Bloggers gathering at the Vatican

Death of Osama bin Ladden, not a Cause for Rejoicing for Christians says Vatican

My travels with Pope John Paul II: A reporter remembers

CNN's Jim Bittermann meets with Pope John Paul II

By Jim Bittermann, CNN

Rome, Italy (CNN) – I guess I could say I first met Pope John Paul II on October 16, 1978.

I wasn’t exactly alone with the pontiff. There were hundreds of thousands of others who also met him for the first time that night in St. Peter’s Square when he stepped out on the balcony as the newly elected pope.

And the story you may have heard is absolutely true: When they announced that Polish Cardinal Karol Wojtyla was the new pope, those of us in the press corps - especially those of us broadcasting live - went as white as his robe. Few people ever put the cardinal on their papal short lists and fewer still could immediately understand the name announced over the Vatican’s crackly speaker system.

But we got to know John Paul - who will be beatified Sunday in Rome, the last step before sainthood – very quickly.

Pope tells world leaders at beatification to respect rights of every person

Crowds at beatification vigil remember the life of John Paul II

Of Weddings and Beatifications

While pondering on God's interest on our human lives, this reflection from Your Catholic Channel of Hope, my memory brought me back to the times when the death of Princess Diana of Wales, took the world's attention while Mother Teresa of Calcutta silently passed away. The same thing happened when Prince Charles scheduled wedding with Camille was snatched by the death of a bigger man in world history, soon to be Pope John Paul II's death in April 2, 2005. Now, it's the Will's Wedding and John Paul II's beatification.

I’ve been doing a fair bit of traveling lately and one of the things I like to do while in airports is browse through the magazine and bookstores. I never buy magazines or even look through them much, so this is about the only time that I have a sense of what magazines are publishing.

As we approach the Beatification of Pope John Paul II, I’ve been sad to say that except for the one special issue of LIFE Magazine, JPII is not on the cover of one single magazine. On the other hand, we can’t say the same for William and Kate.

Blessed John Paul II, Intercede for Us

Blessed Trinity, we thank you for having graced the Church with Pope John Paul II and for allowing the tenderness of your Fatherly care, the glory of the cross of Christ and the splendor of the Holy Spirit to shine through him.

Trusting Fully in your infinite mercy and in the maternal intercession of Mary, he has given us a living image of Jesus the Good Sheperd, and has shown us Christian Life and is the way of achieving eternal Communion with you.

Grant us, by his intercession and according to Your will, the graces we now implore, hoping that he will soon be numbered among your saints. Amen.

US Commission Names 14 Worst Violators Of Religious Freedom

EWTN - For the first time, the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom has listed Egypt among the world’s worst violators of religious freedom.

In its 2011 annual report, the commission recommended that the State Department designate 14 nations--Burma, China, Egypt, Eritrea, Iran, Iraq, Nigeria, North Korea, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Sudan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, and Vietnam--as “countries of particular concern” (CPCs).

Newt Gingrich: Why I Became Catholic

Source: National Catholic Register - I am often asked when I chose to become Catholic. However, it is more truthful to say that over the course of several years I gradually became Catholic and then decided one day to accept the faith I had already come to embrace.

My wife, Callista, is a lifelong Catholic and has been a member of the choir of the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington, D.C., for 15 years. Although I was Southern Baptist, I had attended Mass with Callista every Sunday at the basilica to watch her sing with the choir.

I accompanied Callista to Rome in 2005, when the choir was invited to sing at St. Peter’s Basilica. While there, I had the opportunity to talk at length with Msgr. Walter Rossi, rector of the basilica in D.C., about faith, history and many of the cultural challenges, including secularism, facing our country. Our conversations were enlightening and intriguing.

The Truth in the HOLY TRINITY

From Posted by Quirino M. Sugon Jr on April 26, 2011 at 12:50 pm at the Monks Hobbit

The Dogma of the Holy Trinity is this: There are three Persons in One God–Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Each Person is distinct from each other but there is only one God. Read the Catechism of the Catholic Church and not any other book, then refute the Catechism line by line. The Trinity is suggested by the baptismal formula taught by Christ:

“Go, therefore, 12 and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the holy Spirit.” (Mt 28:19)

The Father sends the Son (the Son is not the Father):

“Moreover, we have seen and testify that the Father sent his Son as savior of the world. 15 Whoever acknowledges that Jesus is the Son of God, God remains in him and he in God.” (1 Jn 4:14-15 )

The Son promises the Holy Spirit (the other Advocate distinct from the Son):

And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate 8 to be with you always, 17 the Spirit of truth, 9 which the world cannot accept, because it neither sees nor knows it. (Jn 14:16-17)

“Amen, I say to you, all sins and all blasphemies that people utter will be forgiven them. 29 But whoever blasphemes against the holy Spirit 11 will never have forgiveness, but is guilty of an everlasting sin.” (Mk 3:28-29)

MOVIE PRESENTS BOY WHO WANTS TO SING FOR THE POPE

Shows Papal, Vatican Life Through Eyes of 11-Year-Old

ROME, APRIL 22, 2011 (Zenit.org).- A new movie presents the figure of Benedict XVI and the reality of Vatican life, seen through the eyes of Francesco, a boy who dreams about singing before the Pope.

