Latest news with #Franciscan
Herald Malaysia
a day ago
- Politics
- Herald Malaysia
Catholic nuns' arrest over ‘false' charges rocks Indian parliament
The arrest and jailing of two Catholic nuns on false charges of human trafficking and conversion has rocked the Indian parliament, with opposition members seeking their immediate release. Jul 29, 2025 A screengrab of Sisters Vandana Francis and Preeti Mary, members of Assisi Sisters of Mary Immaculate (ASMI), who were arrested on July 25 by the Government Railway Police at Durg railway station in central India's Chhattisgarh state. (Photo: Youtube) RAIPUR: The arrest and jailing of two Catholic nuns on false charges of human trafficking and conversion has rocked the Indian parliament, with opposition members seeking their immediate release. Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, who is the leader of the opposition in the Lok Sabha (upper house), on July 28 called the arrests an example of "BJP-RSS mob rule." He was referring to the pro-Hindu Bharatiya Janata Party of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and its parent body, the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (national volunteer corps), by their acronyms. Sisters Vandana Francis and Preeti Mary, who are members of Assisi Sisters of Mary Immaculate (ASMI), a Franciscan congregation of the Syro- Malabar Church, were arrested on July 25 by the Government Railway Police at Durg railway station in central Chhattisgarh state. Chhattisgarh is a BJP-ruled state, and its chief minister, Vishnu Deo Sai, defended the action, terming it a serious matter of "human trafficking under the guise of religious conversion." He asserted that the law would take its own course. However, Rahul Gandhi alleged "systematic persecution of minorities" and a "dangerous pattern" of targeting individuals for their faith. "Religious freedom is a constitutional right," he asserted. Francis and Mary had gone to Durg railway station to pick up three young women, aged between 19 and 22, to be employed as domestic help in three convents in the state. As the nuns and the girls were showing their tickets to a railway official, a mob arrived and surrounded them, said Father Josh Abraham from Raipur archdiocese, based in the state's capital. 'The members of the mob claimed to belong to Bajrang Dal, a militant Hindu group, and accused the nuns of forcibly taking away the girls for religious conversion,' the priest, who is a lawyer and gathered details of the incident, told UCA News on July 28. The railway police arrived and took away the nuns, the girls, and a boy who accompanied them for the journey from their homes to Durg. 'The police later took the three girls to a shelter home. The nuns and the boy were charged with human trafficking and religious conversion, and remanded in custody for 14 days by a local court,' Abraham said. The priest-lawyer said the police had said they would release the nuns and the boy in the evening, but instead jailed them. The girls are members of the Church of South India (CSI), a union of Protestant denominations. One of them allegedly told the police that she was taken to Durg without her consent. 'This could have been done by pressuring the girl which led to totally false charges being laid against the nuns,' Abraham alleged. He said the nuns' bail applications were filed on July 28 and hoped they would be released soon, as the 'charges against them are totally false and baseless.' Both the nuns are natives of Kerala, and their arrest and jailing caused a stir in the southern state. Parliamentarians belonging to the Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF) and the ruling Left Democratic Front (LDF) from Kerala staged a protest in the parliament complex, waving placards that read 'Stop attacks on minorities.' Federal Minister of State for Minority Affairs George Kurian, who is also from Kerala, refused to take a clear stand, saying 'the matter was subjudiced.' The BJP's Kerala state president, Rajeev Chandrasekhar, was working closely with the federal and Chhattisgarh governments, as well as the Catholic Bishops' Conference of India (CBCI), to secure the early release of the nuns, he said. The Kerala Catholic Bishops' Council (KCBC) was among the first to express its profound dismay and outrage at the action, saying it 'was reportedly prompted by false and baseless allegations of religious conversion and human trafficking.' In a July 27 statement, the KCBC's Vigilance Commission said that the 'distressing incident is part of a broader and deeply troubling pattern of increasing hostility toward Christians and missionary personnel across various Indian states.' It further expressed concern over the weaponization of anti-conversion laws by extremist groups, which posed a serious threat to the constitutional rights of religious minorities. 'We affirm that Catholic missionaries do not engage in forced conversions. Our service to society — particularly in the fields of education, healthcare, and social welfare — is driven by compassion and a commitment to the common good,' the KCBC said. It demanded that those responsible for the false accusations and arbitrary arrests of the sisters be held accountable under the law. 'Necessary legal and administrative action be taken to prevent such misuse of power in the future,' the statement said. The KCBC sought urgent intervention of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to end the harassment of Christians on false allegations of religious conversion across India. It also appealed to the government to adopt firm measures to curb religious fanaticism, prevent mob violence, and ensure that India remains true to its democratic, secular, and inclusive identity. "This act is a grave violation of human rights and an attack on religious freedom," said a KCBC spokesperson. Echoing similar sentiments, the CBCI, which is the apex body of Catholic bishops in India, urged both the Federal and state governments to intervene swiftly to ensure the nuns' safety and secure their release. "Such incidents create an atmosphere of fear and insecurity among the Christian community," it noted Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan said his government 'stands in solidarity with the affected individuals and will extend all possible support.' He wrote to Prime Minister Modi, seeking the nuns' immediate release. K C Venugopal, a senior Congress leader and parliamentarian from Kerala, condemned the arrests as "politically motivated" and "unacceptable." Venugopal wrote to Federal Home Minister Amit Shah on July 27, demanding action be taken against those who instigated the action against the nuns. Christians make up 2.3 percent of India's more than 1.4 billion people, about 80 percent of whom are
