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Pope begins first visit to France
The Pope has arrived in France for his first visit there since he took office.
He was met at Paris's Orly airport by President Nicolas Sarkozy and his wife, Carla Bruni.
During his four days in the country, the Pope will celebrate an open-air Mass in Paris and travel to the shrine of Lourdes.
In a country that has strict laws on secularism, Pope Benedict XVI is also due to give a speech about the role of religion in society.
"I love France, France's great culture, French art," he told reporters while on his way to Paris.
He said he was coming to France as a "messenger of peace and brotherhood". The Pope has arrived in France for his first visit there since he took office. ... more -
Pope says Catholic Church has undervalued environment
ROME: Pope Benedict XVI has told a meeting of priests that protection of the environment had been undervalued by the Catholic Church in the past, but said materialism was the biggest threat to the planet.
There have been times when man has ignored "God's teaching on creation," Pope Benedict said in response to a question on the environment yesterday.
But he rejected criticism that Christianity had encouraged the squandering of resources under the pretext of following the commandment to rule over the Earth.
The wastefulness was due to a "materialistic world" where "God is denied," Pope Benedict said.
"God entrusted man with the responsibility of creation" and "creation and redemption are closely bound together," he said.
Pope Benedict's comments came at a closed meeting of 400 priests from the north of Italy where he is spending his holiday. Reporters were briefed by the Vatican spokesman, Federico Lombardi.
Lombardi said Pope Benedict cited St Francis of Assisi as an example in urging Catholics to adopt "a way of life that is respectful of the environment." ROME: Pope Benedict XVI has told a meeting of priests that protection of the environment had been undervalued by the Catholic Church i... more -
Pope will make Hawaii's Damien a saint
Hawai'i Catholics rejoiced yesterday at news that the pope had cleared the way for Father Damien's sainthood and began planning for the big event.
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"There's excitement, but there's, 'Oh, what do we have to do next?'" said the Rev. Ed Popish, who served for years as a pastor in Kalaupapa, Moloka'i, where Damien volunteered to work with patients afflicted with Hansen's disease, then called leprosy. Damien contracted the disease himself and died in 1889 at age 49.
The Vatican reported yesterday that Pope Benedict XVI signed a decree accepting that the miraculous cure of Audrey Toguchi of 'Aiea from terminal cancer was attributable to her prayers to Damien for his intervention with God.
The pope has yet to set a date for the canonization ceremony, which will take place in Rome. Hawai'i Catholics rejoiced yesterday at news that the pope had cleared the way for Father Damien's sainthood and began plann... more -
Happy B-Day, Pope!
President Bush and first lady Laura Bush welcomed Pope Benedict XVI in an elaborate ceremony Wednesday morning on the South Lawn of the White House. The day marked the pontiff's 81st birthday and as such after the formal welcoming ceremony concluded those in attendance serenaded Benedict with the singing of "Happy Birthday." President Bush and first lady Laura Bush welcomed Pope Benedict XVI in an elaborate ceremony Wednesday morning on the South Lawn of th... more
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Use Freedom for Virtue, Common Good
Speaking at the White House, Pope Benedict XVI summoned Americans to use their freedom to cultivate virtue, sacrifice for the common good and help the less fortunate.
I especially love this quote: "Freedom is not only a gift, but also a summons to personal responsibility." Speaking at the White House, Pope Benedict XVI summoned Americans to use their freedom to cultivate virtue, sacrifice for the common g... more -
U.S. Muslim leaders split on meeting with pope
"Unease with Pope Benedict XVI's approach to Islam has led a U.S. Muslim group to decline joining in an interfaith event with him later this week.
Several other U.S. Muslim leaders expressed similar concerns about the pope, but pledged to participate in the Washington gathering, saying the two faiths should do everything possible to improve relations." "Unease with Pope Benedict XVI's approach to Islam has led a U.S. Muslim group to decline joining in an interfaith event wit... more -
Pope told to stay off of Yankee Stadium grass in New York...
Yes, the grass at Yankee Stadium is holier than the Pope.
"The Yankees had only one request, and that is that we not touch their grass," said Mark Ackermann, who is running the Office of the Papal Visit for the New York archdiocese. "The All-Star game will be there this year and of course we're all confident that the World Series will be there as well. So the Yankees need to keep it in good shape and we've been most respectful of that." Yes, the grass at Yankee Stadium is holier than the Pope. ... more -
Roman Catholic Church: The Bear Stearns of Pedophilia
Real Time host Bill Maher called the Roman Catholic Church "the Bear Stearns of Pedophilia," in the New Rules section of the latest episode of his HBO show. "If you have a few hundred followers and you let some of them molest children they call you a cult leader. If you have a billion, they call you Pope. It's like if you can't pay your mortgage, you're a deadbeat, but if you can't pay a million mortgages you're Bear Stearns, and we bail you out."
Certainly, it does seem to be a question of volume. To misquote Joseph Stalin, "one case of child abuse is a tragedy; a million is a statistic." After all, it's hard to explain why the Yearning for Zion Ranch in the Texas was raided, and its leaders arrested for child abuse, while Pope Benedict XVI is set to receive the red carpet treatment on his forthcoming trip to the U.S. .
During a BBC special investigation for the documentary series Panorama, reporters revealed the existence of an updated version of the 1962 document Crimen Sollicitationis (Latin for "The Crime of Solicitation"), which was authored by Pope Benedict XVI in 2001 while he was working under the former Pope John Paul II. In the missive, the then Cardinal, ordered bishops to put the interests of the church above those of the victims, and demanded that they keep quiet about the abuse under threat of excommunication.
