Tag Archives: religion

Australia

Australia’s anti-corruption agency rejected the Vatican speculation | Instant News


CANBERRA, Australia (AP) – An Australian anti-corruption agency said on Wednesday that it was not investigating a transfer of Vatican funds to Australia due to a lack of evidence of misconduct, further undermining Italian media speculation that the money may be linked to cancellations. Cardinal George Pell’s conviction of child sexual abuse.

The Italian newspaper Corriere della Sera speculated last month that Vatican investigators were investigating whether Pell’s enemy in the Holy See, who overthrew Cardinal Angelo Becciu, transferred 700,000 euros ($ 823,000) in Vatican money to a bank account in Australia, and whether the money was linked to the Court. sexual harassment of Pell.

The Independent Broad-based Anti-Corruption Commission said it “received information based on media reports that suspect Vatican funds have been transferred to individuals to support recent cases against” Pell.

The commission is an anti-corruption body investigating the public sector, including the police, in the state of Victoria where Pell was convicted in 2018.

The commission said it had reviewed Vatican information and found the threshold for initiating an investigation had not been met.

“This matter will only be considered further if there is additional reliable information available,” the commission said in a statement.

Victoria Police, who in 2017 charged Pell with child sexual abuse, said last month it had also been informed of Vatican money transfers but had no reason to investigate.

But the Australian Federal Police, who referred the allegations to the anti-corruption agency, has not ruled out its own criminal investigation.

The national police said on Wednesday that it was continuing to review “relevant information”, a first step towards a formal criminal investigation.

The police gave no indication that the potential crime was linked to Pell’s sentence.

Italian newspapers speculated that Becciu may have “bought” the testimony of Pell’s accusers in order to get Pell out of the Vatican. Becciu and Pell are known to have clashed over efforts to clean Pell’s finances on the Holy See. Pell’s accusers, who cannot be identified, have denied the allegations.

The newspaper report lacks source, attribution or detail and appears to be more of an attempt to discredit Becciu and divert attention from the shortcomings of the Vatican prosecutors’ primary investigation into the London real estate venture.

Pell was convicted by a jury in a Victorian court for allegedly molesting two choir children at St’s Cathedral. Patrick was in Melbourne when he became archbishop in the 1990s, but was eventually acquitted by the Australian High Court.

Pell was brought in by Pope Francis to bring accountability and transparency to the Vatican’s opaque finances in 2014.

He returned to the Vatican last month to meet with Francis and clean up his apartment after Becciu was fired over allegations that he transferred 100,000 euros ($ 118,000) in Vatican funds to a charity led by his brother.

Becciu has denied wrongdoing with the funds and has repeatedly denied involvement in Pell’s charges.

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Germany

The Dutch Protestant Church admits Jews failed in World War II | World | Instant News


By MIKE CORDER Associated Press

THE HAGUE, Netherlands (AP) – The Dutch Protestant Church makes widespread recognition of Sunday’s guilt for its failure to do more to help Jews during and after World War II, and for the church’s role in preparing “the foundation on which the seeds of anti-Semitism and hatred can grow. “

The long-awaited historic statement comes at a solemn ceremony to mark Monday’s anniversary of the Nazi Kristallnacht anti-Jewish pogrom, or “Night of Broken Glass.”

On November 9, 1938, Jews were terrorized throughout Germany and Austria. At least 91 people were killed, hundreds of synagogues were burned, about 7,500 Jewish businesses were damaged, and up to 30,000 Jewish men were arrested, many of whom were taken to concentration camps.

René de Reuver, speaking on behalf of the General Synod of the Protestant Church in the Netherlands, said the role of the church began long before Adolf Hitler came to power in Germany.

“Over the centuries, rifts were maintained that would later isolate Jews in society in such a way that they could be taken away and killed,” De Reuver said.

“Also in the war years, the ecclesiastical authorities often lacked courage to choose positions for the Jewish citizens of our country,” he added.

More than 100,000 Dutch Jews – 70% of the Jewish community – did not survive World War II. Most were deported, along with Roma and Sinti, and killed in Nazi concentration camps.

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Travel

US ban on Muslims set to end on first day of Biden’s presidency | United States and Canada | Instant News