Irish Independent
5 days ago
- Business
- Irish Independent
Kerry councillors put millions in funding at risk as they vote against Áras Phádraig redevelopment
With significant funding from the Urban Regeneration and Development Fund (URDF), the redeveloped Áras Phádraig would have included a three-storey theatre, a six-storey HSE primary care centre, a public plaza and a revised entrance from Lewis Road. The site was purchased by Kerry County Council (KCC) from the Franciscan friars for €225,000 in December 2019. Interest was later sought from public bodies, to assist with its redevelopment, and the HSE was the only body to make an expression. Councillors have not been happy about the inclusion of the care centre in the proposed redevelopment, feeling it should be built on local HSE lands. They believe its creation would have led to the loss of 60 much-needed parking spaces and increased traffic congestion. Elected members were about to hear the KCC Chief Executive's Report, recommending that the redevelopment proceed despite more than 150 public submissions against it, when Killarney Mayor Martin Grady interjected. Mayor Grady told council officials that he wanted to make a proposal on behalf of all seven Killarney councillors. The Mayor proposed that KCC creates a new plan for Áras Phádraig that would include a new theatre and library facilities and also maintain the car park there. He proposed that the HSE primary care centre be built at the O'Connor Unit at the old St Finian's Hospital. In response, a council official told Mayor Grady that representatives were required to vote on the current redevelopment proposal under the Planning and Development Act. Councillors were told that if they did not vote, the redevelopment of Áras Phádraig would pass automatically. Killarney Municipal District manager, Angela McAllen, told elected members that there was risk with what they had proposed. Ms McAllen said substantial work had been done in an effort to get Áras Phádraig redeveloped. She said the redevelopment would represent a €47 million investment, ten times the council's investment of €4.4 million, and it would be worth €133 million to Killarney over 30 years. The manager said there is a risk that the URDF may not agree with the proposal. She also noted that there is no funding available for standalone theatres at the moment. Frank Hartnett, KCC director of roads & transportation, smart travel and public realm, said any change to the current proposal will more or less require a new application. And if the HSE is not on board, a new partner or stakeholder will be required to compliment the application. 'There is a significant risk that it would not be funded,' Mr Hartnett said. Independent councillor Niall 'Botty' O'Callaghan said that if elected members had the support of KCC management, they would be confident of keeping the URDF funding. Kerry Independent Alliance councillor John O'Donoghue said members had knowledge of what they could lose but are still going through with it. Cllr O'Donoghue said he hopes this gives an indication to how much thought had gone into their proposal. 'It's not something we are doing flippantly,' he said. 'We know very much what is involved.' Independent councillor Brendan Cronin said he accepted that KCC management are disappointed with the councillors' proposal, and acknowledged the 'huge amount' of work gone into the proposed redevelopment project. Cllr Cronin said the turning point for him was Killarney representatives' briefing with the HSE. He said a HSE representative was asked why the Áras Phádraig site was chosen for a primary care centre, and the health official replied that 'It was done before his time'. He said the HSE representative also outlined that the old St Finian's hospital site was being seen as a 'fallback position'. Labour councillor Marie Moloney said the public did not want the centre at Áras Phádraig. 'We came up with a proposal that we hope satisfies the URDF and the executive,' Cllr Moloney said. Fianna Fáil councillor Niall Kelleher suggested that the representatives' new proposal could be enhanced in order to secure funding with the help of KCC. 'We endeavour to work together with management to make this a reality,' he said. 'We really, not for one minute, take for granted the difficult position that this decision makes.' Independent councillor Maura Healy-Rae acknowledged the hard work of the council in preparing the proposal. She said, however, that councillors had to make a decision. Cllr Healy-Rae claimed 'misinformation' and 'inaccuracies' had circulated about the proposed redevelopment project. She said that it was clear from the meeting with the HSE official that the health service, which has landholdings around Killarney, was 'hedging their bets' by seeking to get a centre built as part of the Áras Phádraig redevelopment. 'We have taken a massive risk. We are hoping we will be able to maintain URDF funding,' the councillor said. MD manager Ms McAllen reassured councillors that she and her colleagues would do their best to keep the funding, and that they are committed to the redevelopment of Áras Phádraig. This was applauded by elected members, who officially put forward their joint proposal to the council. Councillors were then asked to make the required vote on the existing redevelopment proposal, inclusive of the HSE primary care centre. They were reminded that if they did not vote then the redevelopment project it would automatically get planning permission. All seven councillors voted against it. The councillors had voted earlier in the meeting to rescind the decision they made to approve planning permission for the redevelopment of Áras Phádraig in February.
