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Photo: Pope Francis and Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I embrace.
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Cairo (Agenzia Fides). The North Cairo Criminal Court approved the death sentence for Ahmed Said al-Sonbati, the young man who on October 13, killed and stabbed Coptic priest Samaan Shahata in a peripheral street in Cairo. (see Fides 16/10/2017).
On Wednesday, November 15 – report Egyptian media sources – the documentation of the court proceedings was filed at the office of the Grand Mufti of Egypt, which will have to confirm the legitimacy of the ruling from the Islamic legal doctrine point of view. The court set the date to declare a final verdict to January 15 2018.
During the trial, the assassin confessed that he had premedidated the murder and had studied the priest's movements before attacking and killing him. Father Samaan was attacked by his assassin while he was in the car with another priest. The murderer forced him to get out of the car and beat him to death.
After the killing, some versions relaunched by Egyptian media had presented the assassin as a mentally disturbed person.
Representatives of the Orthodox Coptic Church, such as Anba Stephanos, Orthodox Coptic Bishop of Beba, al Fashn and Samasta, had strongly rejected those versions, which presented the killing as a violent act committed by a mentally unstable person. Before the trial, a medical examination certified that the assassin did not suffer from any mental illness, and was fully conscious when he committed the murder.
Coptic priest Samaan Shetata, married and father of three children, belonging to a diocese of Upper Egypt, was in Cairo to raise funds in favor of the poor of his region. After the murder, Coptic Orthodox Bishop Raphael, Secretary of the Holy Synod of the Coptic Orthodox Church, issued a statement in which, among other things, deplored the fact that many criminals and terrorists, authors of violence against Christians, were not affected by any form of punishment, while some were released after the arrest. This anomaly - emphasized Anba Raphael - contributes to spreading the impression that crimes against Christian citizens often remain unpunished. (GV) (Agenzia Fides, 16/11/2017)
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asianews.it - The historic visit of Card. Raï to Saudi Arabia, where he met King Salman and the hereditary prince. Commenting on his meeting with the former premier, he emphasizes that he understands the "motives" for his resignation. Emphasis placed on the common commitment to peace in the region and the fight against terrorism, together with the historic "friendship" between the two countries.
Beirut (AsiaNews) - Regional politics and terrorism, interreligious dialogue and Lebanese issues were at the center of Maronite Patriarch Bechara Raï ‘s recent trip to Riyadh, the first historic visit of a Christian leader to the Saudi kingdom. Over two days Cardinal Raï met King Salman, hereditary prince Mohammed bin Salman (Mbs) and former Lebanese premier Saad Hariri, who assured that "within the next two days" he will return to Lebanon.
The Cardinal's official meetings were held in the presence of Christian delegates - the two bishops Boulos Matar and Paul Abdelsater - and four Saudi ministers. Although picked up by the local and international press, there was little media coverage, or information on what emerged from the fact-to-face meetings. In fact the Saudi authorities only provided official information to a single Western agency and to the Saudi official state news agency SPA.
At the end of the trip, the Maronite patriarch chose not to go into detail about the results of the meetings that were, overall, short (23 minutes with King Salman). He expanded further on the case of Hariri's resignation, which he claimed to understand "the motives", thus pointing to - without specifying it - the patriarch's hostility to Iranian and Hezbollah maneuvers in the country denounced by the premier.
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On Sunday, 5 November 2017, a gunman entered a Baptist church in Sutherlands Springs, Texas, USA, when the service was underway, and opened fire on the parishioners. Twenty-six people died, including children, teenagers, elderly people and a pregnant woman. His Holiness Patriarch Kirill sent condolences to the U.S. President Donald Trump. The text of the message is given below.
His Excellency
Mr. Donald John Trump
President
United States of America
Your Excellency,
Dear Mr. President,
It grieved me deeply to learn about the tragedy that had occurred at a Baptist church in Sutherland Springs, Texas. I offer my sincere condolences to you and to all the American people.
The dreadful crime, which was committed on a Sunday, the day held sacred by Christians, and claimed the lives of dozens of innocent people, including defenseless elderly people, women and children, shocks by its devilish cruelty and guile. I am convinced that there is no justification whatsoever for such acts of violence.
Please convey my words of consolation and support to the families of the victims. I am praying that the Merciful God the Lover of Mankind comfort all those who sorrow and grant the soonest recovery to the injured.
Yours respectfully,
+KIRILL
PATRIARCH OF MOSCOW AND ALL RUSSIA
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Beirut (Agenzia Fides) - Maronite Patriarch Bechara Boutros Rai is preparing to embark on a historic visit to Saudi Arabia: the departure of the Patriarch from Beirut to Riyadh is scheduled for Monday afternoon, November 13. This evening – report Lebanese sources contacted by Agenzia Fides - the Patriarch will have a meeting with Lebanese immigrants working in Saudi Arabia who fear losing their jobs. The Lebanese and Saudi sides both hailed the “momentous” visit, which comes at the invitation of King Salman and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, but it will be amid a blurred political climate in Lebanon after Hariri announced his resignation from Riyadh, where he has since been staying.