The German-language movie, "Francesco und der Papst" [Francesco and the Pope], was released Thursday in 60 theaters throughout Germany and Switzerland.

The Church that Celebrates Christ's Life

"If a church celebrates only the feasts related to Manalo, then it is the Church of Manalo. If a church celebrates the feasts related to Christ, then it is a Church of Christ." -Quirino M. Sugon Jr on April 24, 2011 at 10:47 am

“The Catholic Church which in the beginning was the Church of Christ... [Ang Iglesia Katolika na sa pasimula ay siyang Iglesia ni Cristo...]" -PASUGO Abril 1966, p. 46.

Key dates in John Paul II's remarkable papacy

Source: Inquirer News

VATICAN CITY, AFP —From his rise to the papacy as the first non-Italian pope in more than 400 years to his prolonged agony played out in front of the world, there was nothing ordinary about John Paul II's life.

As the Vatican prepares to confer "blessed" status -- one step from full sainthood -- on the late pope at a solemn ceremony on May 1, here are some of the most important events that marked John Paul's remarkable papacy.

1978: A virtually unknown Polish cardinal, Karol Wojtyla, becomes the leader of the world's Catholics at the age of 58 -- the youngest pope of the 20th century. He salutes the crowd and asks to be corrected if he gets things wrong.

Royal row breaks out in UK over anti-Catholic legislation

British Parliament Building (Source: CNA)

London, England, (CNA/EWTN News).- In the week of the Royal Wedding, a centuries-old law banning British monarchs from becoming or marrying a Catholic is sparking an international row in the United Kingdom.

London’s Daily Telegraph reported on April 25 that plans to abolish the 1701 Act of Settlement have been ditched because of "significant objections" from the Church of England.

Now the First Minister of Scotland, Alex Salmond, has written to the British Government asking for urgent clarification.

"I recently wrote to the Prime Minister (David Cameron) calling for the abolition of all discrimination contained in the Act of Settlement, including its blatant discrimination towards Catholics, which is completely unacceptable in a modern society. I am deeply concerned at these reports that this much-needed and long overdue reform has been shelved by the UK Government," Salmond wrote.

Iraqi Christians celebrate Easter in Jordan - Easter in Islam Zone - Bomb at Baghdad Church - Photos from Islamization Watch

Thanks to Islamization Watch for these photos.

Iraqi Christians attend an Easter mass at Chaldean Catholic church in Amman April 24, 2011. Thousands of Iraqi Christians fled to neighbouring Jordan following a spate of bombings that targeted churches in Iraqi cities in the past few years.

Chaldean Catholic

A priest gives communion to an Iraqi Christian woman during an Easter mass at Chaldean Catholic church in Amman April 24, 2011.

An Iraqi Christian children break the painted eggs they received during celebrations after an

Iraqi Christian children pick painted eggs during celebrations after an

Iraqi Christian children show the painted eggs they received during celebrations after an Easter service at Chaldean Catholic church in Amman April 24, 2011.

Thousands of Iraqi Christians fled to neighbouring Jordan following a spate of bombings that targeted churches in Iraqi cities in the past few years.

Iraqi Christians attend an Easter mass at Chaldean Catholic church in Amman April 24, 2011.

A Pakistani policeman stands guard outside a Church during an Easter Sunday Mass in Lahore on April 24, 2011. Christian believers around the world mark the Holy Week of Easter in celebration of the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

Pakistani Christians pray during an Easter Sunday Mass at a church in Lahore on April 24, 2011

Pakistani Christians pray during an Easter Sunday Mass at a church in Lahore on April 24, 2011. 

Worshipers attend an Easter Sunday service at the St. Mary Cathedral in Lahore April 24, 2011

Worshippers pray during an Easter Sunday service at the St. Joseph Cathedral in Rawalpindi April 24, 2011.

Pakistani Christians attends an Easter Sunday Mass at a church in Lahore on April 24, 2011. Christian believers around the world mark the Holy Week

Pakistani Christians pray during an Easter Sunday Mass at a church in Lahore on April 24, 2011

Iraqi police officer stands guard outside the Virgin Mary church in Baghdad during Easter Sunday mass on April 24, 2011.