The president-elect has pledged to immediately end travel restrictions imposed by the Trump administration on more than a dozen countries.On the first day of his presidency, President-elect Joe Biden intends to cancel the Donald Trump’s travel bans on travelers from 13 countries, most neither. Muslim or African majority nations. Shortly after taking office in 2017, Trump issued an executive order barring travelers from seven Muslim-majority countries from entering the United States. The Trump administration has reworked the order on several occasions amid legal challenges, and the Supreme Court upheld a version of it in 2018. The countries with entry restrictions have changed over the years. The bans could easily be overturned because they were issued by executive order and presidential proclamation, policy experts say, but conservative lawsuits could delay the process. In October, Biden also vowed to push politicians to pass laws to address the growing number of hate crimes in the United States. “As President, I will work with you to wring the poison of hatred from our society to honor your contributions and seek your ideas. My administration will be like America with American Muslims serving at all levels, ”he said. “On the first day, I will end Trump’s unconstitutional Muslim ban.” Trump imposed the travel restrictions – often referred to by critics as a “Muslim ban” – through a series of executive orders targeting Iran, Libya, Somalia, Syria and Yemen, sparking criticism that this constituted unlawful religious discrimination. Trump then expanded the ban to include Venezuela and North Korea and then added Nigeria, Sudan, Myanmar and three other countries to the list. “Muslim communities are the first to feel Donald Trump’s assault on black and brown communities in this country, with his infamous Muslim ban. This fight was the first roadblock in what has been almost four years of constant pressure and slurs, ”Biden said. “ First day in office ” The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), the largest civil rights and Muslim civil rights organization in the United States, congratulated Biden on his victory on Saturday and said that he would keep it to his electoral promises. “President-elect Biden has pledged to end the Muslim ban on his first day in office, to include Muslims at all levels of his administration and to tackle issues of racial and religious discrimination,” he said. said Nihad Awad, national executive director of CAIR. “We plan to join with other American Muslim leaders and organizations to ensure that the Biden administration keeps these promises. We also plan to continue to hold our government accountable when it is wrong. During the election campaign, Trump accused Biden of wanting to “end all travel bans, including in jihadist regions,” and hinted that his challenger would allow “people who are going to come in and blow up our cities, to do things”. .



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Travel

Dressed in hats and bandanas, volunteers travel to serve the victims of the storm | News | Instant News


LAKE CHARLES, La. (AP) – On Thursday, October 22, in the parking lot of St. John Bosco Catholic Church in Westlake, Amish volunteers from Christian Aid Ministries retracted and secured the awnings of the food trucks and prepared to head home home to Pennsylvania where transportation is strictly by horse and buggy.Since their arrival on August 31 after Hurricane Laura, they had served 27,435 meals: meat, potatoes, vegetables and dessert cups usually tapioca or Jello and The women were dressed in crisp, clean white. modest bonnets and dresses with elbow-length sleeves, hems below the knee, and low-cut necklines comfortably around the neck.On the bridge and about 10 miles in the parking lot of Moss Bluff Pentecostal Church, 30 volunteers and pastors wearing bandanas Billy Morgan of Crosspointe Biker Church in Connersville, Indiana, and Chris Lovett of Freedom Biker Church in Duncan, Okla., Were busy preparing food. They left their Harleys at home and drove semi-trailers here full of food. They had come after Hurricane Laura and returned to help after Hurricane Delta. The volunteers were busy making nachos, opening packets of cheese and grilling “a few thousand pounds of ground beef,” Lovett said. The place was buzzing with seven generators and six freezers. The American press posed the same questions to pastors of the biker church and to Christian Aid Ministries spokesman Luke Miller: Why did you come and why did you come here? Although the dress code was different for each group, the answers were almost identical. Miller said, “God put us here, and because we know that in every person’s heart there is a need that only Jesus can fill.” “You needed us and God sent us.” Both groups were ready to respond, keeping an eye on where the hurricane hit and making connections immediately. Moss Bluff Pentecostal Church pastor, Jared Pugh. The lineman called home to tell Lovett that he had found a place that needed help and a place to settle down to provide that help. Miller had a similar story. “It’s amazing how God plans these things,” Miller said. “Volunteers are not paid for their labor, transportation or other expenses.” I’m sure you’ve heard that it’s more blessed to give than to receive, “Miller said.” We don’t just do it to be a blessing, but a blessing comes when we serve. ” For more information on copyright, contact the distributor of this article, American Press.



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Brazil

French police quiz child defender of beheading teacher | World | Instant News


The Albertville children were released after being interrogated. Judicial authorities ordered educational training for them, said a ministry spokesman. The police also ransacked their home.

Paty’s murder was followed on October 29 with the murder of three people on knife attack on church in Nice. Presiding over Saturday’s memorial to the victims in the Mediterranean city, French Prime Minister Jean Castex warned that extremists were recruiting French citizens.

“We know the enemy,” said Castex. “Not only identifiable, but also has a name: This is radical Islamism, a political ideology that tarnishes the Muslim religion by distorting its texts, its dogmas and orders to impose domination by ignorance and hatred, enemies who benefit from foreign support but, unfortunately, also count citizens. France in line. “

The choir sang “What a Wonderful World,” which was recorded by Louis Armstrong, and soldiers stood in silence in line to honor the victims – Nadine Devillers, Simone Barreto Silva and Vincent Loques.

The prime suspect, Ibrahim Issaoui, a 21-year-old Tunisian, was in a French hospital after being injured by police when they arrested him.

Paty’s killer is shot dead by police.

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