According to sources of the Maronite Patriarchate, the visit of the Patriarch will focus on the issues of dialogue, rejection of terrorism and extremism, and also the condition of Lebanese workers resident, about 300,000, in Saudi Arabia, who according to the figures of the Lebanese Foreign Ministry now fear being expelled from the country.
The official invitation to visit Saudi Arabia was delivered to Patriarch Rai by Walid Bukhari, Saudi Chargé d'affaires in Lebanon on Wednesday, November 1 (see Fides 3/11/2017). "The visit", says to Agenzia Fides Bishop Camillo Ballin MCCJ, Apostolic Vicar for Northern Arabia, "may be the beginning of a new attitude of Saudi Arabia towards other religions". In the past only Greek Orthodox Patriarch of Antioch Elias IV officially visited Saudi Arabia in 1975. Maronite Patriarch Rai is also a member of the Cardinal's College, and could become the first Cardinal to officially visit Saudi Arabia and meet the authorities of the Country. Meanwhile, the resignation of the Lebanese Premier has also accentuated the political and geopolitical value of the patriarchal visit. (GV) (Agenzia Fides 13/11/2017)
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vatican.va - The Catholic-Muslim Forum, established in 2008 by the Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue (P.C.I.D.) and the Signatories of the “Open Letter” (A Common Word) to Pope Benedict XVI and other Christian Leaders, held its Fourth Seminar in Berkeley (CA, USA), from 6th to 8th November 2017 on the theme, “Integral Human Development: Growing in Dignity. Catholic and Muslim perspectives.”
The Seminar, hosted by Zaytuna College, was held under the patronage of HRH Prince Ghazi bin Muhammad of Jordan, Coordinator of the Muslim side of the Forum, and that of His Eminence Cardinal Jean-Louis Tauran, President of the P.C.I.D.
The theme was studied under three sub-themes, treated respectively from the Catholic and the Muslims viewpoints: 1) “What does it mean to be human?”; 2) “Integral human development”; and 3) “Obstacles and opportunities to integral human development.”
Twelve persons from each side participated, along with six observers.
The Muslim delegation was led by Shaykh Dr. Hamza Yusuf, President of Zaytuna College, and the Christian delegation by the Most Reverend Miguel Ángel Ayuso Guixot, M.C.C.J., Secretary of the P.C.I.D., on behalf of Cardinal Tauran.
The Participants from the Muslim side were as follows:
1) Imam Zaid Shakir
Co-Founder and Senior Faculty Member, Zaytuna College, Berkeley, California, USA
2) Hatem Bazian, Ph.D.
Provost and Co-Founder, Zaytuna College, Berkeley, California, USA
3) Omar Quraishi, Ph.D.
Faculty, Zaytuna College, Berkeley, California, USA
Presenter: “What it Means to Be Human”
4) Shaykh Omar Abboud
Director of the Institute for Interreligious Dialogue, Argentina
5) Tarek Elgawhary, Ph.D.
Presenter: Integral Human Development, CEO Coexist Foundation
6) Ismail Alatas, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor of Middle Eastern and Islamic Studies at NYU
7) Abdullah bin Hamid Ali, Ph.D.
Faculty, Zaytuna College, Berkeley, California, USA
8) Walead Mosaad, Ph.D.
Director of Muslim Student Life at Lehigh
Presenter: “Obstacles and Opportunities to Integral Human
Development”
9) Ali Ataie, Ph.D.
Faculty, Zaytuna College, Berkeley, California, USA
10) Shaykh Faraz Khan
Faculty, Zaytuna College, Berkeley, California, USA
11) Eiyad Al-Kutubi, Ph.D.
Faculty, Zaytuna College, Berkeley, California, USA
The Observers from the Muslim side were as follows:
1) Mr. Lutfi H. Asfour
Director of the Office of HRH Prince Ghazi Bin Muhammad
2) Mr. Nabil Al Saheb
First Deputy of the Royal Aal al-Bayt Institute for Islamic Thought
3) Mark Delp, Ph.D.
Dean of Faculty, Zaytuna College, Berkeley, California, USA
4) Rev. Francisco Nahoe, O.F.M. Conv.
Faculty Member, Zaytuna College, Berkeley, California, USA
5) Munir Jiwa, Ph.D.
Founding Director, Center for Islamic Studies at the Graduate Theological Union, Berkeley, California, USA
6) Aisha Subhani, M.D.
Member of the Board of Trustees, Zaytuna College, Berkeley, California, USA
7) Asad Tarsin, M.D.
Curriculum Director, Deen Intensive Foundation
The participants from the Catholic side were as follows:
1) Monsignor Khaled Akasheh
Bureau Chief for Islam, P.C.I.D.
2) Youssef Kamal El-Hage, Ph.D.
Professor at Notre Dame University, Lebanon
Presenter subtheme 1: “What Does it Mean to be Human?”
3) Reverend Prof. Dr. Mohan Doss, S.V.D.
Dean of Theology, Pune, India
Presenter Subtheme 2: “Integral Human Development: A Catholic Perspective”
4) Ms. Flaminia Giovanelli, Ph.D.
