Monitor

CBCP

MAY 15-28, VOL 21, NO. 10 CBCPMONITOR@AREOPAGUSCOMMUNICATIONS.COM

PROTAGONIST OF TRUTH, PROMOTER OF PEACE

C1

The Cross
A Supplement Publication of
KCFAPI and the Order of the
Knights of Columbus

B1

LAKBAY-BUHAY FACEBOOK
MESSAGE OF POPE
FRANCIS FOR THE
Lakbay-Buhay pilgrims are joined by some parishioners in praying before leaving Naga City to continue their caravan march to Manila in order to painstakingly raise the ante of popular awareness that death
penalty neither deters crime nor provides restorative justice to offenders and society as a whole, May 14, 2017. 51ST WORLD
COMMUNICATIONS DAY

Cardinal Tagle calls for Gina Lopezs

alternative to death
penalty in crime fight
By Roy Lagarde Backing the pilgrims of
the 21-day cross-country
caravan against death
CARDINAL Luis penalty, the cardinal said
Antonio Tagle that capital punishment
of Manila said must be replaced with better
that the whole alternatives.
The march gives us an
question about opportunity to find ways of
the death penalty fighting crimes, for all crimes
is something that violate life, but without
should be ruled out resorting to measures that
in the fight against also violate life, like capital
punishment, Tagle said.
crime.
With personal and
collective study, prayer,
discernment and action,
we hope to be a people that
promote a culture of life,
he said.
A multi-sectoral group
of cross country pilgrims
reached Cavite province
on May 18, or 15 days after
embarking on Lakbay-
Buhay, a march-caravan
all the way from Cagayan
de Oro City in Mindanao to
drum up public awareness
against death penalty.
Backed by the CBCP
National Secretariat for
Social Action (Nassa), the
marchers are composed
of 14 core pilgrims from
various sectors including
women, farmers, fishermen,
laborers and the youth.
Passing through the island
of Cebu, and the provinces
in Eastern Visayas, Bicol
and Southern Luzon, the
pilgrims were joined by
civil society groups, human
rights advocates and church
rejection a
great loss,
bishops say
CATHOLIC Bishops said that
Gina Lopezs rejection as
environment chief is a great
loss to the nation.
Bishop Antonieto Cabajog of
Surigao believes that Lopez is
people throughout the route the right person for the job if
of their journey. only to protect the environment
and take care of the countrys
More socially engaged remaining resources.
Nassa executive secretary She is a great loss! The law
Fr. Edwin Gariguez said the should serve the common good.
march also aims to affirm Its the spirit of the law we should
their unqualified stand for pursue not the law itself for its
the right to life. own sake, Cabajog told Radio
This caravan is our way Veritas on Thursday.
to let our lawmakers know Retired Archbishop Ramon
that the church is not only Arguelles of Lipa said the
the ones against death Commission on Appointments
penalty but also Filipinos decision to reject Lopez as
Executions / A7 Loss / A6

CBCP exec laments lack of priority German bishops join call for end to drug killings
given to prison reform
Archbishop Ludwig Schick, President
of the German bishops Commission
for International Church Affairs. PHOTO
COURTESY OF THE ARCHDIOCESE OF BAMBERG
ANOTHER non-Filipino The prelate stressed they
collegial body of Catholic
bishops added its voice to
are one with the Catholic
Bishops Conference of
a growing chorus of world the Philippines (CBCP) in
leaders protesting the spate calling for the observance
of extrajudicial killings in the of human rights in the fight
Philippines. against drugs and an end to
Archbishop Ludwig Schick, extrajudicial killings.
head of the German bishops The German bishops
Commission on International are also exce ptionally
Church Affairs, said they concerned about the
support the Philippine Duterte administrations
Catholic hierarchy in its efforts to reimpose the
appeal to uphold values of capital punishment in the
human rights in the country. Killings / A7

