News

L’OSSERVATORE DIRECTOR’S REFLECTION ON WORLD YOUTH DAY

23/08/2011

WYD2011

Here is an editorial signed by Gian Maria Vian, director of the Vatican’s semi-official daily newspaper, L’Osservatore Romano, that appeared over the weekend. The director offers a commentary on Benedict XVI’s words to the youth participating in World Youth Day, which ended Sunday.

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In the middle of the second day of the papal visit – in a Madrid peacefully invaded by an impressive number of boys and girls from every part of the world – Benedict XVI cited Plato in the Basilica of the Escorial, “Seek truth while you are young, for if you do not, it will later escape your grasp” (Parmenides, 135d)… Read more »

VIOLENCE CANNOT BE CONDONED, BUT WERE THEY RIGHT TO PROTEST?

20/08/2011

L-irvelli li seħħu din il-ġimgħa fost l-immigranti irregolari li qed jinżammu fiċ-ċentru tad-detenzjoni f’Ħal Safi qajmu reazzjonijiet qawwija, kif mistennija wara kollox. Kif, staqsew ħafna, waslu għal dan? Mhux sew li biex wieħed jipprotesta, jispiċċa biex ikisser, ifarrak, jaħraq u jinsulenta. Hemm modi oħra ta’ kif wieħed iwassal l-ilmenti jew ir-rabja li jista’ jkollu. Barra li ħafna huma tal-fehma li Malta, mill-mezzi limitati li għadha, u minkejja ċ-ċokon tagħha, qed tagħmel sforz ġenwin biex tirrispetta l-obbligi internazzjonali tagħha bħala pajjiż ċivilizzat, u tilqa’ lil dawn ħutna li jispiċċaw ifittxu refuġju f’pajjiżna… Read more »

MASS FOR BISHOP EMANUEL GALEA

19/08/2011

Fil-Parroċċa ta’ S. Pawl il-Baħar ser issir tifkira tal-mewt tal-Qaddej t’Alla, l-Isqof Emanuel Galea, nhar is-Sibt, 27 t’ Awwissu 2011, fil-Quddiesa tas-6.00 p.m. Il-Kappillan u l-Viċi Postulatur jistiednu lil dawk kollha li jinsabu fil-vaganzi f’ S. Pawl il-Baħar u lill-parruċċani kollha biex jieħdu sehem.

Il-Qaddej t’Alla, l-Isqof Galea, li l-qdusija tiegħu saħħret lil kulħadd, se jagħlaq 37 sena minn mindu mar lura f’dar il-Missier fil-21 t’ Awwissu 1974… Read more »

STOP, LISTEN, REFLECT ON WHAT GOD IS TRYING TO TELL YOU, POPE SAYS

19/08/2011

Pope Benedict XVI

Most people don’t leave any time in their day to stop, listen and reflect on what God is doing and saying in their lives, Pope Benedict XVI said. “Our time is taken up by so many activities, commitments, worries and problems that often one tends to fill up one’s whole day without having a second left for stopping to reflect and nourish one’s spiritual life” by having contact with God, he said Aug… Read more »

THE BISHOPS’ STAND IN 2003 ON ALLEGATIONS OF SEXUAL ABUSE

17/08/2011

With reference to certain questions and comments in regard to the position taken by Archbishop Joseph Mercieca in 2003, when the first allegations of sexual abuse on children at St Joseph’s Home came to light, the Communications Office of the Curia wish to recall a statement issued by Archbishop Mercieca and Archbishop Nikol G. Cauchi, on 8th October 2003.

“Sexual abuse causes much suffering and damage to the victims.  … Read more »

REPORT SAYS MORE PEOPLE AROUND THE WORLD ARE FACING RESTRICTIONS ON RELIGION

17/08/2011

Close to one-third of the world’s citizens have faced increased restrictions on religious practice and expression imposed on them by their respective nations’ governments, according to a study issued Aug. 9 by the Pew Research Center’s Forum on Public Life. The report, “Rising Restrictions on Religion,” noted that such limitations are on the upswing in only 23 of the world’s 198 nations, and that many of those countries are among the world’s most populous and fastest-growing in population, affecting a higher percentage of the world’s residents… Read more »

STATEMENT BY THE MISSIONARY SOCIETY OF ST PAUL

13/08/2011

1. Following the fact that the criminal court has found two of our members guilty of sexually abusing children residing at St Joseph’s Home, the Missionary Society of St Paul, together with the Management and staff at St. Joseph’s Home express their numbing sense of sorrow for the pain caused to children abused at St. Joseph’s Home during their time as residents. We share the general sense of outrage and betrayal, that this Home, set up as a sanctuary for the most vulnerable children in our society, for some time also became a place where children experienced abuse and harm… Read more »

€7000 IN AID OF CARITAS LIBYA REFUGEES FUND

13/08/2011

The Caritas Malta Emergency Aid Commission has raised €7,014.77 in aid of migrants fleeing the Libyan borders towards Egypt, Tunisia, Niger and Algeria. This is one of the latest migration crises faced since the first Gulf War 1990.

The amount collected  is being sent to Caritas Internationalis who, with Caritas Niger are embarking on a joint project providing food, temporary accommodation, hygiene kits and specialised counselling to more than 3,300 beneficiaries… Read more »

FORGIVENESS IS EXPECTED NEXT

13/08/2011

Il-laqgħa li l-Arċisqof kellu lbieraħ ma’ dawk li snin ilu soffrew abbuż minn żewġ saċerdoti meta kienu għal kenn f’dar tal-Knisja, kienet f’postha, meħtieġa, daqstant ieħor urġenti.

Din id-darba ħadd ma jista’ jakkuża l-Knisja li damet taħsibha. Għall-kuntrarju, hekk kif  l-Arċisqof il-ġimgħa li għaddiet wiegħed li kien se jiltaqa’ ma’ dawn il-vittmi, dlonk żamm kelmtu, iltaqa’ magħhom wiċċ imb’wiċċ, u reġa’ qal li jiddispjaċih ħafna għal dak li ġara… Read more »