Iraqi Christians attend Easter services at St. Joseph's Chaldean church in Baghdad, Iraq, Sunday, April 24, 2011.

Iraqi Christians congratulate each other after attending Easter services at St. Joseph's Chaldean church in Baghdad, Iraq, Sunday, April 24, 2011. 

Iraqi Christians congratulate each other after attending Easter services at St. Joseph's Chaldean church in Baghdad, Iraq, Sunday, April 24, 2011

A wounded man lying on a stretcher is taken to a hospital ward in Baghdad April 24, 2011 in this still image taken from video. A roadside bomb exploded near the rear entrance of a Catholic church in Baghdad after Easter services on Sunday, wounding at least two police officers and two civilians. The bomb blew up outside Sacred Heart church in Baghdad's central Karrada district, shattering windows in nearby buildings and severely damaging a police pick-up truck at the church gate.

A Christian holds a cross as she prays during Easter celebrations at the Sacred Heart Catholic church in Baghdad April 24, 2011. A roadside bomb exploded near an entrance of the Sacred Heart Catholic church in Baghdad on Sunday, wounding two police officers and two civilians, an Interior Ministry source said.

Residents watch a play during Easter at the Sacred Heart Catholic church in Baghdad April 24, 2011

Residents watch a play during Easter at the Sacred Heart Catholic church in Baghdad April 24, 2011.

Women pray near a statue of the Virgin Mary during Easter at the Sacred Heart Catholic church in Baghdad April 24, 2011

Catholic Church Targeted in Baghdad on Easter Sunday

Sacred Heart Church in Baghdad (Photo Source: (Al-Iraqi)

BAGHDAD, (Reuters) - A roadside bomb exploded near an entrance to a Catholic church in Baghdad on Easter Sunday, wounding two police officers and two civilians, an Interior Ministry source said. The blast struck a police vehicle providing security at the Sacred Heart church in Baghdad's central Karrada district, the source said.

Last October, 52 people died in an assault on a Syrian Catholic cathedral in central Baghdad. The attack was the bloodiest against Iraq's Christian minority since the 2003 U.S.-led invasion.

Iraqi Catholic Child's
First Communion

Iraq's Christians once numbered about 1.5 million but are now believed to have fallen to less than 850,000 out of a population of 30 million.

Hundreds of Christian families have fled to Iraq's northern Kurdish region or to nearby countries since the October assault on the cathedral, the United Nations has reported.

Easter Sunday marks the resurrection of Christ after his crucifixion.

Another IDOL WORSHIPER converted to Iglesia ni Cristo of Felix Manalo (1914) said a Catholic Priest admitted a Priest can be Rich by being a Drug Lord

ASSOCIATED PRESS The head of the Catholic Church in Kenya, Cardinal John Njue, carries a cross through the streets of Nairobi on Good Friday. A century ago, most of Christianity was in Europe and elsewhere in the Western Hemisphere. Today, 20 percent of the world’s Christians live south of the Sahara Desert. (Photo Source: Washington Post)

"The gates of Hell will not prevail against the Church Jesus built" (Mt. 16).

That's A PROMISE. The Church has survived for more than, 2,000 years now. History stands witness to this promise.

Arius, Nestorius, Martin Luther, King Henry VIII, Gregorio Aglipay, Felix Manalo-- what do they have in common?  They  all LEFT the CHURCH and formed their own.  They all went AGAINST Catholics and the Catholic Church.

The same is true today.  The Holy Spirit  FORBIDS idol worshipers in spreading it's errors. Now they are out of the Catholic Church and joined Protestant churches and the cult of Felix Manalo, the Iglesia ni Cristo.

Praise and thank the Lord for keeping out those erratic members of His Church. (Extracted from Iglesia ni Cristo Confirms the Doctrine of the Holy Trinity)