Pinoys in Fatima pray for end to summary executions

Detainees at Manila City Jail. FILE PHOTO
THE countrys already-
strained penal system could
get even worse should the
government continue putting
little attention in addressing
the problem, an official of
the Catholic Churchs prison
ministry said.
Mr. Rodolfo Diamante,
executive secretary of
the CBCP Commission
on Prison Pastoral Care,
lamented the lack of
priority and the weak
implementation of the law
to improve penal facilities.
I do not believe that
the problem is funding.
There are funds. They just
have the wrong priorities,
Diamante said at media
forum Roundtable at Lido in
Quezon City May 10.
Prison / A6
FATIMA, Portugal Days
after the celebration of the
centennial of the Marian
apparitions in this town to
three shepherd children in
1917, Filipino pilgrims share
that peace in the Philippines
and guidance for President
Rodrigo Duterte are top on
their prayer list.
For Alma, a Filipino based
in San Francisco City in
the U.S., the drug-related
killings in the country is a
cause for alarm.
Other places are quiet but
its still chaotic because many
People raise candles as Pope Francis leads the blessing of candles at the Shrine of Our
are getting killed. Everyday, Lady of Fatima in Portugal, May 12. The pope was making a two-day visit to Fatima
there are killingsThe drug to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the Marian apparitions and to canonize
Fatima / A6 two of the young seers. PAUL HARING/CNS
A2 WORLD NEWS May 15-28, Vol 21, No. 10 CBCP Monitor