Newsweek
21-07-2025
- Politics
- Newsweek
I Spoke With Our World's Greatest Minds on Division, Faith, and Rebuilding Community. Hope Is How We Must Move Forward
Advocates for ideas and draws conclusions based on the interpretation of facts and data. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. It's no secret: Our country is going through dark times. Extreme weather is devastating local communities. Families are struggling to put food on the table. Our children's health is rapidly declining. Meanwhile, Americans are becoming increasingly resentful of fellow citizens who don't look like them. We need a new path forward. I recently had the immense pleasure, and challenge, of interviewing some of America's great minds for PBS' new non-fiction series, Wisdom Keepers, exploring who we are, how we got here, and what it means to be human. I spoke with a broad range of influential leaders, from world-renowned philosophers and scientists to faith leaders and more. St. Marks Episcopal Church in Altadena parishioners hold candles during Great Vigil of Easter service on April 19, 2025, in Eagle Rock, Calif. St. Marks Episcopal Church in Altadena parishioners hold candles during Great Vigil of Easter service on April 19, 2025, in Eagle Rock, impossible to capture all they taught in a single op-ed, but I've taken away four important lessons that can help us move forward as a country, find common ground, and rebuild. 1. Look for meaning. Reverend Kelly Brown Douglas, African American Episcopal priest and womanist theologian, asked a simple, yet devastating question, "Are we going to be the authors of our own destruction?" We have traveled so deep into sin, into narcissism, thinking only about ourselves and competing against the "other." How do we escape this cycle and ensure lasting change? Reverend Kelly Brown Douglas on the set of Wisdom Keepers. Reverend Kelly Brown Douglas on the set of Wisdom Keepers. Photo Courtesy of Rengim Mutevellioglu/Fordham University To Reverend Douglas, a core part of this flaw in our humanity is our individualistic journeys to live a happy life, when, in reality, we need to think about how we can live a more meaningful life. Asking ourselves this question is inherently less selfish. It forces us to think about how we can do good for the community and not just ourselves. As Reverend Douglas put it, "Our pursuits must always be connected to the common good." 2. Use other people as your reference point. Franciscan priest and spiritual writer Richard Rohr took it a step further. He told me, "You have to get outside of your defended world." Rohr insists we aren't the same, we don't need to be, and we need to stop defending this notion that we are. We must embrace our differences and the collective. "When you can allow other people to be the reference point, at least as much as you are, you start in the school of compassion," he said. When we are the center of our world, we are choosing to guide ourselves with ego. In contrast, when we allow others to be our reference point, we are guiding ourselves with compassion. When it comes to building community and navigating our path forward, we must think less about "I" and more about "we." Less about what we like and more about what is. 3. Have humility in seeking out truth. For Former National Institutes of Health Director Francis Collins, fake news and our country's push back on "fact" is at the center of our society's divisions. Our political polarization has created a crisis about what information to trust. He put it simply, "Willingness to accept objective truth as a reality is under threat." To reverse this dangerous path we're on, Collins believes we need to prioritize integrity, competence, and humility. We need to understand—and accept—what we know and what we don't know, what we're an expert on and where we have room to learn more. 4. Put love at the center. Pastor A.R. Bernard, who runs the Christian Cultural Center, a Brooklyn megachurch, explained the road ahead pretty simply: love is our path forward. After experiencing the devastating death of two sons only two years apart, Pastor Bernard told me his faith saved him and kept him from living in anger and surrendering to his suffering. Thanks to his faith, and at the center of that faith, love, Pastor Bernard knew that there was more to his existence than his grief. The first half of 2025 has brought so many of us immense pain and loss, from the flash floods in Texas to immigrant families being torn apart, daily shootings, and the ongoing wars. The list goes on. Dealing with these tragedies is no easy thing. But that doesn't mean there isn't a road ahead. What emerged from the hours of deep conversations, the persistent conclusion might be put this way: "Yes, we are broken. But the good news is we can be fixed." When Pandora of mythological fame opened the box and released all the troubles of the world, something important remained. The first human woman looked down and saw "hope still lay in the bottom of the box." My guests are clear-eyed, not starry-eyed. They live in the real world and see it for what it is. Yet, for all their willingness to talk with me about where we are in this post Great Recession, post-pandemic, Trump Redux, deeply divided country, and world, hope is still there. It's right there, waiting to be grasped and embraced. Ray Suarez is a journalist and host of the new PBS program Wisdom Keepers. The views expressed in this article are the writer's own.
