Ferguson on fire, ISIS destroys Catholic Convent, US Bishops targeted by gay rights activists, Catholics bow to political pressure in India and more ..

VATICAN CITY

"Europeans are too tempted to throw away lives we don’t see as useful"—Pope Francis tells European Parliament 
SCOTTISH CATHOLIC OBSERVER 

Pope Francis urges “lonely” and “self-absorbed” Europe to recover its soul 
CCEW

“Achieving peace first calls for educating to peace, banishing a culture of conflict aimed at fear of others, marginalizing those who think or live differently than ourselves.”—Pope Francis 
VATICAN NEWS

Pope Francis declares unilateral military action as 
"state terrorism" referring to those nations operating on the theory that they have 
“the right to massacre terrorists, and with the terrorists many innocent people fall.”—(One wonders whether Pope Francis is suggesting that no nation can assume moral authority?) 
CATHOLIC CULTURE

"Muslims and Christians must be credible partners in dialogue"—Cardinal Tauran 
RADIO VATICANA

 

NORTH AMERICA

"Burn Ferguson to the ground"
— says Michael Brown’s stepfather 
CHRISTIAN NEWS

 

ISRAEL

Poll: 
Arabs Prefer Israel to Palestinian Authority 
ISRAEL TODAY


Giving thanks for Jewish-Catholic Relations—Thanksgiving is a good time to remember that nearly 50 years ago, in October 1965, everything changed between Jews and Catholics 
JE

 

RECOMMENDED ON ALETEIA

Benjamin Harnwell’s:
Pope at Strasbourg – 
"This papal address is a sort of exercise in compositing Benedict-through-Francis, if one may. The result is stunning: seamless continuity with Pope St. John Paul II and the Pope Emeritus. This is a speech that will still be talked about in 20 years. The Holy Father has laid down the blueprint for the next generation." 
ALETEIA

Diane Montagna’s piece on the EU hosting Pope Francis – 
"I only hope that in this context, EP President Martin Schulz isn’t going to get away with playing the Catholic Church like a Stradivarius.  A real risk, given that people are pretty cynical these days, would be that some of the European Union’s growing unpopularity rubs off, by association, on the Church." 
ALETEIA

 

BRITAIN

Cardinal Vaughan Memorial School in London declared the 
best comprehensive school in Britain—(A survey by Britain’s Sunday Times newspaper reveals two additional Catholic schools among the top ten in the country) 
CATHOLIC HERALD LONDON 

Church of England priest 
sacked over extra-marital affair—(While some argue that the sin of ‘"illegal sex" has been an ongoing dilemma of the Church (across the denominations), this response simply isn’t good enough. The prevalence of sexual sin has inflicted untold damage upon the Church and therefore the world and we MUST take comprehensive action to address this, for it has and continues to be a "mighty assault" upon the Church. All Christians, but most especially those who are ordained, need access to education, training and ongoing support on how to address the temptations of the "flesh." Surely successfully overcoming these sins should be the hallmark of the Church!) 
DAILY MAIL LONDON  

American, 98, and his British wife, 86, are 
found shot dead at their home in southern France 
DAILY MAIL LONDON


Facebook has blood on its hands: Fury after damning report reveals social media giant’s silence over extremist messages related to Lee Rigby murder 
DAILY MAIL LONDON

EUROPE

Ukraine to hold referendum on NATO membership 
RADIO VATICANA  

Germany’s Catholic bishops press ahead with controversial reform—(I confess to wondering about the wisdom of this move) 
BREITBART

 

MIDDLE EAST

ISIS destroys convent of the Chaldean Catholic Sisters of the Sacred Heart in Mosul, Iraq 
RADIO VATICANA  CATHOLIC  CULTURE ASIA NEWS

 

ASIA

Indian Catholics bow to Hinduism: 
“The Catholic community expresses regret if any community, religion or society was hurt by our community” .. the missionaries also agreed to put up photographs of “Maa Saraswati” the Hindu goddess of knowledge—(Ah yes, our Christ and His Gospel must never offend even if it be the truth and even if our offense brings life. Or at least this is how many would communicate our convictions. Little wonder there are vast wastelands of faltering faith and mediocrity throughout the Church. Let us pray for strong, confident, Christ-inspired leaders who fear the will of God above the will of man). 
INDIAN EXPRESS

Malaysian Buddhist chief high priest headed to Vatican City for human trafficking meeting 
THE STAR


More Christians persecuted in Bangladesh 
CH


Pakistan court hands down 26-year sentence to model for appearing in mock TV wedding—(And in Britain we have permitted the introduction of Sharia courts. Is this really what we want?) 
DAILY MAIL LONDON