Francisco and Jacinta

t

Vatican Briefing
officially declared saints Pope urges new priests to serve with joy, never
sadness
Pope Francis on May 7 ordained 10 men to the
priesthood, telling them to im-itate Jesus in every aspect
FATIMA, Portugal Pope Francis on of their ministry, so as to avoid hypocrisy and draw near
Saturday officially declared Francisco to their people, always serving with the joy that comes
and Jacinta Marto saints of the Catholic from being unit-ed to Christ.Aware of having been
Church in front of hundreds of thou- chosen from among men and formed in their favor to
sands of pilgrims at Fatima, Portugal attend to the things of God, exercise in joy and sincere
teaching us that even young children can charity the priestly work of Christ, the Pope said. He
become saints. told the priests to be joyful, never sad. Joyful, with
For the honor of the Blessed Trinity, the joy of the service of Christ, even in the midst of
the exaltation of the Catholic faith and suf-fering, incomprehension, of your own sin. (Elise
the increase of the Christian life, by the Harris/CNA)
authority of our Lord Jesus Christ, and
of the Holy Apostles Peter and Paul, Kidnapped Indian priest pleads for help in
and our own, after due deliberation and new video
frequent prayer for divine assistance, Fourteen months after his kidnapping in March 2016,
and having sought the counsel of many Salesian priest Fr. Tom Uzhunnalil has appeared in
of our brother Bishops, we declare Official portrait of Francisco and Jacinta Marto, designed by Silvia Patricio. Courtesy of the Fatima Shrine. another video asking for help in obtaining his re-lease,
and define Blessed Francisco Marto criticizing the response of a local bishop and the Indian
and Jacinta Marto to be saints, Pope daily crosses and even refrained from through Europe. In October 1918, Mary govern-ment.Opening with a word of thanks, Fr. Tom
Francis exclaimed May 13 as the crowd drinking water on hot days. again appeared to the sick siblings and apparently references either a message hes received, or
roared with applause. With anti-Catholic sentiment very prom-ised to take them to heaven soon. the general concern surrounding his case.I re-ceived
We enroll them among the Saints, prevalent in the country, the mayor On April 3, 1919, Francisco declined the message of concern that you sent to me, my dear
decreeing that they are to be venerated in the district of Fatima had grown hospi-tal treatment for influenza and family people. Im thankful to you. Thank you very
as such by the whole Church. In the suspicious of the growingly popular died the next day. much, he said in the video, published on YouTube
name of the Father, and of the Son, and apparitions, and had unsuccessfully Jacinta was given hospital treatment May 8.The video, which has not yet been authenticated,
of the Holy Spirit. tried to get the children to renounce in hopes of prolonging her life, but she shows a cardboard sign with the date April 15, 2017,
Pope Francis presided over their their story. knew that she would soon join Francisco sitting on the lap of a thin-looking Fr. Tom, who appears
canonization Mass during his two-day Wanting to stop the children from in heaven. On February 19, 1920, Jacinta with overgrown hair and a beard. (Hannah Brockhaus/
pil-grimage to Fatima, Portugal May seeing the fourth apparition, Arturo asked the hospital chaplain who heard her CNA)
12-13 to take part in celebrations for the Santos, an apostate Catholic and high confession to bring her Ho-ly Communion
100th anniversary of the appearance of Mason who was the local mayor, devised and administer the last rites, because she Christians in Africa Pope Francis May prayer
Our Lady of Fatima. a ruse to kidnap the children before the was going to die the next night. But the intention
The brother and sister, Francisco and scheduled day of her appearance. priest said that her condition was not that In the prayer video for May, Pope Francis challenged
Jacinta, who tended to their families Despite bribes, threats of death by serious and that he would return the next the Catholic community to pray that the continents
sheep with their cousin Lucia Santo burning oil, and threatening to lock day. The next day Jacinta was found dead Christians will witness to reconciliation, justice, and
in the fields of Fatima, witnessed the them in a cell with criminals, the she had died in her sleep. peace. Beyond the natural beauty of Africa, the Pope
ap-paritions of Mary, now commonly children never recanted their story. Pope John Paul II beatified Francisco said, we see its joie de vivre, and above all, we see
known as Our Lady of Fatima. Convicted by Marys requests and the and Jacinta May 13, 2000, on the 83rd grounds for hope in Africas rich intellect, cul-tural,
In her message to the children, vision of hell, both children lived lives of anniversary of the first apparition of and religious heritage.Pope Francis then asked for
