destiny is inextricably linked. If we are to overcome this crisis of climate change we need to think beyond the confines of national states. - Just Comment [More] - Edmund Rice Centre
FEATURED CATHOLIC WEBSITE
Catholic Education Diocese of ParramattaReturning to our education theme, we shine the spotlight on arguably the most innovative Catholic education website in the country. In addition to all the standard features of any CEO site, Parramatta's includes some interactive opinion polls and a competition for students to attempt to ''Become the Executive Director for the day''. The site is also well regarded for its RE and curriculum resources.
- www.parra.catholic.edu.au
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Pope challenges Islam on religious freedom
Benedict XVI yesterday challenged Muslim leaders on religious freedom in Islamic countries and insisted that interreligious dialogue must be based on "reciprocity" and mutual respect.
Catholic World News reports that speaking to the members of the Pontifical Council for Migrants, who are gathered in Rome this week for their plenary meeting, the Holy Father said that the Church has "a growing awareness that interreligious dialogue is part of her commitment to serve mankind in the modern world."
In discussions with other faiths, the faithful "are not renouncing" their commitment to spread the Gospel, which is an intrinsic aspect of the Christian identity, the Pope said. Rather, they are hoping to build up "relations of mutual knowledge and respect," which can overcome animosity.
This effort is particularly important, he added, in an era of unprecedented migration, when believers of different faiths find themselves living in unfamiliar cultures.
"Christians must open their hearts especially to the poorest and neediest," the Pope said. He observed pointedly, "Obviously, we would hope that Christians who emigrate to countries with Muslim majorities will find a welcome there, and respect for their religious identity."
Pope Benedict thanked the Pontifical Council for Migrants for its work on "a significant frontier for the new evangelisation in today's world."
The focus of this year's three-day plenary session for the dicastery, chaired by Cardinal Renato Martino, is the challenge facing Christians who travel to, or live in, predominantly Islamic countries.
Vatican officials suggest that the theme was chosen after consultation with Pope Benedict, who has frequently expressed concern for the status of religious freedom in Muslim countries.
Benedict XVI has made specific appeals to Muslim leaders to respect the rights of Christians. In a March plea to Afghanistan's President Abdul Rahman, on behalf of a Christian facing death for "apostasy" from Islam, and in a February meeting with the ambassador from Morocco to the Holy See.
Last August, when he met with Muslim leaders in Cologne during his trip to that city for World Youth Day, the Pope stressed the importance of mutual respect as an essential ingredient of inter-religious dialogue.
(Photo credit: Stefano Spaziani)
SOURCE
Pope challenges Islam on religious freedom (Catholic World News 15/5/06)
LINKS (not necessarily endorsed by Church Resources)
Pontifical Council for the Pastoral Care of Migrants and Itinerant People
ARCHIVE
Pope talks Islam dialogue with world's cardinals (CathNews 24/3/06)
MORE STORIES
Cyril, Methodius: Models for dialogue between cultures (Vatican Information Service 15/5/06 - temporary url)
States must protect family founded on marriage (Vatican Information Service 15/5/06 - temporary url)
Faithfulness to Christian values is foundation of Bavaria (Vatican Information Service 15/5/06 - temporary url)
World day of Pilgrims: Lasting memory of John Paul II (Vatican Information Service 15/5/06 - temporary url)
Benedict XVI to travel to Valencia on July 8 and 9 (Vatican Information Service 15/5/06 - temporary url)
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Dialogue with and welcome for immigrants (Vatican Information Service 15/5/06 - temporary url)
Dialogue with Islam with reciprocity and respect for one's identity as its basis, says the Pope (AsiaNews.it 15/5/06)
Benedict the abbot? – Pope's focus on community, freedom in Christ (America/Catholic Online 14/5/06)
Vatican marks spot in St. Peter's where late pope was shot (Catholic News Service/Catholic Online 12/5/06)
Vatican marks place in St. Peter's Square where late pope was shot (Catholic News Service 15/5/06)
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Vatican denies alleged "scandal" of official and announces it will take legal action (Catholic News Agency 15/5/06)
Benedict XVI recalls miraculous saving of Pope John Paul II in assassination attempt (Catholic News Agency 15/5/06)
Believers are called to open their arms and hearts to everyone, whatever their country of origin, says Pope (Catholic News Agency 15/5/06)
Vatican ceremony mark 25th anniversary of assassination attempt (Catholic World News 15/5/06)
Pope comments on 1st Communion, Fatima intercession (Catholic World News 15/5/06)
Orthodox patriarch hopeful about Pope's November visit (Catholic World News 15/5/06)
Politicians must defend family, Pope says (Catholic World News 15/5/06)
Pope Benedict XVI: To the participants at the Plenary Session of the Pontifical Council for the Pastoral Care of Migrants and Itinerant People (May 15, 2006)
Pope Urges Muslims to Respect Christians (Associated Press/Washington Post 15/5/06)
Pontiff Sees First Communion as Key Step (Zenit 14/5/06)
Having Kids Sends a Message, Says Pope (Zenit 14/5/06)
Benedict XVI Promotes Family Meeting (Zenit 14/5/06)
Pope Benedict XVI: On the Vine and Branches (Zenit 14/5/06)
16 May 2006