Anonymous said... Hi Sir Catholic, Iam Arnel Of Manila, Sorry Sir I cant call you a "FATHER" Iam a Catholic before I became Iglesia Ni Cristo Member, I used to be in troubles and gang wars, I used to yell back to my parents, I used to drink, I used to say bad words, I used steal things that is not mine.. and all of that I realize that I did all that because of the lack of guidance, not only with my parents also with the church im in, So I pray to God seriously and with all my heart of course by that time im still in front of an IDOLS... Im still a catholic way back then, I Prayed that GOd help me in finding my path to my success to help me in finding the way to the truth, why Iam doing all these bad things I dant want this anymore... One day A friend of mine encourage me to attend thier worship service inside the Iglesia ni cristo in Locale of evangelista makati, I saw how each and everyone of them has respect on superiror and solemn and everyone is saying thier own prayers, and even crying, so start praying to and when the minister start thier own prayers, prayers for the brothers and prayers for every one Iam amazed to what I felt I start crying MAN I didnt felt that before... The holy spirit was on me I felt the love of a father for his LOST SON... I dont know what to say that day I know that god lead me the way of truth and to the way of my success, I attend the 25 Doctrines and I know that this is tru coz all are read to the holly bibble no other book was read to me I ask questions and it was read directly to the bibble, no doubt That this is the true children of the Only true GOD, why cat youre church my catholic do the same manner as the Ministers of INC is doing they are in one mind, can you tell me now mr catholic who do you think will be save whne JESUS christ our lord come back? I heard some of the priest told me the reason why they become priest is because of 1 thing, money.... he told me that there is only 2 ways to riches... TO BE A DRUG LORD, OR TO PRAISE THE LORD, that is THE WORD OF ONE OF YOUR PRIEST... Im a happy man, I am now one of the children of GOD, can you tell me or can you tell to your self mr. catholic if you are save? The success of the INC or the church of christ is because they are guided by the true GOD arent you afriad that you are insulting the son's of GOD? I hope you too can pray by youre own words tell to god what you feel and asked him to lead you to the way of truth If you are chosen GOD will give you the answer, if he didnt give you the answer you are not worthy to recieve salvation. Dont be affriad of the truth I accepted it, we are not against you sir... have you tried to listen or like to attend our worship service? try sir so youll know... GOD BLESS you I hope that your knowlege and your services inside your chuch will not go to nothing... April 23, 2011 9:01 AM

Thank you very much Arnel of Manila for sharing us Catholics your very honest opinion.  First of all, I am NOT A PRIEST. I am a very ordinary Catholic who was once lured by Protestants and Iglesia ni Cristo members to join them.  But unlike you, I chose to stay in the Light for the LOVE of GOD and the CHURCH which HE FOUNDED (Mt. 16).

HAPPY EASTER!

This is the Day the LORD has made, let us REJOICE and be glad! (Psalm 118:24)

In the 'Rome of Pakistan,' Christians say they fear speaking out, worry about the future

By Nahal Toosi, The Associated Press

Photo Source: Canadian Press

KHUSHPUR, Pakistan — A church bell, not a mosque loudspeaker, calls people to prayer along the dung-lined streets and inside the crumbling houses of this village. The body of Pakistan's most recent Christian martyr is buried in its graveyard.

Khushpur is almost entirely Catholic, and for decades it has been an oasis for Christians in a nation where 95 per cent of people are Muslim and Islamist extremism is spreading. The village has produced so many priests and nuns that some call it the "Rome of Pakistan."

But Islamist militants' recent murder of federal minister Shahbaz Bhatti, a Christian son of the village targeted for opposing Pakistan's harsh blasphemy laws, has rattled the peace. As they prepare to observe Easter, many of the 5,300 villagers say Pakistan's Christians face more pressure than ever.

Anti-Catholics Burned Down Church in California, USA

This is the latest in a series of anti-Catholic incidents in California the past couple of years including vandalism which read “Kill the Cathlics” on the walls of a Catholic church and the destruction of a 60-year-old statue of the Blessed Virgin Mary dedicated to the memory of veterans.

Have you heard anything about this in the media? Could you imagine if someone had burned down a mosque? Or wrote "Kill the Muslims?" It would be the lede in every news program. The President would hold a press conference, the ladies from The View would cluck their concern, and Anderson Cooper would be reporting from outside a Mosque somewhere. But it's just a Catholic Church that got burned down. It's just a Catholics that people are threatening to kill. It's just Catholic statues being vandalized. So shhhhhh.

Christians all over the globe are suffering terribly and...nothing. Blogs write about it but nowhere else do you see even an eyebrow lifted in concern. Methinks this is all going to get a lot worse before it gets better. -Creative Minority Report

Photo Source: Woman of Grace

Suspicious fire destroys Hacienda Heights church, latest in series of crimes against Catholic parishes in CA

News Source: California Catholic Daily - Investigators suspect arson in a fire that destroyed St. John Vianney Church in Hacienda Heights over the weekend.

"The investigators have been quite definitive to me, this was very definitely a deliberate act," Steve Whitmore, a spokesman for the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department, told the Los Angeles Times.

The fire, which began shortly after midnight on Saturday, left only a burned out shell where the 5000-member parish’s sanctuary once stood. Various press reports said the blaze caused an estimated $8 million to $10 million in damages. The fire burned for almost three hours before firefighters were able to extinguish it.