Mary brought with her requests for prayer and penance after the apparitions, Our Lady at Fatima. Both under 12 prayers to assist the Christian communities witness to
conver-sion, prayer (particularly the offering themselves for sinners as Mary years old, they were the youngest non- Christ, and promote peace among the countries struck
recitation of the rosary), sacrifices on had asked. Francisco was known for his martyrs to be beatified in the history by bloodshed and famine.Let us join with our brothers
behalf of sinners, and a three-part secret devotion to the Eucharist and his strict of the Church. and sisters of this great continent, and pray together that
regarding the fate of the world. physical mortifications, while Jacinta Sister Lucia, the third visionary, lived Christians in Africa, in imitation of the merciful Jesus,
The children followed Marys was especially known for having a heart much longer, dying in 2005 at the age of may give prophetic witness to reconciliation, justice,
requests, praying often, giving their for the poor and the suffering. 97. The Church is currently examining and peace, said Pope Francis, appearing near the end
lunch to beggars and going without Both children fell victim to the documents and collecting testimonies of the video. (CNA)
food themselves. They offered up their influenza epidemic of 1918 that swept for her beatification cause. (CNA)
Vatican, Myanmar officially establish diplomatic
Pope says he hopes to find common ground with Trump ties
In a meeting May 4 between Pope Francis and
Myanmars Foreign Minister Aung San Suu Kyi, the
VATICAN CITY In a press of lateness, because they
two cemented their diplomatic relationship, agreeing
conference on Saturday, Pope accumulate there, you have
to send ambassadors to each others countries. The
Francis voiced hope that he to make legislation for this...
move to officially establish diplomatic ties comes just
will find open doors in his what should the diocesan
two months Myanmars parliament voted in March to
meeting with U.S. President bishops do?
make their country the 183rd nation to enjoy diplomatic
Donald Trump later this The fact that nearly all
relations with the Holy See.The proposal from the
month, saying he never dioceses have a protocol to
Vatican was postponed in February by the nuncio to
judges another persons follow for abuse allega-tions
Thailand, Archbishop Paul Tsang-in Nam, who also
views until he hears them is a great improvement,
acts as a dele-gate to Myanmar. He then held a meeting
for himself. he said. Still, the process is
with Cardinal Bo and Aung San Suu Kyi, resulting in the
Pope Francis and President lengthy and can get delayed
March announcement. (Elise Harris/CNA)
Trump will meet at the President Donald Trump ADDIE MENA/CNA Pope Francis DANIEL IBANEZ/CNA. or even sent back if proper
Vatican on May 24. The two protocol has not been followed.
Pope Francis: Closed hearts cause suffering in
have been at odds on some he expects from a meeting with resignation of clerical abuse The addition of more
the Church
issues in recent months. a head of state who hold public survivor Marie Collins, who capable people to process
Moralists without empathy are unable to see how God
During the in-flight press opinions very different from in March stepped down accusations is an important
transforms hearts of stone into real hearts of flesh
conference returning from his own, the Pope responded, from her post on the Pon- step in fixing these delays, the
and its a problem that harms the Christian community,
Fatima to Rome on May 13, a Always there are doors that tifical Commission for the Pope said.
Pope Francis said.This causes suffering in the Church.
reporter asked Pope Francis are not closed. Look for the Protection of Minors, citing He also pointed to his
The closed hearts, the hearts of stone, the hearts which
his opinion about President doors that are at least a little frustrations with a lack of creation of a new tribunal,
do not want to be open, do not want to hear, the hearts
Trumps poli-cies on issues bit open, enter and talk about cooperation by the Curia as led by Archbishop Charles
which only know the language of condemnation, the
such as immigration and common things and go on. leading factor. Jude Scicluna of Malta, who
Pope said during his homily at Casa Santa Maria on
climate change. Step by step. A laywoman from Ireland, has a strong record of fighting
May 2.He reflected on the hardness of heart which lead
The Pope responded, I Respect the other, say what Collins had been one of two clerical sex abuse.
to the death of Saint Stephen, as depicted in the days
never make a judgment of a you think, but with respect, clerical abuse survi-vors In the interview, Pope
reading from the Acts of the Apostles at Mass. (CNA)
person without listening to walk together, he added. tapped to join the commission Francis also reiterated his
them. I believe that I should Do you hope to soften his when it was established in openness to a personal prel-
Pope Francis: Work is more than money, its
