May is the Month of Mother Mary. Wish all American Malayalee Christians knew this song, sung by Mother Mary-02-May-2015
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The Magnificat (also called the Canticle of Mother Mary) "My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord, my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, for He has looked with favor on His lowly servant. From this day all generations will call me blessed: the Almighty has done great things for me, and holy is His Name. He has mercy on those who fear Him in every generation. He has shown the strength of His arm, He has scattered the proud in their conceit. He has cast down the mighty from their thrones, and has lifted up the lowly. He has filled the hungry with good things, and the rich He has sent away empty. He has come to the help of His servant Israel for He has remembered His promise of mercy, the promise He made to our fathers, to Abraham and his children for ever. Amen." ...
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U.S Supreme court supports Catholic objection to Obamacare contraception. Throws away lower court decision supporting Obamacare.-28-Apr-2015
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The U.S. Supreme Court on Monday revived religious objections by Catholic groups in Michigan and Tennessee to the Obamacare requirement for contraception coverage. The Supreme Court dismissed the lower court decision which supported Obamacare requirements for contraception. The justices asked the Cincinnati-based 6th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals to reconsider its decision that backed the Obama administration in light of the Supreme Court's June 2014 ruling that allowed certain privately owned corporations to seek exemptions from the provision. Obama's healthcare law, known as Obamacare, requires employers to provide health insurance policies that cover preventive services for women including access to contraception and sterilization. Catholics and other religious groups support preventive services but oppose using tax payer money for contraception and abortion. Various challengers, including family-owned companies and religious affiliated nonprofits that oppose abortion and sometimes the use of contraceptives, say the requirement infringes on their religious beliefs. The appeals court rulings in both cases pre-dated the Supreme Court's June 2014 ruling that family-owned Hobby Lobby Stores Ltd could seek exemptions on religious grounds from the contraception provision of the 2010 healthcare law.Religious rights are protected under a law called the Religious Freedom Restoration Act. The case is Michigan Catholic Conference v. Burwell (Secretary o...
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Emeritus Pope Benedict celebrates his 88th Birthday with a toast of Beer. Preparing to meet God, says his private secretary.-18-Apr-2015
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Retired Pope Benedict XVI celebrated his 88th birthday Thursday (April 16, 2015) with a small party and a pint of beer. Photos released by the Vatican newspaper Thursday showed the German pope toasting a group of Bavarians in the Vatican gardens accompanied by his older brother, Monsignor Georg Ratzinger, and his longtime private secretary. Pope Francis celebrated Mass in Benedict's honor Thursday morning, saying he hopes God "supports him and gives him much joy and happiness." In recent interviews on the eve of the birthday, Benedict's secretary, Monsignor Georg Gaenswein, said the retired pope feels his age and thinks about his own mortality. "The emeritus pope thinks about death and is preparing for his death," Gaenswein said in an interview with Mediaset television this week. "It's a Christian art, because preparing for one's death means preparing to meet God." Pope Benedict became the first pope in 600 years to step down, saying he didn't have the strength of body or spirit to carry on. Gaenswein told La Republica newspaper Thursday that he tried to persuade him to stay, but that the Benedict was firm and serene in his decision. These days, Benedict spends his time reading and keeping up with his correspondences, receiving guests and occasionally playing the piano. He isn't writing any new books, however. "He told me 'Jesus of Nazareth' is my last b...
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John Paul II in America. A documentary on how he toppled dictators and created a culture of life, to be respected and sanctified from conception.-10-Apr-2015
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St. John Paul II documentary produced by the Knights of Columbus-USA will soon be aired on national television networks. April 2 marked the 10 year anniversary of the death of St. John Paul II. Prior to his death, the Knights of Columbus was blessed to have collaborated with St. John Paul II on many important initiatives and projects ranging from evangelization and communications to the defense of the family and religious freedom. One of the most important goals of St. John Paul II was to foster unity across the American continent. That hopeful vision has become our own as Brother Knights. The Supreme Council is therefore pleased to announce the release of a new documentary film celebrating St. John Paul II and his impact on the American continent. John Paul II in America: Uniting a Continent explores how the papacy of St. John Paul II left an indelible mark on the American continent. Driven by his singular conviction of a “United American Continent” under the patronage of Our Lady of Guadalupe, John Paul II’s papal travels from Argentina to Alaska that generated massive crowds, shaped an entire generation and ultimately changed the course of history. During his pontificate, 22 times he visited the American continent. He formed a generation to respect culture of life from the time it is formed in the womb. Narrated by actor Andy Garcia, the film features rare archival footage and insightful analysis from leading figures including Cardinal Se&...
