Pope arrives in Iraq to rally Christians despite pandemic
Pope Francis has arrived in Iraq to urge the country’s dwindling number of Christians to stay put and help rebuild the country after years of war and persecution, brushing aside the coronavirus pandemic and security concerns to make his first papal visit to the country.Francis, who wore a face mask during the flight, kept it on as he descended the stairs to the tarmac and was greeted by two masked children in traditional dress.
Vatican Denounces, Gender Theory and Surrogacy.
On April 8, the Vatican released a statement declaring that
gender-affirming surgery and surrogacy are violations
of human dignity that reject God's plan for human life.
Associated Press reports that
the Vatican's doctrine office released
the 20-page declaration titled 'Infinite Dignity.' .
The document, approved on March 25 by
Pope Francis, includes a rejection of "gender theory,"
or the idea that a person's gender can be changed.
It follows that any sex-change
intervention, as a rule, risks
threatening the unique dignity
the person has received from
the moment of conception, “Infinite Dignity” Vatican doctrine, via Associated Press.
AP reports that the document has been
criticized as outdated by LGBTQ+ Catholics
who call its release harmful and contrary to
recognizing the "infinite dignity" of all people. .
While it lays out a wonderful rationale
for why each human being, regardless
of condition in life, must be respected,
honored, and loved, it does not apply
this principle to gender-diverse people, Francis DeBernardo, New Ways Ministry, via Associated Press.
The Vatican document also denounces countries that
criminalize homosexuality, echoing the pope's 2023
statement that "being homosexual is not a crime." .
However, the document also lays out
that surrogacy is also a violation of dignity
of both the child and the surrogate mother.
Previously, the Vatican has focused on
the potential for the exploitation of
poor women as surrogate mothers. .
Considering this, the legitimate desire
to have a child cannot be transformed
into a ‘right to a child’ that fails to
respect the dignity of that child
as the recipient of the gift of life, “Infinite Dignity” Vatican doctrine, via Associated Press
Credit: Wibbitz Top Stories Duration: 01:30Published
Pope Francis called for a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas in his traditional Easter message delivered following renewed concerns over the health of the 87-year-old pontiff. In the message, delivered in front of tens of thousands gathered at St. Peter’s Square at the Vatican, Francis addressed the conflicts in Europe and the Middle East, condemning war as an “absurdity.”
#GazaCeasefire #PopeFrancis #PopeFrancisGazaCeasefire #EasterMass #IsraelHamas #RussiaUkraine #WarCrises #PeaceCall #InternationalAppeal #GlobalConflict #HolyWeek
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How Religions , Around the World , View Solar Eclipses.
With the upcoming April 8 total solar eclipse quickly
approaching, Fox News offered readers an
overview of how religions traditionally view eclipses.
Buddhism, Tibetan Buddhism suggests that the karmic results
of positive and negative actions are magnified during
major astronomical events, including solar eclipses.
Christianity, Christian tradition connects eclipses with
a number of significant events, including
the death of Jesus and the "end times.".
Hinduism, In Hinduism, eclipses both solar and lunar
are generally regarded as bad omens.
Islam, Muslims see a solar eclipse as a time
for prayer and contemplating God.
The sun and the moon are two
signs amongst the signs of Allah
and they do not eclipse because
of the death of someone...
Whenever you see these
eclipses pray and invoke (Allah), Kaiser Aslam, Muslim chaplain at the Center for
Islamic Life at Rutgers University, via Fox News.
Judaism, Similarly to Hinduism, Judaism views
eclipses as "an ill omen for the world.".
Eclipses should be opportunities to
increase in prayer and introspection
— as opposed to prompting joyous
blessings. It is a sign that we really
could and should be doing better, Rabbi Menachem Posner, via Fox News.
Fox News reports that Rabbi Mordechai Becher cited Judaism's longstanding connections with astronomy
and the heavenly message eclipses deliver.
He created a system that would remind
us regularly that our choices can create
darkness, even at times when there
should be light. Our free will choices
can create a barrier between us and
the Divine light, but can also allow
Divine light to be seen here, Rabbi Mordechai Becher, via Fox News
Credit: Wibbitz Top Stories Duration: 01:31Published
Warnock Calls GOP’s Criticism , of Trans Visibility Day , ‘Opposite of Christian Faith’.
This year, Trans Day of Visibility
coincidentally fell on Easter Sunday.