not do this. In our talk things decisions after the meeting? March 2014. ature for the SSPX and voiced
about the person
will come out, I will say what the reporter asked. This is a Pope Francis said that he skepticism over the alleged
Reflecting on the dignity of work, Pope Francis said
I think, he will say what he political calculation that I do had spoken to Collins, and continuing appari-tions at
that a society of fraternity promotes the dignity of
thinks, but I never, ever, not permit myself to make, that she had some justifi- Medjugorje, although he
the person and provides a solution to the global eco-
wanted to make a judgment the Pope replied. cation for her frustration. clarified that the original
nomic dictatorship.Do not be trapped in the vortex
without hearing the person. The pontiff also answered Because there are so many apparitions de-serve further
of pessimism, please! If each one does his or her part,
Further questioned on what a question about the late cases, then in this period study. (AsiaNews)
if everyone always places the human person not
money with his dignity at the center, if an attitude
Latest migrant tragedy prompts call to address root problem of solidarity and fra-ternal sharing inspired by the
Gospel is strengthened, you will be able to leave behind
WASHINGTON D.C. After hundreds coast of Libya on Sunday. Seven people increasing use of rubber boats instead of the morass of a hard and difficult economic season of
more migrants perished last weekend were reportedly rescued by the Libyan wooden ones, Grandi stated. work.This was the Popes message to the Pontifical
in the deadly Mediterranean passage Coast Guard, while 163 others were For migrants headed to Europe from Academy of Sciences, corresponding to the feast day
to Europe, one Catholic expert insisted feared dead or missing. sub-Saharan Africa, the Mediterranean of Saint Joseph the Worker traditionally celebrated by
that the root causes of migration need Overall, more than 1,300 migrants have Sea crossing is not the only perilous aspect the Church on May 1. The research institute is meeting
to be addressed. died trying to cross the Mediterrane-an of journey north. Some dont even make for a Plenary Assembly at the Vatican April 28 to May
The real tragedy is that these deaths from North Africa in 2017, the UNHRC it to the coast but are trapped and sold 2, 2017. (CNA)
are preventable, said Bill OKeefe, vice said, while over 43,000 refugees and as slaves in Libya and Niger, ac-cording
president of government relations and asylum seekers have used the Central to the International Organization for Dont let Venezuelans fall into despair, Pope
advocacy for Catholic Relief Services. Mediterranean route to reach Ita-ly, Migration and reported by Al Jazeera. tells bishops
We need to ensure safe passage for all including over 6,000 just last weekend. Leonard Doyle, chief IOM spokesman In response to Venezuelas violent riots, inflated
refugees and migrants, but also ad-dress Conditions on the boats have become in Geneva, stated back in April that mi- prices, and political mistrust, Pope Francis urged the
the reasons people are migrating in the even more dangerous than before, as grants have become commodities to be countrys bishops to continue promoting a culture
first place, he stressed. migrants face overcrowding on small bought, sold and discarded when they of encounter.Dear brothers, I wish to encourage
The United Nations refugee arm crafts along with other perils. have no more value. you to not allow the beloved children of Venezuela
reported on Tuesday that 245 were I am profoundly shocked by the The migration routes to Europe are to allow themselves to be overcome by distrust or
feared dead or missing from two violence used by some smugglers, deadly, but theres a serious reason why des-pair since these are evils that sink into the hearts
shipwrecks in the Mediterranean Sea Filippo-Grandi, the UNs high people are still choosing to make this of people when they do not see future prospects,
over the weekend, adding to an already commissioner for refugees, stated on trip, OKeefe explained. Pope Francis said in a May 5 letter to the bishops.I
steep death toll for migrants headed for Sunday. He added that crowding on the Poverty, conflict, unresponsive am persuaded that Venezuelas serious problems
Eu-rope from North Africa. shipsand the conditions of the ships governments, and climate change are can be solved if there is the de-sire to establish
One of the boats carrying migrants, a themselvesare serious concerns. driving millions of people from Africa, bridges, to dialogue seriously and to comply with
rubber dinghy, sank on Friday with 132 The increasing numbers of passengers the Middle East, and Asia to seek safety the agree-ments that were reached.Riots have
on board, and some 50 people were on board vessels used by traffickers, with and opportunity in Europe, he said. spiked in Venezuela in recent years, re-sulting from
rescued while 82 others are feared an average of 100 to 150 people, are The US must do more to negotiate unemployment, food and medicine shortages, and