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Today is the day of these Innocent Lives--March 21--World Down Syndrome Day.-21-Mar-2015
The measure of their intelligence denies them of all rights of an average human being. But, the measure of their innocence is above an average human being, which nobody cares about. Today, March 21, is World Down Syndrome Day. Down Syndrome, also called Trisomy-21, occurs when people have a third copy of their 21st chromosome – hence the choice of March 21. In 2011 the United Nations passed a resolution supporting the celebration and declaring empathetically that: "People with Down syndrome, on an equal basis with other people, must be able to enjoy full and equal rights, both as children and adults with opportunities and choices". This video is an evidence that this declaration still remains in paper. People with Down Syndrome are discriminated against and are often denied the right to participate in civic life, which is the biggest discrimination. Why they cannot participate in normal life? Down Syndrome International released this video which is very touching and thought-provoking. Reports vary in the statistics of Down Syndrome. But, an estimated 90% of women who know that they are pregnant with a Down Syndrome Child choose to abort them. Increasingly accurate prenatal testing services will ensure that fewer and fewer Down Syndrome Children enter the world. These prenatal tests are denying these kids their 'right to life'. Millions of Down Syndrome babies are being killed in the womb or crushed outside the womb in failed abortions. No organization st...
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Supreme Court Says Obama Admin Cannot Make Notre Dame Obey Pro-Abortion Obamacare--09-Mar-2015
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The Supreme Court has weighed in on the lawsuit Notre Dame (the largest Catholic University in the U.S) filed against the HHS mandate (Obamacare) compelling religious groups and businesses to pay for drugs for their employees that may cause abortions. In January 2013, a U.S District judge had dismissed the lawsuit Notre Dame filed against the HHS . Then, a three-judge panel from the 7th Circuit Court of Appeals upheld the decision on a 2-1 vote. Today the Supreme Court ordered the lower court to reconsider its ruling that denied a Catholic university the freedom to follow its faith. In appealing that decision, the University of Notre Dame brought its request to the Supreme Court — saying the lower court decision made it the only nonprofit religious ministry in the nation without protection from the HHS mandate. The Supreme Court’s ruling today vacates the entire lower court decision forcing Notre Dame to comply and the 7th Circuit must now review its decision taking into consideration the entire Hobby Lobby case upholding that company’s right to not be forced into compliance. The Obama administration has relied heavily on that lower court decision in other courts around the country, arguing that it should be able to impose similar burdens on religious ministries like the Little Sisters of the Poor (A catholic congregation of nuns). Today the Supreme Court vacated the Notre Dame decision entirely, and sent the...
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Cardinal Edward Egan of New York Dies at 82-05-Mar-2015
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Cardinal Edward Egan, a former Roman Catholic archbishop of New York, who won praise for his leadership after the Sept. 11 attacks, died today ( Thursday, March 5,2015) at age 82. Cardinal Egan, considered an expert in theology and canon law, was pronounced dead at 2:20 p.m. (EST) at NYU Langone Medical Center, where he was taken after eating lunch at his residence, the archdiocese said in a statement. The cause of death was cardiac arrest. As archbishop of New York from 2000 to 2009, Egan was praised for the role he played as spiritual leader of the city's Catholic community after the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks that destroyed the World Trade Center. "Cardinal Egan spread love and knowledge, and brought comfort to countless New Yorkers and others across the country and the world who sought his guidance and counsel – especially in the aftermath of 9/11," New York Mayor Bill de Blasio said in a statement today. Born in Oak Park, Illinois in 1932, Egan was ordained a priest in 1957 and consecrated a bishop in 1985. In 1988, he was appointed bishop of the Diocese of Bridgeport, Connecticut. In 2001 Egan was appointed by Pope John Paul II to the College of Cardinals. In 2002 Pope John Paul II named Egan, along with five other cardinals, to the Supreme Tribunal of the Apostolic Signature, the Church's highest court in matters of Canon Law. His pivotal role in restructuring the Major archdiocesan seminary in Yonkers, New Y...