President Joe Biden was attacked by Conservatives for making a declaration about the day, as he does every year, because it fell on the Christian holiday.
One of Biden's critics, Speaker Mike Johnson, called Biden's declaration an "outrageous
and abhorrent" attack on the religion. .
One of Biden's critics, Speaker Mike Johnson, called Biden's declaration an "outrageous
and abhorrent" attack on the religion. .
Senator Raphael Warnock, a reverend,
has denounced GOP criticism, calling it the
"opposite of the Christian faith," 'The Hill' reports. .
Apparently, the Speaker finds trans
people abhorrent, and I think he
ought to think about that, Sen. Warnock, via interview with CNN's Dana Bash.
This is just one more instance
of folks who do not know how
to lead us trying to divide us, Sen. Warnock, via interview with CNN's Dana Bash.
This is the opposite of the
Christian faith. Jesus centered the
marginalized. He centered the poor, Sen. Warnock, via interview with CNN's Dana Bash.
And in a moment like this, we need
voices, particularly voices of faith,
who would use our faith not as a
weapon to beat other people down but
as a bridge to bring all of us together, Sen. Warnock, via interview with CNN's Dana Bash.
The White House also issued a statement.
As a Christian who celebrates
Easter with Family, President
Biden stands for bringing people
together and upholding the dignity
and freedoms of every American, White House spokesperson Andrew Bates, via statement.
Sadly, it’s unsurprising politicians
are seeking to divide and weaken
our country with cruel, hateful,
and dishonest rhetoric. President
Biden will never abuse his faith for
political purposes or for profit, White House spokesperson Andrew Bates, via statement
Credit: Wibbitz Top Stories Duration: 01:31Published
This Is Why We Eat
Chocolate Bunnies
for Easter.
Though Easter is
celebrated by Christians
remembering Jesus'
crucifixion and resurrection.
chocolate bunnies can be
found everywhere.
But according to the
'Encyclopedia of Religion,'
"the Easter bunny has never received
any specific Christian interpretation.".
That's because much of the Easter bunny
tradition is derived from Ostara, the
Germanic pre-Christian fertility goddess.
The word "Easter" stems
from her name, and it is said that
she used to have a pet rabbit.
Her name spawned a fictional
character, Oschter Haws, a rabbit
who gave children eggs on Easter.
During the Industrial Revolution,
smooth, solid chocolate
was developed.
Meanwhile, Germany started
perfecting chocolate molds,
including the form of rabbits.
It wasn't until the
late 1800s that the chocolate
bunny made its way to America.
One of the best-known first sightings was a
five-foot chocolate rabbit outside a drugstore
in Pennsylvania around 1890.
The trend
caught on, and the
rest — is history
Credit: Wibbitz Top Stories Duration: 01:19Published
Manipur governor's decree for government offices to operate on March 30-31, coinciding with Easter, draws criticism from tribal groups, citing offense to Christian sentiments. With Manipur's significant Christian population, concerns are raised over the disregard for religious observance. This decision reignites tensions in the ethnically diverse state, exacerbating existing fault lines between tribal communities and the majority Meiteis.
#Manipur #Kuki #Meiti #Kukizo #Christians #Manipurnews #Manipurcrisis #Manipurupdates #Manipurp #Indianews #Politics #Oneindia #Oneindianews
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This Day in History: , First St. Patrick's
Day Parade.
March 17, 1762.
The first St. Patrick's Day parade is widely
regarded as having been celebrated in New York City
by Irish soldiers serving in the British army.
The day honors the patron saint of Ireland, who was born to a Christian family in Britain in the 4th century.
St. Patrick is credited with converting
almost all of Ireland to Christianity
before his death.
One of the most revered legends about
the saint is his explanation of the Holy Trinity
using a three-leafed shamrock.
Early Irish immigrants brought his
feast day with them to America.
According to the National Retail Association, Americans spent nearly $6 billion for St. Patrick's Day in 2018
Credit: Wibbitz Top Stories Duration: 01:00Published
Pope Francis' whirlwind tour of Iraq has come to an end, with the pontiff saying Iraq would "always remain with me, in my heart" as he departed from Baghdad international airport on Monday. Adam Reed..
During his historic trip to Iraq, Pope Francis traveled to the northern part of the country where he visited several sites that had been attacked by ISIS. CNN’s Ben Wedeman has more.
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