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  • How to save biodiversity? Curb wasteful habits, Vatican event says

    How to save biodiversity? Curb wasteful habits, Vatican event says

    CBCPNews,

    Based on the science, this hypothesis “is entirely possible if we continue with our greedy and unequal habits,” Raven said, adding that the loss is “something we cannot recover from easily.” He stressed the importance learning to value the resources available to us, saying that to prevent the loss of biodiversity can’t happen “without having exhibited the reverence for life which must be a characteristic of our species.” Raven, a professor at the Missouri Botanical Garden and research institute, spoke at a news briefing on a Feb. In their final statement, participants concluded that that based on comparisons with the fossil record, the current loss of species rate “is approximately 1,000 times the historical rate, with perhaps a quarter of all species in danger of extinction now and as many as half of them may be gone by the end of the present century.” Due to man’s dependency on living organisms for necessities such as food and medicine to climate and even beauty, these losses “will inflict incalculable damage on our common prospects unless we control them.” In their discussion, participants said the danger isn’t isolated to the extinction of species, but also effects the how the earth functions in general. Participants argued that the 19 percent of the world’s richest people use “well over” half of the world’s resources, and because of this, wealthier nations are “substantially responsible for the increase in global warming and, consequently, the decrease in biodiversity.” On the other hand, they said the world’s poor, “who do not enjoy the benefits of fossil fuels, are indirectly responsible for deforestation and some destruction of biodiversity, because their actions take place within a world economic system dominated by demands made by the wealthy, who have much higher overall consumption levels without paying any externalities to conserve global biodiversity.” Given the vast difference between the rich and the poor on a global plane, participants suggested “wealth redistribution” as one positive action that could be taken.

  • Pope Francis’ latest prayer video spotlights Christian persecution

    Pope Francis’ latest prayer video spotlights Christian persecution

    CBCPNews,

    “Those who persecute them make no distinction between the religious communities to which they belong.” The video continues with real footage of destroyed churches in the Middle East, followed by clips of adults and children praying in a church, at home, and at a school, and people packing up food at a food bank, as the Pope asks: “how many of you pray for persecuted Christians?” “Do it with me, that they may be supported by the prayers and material help of all the Churches and communities.” An initiative of the Jesuit-run global prayer network Apostleship of Prayer, the Pope’s prayer videos are filmed in collaboration with the Vatican Television Center and mark the first time the Roman Pontiff’s monthly prayer intentions have been featured on video. Starting in January, rather than including a missionary intention, Pope Francis has elected to have only one prepared prayer intention – the universal intention featured in the prayer video – and will add a second intention focused on an urgent or immediate need if one arises. 12, that “Persecution levels have been rising rapidly across Asia and the Indian subcontinent, driven by extreme religious nationalism which is often tacitly condoned, and sometimes actively encouraged, by local and national governments.” Overall persecution of Christians has risen from last year, Open Doors UK noted, stating that “Christians are being killed for their faith in more countries than before.” “Christians living in these countries need the support of their family, the body of Christ, to help them stand firm in their faith,” they stated.

  • Theology seminarians to gather for annual ‘Kapatiran’ at UST

    Theology seminarians to gather for annual ‘Kapatiran’ at UST

    CBCPNews,

    UST Central Seminary MANILA— The University of Santo Tomas-Central Seminary (UST-CS) will serve as host for this year’s “Kapatiran” (Brotherhood), an annual gathering of diocesan seminarians in theology from all over the country. With the theme: “Koinonia: Strengthening Our Communion After 25 Years,” the gathering hopes to gather the seminarians and collectively reflect on the importance of seminary formation and of the priesthood in the life of the Church and the society at large. “It is binding for us to once again look back at our beginnings [and] to look forward and to reflect upon how we can aptly respond to the signs of the times,” the Senate President of UST-CS added.

  • Yes to the culture of life

    Yes to the culture of life

    CBCPNews,

    Duc in Altum The Walk for Life initiated by the Sangguniang Laiko ng Pilipinas (or LAIKO), headed by its president Mrs. Zenaida Capistrano, was a huge success. The turn-out of participants w…

  • Franciscan launches new book on dialogue

    Franciscan launches new book on dialogue

    CBCPNews,

    An OFM Franciscan assigned to Visayas and Mindanao under the jurisdiction of the Custody of St. Anthony of Padua Southern Philippines launched on Feb. 27 a new book on dialogue entitled, “The Encou…