dead or missing, the U.N. Human also alarming and the main cause of solutions to conflict, fund programs to President Nicols Maduros authoritarian policies.
Rights Council said. shipwrecks, and risks are increased by fight hunger and poverty, and help the (CNA)
Meanwhile, another ship sank off the the worsening quality of vessels and the poor adapt to climate change. (CNA)
CBCP Monitor
S. Korean Catholics rally
against use of nuclear power
SEOUL, South Korea
South Korean Catholics are
opposing both the countrys
reliance on nuclear power
and the U.S. missile defense
system recently established
to pressure the North out of
future weapon tests.
A major leader of the anti-
nuclear movement, Father
Moon Paul Kyu-Hyn, said
getting rid of nuclear power
is the only way to survive, to
save ourselves, and save the
world, according to Public
Radio International.
A missile defense system
has caused tensions between
the U.S. and China as well
as between China and South
Korea. The countrys new
president, Moon Jae-in, has
emphasized his goal to solve
the issues in the Korean
Peninsula.
Father Moon expressed
his disappointed in the new
Terminal High Altitude
Area Defense or THAAD,
which became operational
on May 2 in the Korean
Peninsula. An agreement
to install the system was
established between the
United States and South
Koreas former president,
recently incarcerated for
political corruption.
THAAD is a weapon of
war. You cant be for peace
if youre preparing for war,
said Father Moon, an activist
who spent three years in jail
for illegally crossing over into
North Korea in 1989.
He is now leading the
charge on the anti-nuclear
demonstrations participated
by the clergy and lay people,
who are opposed the
expansion of nuclear power
in all of Korea and the rest of
the world. The group recently
gathered in downtown Seoul
to collect a million signatures
for support against nuclear
energy.
Nearly a third of the
countrys electrical
consumption relies on nuclear
power from over 20 nuclear
reactors. Moon Jae-in, who
was confirmed president
this week, promised to halt
expansion of nuclear power
and focus on clean energy
during a campaign speech
in April.
The 5 prayers revealed at Fatima that
every Catholic should know
THE apparition of an angel
and Our Lady to three poor
children in Fatima, Portugal
in the early 20th century
is one of the most famous
miracles in the Catholic
world.
The children received many
messages, mostly calling
for personal conversion and
prayer, as well as the words
of 5 new prayers.
The first prayer is one many
Catholics are likely already
familiar with, but the other 4
are not as well-known.
Here are the 5 prayers given
to the children at Fatima:
1) The Fatima Prayer/
Decade Prayer
O my Jesus, forgive us our
sins, save us from the fires of
hell, lead all souls to Heaven,
especially those most in need
of Thy mercy. Amen.
Mary told the children that
people should add this prayer
to the end of each decade of
the Rosary.
2) The Pardon Prayer
My God, I believe, I adore,
I hope and I love Thee! I beg
pardon for all those that do
not believe, do not adore,
do not hope and do not love
Thee.
This prayer was given to
the children by the angel
that visited them in 1916, the
year before Mary appeared
to them.
3) The Angels Prayer
O Most Holy Trinity, Father,
Son and Holy Spirit, I adore
Thee profoundly. I offer Thee
the most precious Body, Blood,
Soul and Divinity of Jesus Christ
present in all the tabernacles of
May 15-28, Vol 21, No. 10
The push to remove
nuclear power has increased
in South Korea since three
plants in Fukushima had a
meltdown in 2011 caused by
a Tsunami along the shores of
Japan. The meltdown forced
over 100,000 people to be
evacuated from their homes,
and the government is still
cautious to allow everyone
to return due to fears of
radiation poison.
In an interview with
Public Radio International,
Father Cho Hyun-chul, a
theology professor at Sogang
University in Seoul, said if
there is a similar accident
revolving South Koreas
power plants then there
would be no room for us to
live here. There is no more
safe land.
He continued to say that
the destruction nuclear
power can cause is directly
against Gods intention, and
the movement is stressing
the need to care for the
environmenta need heavily
emphasized by Pope Francis
especially in his encyclical
Laudato Si.
The Pope recognized the
tremendous power nuclear
energy has gifted to humanity,
but he also spoke against its
dangers to the environment
and the risk of being used
improperly. He said a global
consensus to focus on clean
and renewable energy is
essential for sustaining the
earth.
Such a consensus
could lead, for example,
to planning a sustainable
and diversified agriculture,
developing renewable and
less polluting forms of
energy, Pope Francis wrote
in Laudato Si.
According to Reuters,
President Moon promised
to ease away from nuclear
energy in a campaign speech
in April. The head for the
presidents team on energy
policy said South Korea
