Patriarch: ‘Our martyrs are the torches of faith’ (CNS) Commemorating the 10th anniversary of the massacre by Islamic militants at Our Lady of Deliverance Church in Baghdad, Syriac Catholic Patriarch Ignace Joseph III Younan reminded the faithful that “our martyrs are the torches of faith that illuminate our paths of life and ignite in us the fire of love toward everyone.” Two priests were among the 48 people who were killed during the attack Oct. 31, 2010. The youngest victim was 3. More than 80 people were wounded…
Priests, deacons issue appeal for clergy to ease fears over election (The Catholic Universe) More than 100 priests and deacons have encouraged fellow clergymen to help ease the fear and uncertainty people may hold over possible violence stemming from the presidential election outcome. In a brief statement released by Pax Christi USA, 102 priests and deacons said Catholics are called to be peacemakers, as Jesus encouraged during the Sermon on the Mount as told in the Gospel from Matthew that was read over the weekend, the final one leading up to Election Day…
‘Apparent terrorist attack’ in Vienna (CNA) Exchanges of gunfire Monday night between police and unknown assailants in Vienna come after several days of apparently Islamist attacks and demonstrations against Catholics and Catholic churches in Austria. Monday night’s gunfire took place in close proximity to the Stadttempel, Vienna’s main synagogue, although police have not said whether the synagogue was the target of an attempted terrorist attack…
Benedict declines brother’s inheritance (CNS) Retired Pope Benedict XVI has declined the inheritance of his brother Georg, who died in July, reported the German Catholic news agency KNA. Because of this, “the estate of Georg Ratzinger goes to the Holy See,” Johannes Hofmann, dean of St. Johann Collegiate Church, told the newspaper Bild am Sonntag. This was stated in the postscript of Msgr. Ratzinger’s will, he said…
In solidarity, Poles buy flowers from struggling vendors (AP) The first day of November – All Saints’ Day – and the day after are among key holidays in this predominantly Catholic nation, when tens of millions of Poles visit the graves of their loved ones. They always bring bunches or pots of chrysanthemums and memorial candles that they buy around the cemetery entrances before carrying them through the throng. After the government’s last-minute announcement Friday that cemeteries were closing at midnight through Monday, city authorities across the nation opened up downtown areas for flower vendors to trade and salvage their livelihoods. Many came to buy the flowers even though they couldn’t take them to the family graves. Some left them by the closed cemetery gates…
