Gloria TV News on the Feast of St. Joan of the Cross.

Sunday Mass is Important

Philipines

The Federation of Asian Bishops' Conferences held its 9th Plenary Meeting in Manila on August 11-16, 2009. Seven cardinals including the representative of the Holy See, Francis Arinze and around 80 bishops from 22 nations attended. The theme of the meeting was "Living the Eucharist in Asia." In a homily during the opening Mass, Cardinal Arinze conveyed the Holy Father's wishes. He stated that the Holy Father “requests the Bishops in particular to teach Christ’s faithful the importance of participation at the Eucharistic Celebration especially on Sundays and of receiving the Sacrament of Reconciliation. Priests, being ministers of the Eucharist, are to be greatly esteemed and supported and vocations to the priesthood to be promoted especially in the year for Priests."

Are Killers “Human Rights Defenders”?

UN

In a recently released report from the Center for Reproductive Rights, the advocacy group is appealing to the United Nations to formally recognize abortion-providers as "human rights defenders." In "Defending Human Rights," the Center for Reproductive Rights presupposes that abortion is part of the accepted human rights framework and targets legal restrictions on abortion, funding restrictions on abortion and "failure to reduce abortion-related stigma" as "human rights violations."

Fight Against Assisted Suicide

United Kingdom

Archbishop Peter Smith of Cardiff has encouraged the faithful to join in active opposition to legislation that would allow for assisted suicide. “There is a danger of subtle pressure being felt by those who are vulnerable that they are unwanted or a burden to others – those with disabilities and chronic illness especially,” he said, adding that the pressures would increase with public acceptance of suicide.

"Better ten graves than one extra birth"

China

China's draconian "one-child" family-planning program is neatly summarized in a government slogan: "Better ten graves than one extra birth." That's also the title of a book by Harry Wu of the Laogai Research Foundation, documenting the brutality of the policy. Sandro Magister notes in “Espresso” that the "most radical antithesis" of the Chinese policy is the Catholic faith.