should move away from
coal and nuclear power, and
shift to clean or renewable
energy-based platforms, and
that he would stop the plans
to construct two new reactors
in the south of the country.
(CNA)
the world, in reparation for
the outrages, sacrileges and
indifferences by which He is
offended. By the infinite merits
of the Sacred Heart of Jesus
and the Immaculate Heart of
Mary I beg the conversion of
poor sinners.
This is another prayer
given to them by the angel.
There was a Eucharistic host
and chalice suspended in the
air, and the angel led them
in kneeling before it and
praying this prayer.
4) The Eucharistic Prayer
Most Holy Trinity, I adore
Thee! My God, my God, I love
Thee in the Most Blessed
Sacrament.
When Mary appeared to the
children for the first time on
May 13, 1917, she said, You
will have much to suffer, but
the grace of God will be your
comfort. According to Lucia,
one of the children, a bright
light shone all around them,
and without thinking about
it, they all started reciting
this prayer.
5) The Sacrifice Prayer
O Jesus, it is for the love
of Thee, in reparation for the
offenses committed against
the Immaculate Heart of
Mary, and for the conversion
of poor sinners [that I do
this].
Mary gave the children this
prayer, as well as the Fatima
Prayer/Decade Prayer, on
June 13th, 1917. The prayer
is meant to be recited when
you are offering up suffering
to God.
So get praying!
(ChurchPOP via CNA)
The miracle that led to the
Fatima childrens canonization
Lingayen-Dagupan Archbishop Socrates Villegas kisses an image of Saints Jacinta and Francisco Marto, two of the visionaries of Our Lady of Fatima, during a Mass at the
Dagupan Cathedral, May 13, 2017. GLENN MUNOZ LOPEZ
FATIMA, Portugal On May 13, on
the 100th anniversary of Marys first
appearance at Fatima, Pope Francis
canonized Jacinta and Francisco Marto,
two of the three shepherd children who
witnessed the Marian apparitions.
A press conference preceding the
Popes arrival highlighted the miracle
that paved the way for their canonization.
The miracle involved a Brazilian boy
named Lucas, who was miraculously
healed through the intercession of the
shepherd children.
Jacinta and Francisco both died
before age 12 and will become the
youngest non-martyrs to be canonized.
Sister Lucia, the third visionary, lived
much longer, dying in 2005 at the age of
97. The Church is currently examining
documents and collecting testimonies
for her beatification cause.
In recounting the story of their sons
healing in the face of almost certain
death, Joo Batista and his wife Lucila
Yurie could not hold back tears.
On March 3, 2013, before 8:00 pm,
our son Lucas, who was playing with his
little sister Eduarda, fell out of a window
from a height of 20 feet. He was five
years old, related the boys father.
His head hit the ground and he
sustained a very serious injury, which
caused a loss of brain tissue, Batista
said during the press conference at the
Fatima Shrine.
Teetering between life and death,
he was given medical care in our city,
Juranda, and given the severity of his
Vatican astronomer: If you are afraid of
science, you dont have faith
VATICAN The Jesuit
director of the Vatican
Observatory, who has
worked as an astronomer
and planetary scientist at
the Vatican for more than
20 years, told journalists
Monday that faith and reason
are hardly at odds.
If you have no faith in your
faith, that is when you will
fear science, Brother Guy
Consolmagno, S.J., said May 8.
He spoke to journalists
at a press conference ahead
of a May 9-12 summit on
Black Holes, Gravitational
Waves, and Space-Time
Singularities being held
in Castel Gandolfo at the
Vatican Observatory, just
outside Rome.
The Vatican Observatory
was founded in 1891 by
Pope Leo XIII to show that
the Church supports good
science, and to do that we
have to have good science,
Br. Consolmagno said,
explaining the reasoning
behind the conference.
The hope is that the
encounter will foster good
science, good discussion, and
even friendship. Among the
speakers will be a Nobel Prize
winner in physics and a Wolf
Prize winner.
Among the topics of
papers being presented at
the conference are Strong
A3
condition, he was transferred to the the other sisters to pray to the little
hospital in Campo Mourao, Parana. shepherds to intercede for him.
When we got there, Lucas was in a And so they did, Batista said. In the
deep coma. His heart stopped twice, same way, all of us, the family, began
and they performed an emergency to pray to the little shepherds, and two
operation. days later, on March 9, Lucas woke up
It was at that moment that we began and began to speak, even asking for his
to pray to Jesus and Our Lady of Fatima, little sister. On the 11th, he left the ICU
to whom we have a great devotion, and was discharged from the hospital a
Batista said. few days later.
The next day we called the Carmelite Since that time, Lucas has been
convent of Campo Mouro to ask the completely well and has no symptoms
sisters to pray for the boy, he said. But or after effects, the childs father said.