Herald Malaysia
16-07-2025
- Politics
- Herald Malaysia
Outgoing custos of the Holy Land proposes a path to peace
Friar Francesco Patton, the outgoing Franciscan custos of the Holy Land, reflected on his nine years in office and proposed a path to achieving peace in the face of war in the region. He also noted that being a Christian in the holy places, as a minority, is a special vocation and mission. Jul 16, 2025 Friar Francesco Patton, outgoing custos of the Holy Land. | Credit: Franciscan Custody of the Holy Land By Walter Sánchez Silva Friar Francesco Patton, the outgoing Franciscan custos of the Holy Land, reflected on his nine years in office and proposed a path to achieving peace in the face of war in the region. He also noted that being a Christian in the holy places, as a minority, is a special vocation and mission. Patton, 61, is leaving the position entrusted to him in 2016. Friar Francesco Ielpo has now been appointed to the position, confirmed as the new custos of the Holy Land by Pope Leo XIV on June 24. In an interview published July 11 on the website of the Custody of the Holy Land, the Italian Franciscan explained that, in the face of the war between Israel and Hamas, 'peace requires mutual acceptance between the two peoples who have been in conflict for decades, and the overcoming of ideological readings of history, geography, and even of the Bible.' 'It would be necessary to teach coexistence in schools instead of an ideology that only generates fear, anger, and resentment. Neither of the two peoples must leave, and both must be able to live together in peace,' he added. 'If both were able to overcome mutual separateness, the next generations could finally grow up in peace, without fear and without anger,' the Franciscan priest emphasized. Being a Christian in the Holy Land Patton shared that 'I have always said, especially to young people, to cultivate their identity as Christians of the Holy Land. They must not focus on ethno-political identities but on a deeper identity: being custodians, with us, of the holy places.' 'The holy places are an essential part of their identity. I have suggested to parish priests to bring the young people there, to tell the Gospel in the places of the Gospel. The holy places belong to them,' the Franciscan continued. The Italian priest emphasized that 'being a Christian in the Holy Land is a vocation and a mission. If God lets you be born here, he is calling you to be light and salt, precisely because you are a minority and the context is difficult. And Jesus reminds us that salt which loses its flavor is useless.' 'I was deeply moved by the faithfulness of the two friars who remained in the Orontes Valley when ISIS and Al-Qaeda were present. They stayed because they knew they were shepherds, and not hired hands, using the words from Chapter 10 of St. John. Their availability to give their lives was not hypothetical but concrete in a very risky context,' he recalled. 'I was also struck by how important the holy places are to Christians who may only be able to visit once in their lives. In Brazil, I saw people who saved a little money each month for 10 or 15 years just to visit Nazareth, Bethlehem, and the Holy Sepulchre. Or a Christian from Syria visiting the Sepulchre and bursting into tears from the emotion,' the friar recounted. After highlighting the great value of schools in the Holy Land, the outgoing custos said he was dismayed by 'the growth of intolerance, extremism, and the ideological manipulation of religion for political purposes. That made, and still makes, me suffer.' The holy places: An antidote to religious rationalism The Italian friar emphasized that holy places, being physical, 'bring faith back into a concrete, existential realm. They are a great help in avoiding a disembodied, intellectualized Christianity. They are an antidote against religious rationalism and intellectualism.' 'They also help us to understand the religiosity of the people,' the friar explained. 'Intellectuals love reasoning, but people love to touch. They love to kiss a stone, smell the perfume of myrrh, see the olive trees in Gethsemane, the grotto of Bethlehem, Calvary, and the empty tomb.' 'Popular religiosity,' he noted, 'is much closer to the mystery of the Incarnation than that of professional theologians.'--CNA
Chicago Tribune
12-07-2025
- Health
- Chicago Tribune
Business news: Merrillville job fair, Purdue Northwest dean's list, new hospital leadership