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ISIS plotting to attack Pope Francis. Security tightened around the Vatican. Pope says he feels dangers.-22-Jan-2015
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Security across Rome and around the Vatican has been tightened after the Paris attacks. Pope Francis has made himself a target by speaking out against the barbaric acts of Islamic State extremists. Vatican supported the U.S airstrikes in Iraq and condemned the brutal killings of Christians in Iraq and African peninsula. Iraq's ambassador to the Holy See, Habib Al Sadr, warned that "what has been declared by the self-declared Islamic State is clear. They want to kill the Pope. The threats against the Pope are credible." More Italian police officers are deployed to take charge of security around the Vatican. While talking to Italian police officers today Pope Francis said he saw "shadows and dangers", but urged them not to give in to fear. In September intelligence services intercepted a possible plan to attack the Vatican. ...
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Obama's Planned Parenthood killed 327,653 babies last year.-01-Jan-2015
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Planned Parenthood clinics across the United States killed over 325,000 babies from July 1, 2013 to June 30, 2014. That is 500 more babies than previous year. The report published recently by the Planned Parenthood Federation of America claims this as a victory. Click Here for their Annual Report Breaking down this number shows that 37 abortions per hour or nearly 1 every 90 seconds executed in the United States. This means by the time you finish reading this news one more baby will be killed. The report also reveals that Planned Parenthood actually provided fewer contraceptives -- 3,577,348 patients in fiscal year 2014 compared to 3,724,558 in fiscal year 2013. According to the CNS report, Planned Parenthood also received $528.4 million from government grants (tax payers' money) and reimbursements, which equaled 41 percent of its revenue. The federal government is prohibited from paying directly for abortions through Title X family planning grants and reimbursements, however, federal funds do pay for Planned Parenthood operations, including the clinics where abortions are performed. Cecile Richard, the President of Planned Parenthood received $396,138 as her base salary for fiscal year 2013, and including retirement funds and other benefits her total income was $492,200. To view Form 990 filed by Planned Parenthood click here Sources- CNS, AP. Obama and Cecile Richard (left) smiling. ...
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Mehmet Agca, shooter of Saint Pope John Paul II, leaves flowers on tomb in Vatican:-27-Dec-2014
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VATICAN CITY (AP) — The Turkish gunman who shot and wounded John Paul II in 1981 laid white flowers Saturday on the saint's tomb in St. Peter's Basilica, Vatican officials said. A Vatican spokesman, the Rev. Ciro Benedettini, said the surprise visit by Mehmet Ali Agca, believed to be his first time in the Vatican since the assassination attempt, lasted a few minutes. As with other flowers left by visitors to the tomb, the blossoms were later removed by basilica workers. Benedettini said there are no legal matters pending against Agca in the Vatican and he was free to visit. In 1983, John Paul, who pardoned his attacker, visited Agca in a Rome prison and later intervened to gain Agca's release in 2000. Agca was extradited to Turkey For the 1979 killing of a Turkish journalist and he completed a 10-year sentence there in 2010. When Agca was apprehended after shooting the pontiff in St. Peter's Square during a public audience, the Turk said he acted alone. Later he suggested Bulgaria and the Soviet secret services masterminded the attack on the Polish-born pontiff, whose championing of the Polish Solidarity labor movement alarmed Moscow. Twice, Italian juries acquitted three Bulgarians and three Turks of alleged roles in the shooting. Agca has often given contradictory accounts and has claimed to be a Messiah. Italian TV ran a brief video of the tomb visit, apparently filmed by an Italian journalist accompanying Agca ...