In addition, under his policy of "Exclusive Competence," all abuse issues were to be handled directly by Rome, which dealt with the issue by systematically shuffling known perpetrators to fresh dioceses. This means the buck directly stopped at the Pontiff's office. Yet still, we're rolling out the red carpet rather than getting our handcuffs ready? Real Time host Bill Maher called the Roman Catholic Church "the Bear Stearns of Pedophilia," in the New Rules section of the... more -
Muslims outnumber world's Catholics
"'For the first time in history, we are no longer at the top: Muslims have overtaken us,' Monsignor Vittorio Formenti said." That statement makes you think: Is religion just a competition between dudes in robes for followers? "'For the first time in history, we are no longer at the top: Muslims have overtaken us,' Monsignor Vittorio Formenti s... more
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Bin Laden blames Pope, threatens EU
An internet audio message from Osama bin Laden was released last night in which the al-Qaida leader threatened the EU over the publication of cartoons of the prophet Muhammad two years ago.
"Your publications of these drawings - part of a new crusade in which the Pope of the Vatican had a significant role - is a confirmation from you that the war continues" An internet audio message from Osama bin Laden was released last night in which the al-Qaida leader threatened the EU over the publica... more -
Pope: Hell really exists, abstain from Media!
During this year's Lent sermon, Pope Benedict XVI has reaffirmed that "Hell really exists" and that salvation will be denied to the unrighteous.
He also encouraged to observe complete abstinence from the Media for "we need to make room for silence in order to open our hearts".
(link in Italian) During this year's Lent sermon, Pope Benedict XVI has reaffirmed that "Hell really exists" and that salvation will be d... more -
Pope's Ancient Homophobia
Spain legalized gay marriage and annoyed the pope. During a recent visit to Spain the pope announced, "[family is] based on the unbreakable union of man and woman and represents the privileged environment where human life is welcomed and protected from the beginning to its natural end." Under this definition, the millions of gay and lesbian couples and their children are not considered family. Can anyone think of other families that do not fit that definition? Maybe your own? Spain legalized gay marriage and annoyed the pope. During a recent visit to Spain the pope announced, "[family is] based on the ... more
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Pope blames atheists for world's sufferings
A newly released papal letter charges that atheists are responsible for the cruelty and horrendous injustices ocurring in the world.
Not really surprising. Although, I have to wonder- does the letter also explore the role of organized religion in many of the world's most horrific wars throughout history? Somehow I doubt it... A newly released papal letter charges that atheists are responsible for the cruelty and horrendous injustices ocurring in the world. ... more -
Dan Brown's Da Vinci Code Prequel Angels & Demons Halted
by Nicole
Da Vinci Code prequel Angels & Demons has become the first blockbuster casualty of the Writers' Guild strike. The film was scheduled go into production in February 2008, but Sony Studio bosses announced on Friday that the project, which was adapted from Dan Brown's book by Da Vinci Code screenwriter Akiva Goldsman, would be put on hold. "While the filmmakers and the studio feel the screenplay is very strong, we do not believe it is the fully-realized production draft required of this ambitious project," said Sony spokesman Steve Elzer. Tom Hanks and Ron Howard had been set to reprise their respective roles as star and director. The much anticipated movie, which was slated for a December 2008 release, is now expected to hit screens in the first quarter of 2009. In the meantime, with Tom Hanks' alter-ego Robert Langdon in shackles, who will defeat the Illuminati and their dastardly plan to blow up the Catholic Church's elite as they meet in the Vatican City to elect a new pope?
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http://www.myspace.com/thedailymantra by Nicole ... more -
Pope John Paul II Makes Posthumous Pop Video Debut
by Nicole
It seems the Pope John Paul II is about to make a posthumous debut as a contemporary recording star. On Dec 4th the Universal Music Group will release Santo Subito, which the producers claim is the first music DVD to embody the voice and the images of John Paul II.
The DVD is a montage of footage set to music by film composer Simon Boswell, whose previous credits include Shallow Grave, Hackers, and Michael Hoffmans 1999 retelling of A Midsummer Nights Dream. The composer mixes classical scoring with trip-hop and jazz-trance, drawing on radio archives of the Pope speaking and singing, as well as other historical recordings such as Gregorian chants found in the Vaticans vaults.
Boswell told the BBC he was "very nervous about interfering with the pontiff's voice." The composer had to use modern tuning and effects techniques to integrate Pope John Pauls voice into his music which raised "one slight complaint from the Vatican" after all, how can you improve on the infallibility of papal perfection?
"I have felt very moved by doing the thing, and I've almost felt guided or watched over in a way I haven't felt before, said Boswell of the creative process. "I've felt privileged and an empathy towards the subject that I very often don't."
The DVD is part of a greater campaign to speed up the canonization of Pope John Paul, hence the title Santo Subito which means sainthood now. Using the internet to promote the cause, the DVD can be viewed in webisode format via You Tube, and the official Santo Subito website polls visitors on whether theyd like to see instant canonization for the beloved former pope. At the time we checked in, 95% of those who participated in the survey wanted Pope John Paul to be proclaimed a saint immediately, with 61% wanting him to be appointed the patron and protector of young people.
"Seeing the power of his speech, and the millions and millions of people over the world mesmerized by him, I actually felt quite moved. He was saying things that any nice human being couldn't refuse, says Boswell, who is not a Catholic himself. "I can't think of a better person to be made a saint. Why not have saints in the world?"
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