Under-Secretary, Dicastery for the Service of Human Integral Development,
Vatican City
Presenter Subtheme 3: “Obstacles and Opportunities to Integral Human
Development”
5) Most Reverend Felix A. Machado
Bishop of Vasai, India
Representative of the Federation of Asian Bishops’ Conferences (F.A.B.C.)
6) Most Reverend Michael Charles Barber, S.I.
Bishop of Oakland, California, USA
7) Most Reverend James Massa
Auxiliary Bishop of Brooklyn, New York, USA
8) Reverend Joseph Komakoma
Secretary General and Representative, Symposium of Episcopal Conferences of Africa and Madagascar (S.E.C.A.M.), Accra, Ghana
9) Reverend Andrea Pacini, Ph.D.
Representative, Council of European Bishops’ Conferences (CCEE)
Torino, Italy
10) Prof. Paolo G. Carozza
Director, Kellogg Institute for International Studies
Professor of Law and Concurrent Professor of Political Science
University of Notre Dame, Indiana, USA
11) Monsignor Labib Copti
Priest of the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem, San Francisco, California, USA.
The Observers from the Catholic side were:
1) Reverend Russel Murray, OFM, Ph.D.
General Animator for Evangelization, General Curia of Franciscan Friars,
Rome
2) Reverend Kevin O’Brien, S.J., Ph.D.
Dean and University Professor, Jesuit School of Theology of Santa Clara
Berkeley, California, USA.
3) Reverend Bernard Poggi
Priest of the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem, Berkeley, California, USA.
4) Sister Marianne Farina, CSC, Ph.D.
Dominican School of Philosophy and the Theology, Berkeley, California, USA.
5) Ms. Giulia Nembrini, B.A., M.A.
Member of Communion and Liberation, USA
6) Anh Q. Tran, S.J.
Assistant Professor of Historical and Systematic Theology
Jesuit School of Theology, Santa Clara University, Berkeley, California, USA
After listening to the presentation of the Papers by Muslim and Catholic Scholars, the participants noted with satisfaction significant convergences between their respective traditions. Such convergences constitute a motive of hope not only for Christians and Muslims but for all, favouring a meaningful collaboration for the promotion of integral human development.
After sharing viewpoints, ideas, and concerns, the participants agreed on the following:
1) Christianity and Islam both assert that God created humanity, placing it at the very summit of creation, for use with gratitude and wisdom with respect for the laws of nature as stewards for the earth and her resources gifted by Almighty God for all generations.
2) God bestowed on every human being inalienable dignity from which fundamental human rights are derived, as well as the obligation of governments to protect them.
3) We assert the equal dignity and value of all persons irrespective of their race, gender, religion, or social status, and we categorically condemn any attempts to stereotype any people or attribute collective guilt to them for the actions of individuals among them.
4) Freedom of conscience and of religion resides at the peak of the edifice of human rights. Therefore, our collective duty demands that we respect, preserve, and promote such rights.
5) God, our Creator, wills the integral growth of every human being for the full flourishing of God’s gifts: body, soul, intellect, and spirit.
6) Christianity and Islam have moral, intellectual, and spiritual resources that can contribute to the integral human development of both individuals and communities. Persons of good will committed to the common good are the natural allies of believers desirous of the holistic development of persons, communities, and all of humanity and the conservation of the environment that sustains us.
7) As believers, we are called to do all we can to address all that hinders the integral development of humanity, including any erroneous interpretations or understandings of our respective sacred texts and traditions.
8) We believe that insecurity, conflicts, and the proliferation of armaments constitute grave obstacles to the realization of God’s will for humanity, its wellbeing and growth in peace and security. This is why we consider it our moral obligation to denounce wars and the arms trade that facilitate them, and instead use humanity’s resources for our personal and collective flourishing.
9) Together, as believers, we assert that those in need of development must be enabled to fulfil their destiny, allowing them to take their rightful place as full members of the human family according to God’s will.
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PewForum.org - A host of disputes – ranging from theological to political – have divided Orthodoxy from Catholicism for nearly 1,000 years. But while some leaders on both sides have tried to resolve them, fewer than four-in-ten Orthodox Christians in the vast majority of countries surveyed say they favor their church reconciling with the Roman Catholic Church.
At the same time, Orthodox majorities in most countries say their religion and Catholicism have a lot in common, and Orthodox majorities across most of Central and Eastern Europe say Pope Francis has helped improve Orthodox-Catholic relations. Regarding Pope Francis in general, however, Orthodox opinion is mixed; half or fewer of Orthodox respondents in most countries surveyed say they view him favorably, including just 32% in Russia.
On two of the issues where Eastern Orthodox and Roman Catholic teachings diverge – whether to allow married clergy and whether to permit divorce – most Orthodox Christians favor their official church stances permitting divorce and allowing married men to be ordained as priests. Orthodox Christians also tend to support their church’s stances barring same-sex marriage and prohibiting the ordination of women as priests, issues on which their church aligns with Catholic positions. On balance, Orthodox women are as likely as men to oppose the ordination of women to the priesthood.
Link to full story: http://www.pewforum.org/2017/11/08/orthodox-christians-support-key-church-policies-are-lukewarm-toward-reconciling-with-roman-catholic-church/
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