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Atrocious Plague---Pope Francis and World Religious Leaders Pledge to fight Modern Slavery:-03-Dec-2014
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Pope Francis joined hands with Muslim, Jewish, Hindu, Buddhist and Christian leaders yesterday promising to use their religions to help eliminate modern slavery and human trafficking by 2020. Pope Francis was the lead signatory of a declaration, also signed by other religious leaders like-- the head of the Anglican Communion, two rabbis, Mata Amritananandamayi of India, a Vietnamese Buddhist, an Egyptian imam and an Iraqi Ayatollah. Patriarch Bartholomew, spiritual head of the world’s 300 million Orthodox Christians, addressed the group via a video link-up from his base in Istanbul, Turkey. The Declaration called human trafficking, forced labor, prostitution and organ trafficking “a crime against humanity”. “The physical, economic, sexual and psychological exploitation of men and women, boys and girls, is chaining tens of millions of persons to inhumanity and humiliation,” the Pope said, before signing the pledge to do “all in our power, within our faith communities and beyond” to end modern slavery. Pope Francis the head of world’s 1.2 billion Roman Catholics called modern slavery “an atrocious plague”. According to the 2014 Global Slavery Index,an estimated 36 million people were living as slaves, trafficked into brothels, forced into manual labor, victims of debt bondage or born into servitude. Vatican gave unconditional support to Global Freedo...
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The Koran is a book of peace. Pope condemns stereotyping Islam and calls on Muslim leaders to unite against terrorism and violence against Christians:-02-Dec-2014
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Pope concluded his 3-day visit to Turkey on Sunday, calling on Muslim leaders worldwide to strongly condemn terrorism, and exhorted other religions to stop stereotyping Islam with terror. Speaking to reporters on his return trip aboard the plane from Turkey, he condemned Islamic State insurgents several times and told reporters what he emphasized during his private talks to Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan. "I told the president that it would be beautiful if all Islamic leaders, whether they are political, religious or academic leaders, would speak out clearly and condemn this, because this would help the majority of Muslim people," Pope Francis said in answer to a reporter's question. "But this must come from the mouths of their leaders, from religious leaders, academic leaders, intellectuals and political leaders," he said. He called the violence by Islamic extremists “a profoundly grave sin against God.” Catholic Church officials have always urged Islamic leaders to speak out more forcefully against Islamic State, but the pope's words on the plane were his strongest reaction so far. He said he understood how Muslims were offended by the stereotype that equates Islam with terrorism. He added, “no one can say that all followers of Islam are terrorists, any more than you can say that all Christians are fundamentalists.” He pointed out that the Koran is a book o...
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Annamma Velassery (Annamma Teacher) of Yonkers NY passed away -16-Nov-2014
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Annamma Joseph (Annamma Teacher) 77yrs, formerly of Kottayam, Kerala, India, passed away on Saturday, November 15 at Calvary Hospital, Bronx, NewYork. She was an acclaimed elementary school teacher in Kerala who was loved by generations of students. She enjoyed being with her students and was a third grade teacher for about 35 years. Annamma Teacher's talents were many: she was a beloved wife, mother, grandmother, community volunteer and a friend who loved to entertain. She enjoyed travelling with her family throughout the world. Anna wrote journals about her travels that were read by her students and friends all over. She enjoyed music and was a choir member of her parish. Preceded in death by her parents Thomas and Aley and four sisters, and brother. She is survived by her husband of 49 years, Mr. V.V. Joseph Velasserry ; daughters- Leena Alapatt & husband Benny Alapatt; Leyoni Joshi and husband Joshi John Chavelil ; and late Ms. Litty Mereena; son- George Velaserry, and wife Preetha velasserry; 4 grandsons, 4 granddaughters and numerous nieces, nephews and friends. The family will receive friends from 4:00 to 9:00 PM Monday, November 17th at the Flynn Funeral Home, 1652 Central Park Ave, Yonkers. Funeral services will be held at 10:00 AM Tuesday, November 18, 2014 at St. Thomas Syro Malabar Catholic Church, Bronx NY, at 810 East 221st St., with Rev. Fr. Royson Menonickal and Fr. Roy Chettani officiating. Burial ...