the community was observing a period He has the same intelligence (as he did
of silence, and so the message did not before the accident), the same character,
get to them. everything is the same.
As the days went by, Lucas became The doctors, some of them non-
worse, his father recounted. On March believers, said that his recovery had no
6, the doctors considered transferring explanation.
him to another hospital, since their Batista and his wife are grateful to the
facility did not have the necessary care doctors who cared for their son, and to
for a boy of his age. the postulator of the canonization cause
They told us that the chance of of the little shepherds, for all the care
the boy surviving was low, and if he given throughout this process.
did survive, his recovery would be But they are especially grateful to
very slow, likely dealing with severe God. We thank God for the cure of
cognitive disabilities or even remaining Lucas and we know with all the faith
in a vegetative state. we have in our hearts, that this miracle
On March 7, Batista said, we called was obtained through the intercession
the convent again. That time, they of the little shepherds Francisco and
were able to get their prayer request to Jacinta.
the sisters. We feel a great joy because this is the
One of them ran to the relics of miracle that leads to their canonization,
Blessed Francisco and Jacinta, which but especially we feel the blessing of the
were next to the tabernacle, and felt the friendship of these two children who
impulse to pray the following prayer: helped our child and who now help
Shepherds, save this child, who is a our family, Batista said. (Alvaro de
child like youshe also persuaded Juana/CNA)
evidence for an accelerating and space. to not trust it!
universe; Black hole The creative act is An atheist could assume
perturbations: a review of happening continuously: If something very different, and
recent analytical results; you look at God as merely have a very different view of
and Observing the Signature the thing that started the Big the universe, but we can talk
of Dynamical Space-Time Bang, then you get a nature and learn from each other. The
through Gravitational Waves. god, like Jupiter throwing search for truth unites us.
Those of us that are around lightning bolts. He suggested that to
religious, will recognize the Thats not the God that we demonstrate that the Church
presence of God, but you dont as Christians believe in, he and science are not at odds,
have to make a theological went on. We must believe in those who are both church-
leap to search for the truth, a God that is supernatural. We goers and scientists should
Br. Consolmagno said. then recognize God as the one make that fact more known
There are many things we responsible for the existence of to their fellow parishioners.
know we do not understand. the universe, and our science He threw out some practical
We cannot be good religious tells us how he did it. ideas, such as setting up a
people or scientists if we The organizer of the telescope in the church parking
think that our work is done. conference, Fr. Gabriele lot or leading the parishs
The summit is also taking Gionti, S.J., said Fr. Lematre youth group on a nature hike.
place in recognition of Fr. always distinguished between The Church, in a sense,
Georges Lematre, the Belgian the beginnings of the universe developed science through
physicist and mathematician and its origins. the medieval universities
who is widely credited with The beginning of the she founded, he explained.
developing the Big Bang universe is a scientific For example, Bishop
theory to explain the origin question, to be able to date with Robert Grosseteste, a 13th
of the physical universe. precision when things started. century Bishop of Lincoln
Addressing common The origins of the universe, and chancellor of Oxford
misconceptions surrounding however, is a theologically University, helped develop
the Big Bang, such as the idea charged question. the scientific method and was
that it did away with the need Answering that question often cited by Roger Bacon.
for a creator, Br. Consolmagno has nothing at all to do with If there is a rivalry
said the solution isnt just to put a scientific epistemology, he between the Church and
God at the beginning of things added. science, Br. Consolmagno
and call that good, either. Br. Consolmagno said, its a sibling rivalry.
The creative act of God is commented that God is not And its a crime against
not something that happened something we arrive at the science to say that only
13.8 billion years ago, he end of our science, its what atheists can do it, because
said. God is already there we assume at the beginning. I if that were true, it would
before space and time exist. am afraid of a God who can be eliminate so many wonderful
You cant even say before proved by science, because I scientists. (Hannah
because he is outside of time know my science well enough Brockhaus/CNA)
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