Businesses will have more time to register as vendors for Merrillville's upcoming job fair, according to a release. Employers have until Tuesday to secure their vendor space for the job fair that's scheduled for 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. July 30 at the Dean and Barbara White Community Center, 6600 Broadway in Merrillville. Interested businesses can visit for more information and to register, the release said. The Purdue University Northwest 2025 spring semester Dean's List recognizes 1,746 undergraduate students for their academic achievements. Qualifying students sustained an overall grade point average of at least 3.5 and a semester grade point average of at least 3.0 on a 4.0 scale. Students from 19 different states and international students from 34 different countries were recognized on the PNW 2025 spring semester Dean's List. For a full listing of recognized students, visit Franciscan Alliance recently welcomed several new leaders to key roles in its healthcare ministry following recent retirements, according to a release. The Mishawaka-based nonprofit Catholic healthcare ministry appointed the following four experienced healthcare professionals to senior vice president, vice president and chief medical officer positions: Dr. Gerald Maloney, chief medical officer Michael Englehart, senior vice president for Franciscan Physician Network/Specialty Physicians of Illinois LLC and Franciscan Post-Acute Services Dr. Joseph Schnecker, chief medical information officer Tim Murphy, vice president of strategy Maloney is taking on the Franciscan CMO position following decades at Geisenger Health in Danville, Pennsylvania, where he spent the last 19 years as a physician executive and his last eight as chief medical officer. Englehart assumes the senior vice president for Franciscan Physician Network/Specialty Physicians of Illinois LLC and Franciscan Post-Acute Services role after more than two decades in healthcare. Schnecker is taking on the position of Franciscan's CMIO from his current role as Franciscan's medical director of information services, which he has held since 2019. Murphy is assuming the role of vice president of strategy following his role as Franciscan's COO/CFO for Franciscan Physician Network, Specialty Physicians of Illinois LLC and Franciscan Post-Acute Services. Valparaiso Parks Department Recreation Superintendent Madison Bell recently achieved the National Parks and Recreation Association's Certified Park and Recreation Professional certification, a release said. The Certified Park and Recreation Professional certification is the national standard for all parks and recreation professionals who want to be at the forefront of their profession, the release said. Valparaiso University will launch its new major in religious studies, a program that encourages students to explore and engage with religion as a lived, cross-cultural and comparative discipline, according to a release. One of the primary goals of Valpo's religious studies program is to spark curiosity about global religious practices and equip students with the knowledge and experience to connect with their neighbors, both nearby and around the world, the release said. The religious studies program will work with other faith-based organizations on campus, including the University's Division of Calling and Spiritual Life and its Christian Formation and Leadership Program, the release said. Indiana Department of Transportation contractor Superior Construction Co. is expected to close U.S. 12 under Indiana 249 beginning on or after Monday, according to a release. U.S. 12 will first be closed in the eastbound direction for approximately three days, the release said. Traffic going eastbound on U.S. 12 will be diverted to southbound Ind. 249 and can use the official detour of U.S. 20 and Indiana 149. Traffic will have access to eastbound U.S. 12 from northbound Ind. 249. U.S. 12 will then be closed in the westbound direction for approximately three days on or after July 17, the release said. The official detour will follow Ind. 149 and U.S. 20. Westbound U.S. 12 will have access to northbound Ind. 249 (Port of Indiana) but not southbound Ind. 249. Dr. Jeremy Luedtke, a general surgeon, recently returned to Northwest Medical Group, according to a release. Luedkte practiced at the Northwest Medical Group in LaPorte for several years before relocating to Wisconsin and has now returned to the organization, the release said. He is accepting new patients at the Northwest Medical Group – General Surgery office located in the Medical Plaza at 85 E. U.S. 6, Suite 240, in Valparaiso. After completing his surgical critical care fellowship at the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis, Luedtke served as a general surgeon and critical care physician at Prevea Allouez Health Center in Wisconsin, general and robotic surgeon at Northwest Health – La Porte, St. Clair Hospital in Wisconsin and general minimally invasive robotic surgeon, critical care intensivist and endoscopist at Surgical Associates of Neenah. Call 219-983-6240.
