Dec

11

Congolese Have “Sacred Right” to Peace

December 11, 2008 | 1 Comment

The people of Congo have a “sacred right to peace,” and that peace can only come based on justice, says the Holy See.
This affirmation was made by Archbishop Silvano Tomasi, the Holy See’s permanent observer at the U.N. offices in Geneva, at a special meeting on the Congo held Nov. 28.
“The international community cannot stand [...]

Dec

11

Macau Bill Seen as Threat to Religious Freedom

December 11, 2008 | Leave a Comment

Catholics in Macau are concerned that a national security bill will limit their freedom of religion and speech, reports a French foreign mission agency.
Eglises d’Asie, agency of the foreign missions of Paris, affirmed that the Macau government proposed a bill outlawing acts that are injurious to “the sovereignty, territorial integrity, unity or national security” of [...]

Dec

11

Fight Poverty, Build Peace

December 11, 2008 | 3 Comments

This morning Cardinal Renato Martino, President of the Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace, presented Benedict XVI’s Message for the XLII World Day of Peace in the Press Office of the Holy See. The theme of this World Day of Peace, which will be celebrated 1 January 2009, is “Fighting Poverty to Build Peace”.
Benedict [...]

Dec

11

Human Rights Have Their Basis in God

December 11, 2008 | 1 Comment

Yesterday in the Paul VI Hall of the Vatican a concert organized by the Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace commemorating the sixtieth anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights was given with the Pope in attendance. The Brandenburgisches Staatsorchester of Frankfurt presented pieces by Mendelssohn, Mozart, Ponchielli, and Manuel de Falla, directed by [...]