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Catholic Church Under Pope Francis Is 'A Ship Without A Rudder'- Cardinal Burke -02-Nov-2014
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VATICAN CITY (Religion News Service) :American Cardinal Raymond Burke, the feisty former archbishop of St. Louis who has emerged as the face of the opposition to Pope Francis’ reformist agenda, likened the Roman Catholic Church to “a ship without a rudder” in a fresh attack on the pope’s leadership. In an interview with the Spanish Catholic weekly Vida Nueva, published Thursday (Oct. 30), Burke insisted he was not speaking out against the pope personally but raising concern about his leadership. “Many have expressed their concerns to me. At this very critical moment, there is a strong sense that the church is like a ship without a rudder,” Burke said. “Now, it is more important than ever to examine our faith, have a healthy spiritual leader and give powerful witness to the faith.” Burke is the current head of the Vatican’s highest court known as the Apostolic Signatura, but he said recently he is about to be demoted. There is speculation he will be made patron of the Order of Malta, a largely ceremonial post. “I have all the respect for the Petrine ministry and I do not want to seem like I am speaking out against the pope,” he said in the interview. “I would like to be a master of the faith, with all my weaknesses, telling a truth that many currently perceive.” “They are feeling a bit seasick because they feel the church’s ship has lost its way,” he added. Burke has expres...
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Gay Marriage is like a Sharia Law against Christians and Jews in America--Cardinal Francis George of Chicago-12-Sep-2014
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Cardinal Francis George, head of the Catholic archdiocese of Chicago, said the levers of power in government, education, entertainment, and media are enforcing a “public creed,” a “fake church” that requires all citizens to approve of gay marriage and related sexual anomalies or be punished by the State, just “as Christians and Jews are fined for their religion in countries governed by Sharia law.” Cardinal George, who was president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) in 2007-10, made his remarks in his September 7 Column for the archdiocesean newspaper. In his commentary, the cardinal explains that America, despite social frictions at certain times, had always strived to ensure religious freedom and respect for different religions. The State, in the past, had “kept its promise to protect all religions and not become a rival to them, a fake church,” said the cardinal. But that has now changed, he said. “In recent years, society has brought social and legislative approval to all types of sexual relationships that used to be considered ‘sinful,’” he continued. “Since the biblical vision of what it means to be human tells us that not every friendship or love can be expressed in sexual relations, the church’s teaching on these issues is now evidence of intolerance for what the civil law upholds and even imposes.” &n...
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"I only have 2-3 years left to live"--says Pope Francis.-19-Aug-2014
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Though it was one among the jokingly-stated comments, the world media reported it in headlines, and people around the world took it seriously as a shocking revelation. Talking to reporters on a flight back to the Vatican from South Korea, the 77-year-old pontiff, was in a funny mood, and reporters were asking him funny questions about his global popularity. "I see it as the generosity of the people of God. I try to think of my sins, my mistakes, not to become proud. Because I know it will last only a short time. Two or three years and then I'll be off to the Father's House," he replied light-heartedly. This is the first time Pope Francis talks about his own death, giving himself 2 or 3 more years but not ruling out retirement before that to follow the path of Pope Benedict whom he calls "elder brother". While Pope has not spoken publicly before about when he might meet his Creator (God the Father), a Vatican source said he had previously told those close to him that he thought he only had a few years left. Last week, while in Korea, he travelled in a small "KIA Soul" economy car but his officials were in large luxury sedans. Pope Francis also mentioned the possibility of retiring from the Papacy, as his predecessor Pope Benedict XVI did last year, if he felt he could no longer adequately perform his duties. Resigning the papacy was a possibility "even if it does not appeal to some theologians", he told reporters. "Pope Ben...
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